NL East Preview: Washington Nationals

When a team struggles so much in a division that seems top heavy at the moment it takes some true dedication to cover them. Enter Federal Baseball and Ed Chigliak. Ed is dedicated to covering the Nationals over at Sports Blog Nation and if you get a chance you should drop by and check it out.

Ed was kind enough to answer some questions about the Nationals, their reasons for optimism in 2009, and touch a little on the division.

Questions about the Washington Nationals

The Nationals finished at 59-102 last year for last place in the NL East. What will be the key to turning things around in 2009?

What would you consider “turning things around” from a 102-loss season? Most projections I’ve read have the Nationals winning 70-75 games, an 11-16 game improvement over last season’s record.

To do that, Washington will have to stay healthy, have two or three of their pitchers reach double-digit wins, (which only one did last season), have Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes and Ryan Zimmerman play up to expectations, have Nick Johnson play 130 games, and have Adam Dunn do exactly what he’s done in each of the last five seasons.

Those things, along with one or two of the young pitchers stepping up, at least as much as this year’s ace John Lannan did last year when he was (9-15) in 31 starts. If all that goes right, turning stuff around is a distinct possibility...

What is the Nationals' strongest asset for 2009? The weakest?

The power in the middle of the Nationals’lineup is probably the strongest “asset”. In terms of their strongest weapon, with Zimmerman hopefully seeing better pitches in front of Dunn, and Dunn and Johnson providing power and showing discerning eyes at the plate, with each averaging around 100 walks per season.

Those three followed by Elijah Dukes, Austin Kearns or Josh Willingham...is it wrong for me to be excited about what this collection of talent could produce?

The weakest asset has to be the starting rotation, though, if John Lannan continues to improve, Scott Olsen and Daniel Cabrera prosper under pitching coach Randy St. Claire, and the still-unnamed fourth and fifth starters have respectable campaigns.


Can the Nationals stay healthy this year?

They remade the entire training staff after last season, so it’ll be interesting to see if that makes a difference, or if it was just a fluke that the Nationals had so many injuries in ‘08.

It’s not like everyone was pulling hamstrings or groins...there were shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees...it was an injury epidemic...and even though there have been a few injuries already this spring I can’t imagine it being as bad as last year again.


What is the state of the team after the fiasco involving the general manager recently? [Former Nationals general manager Jim Bowden is being investigated by the FBI]

Mike Rizzo is the “Acting” GM until Stan Kasten says otherwise. What fiasco? Jim who? I’m excited about Mike Rizzo, was excited about him when he came over as the Assistant GM after overseeing the scouting for Arizona during the time in which they drafted Brandon Webb, Justin Upton, Stephen Drew...Conor Jackson, Chad Tracy...etc.

I can’t wait to see what Rizzo pulls off with one of the Nationals’ outfielders before the season in what is his first real test.



The Nationals made a splash this off season by bringing in Adam Dunn. Will it be worth it?

Dunn’s good for 40 HR/100 RBI...right? Alfonso Soriano hit 46 HR’s with 95 RBI in ‘06, and Washington was able to win 71 games that year. Soriano got $10M that year, Dunn got two-years/$20M.

Dunn hit 40 and 100 each year with the Reds, but Cincy never got over 80 wins when he was there...you get the point. As long as they don’t run out of money when it comes to signing the No. 1 and No. 10 picks this year, Dunn should hit some homers...they’re fun to watch.

What player(s) may be under the radar right now that baseball fans should be watching?

Jordan Zimmermann (two n's)...Is he still under the radar? The Nationals’ second Round pick, 67th overall in 2007 is threatening to jump from Double-A to DC this Spring. Though they might hold him back a little while, he should make an impact for the Nationals at some point this year.

A 6’2" right-hander out of Wisconsin, whose four-pitch arsenal is impressing everyone who’s seen him. And intentionally getting ahead of myself, if you haven’t started watching or following Stephen Strasburg yet, if all goes according to plan, he’ll be in a Nationals’ uniform by September...

Tell us why the Nationals will make the playoffs...

Third place is ambitious. Playoffs will shock the baseball world...


Tell us why the Nationals will not make the playoffs...

The Nationals won’t make the playoffs because they don’t play in the NL West, where .500 is competitive...(Sorry, NL West!)...but the NL East is gonna be tough.

The Mets think they’re rebuilt, the Phillies haven’t changed much from last year’s Series winner, the Braves’ rotation could be the division’s best, and the Marlins have Hanley Ramirez and a rotation that could catch everyone sleeping. Stranger things have happened though.

I can’t think of anything stranger than the Nationals in the playoffs right now...

What is the biggest question mark going into 2009 for the Nationals?

The overcrowded outfield...or really, the OF/1B situation. Willingham and Dunn both think of themselves as left fielders. Johnson’s anchored at first (if healthy, of course). Willingham doesn’t have a lot of experience at first in the Majors. Dunn is a defensive liability there (anywhere really).

Something has to give here, or Willingham has to accept a part-time, backup role in left.


Questions about the NL East

Please give me your prediction for the final standings in the NL East.

1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Mets
4. Nationals
5. Marlins
   

What one player in the NL East would you love to insert into your every day lineup (pitchers excluded)?

Hanley Ramirez. (Sorry, Cristian Guzman!) In two years...Cameron Maybin in center.


Who is the MVP within the NL East?

Adam Dunn of course.


World Series prediction...

The Yankees bought one this winter...(C’mon BoSox and Rays!)...Yanks over Phils...
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Thanks to Ed of Federal Baseball for some good information regarding the Nationals. Again, be sure to check out Federal Baseball for anything Nationals related you could possibly think of. For you Twitter folks you can follow @federalbaseball as well.