Baseball fans will no longer have to cling to Spring Training stats, check out how the local college baseball team is doing, or settle for the 7-11 hot dogs that just aren't the same as the ballpark ones...because Opening Day is in eight days!
Now that America's pastime is back everyone won't have to ponder if their team's offseason changes have paid off. They can simply turn on their TVs to ESPN next Sunday.
Led by Manager Manny Acta, the novel Nationals have had an uphill struggle during the offseason with injuries and questionable trades.
But now that Spring Training is coming to a close and the roster has been trimmed to 32 players, it's pretty clear what the team will be like Opening Day.
Possibly the team's Achilles heal, the starting rotation is most likely going to be Shawn Hill, Odalis Perez, Tim Redding, Jason Bergmann, and Matt Chico.
Although Hill appears to be the Nats' number one starter, he will not pitch on Opening Day because of arm problems and will instead pitch last.
Surprisingly, the team released its former ace, right-hander John Patterson, on Thursday due to lack of performance.
The team would rather give younger pitchers like John Lannan and Chico a chance.
The bullpen, definitely one the Nats' strengths, will most likely be Jon Rauch, Luis Ayala, Jesus Colome, Saul Rivera, Joel Hanrahan, Ray King, and Chad Cordero as the closer.
There has been so much speculation on the starting rotation that these guys been overlooked but the bullpen will be an important part once the starting pitchers give up too many runs and Manny has to take them out early.
The outfield is more than solid with powerhouse Wily Mo Pena in left, Lastings Milledge in center, and killer-arm Austin Kearns in right.
With new support and confidence, Milledge is making Jim Bowden look good by hitting well and stealing bases.
All have shown their strength at the plate during spring training. I think these guys will be the most reliable and most consistent players during the season.
Elijah Dukes, who either strikes out or hits a long homer, will be the fourth outfielder.
The infield was the big question mark coming into spring, but for me it's leaving a big exclamation point.
Ryan Zimmerman is, of course, the starting third baseman for the next three centuries and Cristian Guzman, coming back from two years of injuries, will be the shortstop.
There was a war at second base between Felipe Lopez and Ronnie Belliard, but Lopez has lost the job by barely hitting and making five careless errors.
His attitude towards the situation isn't helping himself either—I thought we got rid of Ryan Church!
The Battle of the Bulge took place at first base (literally) between heavyset men Dmitri Young and Nick Johnson.
Their performances correlated with their weight and Johnson won the starting job.
Expect to see Johnson a steady defender and hit clean up with a high BA.
Paul Lo Duca will be the starting catcher with Johnny Estrada and Will Nieves to back him up.
Lo Duca hasn't really gotten to prove himself because he's been hurt for weeks but Acta trusts him from all those years together on the Mets.
The young team has changed for the better and players like Zimmerman, Milledge, Belliard, Johnson, and Guzman are bound to have great years. With each player coming into the new stadium with something to prove, the Nationals will be a fun team to watch.
Thanks to Jim Bowden's offseason work the pieces of the puzzle are starting to fit together pretty nicely.
In the evenly matched NL East, expect the Nationals to get third place and have a .500 year.
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6 months ago
Evenly matched NL East? I must disagree.
Nats in third place? I don't see that happening with the Phillies, Mets, and Braves in the same division.
Out of curiosity, who do you see in first and second place?
6 months ago
Marla, you my girl and everything but Bowden is a boob, Guzman is put together with chicken wire, (although the LASIK may help his batting eye) and Milledge...who knows. The most improved thing about the Nats will be the Park and the food. If we finish fourth I will owe you a crab cake. One more problem is our down grade at catcher.
Keep writing I like your style.
6 months ago
OKAY, PLEASE.... lets get real here. There is no chance for a .500 team to get third place in the NL East one of the best divisions in baseball. With the Mets Phils and Braves all sitting atop it, all having a shot at first. I got even the marlins with my boy hanley finishing ahead of the nationals. They had the worst offseason of anyone EVER. Lets see who they got... Lastings Milledge, seems promising but horrible attitude so obviously hes gonna clash with Elijah Dukes (how many kids does that guy have???? oh yeah 5 KIDS 4 DIFFERENT MOTHERS PLUS HES BEEN ARRESTED 6 TIMES SINCE '98) so the both of them are gonna go good with steriod abuser, locker room killer Paul Lo Duca... No wonder why the mets got rid of him and lastings... Not to mention cocky for someone who has no skill odalis perez... i cant even imagine what the locker room is gonna be like there (possibly a fight club) and they have no where near enough talent to even compete in the nl east.. ok wow im done
6 months ago
OKAY, PLEASE.... lets get real here. There is no chance for a .500 team to get third place in the NL East one of the best divisions in baseball. With the Mets Phils and Braves all sitting atop it, all having a shot at first. I got even the marlins with my boy hanley finishing ahead of the nationals. They had the worst offseason of anyone EVER. Lets see who they got... Lastings Milledge, seems promising but horrible attitude so obviously hes gonna clash with Elijah Dukes (how many kids does that guy have???? oh yeah 5 KIDS 4 DIFFERENT MOTHERS PLUS HES BEEN ARRESTED 6 TIMES SINCE '98) so the both of them are gonna go good with steriod abuser, locker room killer Paul Lo Duca... No wonder why the mets got rid of him and lastings... Not to mention cocky for someone who has no skill odalis perez... i cant even imagine what the locker room is gonna be like there (possibly a fight club) and they have no where near enough talent to even compete in the nl east.. ok wow im done
6 months ago
i have to agree with the above comments. No chance this team finishes .500. The Braves look to be reloaded this year, and I think Glavine and Smoltz are going to make their last years memorable. They finally look as if they will have a solid starting rotation as well as a lineup that will not be explosive but productive. The Mets are just better. Period. On paper, on the field, everywhere. The only team they will finish ahead of is the Marlins because the fish don't have Cabrera to knock in some runs. Sorry, but the Nats don't look much better than last year.
6 months ago
John Patterson will sign with the Astros and he will be a great number 5 starter for the Houston Astros
from 6 months ago
Ha Ha. Not with an 88 mph fastball he won't. He won't make more than 5 starts (in which he will pitch horribly) before he gets hurt again. Dude is a 30 year old broken down pitcher with a meager 18 career wins.
6 months ago
I am with you on the .500 finish. So much so that I am having a little contest. It is a simple contest.
*Contest - Predict the Washington Nationals Record for the 2008 Season
To all Washington Nationals’ fans, I am holding a contest for the 2008 baseball season. It is very simple, tell me how you think the Washington Nationals will fare this year. All you have to do is tell me what you think their record will be at the end of the season.
I personally believe the team will improve on last year’s 73-89 record and .451 winning percentage. For a tie breaker I will need you to answer the following questions. What team will win the National League East? What team will win the 2008 World Series?
Each Friday, after opening day I will update the leader board on the History’s Perspective page at NationalsPride.com. At the end of the season the winner will be given a plaque stating that you won the 2008 contest, plus you will have a chance to write a story on the History’s Perspective page at NationalsPride.com.
Please e-mail your answers to mhornbaker@comcast.net before 12:00 noon on March 30, 2008. If you have a Washington Nationals blog, you can give me the name of the blog and I will mention your site if you are on the leader board.
Mark Hornbaker – History’s Perspective at NationalsPride.com
Here is my prediction:
Nationals 2008 record: 81 – 81 .500
National League East Winner: Atlanta Braves
World Series Winner: Detroit Tigers
6 months ago
I'd to adress the following issues people have with this article.
Claire the fact that 3 NL East were fighting for a playoff spot last season shows they're evenly matched have you seen the record agaisnt each other?! I expect the phils and mets to get 1and2.
Let I remind everyone that the Nats finished 81-81 in 2005 and they have the best team ever right now. (see my article)
Landis I think Bowden is excellent the way he's drafts and got Soriano, D. Young, Willy Mo, Belliard those guys have really paided off. He utilizes the Nats budget.
Matt might I remind you these players are actually down to earth and know they're down to their last chance and its only how they perform on the field that matters. Do you seriouslythink LoDuca ganna do steriods after the huge public humilitaion.
Everyone is underestimating the Nats, I'll let their playing so far speak for themselves. guess whose beating your teams.
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