Was it a great road trip? That's a clown question, bro.

Wednesday, the Nats finished up their epic road trip that included stops in Boston and Toronto with yet another win, making the road trip a clean sweep. Everything seems to be clicking in the 6 games except for Zim, whose had trouble so far this season, and Michael Morse whose still getting used to major league pitching. It's a lot more troubling in Zimmerman's case because it has gone all season long. Morse is basically going through spring training and the first few weeks of April at the same time. He has a few weeks to heat up still. Harper was on fire during the road trip and not just on the field. When a Canadian reporter asked Bam Bam if he would enjoy a Canadian beer as celebration, Harper retorted,"that's a clown question, bro." Harper's religion prevents him from consuming alcohol during his life, thus the response. Around DC, the fans are already loving it and using it in almost every instance. There are T-shirts with it on em and it may have found its way into DC lore.

Sunday Sum-up

With another week in the books, the Nationals find themselves with another series victory and an opportunity for a sweep at Fenway Park. So far this year, the Nats have only lost one series, the sweep in Miami. Pretty spectacular. The Nationals still find themselves atop the NL East by a good cushion and the rival Phillies have seemed to fall apart without Roy Halladay. Meaning the division has seemed to find it's first seller at the trading deadline. But with inter-league play in full swing, the buyers and sellers will become a bit more clear. I can't foresee a major trade for the Nats as injuries have clouded any vision as to where a need lies. A pinch hitter possibly, although Nady seems to handle it pretty well. All in all possibly a minor bullpen move is all I can see.

A Sweep :(

After a sweep at the Atlanta Braves, the Nationals went to Miami for an apparent vacation, as they followed up the series by getting swept. Not exactly terrible, based on winning the road trip at very tough NL East opponents. However, the management has created a pitching...situation for lack of a better term. Chien Ming-Wang and Ross Detwiler have each been competing with one another for the last rotation spot with neither exactly getting a vote of confidence. Anytime one gets into trouble, the other is in the bullpen warming up ready to replace him. Quite a conundrum that may fuel a competitive fire within those two. Or...the lack of confidence could tear them down, but thats sort of a worst case scenario.

A sweep!

For the first time all season, and on national TV, the Nationals swept the Braves thus sending them on an 8 game skid. Sweeping the series has guaranteed the Nats a winning road trip to their three biggest divisional rivals. The pitching remained the star during the three game set with the Braves, but the once dormant offense has awoken and finally given the starters some breathing room. During the series, Ross Detwiler was demoted to the bullpen as Chien Ming-Wang returns to the team and the starting rotation. Chad Tracy and Jesus Flores were bitten by the injury bug, Tracy goes to the DL and Corey Brown gets the call to replace him. Flores should be fine, as he said he just tweaked his hamstring. So Maldando will get some time behind the dish as Jesus recovers. Up next is the Miami Marlins as the last series on the road trip started on Monday.

Road Trippin'

With the wild win on Monday night, the Nats got their big road trip off to a good start. This being only May, it's difficult to place a ton of importance on a 9 game divisional road trip, but with national prominence on the line, the stakes have been raised. The NL East is the only division in baseball where all teams are at .500 or better. So a road trip to Philly, to Atlanta, and to Miami is going to be a big test. During this trip pseudo closer Henry Rodriguez has been removed already. Leaving the door open for someone like Tyler Clippard who has recently stated his desire to do so. Craig Stammen has done exceptionally well making the transfer to the pen and could effectively set up or close. Sean Burnett has a little experience as a closer and has bailed Hot Rod out on two recent occasions. So there are options within the bullpen, skipper Davey Johnson just needs to make a decision. And quickly given the importance placed on this road trip.

Closer Struggles

As the Nationals remain atop the NL East, a troubling sign has emerged as temp closer Henry Rodriguez struggles to find his grove. Things started off strongly but are rocky as of late, blowing a save in Cincinnati and loading the bases last night against the Padres. Skipper Davey Johnson brought in Sean Burnett to close the door, which he did successfully. Unfortunately, these haven't been isolated incidents as of late, leading many fans to call for a new close, like Tyler Clippard, Craig Stammen, or Sean Burnett. However, I believe HotRod should be given at least one more shot. When he's in the right state of mind, he is very difficult to hit. A 100 MPH fastball is one hell of a weapon when aimed properly. But, if his struggles do continue, look for Johnson to go in a different direction, as HotRod isn't his permanent closer.

The Best is Yet to Come

With the broken wrist Jayson Werth suffered repaired with surgery via the mayo clinic, he joins closer Drew Storen, slugger Michael Morse, and reliever Brad Lidge on the disabled list. Injuries for the Nationals so far haven't been a death sentence, but more of a hinderance. So far this year, the Nats have yet to have their full line up and bullpen ready and on the field. Yet they find themselves toward the top of the division. With many of the important cogs of this team shelved and not due back until around the all-star break, the GM Mike Rizzo has stated that the team will look for replacements from within. Normally this wouldn't be too big a deal, but so many members of the team struggling, there will be increasing pressure from the fans to get a hold of some help. If Espinosa can snap out of his sophomore slump and make opponents pay for walking LaRoche or Zimmerman, then a trade could be rendered unnecessary. So far, that has seemed like a big if. Xavier Nady has been right there with his struggles as well, but no one has emerged as a potential replacement for Werth. All in all, if the Nats can tread water until the big guns come back, then best truly has yet to come.

Monday Morning Gripes

With the Phillies leaving town with a salvage game in a three game set, they leave behind a mass of irate Nats fans. During the first inning, Cole Hamels of the Phillies nailed Bryce Harper in the back intentionally to "send a message". What that message was, only God knows, but in a sort of retaliation move, Harper, who advanced to third, stole home. But for official retaliation, Jordan Zimmerman plunked Hamels in his first AB. Now to most fans, that would've squashed it. But when the Phillies fans who, unsuccessfully, tried to take over the park cheered Jayson Werth's broken wrist, it reopened the wound. In the post presser, Hamels openly admitted to hitting Harper so a suspension is more than likely to follow.

Sunday Sum-Up

With the Nationals and Phillies playing on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball tonight, the first game on such a venue for a game not involving a stadium opening. This game will be the final of a three game set with the Nats looking for the sweep. During this set, we have witnessed a walk-off single by catcher Wilson Ramos, and an offensive explosion sparked by Jayson Werth's three-run Werthquake. The pitching staff remains the best in the majors, while the offense is still a bit anemic with the 3-4-5 hitters on the DL with various injuries. There has been some talk of a trade needed for a centerfielder like Denard Span of the Twins, or BJ Upton of the Rays. I'm not one of those people. If any trade is to be made, it should be to bolster the injury riddled bullpen. The offense will pick as those who are injured come back. Ian Desmond has been doing pretty well as a some what unconventional lead off hitter, and Harper and Ankiel have looked very good in the outfield as CF and LF. So a trade would be a bit of an overreaction, especially when having to give up some very promising young talent.

A Walk-off wonder

With a win to break the streak of five games in a row looking ever more bleak, young phenom Bryce Harper lead off the 9th inning with his second double, third almost home run, of the night. Ian Desmond stepped up to the plate and ended the game with a walk off home run into the visitor's bullpen. During the game, the Nats scored first for the first time in what feels like a week, and even after EJax blew the lead the offense finally tried to pick him up. But, the lead was lost again and in the ninth, the Nats found themselves down a run, with Diamondbacks closer JJ Putz on the mound, and well, you know the rest. All in all, the mistakes can be forgiven with a win, which it is.

Harper's Debut

With phenom part 2 making his major league debut last night, the show seemed to be stolen by the phenom part 1, Steven Strasburg. Strasburg went 7 innings allowing one run, whether it was earned or not will be debated all year, and striking out 9. Also, he had a good day at the dish, with a double and almost a three run run homer that just stayed foul. Stras had superstar Matt Kemp of the Dodgers on the ropes and out matched all game with a ground out double play and a two strikeouts. Kemp however had the last laugh as he blasted a walk-off home run in the 10th. Bryce Harper had a pretty solid debut. With one hit, a double, and one RBI, a sac fly, and an almost outfield assist, Ramos had the ball knocked away by Dodger Jerry Hairston. Through out the game, Harper never seemed to let the moment get too big for him. In his first at bat, a ground to the pitcher, he booked it down the line and almost beat it out. His hair on fire type of play is refreshing to see, and he very well should live up to all the hype.

2 injuries and a Call-up

This past week as the Nats have been on a road trip on the west coast, we learned of a couple injuries. Ryan Zimmerman has suffered a shoulder injury and reliever Brad Lidge is headed to the disabled list as well. These two will hit the Nationals pretty hard as depth is already mildly thin in the 'pen and Zimmerman's defense and bat have been very good so far as some of the other players in the lineup struggle. But with the bad news, a bit of a silver lining has been found in the call up of über prospect Bryce Harper. Harper figures to stabilize an otherwise uneasy position so far this year at left field. His production at AAA wasn't very eye opening, but he must have done enough in spring training to earn himself the to the show. Regardless, a very warm welcome and congratulations go out to him as I'm sure he'll be a fixture in DC for many years to come.

Sunday Sum-Up

With Nats getting rained out today, along with most of the eastern seaboard, it seems as good a time as any to start a new weekly ritual by summing up the week that was. Obviously, the big topic is how well this team is doing, 12-4, and first place in the NL East. This has been mainly on shoulders of a major league best starting rotation. These guys lead the Majors in almost every major pitching statistical category. Both Ross Detwiler and Steven Strasburg are among the top five in the majors in ERA, Detwiler 2 and Stras at 4. However, when the starters can't get it done, which is exceptionally rare, the bats have been able to battle back and win the game late. This never say die attitude or natitude,(forgive me for that) has been a great addition to an already very good club. Also, with Rick Ankiel's return to center, an added bonus of runner's anxiety has come with it. Ankiel's killer arm, the best in baseball in my opinion, has already accounted for at least 3 runs saved just by his presence in the outfield. Runners know who's out there and just refuse to test his arm. As long as there is production from the LF position, there is no doubt in my mind this club will shock the pants of a lot of experts in the playoffs.

First 10 win team

Last night the Nationals battled back against the Astros to become the National League's first ten win team for the year. Jordan Zimmerman pitched a gem, but was unable to secure the victory as the Nats' bats have yet to wake up and give him run support. With the bases loaded in the 8th, Jayson Werth drew a walk for an RBI.
So far this year, the Nationals' rotation has been the best in baseball. The 1-5 guys have been lights out minus a few game changing calls in Ross Detwiler's last start. They have the League's best ERA so far, but the offense still remains dormant, partially due to lack of production from the left fielders. Nady, Derosa, and Bernadina haven't been able produce on a consistent basis yet this year, even though with Morse injured the position seems wide open. I would like to attribute that to the immaturity of the season. With Bryce Harper's slow road to the bigs, it seems the patience will prevail for the under performing fielders. Nevertheless, with the rotation as zeroed in as they have been, as long as LF can catch the ball the rest of the bats should be able to carry them.

It's Time

On my first trip of the year to visit Nationals Park on Saturday, I noticed a few things that the television can tell you. For one, it felt like a playoff game between the Nats and Cincinnati Reds, in the middle of April on a Saturday. As Edwin Jackson pitched his way to a complete game 2 hitter, the crowd came to life. During the 8th inning as he walked from the on deck circle to the batter's box, the fans erupted. And even as he struck out, he received a standing ovation on the way to the dug out. His complete game came at a very important point in the young season. The two prior games in the series the pens had to to pitch extra inning games. So the arms in the bullpen were a bit over used, and Jackson saved their arms with his gem. These things have combined to show the dormant DC fans are ready for a winner. I fully believe a sell-out every game is possible this year. Looks like a new Philly has been born. Welcome to Nats Town.

Drew Storen injured

Any time a player is scheduled to see world renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews only bad news can follow. Unfortunately this is the case with young closer Drew Storen. Having a stiff elbow in spring training, Storen started the season on DL. He has been rehabbing, but has yet to move past the elbow discomfort he is suffering from. So the Nats scheduled a visit to figure out the next course of action, which doesn't appear to be ligamental damage but more likely bone spurs or chips within the joint. So regardless, the young closer will miss some time, how much remains to be seen. Either way, the bullpen will survive but not at full strength.

Opening weekend

With the first weekend in the 2012 baseball season in the books, all of baseball looks towards the future. Some with hopes of a fast start remaining throughout the year, and others believing it's just the first weekend. The Nationals managed to pull out 2 of 3 from the perennial cellar dwellers the Chicago Cubs. Both wins were come from behind efforts off of Cubs' closer Carlos Marmol. The Nats did trail in all three games late, but managed to mount a rally and force the Cubs to hold on for dear life. One can look at this in two lights. The first, the Nats never give up, and no game ever seems out of reach. The other, the club couldn't stay ahead to have a comfortable win against the lowly Cubs. The way Davey Johnson's club is winning is very dangerous, but as long as it works, very few will question it. Jayson Werth has had another slow start to the year, striking out 5 times in pretty key situations. After Adam LaRoche's bad first game, 0-3 with 3 k's, he combusted into flames the past two games looking like the player the Nats payed for last year. The bullpen has been completely unhittable minus Mattheus poor outing late yesterday. The good news is the pen will be a strength this year. The bad news is the strikeout epidemic seems to have persisted through the offseason. I'm not not willing to call up a mob for it yet, but being struck out 7 or more times in each game, is very troubling. As of now, chalk it up to the cold Chicago weather. All in all, a good series by the Nationals, showing their resolve with the come from behind victories.

Opening Day Takeaways

What a win! The Nats are picking up right where they left off last year by picking up the come from behind victory in Wriggly versus the Cubs. Rad Brad Lidge racks up the save as the Googled Gangster Tyler Clipard grabs the win. Stephen Strasburg had a heck of game allowing only one run as he looked in mid-season form. The main thing that sticks in my mind is the RISP, that's Runners In Scoring Position, that were left on base. Adam LaRoche struck out three times while leaving a total of five runners in base, Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa twice, and Jayson Werth did the same minus the three K's. Ryan Dempster of the Cubs had a heck of a game mowing down Nationals left and right. Carlos Marmol also looked in mid-season form with a blown save. The top of the Nats' line up of Desmond and Espinosa made skipper Davey Johnson look like the genius he his. All in all, an excellent game as the Nats win 2-1.

My predictions

NL East winner
Miami marlins

NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers

NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks

Wild Card Winners
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals

The NL East is easily the division most difficult to pick. There are so many different variables and possibilities. The Central is the most jumbled. It's very hard to determine whether teams will improve with the loses of Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder, or if new mashers emerge. The West really only have two possibly three contenders, the D'backs and the San Francisco Giants, and possibly the LA Dodgers. The effect of the new ownership group may have be greater than we all expect. The two wild cards will come down to four teams, the Phillies, Nats, Atlanta Braves, and whoever doesn't win the West, the Giants in my book.

AL East
New York Yankees

AL Central
Detroit Tigers

AL West
Los Angels Angels of Anaheim

Wild Card Winners
Texas Rangers
Tampa Bay Ray

These ones were exceptionally easier to pick. The Yankees are the best in the East. Detroit is an absolute lock. And the Angels and Rangers are locks as well, but where they finish is the real question. The last spot comes down, once again, to the Rays and Boston Red Sox. I don't think Boston can compete with the Rays' pitching staff or with Skipper Joe Madden. The Kansas City Royals will be the surprise of the year, but will fall short in very close race.

Playoffs
Washington over Philadelphia

Marlins over Nats
D'backs over Brewers

Marlins over D'backs

Rangers over Rays

Detroit over Rangers
Angels over Yankees

Detroit over Angels

Detroit over Miami in 6

Rotation is set

With the demotion of John Lannan earlier, this means Ross Detwiler locked up the fifth spot with his very solid spring. These is very interesting because it shows who will make the personnel decisions between skipper Davey Johnson and GM Mike Rizzo which is a good thing to have that kind of connection between the suits and the jerseys. Rizzo obviously respects Johnson enough to demote his team leader in wins last year. This type of a relationship can only bring good this for the Nats. The demotion opens a spot for reliever/starter Craig Stammen to be in the bullpen. This settles out the bullpen along with Ryan Matheus.

Nationals Expectations

As with most things in life, I prefer the wait and see method. The Nats this year are no exception. The first two series are pretty easy competition and, other than opening day at Wriggly Field with the Cubs, should be able to sweep those games. So a 6-0, sounds pretty great right? But caution is paramount, as the rest of the month is pretty difficult. A home opening series with the Reds will tell everyone a little bit more on whether the Nats can stick with the contenders. With the exception of a very winnable 4 game set against the Astros in DC, the rest of month is dangerous. Games with Miami, San Francisco, and the recharged Dodgers will certainly show who the Nats are. With the Phillies beat up and older, they're missing their 3 and 4 hitters, this is the best time for the Nats to seize control of the division early and build a buffer for when other teams become healthy and make a run for the division crown. If the Nats win 2 of 3 and 3 of 4 in every series, they will be the team to beat in the NL East.

The roster shapes up

The Nationals are getting ready for opening day, and every place seems to have been settled expect for the last bench spot or two. Whether its one or two spots depends on if Mike Morse starts the year on the disabled list or not. The last spots appear to be up for grabs between Chad Tracy, Xavier Nady, and Brett Carroll. Manager Davey Johnson likes all three, but my guess is he'll go with Nady's versatility. But he probably isn't ready for the bigs yet just because of a lack of spring training. So I suspect Chad Tracy will make the club until Nady is warmed up. Johnson likes Tracy's power off the bench, along with his lefty bat. Brett Carroll has looked pretty good this spring but with Harper's demotion, that means Bernadina and Ankiel will more than likely take up the outfield. Adam LaRoche's injury my have an effect as well. With a lack of a suitable replacement, with Mark Derosa also injured, Tracy and Nady look that much more attractive to the skipper. But all speculations will he put to rest soon enough as the season begins in about a week.

Preseason Nationals Awards (DC-IBWA)

As a part of the DC-IBWA's preseason polls for Nationals awards, the members were asked 10 questions about typical awards for the team. Below are the questions and my answers. The poll results can be seen at http://dc-ibwaa.blogspot.com/?m=1 but I will post the results as the become available.

Question 1. Who will lead the Nationals in home runs in 2012?
Answer: Ryan Zimmerman
Reasoning: if he stays healthy this year, he has complete protection in the line up for the first time in a while.

Q 2. Who will lead the Nats in RBI?
A: Jayson Werth
R: hitting behind Zimm and Mike Morse, he'll have plenty of opportunities. Plus he looks more relaxed than last year.


Q 3. Who will lead the Nats in stolen bases?
A: Ian Desmond
R: He's the lead-off man this year, and I expect skipper Davey Johnson to give him the green light a bit more this season.

Q 4. Who will lead the Nats' staff in wins?
A: Steven Strasburg
R: Whenever Stras is on the mound, the bats seem to come alive for him. Also, if he keeps games to around 3 runs like he has been doing, wins should follow.

Q 5. Who will pitch more innings FOR THE NATS: Chien-Ming Wang, John Lannan, or Ross Detwiler?
A: Chien-Ming Wang
R: He's Davey's guy. Once he gets healthy, he will be the starter and John Lannan will most likely be traded or relegated to bullpen duty. Ross Detwiler is the odd man out, and is already in th pen behind Wang and Lannan so I don't see him getting more than 70 innings unless a couple injuries occur.

Q 6. Who will have more at-bats for the Nats this year: Rick Ankiel, Roger Bernadina, or Bryce Harper?
A: Bryce Harper
R: Harper is THE guy. Ankiel and Bernadina are place holders until he's ready. I don't see half the year going by with Harper in AAA and the other two splitting CF duties.

Q 7. Date of Bryce Harper's debut?
A: May 18th, 2012
R: Just a guess of course, but it's a Friday home game against the Orioles so there my be some intrigue in his debut then.

Q 8. Which minor leaguer are you most interested in keeping tabs on (other than Bryce Harper)?
A: Tyler Moore
R: He's lead the Nats farm system the past two years in homers. He definitely looks like the future at the position once Adam LaRoche moves on.

Q 9. How many All Stars will the Nats have this year? Who?
A: Three; Steven Strasburg, Ryan Zimmerman, Drew Storen
R: again, just a hunch, but I fully believe Storen will be number two in the NL in saves, Strasburg will be the talk of baseball, and Zimm will have a career year.


Q 10. Total wins and what place in the division?
A: 92; second place in the NL East
R: The Phillies are really beat up and older. The Marlins will probably win the division and the Nats will surprise everyone.

Essay: Single most important development for the Nats this year.
A: The strikeouts, or hopefully lack there of. Last year, there seemed to be be a ton of strikeouts in key points of the game. If the Nats can cut down on that, they can be really dangerous.

NL East Contenders

This year, the NL East certainly appears to be the most competitive and intriguing division in all of the Majors. Four of the five teams can consider themselves at least marginally improved. Those being the Phillies, Marlins, Nationals, and Braves. Whether the improvements have been made through free agency, like the Phillies and Marlins, or trades, the Nationals, or the maturation process of young players, the Braves.

Phillies
With the acquisition of Jonathan Paplebon and a much improved bench, the Phils look to be the favorites for the season. Health is absolutely the key, slugger Ryan Howard blew out his Achilles tendon in the playoffs last year and is expected to be until June or July. Chase Utley's knees are failing, and his career may be in question. The rotation is and has been the focal point for the team. The three aces they can trot out could give them an early 3-0 lead in any playoff series. Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hammels are as good as it gets at the top of any rotation. The 'pen is an interesting avenue. Paplebon is among the best in the game at the closer position. But after him, there remains question marks. Antonio Bastardo had a very effective year last year along with a few other. The problem lies with the hopes that the career years by many weren't just flashes in the pan. They will make the playoffs and contend for the division.

The Marlins
Perhaps the busiest offseason in the game, with a new manager, Ozzie Guillen, a new closer, Heath Bell, a new shortstop, Jose Reyes, and two new starting pitchers, Mark Buehrle and Carlos Zambrano. The key question with this group is the how all these HUGE personalities will mesh together. If the Skipper is one of the most outspoken people in the game, how will he expect his club to shut up and play ball? With the arrival of Reyes, Hanley Ramirez will be bumped to third base. His reaction wasn't exactly one of happiness, but more of bitterness. His attitude will influence his performance. With all-star closer Heath Bell, the back end of bullpen shouldn't be much of a concern, but depth with in the pen is. Ace Josh Johnson is coming off shoulder surgery which is always a huge worry with pitchers. A return to his previous form, all-star and Cy Young quality, isn't unprecedented, just pretty rare. If he has that return, this club may very well challenge for the league pennant.

The Nationals
Also a pretty busy offseason for the Nats. Gio Gonzales was acquired from the A's. Paired with Steven Stasburg and Jordan Zimmerman, they will rival the Phillies' top three at some point in the very near future. Edwin Jackson was added in free agency solidifying the top four. The bullpen is headed by closer Drew Storen, famously drafted 9 picks after Steven Strasburg in '09, set-up man Tyler Clipperard, an all-star last year, and new comer Brad Lidge. With Lidge's guidance the continued growth of Storen should persist. The bullpen is very deep, flame throwing righty Henry Rodriguez, converted starter Tom Gorzelanny, and lefty Sean Burnett will all be called on from time to time to batten down the hatches for a victory. Health was the major issue last year, along with strike outs, both of which skipper Davy Johnson looks to rectify. A bounce back year from the Bearded Warrior, Jayson Werth, and full seasons from Strasburg, 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and 1st baseman Adam LaRoche would definitely lead the Nats to the promised land of the playoffs. The only problem is centerfield/leadoff. Bryce Harper will settle into the CF position and hopefully shortstop Ian Desmond will hold down the leadoff spot thus rendering the problem solved. If everyone preforms to their abilities, the Nationals will contend for the division or one of the now two wild card spots.

The Braves
Not many moves of note for them this past year. They have been pretty adamant about using homegrown talent over the past few years. LF Jason Heyward in 2010, 1B Freddie Freeman last year, and either Tyler Pastornicky or Andrelton Simmons will take on the shortstop position this year. The suits want Pastornicky to start, but with the spring Simmons has had, the coaches believe he has won the job. A possible, however unlikely, conflict may ensue. Chipper Jones is coming off a knee injury last year and is 38. His bat hasn't seemed to slow down too much although his defensive range has diminished. The future hall of famer has said this will be his last year. The pitching for this club will never be an issue. They are so deep in starting pitching, it makes every club in the majors sick with envy. Anchored in the 'pen by closer Craig Kimball and lefty set-up man Jonny Venters, the starters don't even have to go a full seven innings to solidify a victory. Defense is pretty good, with some small weak points. The determent will fall on the bats. With the J Hey kid's sophomore struggles last year, its imperative that he bounces back. Chipper, perhaps the greatest switch hitter of a generation, will need to remain healthy, along with catcher Brain McCann for the offense to be anything more than anemic. They are contenders for a wild card spot, it just seems doubtful the Braves will contend for the division crown.

The Inevitable

Yesterday, phenom Bryce Harper was optioned down to the triple A affiliate Syracuse Sky Chiefs. During a game, Harper went 1-5, with a double and four straight strikeouts. Manager Davey Johnson was quoted by those in attendance as saying the move wasn't because of Harper's performance in the game prior. The skipper wants the 19 year old to get some at bats in AAA and to get some reps in centerfield. Johnson also said the move was to prevent the inevitable storm of "naysayers" that would come with any sort of struggles Harper were to have. Johnson believes the Phenom can be the club's answer to the big question in center. It may be able to work. Harper is very young and very athletic, he's already changed positions once in his very young career (from catcher to outfield). He certainly wouldn't be the answer for a leadoff man but he could look like a Centerfielder of the nineties. In the mold of Andruw Jones with the Braves, a big athletic guy who can steal bases and hit bombs. If Ian Desmond can learn the leadoff role, Harper in center could certainly be a good allocation of his talents.

Nationals Rotation

Yesterday during a pretty important outing against his former club, the Yankees, Chien Ming Wang was looking pretty good. His sinker looked strong, the slider and curve had some bit. However, in this pivotal start, Wang fielded a ball off the mound and, like he's been doing all spring in PFP, ran to first. But this time, he stumbled twice and fell very awkwardly, as well as colliding somewhat violently with Yankee catcher Russell Martin. During this tumble, Wang seemed to hyper extend his left leg, which has left him with a pull/strained hamstring. He is going to be out for around a month, effectively removing him from the fifth rotation spot battle. So, essentially by default, John Lannan will more than likely take over unless Riss Detweiler has a super turn around. If Lannan struggles during Wang's absence, I'd surely expect manager Davey Johnson to have a second battle mid-season.

Help wanted: Centerfielder needed

With Bryce Harper breaking camp with the team looking evermore bleak, an option at Centerfield for the Nationals may be required as a placeholder until Harper gets the call to the show. Once that occurs, the Bearded Warrior, Jayson Werth, will take over the 8 position for skipper Davey Johnson for at least the remainder of the year. The problem lies with the decision to go after a place holder, or the long term option the team desperately craves?Once the season ends and Adam LaRoche leaves in free agency, the possibility of Michael Morse resigning and taking over first looks good, thus reopening the need for a Centerfielder. As far as a trade package is concerned, with John Lannan on the outside looking in, Ross Detweiler out of options, and some depth between Shortstop Ian Desmond and infielder Steven Lombardozzi, there would certainly be some interest. The Baltimore Orioles Centerfielder Adam Jones is rumored to be available but the price for a franchise type of player would be nothing less than the entire farm. Michael Bourn of the Atlanta Braves is on an one year deal and the Braves may look to give him up for infield depth. Coco Crisp signed with the Oakland Athletics on a two year deal, signing as a free agent for the second consecutive year. He would be a cheap, short team bandaid on the wound that has become centerfield. The leadoff potential he posses makes a very intriguing target. Once he leaves, the Nats start from square one, but with the benefit of free agency to focus on a solution for the future. B.j. Upton of the Tampa Bay Rays has long been rumored to be the major target of GM Mike Rizzo. He will be a free agent after the season, theoretically making it easier to obtain him. The problem
is the Rays don't really have a reason to ship him outta town. Gerardo Perra of the Arizona Diamondbacks has been relegated to the bench with the signing of outfielder Jason Kuble. Perra is quick and a gold glove winning left fielder. He could probably make the switch to center without many issues. But these guys wouldn't be picked up until the Nats decide what to do with Harper.

Take back the Park

A bit late, yes I know, but regardless it is something that should be discussed. This latest initiative being carried out by Los Nationals is a a plan to take back the home field from the hoards for Phillies fans that invade along with their team every time the comes to town for a series. The Nats are planning to so by giving fans in the DC are first dibs at tickets. This has caused a major uproar in the Philly community because one park isn't enough for some reason. I have no problem with this. If the tables were turned, those fans would be the first ones screaming for Nats fans to leave. This isn't about them specifically, it's about giving the team an actual home field advantage for the first time since Strasburg's debut. And one that will hopefully remain throughout the next couple of decades. With expectations of the playoffs for the first time in years, home field advantage will become that much more important. In a division as tight the East promises to be, this promotion is just fine in an attempt to steal a few more games that could ultimately decide the division.

Spring training games weekend 1

It's so hard to take away anything too much from these early games. It's the first starts for both the pitchers and position players. Typically the pitchers are further ahead of the batters with extra two weeks of work. Strasburg looked pretty good with his command and probably should've only had 1 ER on the homerun but Gorzelanny was just shelled. Harper however has impressed me with his plate discipline and sheer size. He is a mass of a man, and the scary thing is he's still growing. With the very limited sample I've had, things look pretty bright in the nation's Capitol.

The fans take notice.

In a recent poll on mlbtraderumors.com the question was posed as to which team will have the biggest turn around in the up coming season. So far, the
nationals are in first place with the marlins close behind. This seems a bit unimportant but I think the contrary should be believed in this case. This poll shows that fans from around the country are starting to take notice and possibly even worry about the Nats. Good news for a team long considered the basement dwellers.

Rotation

With some pretty good and exciting new faces in the Nationals' rotation, the sky is certainly the limit. Steven Strasburg is back healthy after Tommy John surgery last year. However, he will be on an innings limit of around 160 as said by GM Mike Rizzo. Jordan Zimmerman, who also had Tommy John surgery but in 2009, looked very good last year with his growth as a pitcher. His innings won't be limited as much this year, look for around 200 to be a point of debate between Rizzo and Manager Davey Johnson. Gio Gonzales is fresh in from the Oakland Athletics. Although the price was a huge haul of top 15 prospects, the transaction was very necessary as most of the prospects were blocked in the bigs anyways. Edwin Jackson has been a target of Rizzo for a number of years, and he finally got his man in free agency for one year and 10 million dollars. Jackson is an innings eater, something sorely lacking in the Nats rotation for a few years. The last spot is up for battle between John Lannan, Chien Ming Wang, and the southpaw Ross Detwiler. Despite the uncertainty at the end of the rotation, the five guys who make it would definitely give the Nats a rotation to be feared this year. Add in the new expanded playoffs, the Nationals will absolutely be competing for one of the new five spots with a rotation like this.

Position battles

With Spring Training workouts in full swing, it's a good time to discuss the very few position battles on the Nationals' roster. First is the number 5 spot in the pitching rotation. John Lannan, Chien Ming Wang, and lefty Ross Detwiler. Lannan is the early front runner in my book, based on his past history and his value in the organization. His 3.70 ERA last year was not too bad but certainly not enough to secure his spot. Wang is coming off two years of shoulder problems. At the end of the season last year he came back and pitched pretty well. Detwiler has had hip problems in previous years but also look pretty strong through spot starts during the season. Unless Lannan is traded, I expect him to win the job in camp.
The second and perhaps last battle is to see whether or not phenom Bryce Harper will play right field on opening day. If he does, that will push Jason Werth to center for the season. Werth is very capable of holding down the fort for the year until a long term option is found. GM Mike Rizzo has said Skipper Davey Johnson has convinced him to keep an open mind on Harper during the spring. If Harper has an amazing spring, look for him in right field.

Offseason recap

Well it was a pretty eventful offseason for Washington. Between the trades, the rumors, and the surprise signings there really wasn't any telling what GM Mike Rizzo would do next. Gio Gonzales and Edwin Jackson were the headline acquisitions. Gonzales in a trade with the A's, Jackson in free agency in a 1 year 10 million dollar deal. These two, partnered with Steven Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman give the Nats a very potent rotation rivaling almost any team in the National league. Adding Brad Lidge as the 7th inning setup to the setup man and a clubhouse leader was a very under rated move. The main storyline going into spring training is Bryce Harper. If he has a good camp and makes the club, the Nats may very well make the playoffs as a wildcard or even win the east. The Marlins, phillies, and braves will all be very competitive and this will be the most interesting division in the league.

Back!

Well after a year+ long battle with a rare form of Ewings Sarcoma, I'm back in the business. This blog will be repurposed as a non-sanctioned Washington Nationals blog. My thoughts and observations will in no way reflect the feelings or views of the Nationals.