2011 Washington Nationals Season Preview: The Dawn of a Contender
The 2011 baseball season is upon us. Warm weather, the crack of the bat and click-clacking cleats can be heard all over. Every team in the league is excited at the thought of a successful season ahead. New faces in new places make fans believe this is the year for the hometown team.
There is an air of excitement in a city that has not had baseball success in decades. That city is Washington D.C. The new-look Nationals bring optimism that has not been seen before at Nationals Park.
As you will see, this version of the Nats is a mix of talented veterans, young up-and-coming treasures from the farm system and two of the brightest stars in baseball. The 2011 Washington Nationals season will be the Dawn of a Contender.
2011 National League East Preview: Can the Phillies Be Beaten?
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The National League East will be a tough battleground for the Nationals as usual. The defending champion Phillies are coming back as strong as ever and look forward to defending their division crown. Let's take a quick peek at the teams the Nats will battle for a division pennant this season.
The 2011 Braves look to repeat their successful 2010 trip to the playoffs again this season. They have a solid hitting lineup, which gained some much-needed power with the arrival of former Marlin Dan Uggla. Pitching is an area of strength for the Braves, as always, led by Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe. It looks to be another solid year for Atlanta.
The Marlins look to be in a rebuilding phase heading into 2011. They have a stud at each of the major positions but not much else. Josh Johnson is as good as anyone at the top of their starting rotation. Closer Leo Nunez showed a lively fastball that should bode well saving games for Florida. Hanley Ramirez is the best all-around shortstop in the game but it looks like a rough year ahead for the Marlins.
The 2011 Mets are a mess. They have injuries to their high-priced overvalued players, a lack of talent in numerous areas and ownership problems that will undoubtedly seep onto the playing field. The roster from last season is worse in 2011 except for the lone bright spot at third base, David Wright. The Mets better buy some brooms because it looks like they may be sweeping the basement of the NL East.
The Phillies return in 2011 as the class of the division again. The defending NL East champions have assembled a Mt. Rushmore of starting pitchers with Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt. Add in a lineup with Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and a hopefully healthy Chase Utley and the Phils will be tough to beat again in 2011.
Position Preview: Catcher
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The catcher position is one of strength for the Nationals. The starter will be future Hall of Famer Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. Pudge is a master at calling games from behind the plate. He uses his years of experience to help veterans and youngsters alike and was doing an amazing job with phenom Stephen Strasburg last season. He will continue to lead the way with a solid bat and amazing arm that few dare to run on. His biggest asset to the team is his leadership.
Backing up Pudge is the future man behind the plate, Wilson Ramos. He was acquired from the Twins last season in the trade that sent away reliever Matt Capps. Ramos was a star prospect with the Twins but could not crack the lineup trapped behind Joe Mauer. He wields a potent bat but needs to become a better game manager defensively. He will see increased playing time in a platoon role as he is groomed to eventually take over for Pudge.
Having the flamboyant Pudge Rodriguez on the team is so valuable to the youngster Ramos and his development into the Nats future everyday catcher. He will also provide one of the best minds to ever call a game in the history of baseball for the slew of young arms the Nationals have gathered in recent years. The progression of young superstars Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann will be directly related to their experiences with Rodriguez. Ramos may be the man who will see most of the action with the up and coming Cy Young candidates, but their success will be rooted from the instruction and direction of Pudge Rodriguez. This mix of veteran experience and youthful potential should serve the Nats well behind the plate this season.
Position Preview: First Base
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This is the position of great debate for the 2011 Nationals. You will no longer see moonshot home runs coming off the bat of fan favorite Adam Dunn. During the offseason the team decided not to retain Dunn and allowed him to leave via free agency to the Chicago White Sox. Many felt Dunn was a defensive liability at first base, but I feel he improved as the season went along. He did an admirable job considering he was in his first full season at the position, had a rookie shortstop and a fluctuating second basemen all year.
It is very hard to replace 40 home runs, 100 runs batted in and 100 walks a season from the middle of your lineup, which is what Dunn provided. In my opinion this was a mistake and Adam Dunn will be greatly missed.
The Nats did redeem themselves by adding steady veteran Adam LaRoche from the Diamondbacks. This Adam will provide a major upgrade in defense at first but will not provide the power and protection that Dunn did in the middle of the Nats lineup. LaRoche should save runs with his defensive play, which will stop long, damaging innings after errors that the team suffered through last season. LaRoche has a big pair of shoes to fill, literally and figuratively, but he should do an adequate job.
Position Preview: Second Base
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The position of second base was a major disappointment last season. Veterans Adam Kennedy and Christian Guzman were horrible both in the field and at the plate. The position was a wasteland until the new kid on the block was called up to the big leagues, Danny Espinosa.
I know he has only played about two months at the big league level, but what is not to like about this kid? He has surprising power at the plate, which is a luxury at the position, and he can also be put in positions throughout the lineup to get on base for the big bats. He is a great baserunner with major speed and base-stealing ability. Espinosa came up to the Nats last September and hit home runs on a regular basis in his limited stint with the team. He can follow the big boys batting at the end of the order or he can turn into a leadoff hitter with power.
The most amazing thing is I haven't talked about the best part of his game: defense. Espinosa has an A-plus arm, great feel for positioning and the best glove I have seen at second base in quite a few years. He makes double plays seem effortless and his throws are always on the money. He has the great instincts that are required to play the middle infield positions. If the Ian Desmond experiment at shortstop does not work, Danny could slide back to his natural position and the Nats would not miss a beat. In my opinion, Espinosa is the best second base prospect I have seen in many years.
When comparing him to history, I feel Espinosa can be as good as anyone to play the position. He has that "it" factor that scouts talk about. No play seems impossible when he is on the field. He appears magical when playing defense, leaving me to compare him to the best defensive second baseman ever, Roberto Alomar. Great things are ahead for the Nationals with Danny Espinosa manning second base for years to come.
Position Preview: Third Base
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It is safe to say the third-base position is the strongest on the Nationals team, manned by Ryan Zimmerman. The first draft pick in the history of the franchise has done nothing to disappoint since arriving in 2005. He has fast become the best overall third baseman in the game. Ryan has already proven to be a better clutch hitter than Alex Rodriguez, a better fielder than David Wright or Evan Longoria and the best all-around bat at the position throughout the majors.
Zimmerman has won back-to-back National League Silver Slugger awards in 2009 and 2010 for the best hitter at third base and won the National League Gold Glove for best fielder at third base in 2009 and fell just short of a repeat in 2010. Ryan made his first All-Star appearance in 2009 and was second in fan balloting in 2010.
Ryan is now firmly entrenched as the face and leader of this franchise and the team couldn't ask for anyone better. Nationals fans are watching one of the best in the business at third base every game. He progresses in every stage of his game year to year. He has drawn comparisons to the legendary Brooks Robinson.
Ryan Zimmerman is to the Nationals what Derek Jeter is to the Yankees. He is Mr. National and will someday be the first true Nationals player to become a member of the MLB Hall of Fame.
Position Preview: Shortstop
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Shortstop Ian Desmond burst onto the scene in his first full season at the position and became a favorite of manager Jim Riggleman. Desmond has great range and gets to most balls hit his way. However, he had a major problem with errors last season committing 34. In watching the development of Desmond, it seemed most of those came as throwing errors that should get better once he learns to control his arm strength, which is very good. Having Adam LaRoche at first base should also help if throws continue to be erratic.
I feel that Desmond and Espinosa will form one of the best double-play tandems in the majors for years to come.
Desmond brings a solid bat with sneaky power to the table as well. He is a proficient baserunner with stolen-base ability, which will be a major asset since he has he landed the leadoff role in the batting order this season. He is an up-and-coming star, which enables the Nats to know their shortstop position is in good hands for many years to come.
Position Preview: Left Field
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The Nationals traded away left fielder Josh Willingham during the offseason and opened the competition for the spot this spring. The clear winner is new starting left fielder Michael Morse. He has been a spot contributor for the Nationals in the past but will now get his chance to shine.
Morse will provide power to the middle of the Nats lineup and a solid glove in the field. He will start the season as a relative unknown but will be on the minds of all baseball fans and opponents as the season unfolds. Morse offers the team flexibility by being able to play either corner outfield position, first base and even some shortstop in a pinch, which is where he played in the early part of his career.
Morse is finally going to get his chance at full playing time this season. He displayed power last season in his platoon role in the outfield. His numbers projected out to around 30 home runs for a full season of 500-600 at bats. Morse has waited a long time for this opportunity and I expect him to take full advantage of it.
I expect big things from Morse this season. His flexibility allows him to give days off throughout the lineup while also establishing himself as the everyday left fielder. The hard work and dedication he has given to the Nats while not becoming a locker room problem will be rewarded with this opportunity to be a full time starter. He will find himself providing much needed power and run producing at bats for a team looking to replace the lost production of the departed slugger Adam Dunn. In Morse, the Nationals have found a diamond in the rough. He will be a major part of the Nats success this season and into the future.
Position Preview: Center Field
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The most hotly contested position battle at spring training has been in center field. It has pitted returning veteran and sometimes volatile Nyjer Morgan against former Cardinals star Rick Ankiel.
Morgan has been with the team the last two years. He came in with a bang showing speed and aggressiveness that the team needed. He finished last season with an aggressiveness that the team doesn't need, displaying an uncontrollable temper.
Ankiel brings steady veteran play and a toughness that has allowed him to hurdle many obstacles in his career. It appears that Ankiel is the winner of this battle with the recent trade of Morgan to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Ankiel started his career as a potential top-three starting pitcher in the Cards rotation. He was playing well then developed a control problem. He could not hit the strike zone anymore. Ankiel suffered through years of frustration but kept plugging away until the Cardinals allowed him to switch to the outfield in order to make the team. The rest is history.
Ankiel has now found an everyday job with the Nats. He should provide leadership and experience but will not be a long-term answer at the position.
Position Preview: Right Field
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Jayson Werth said, "Show me the money," and boy, did the Nationals. Werth became the first big-time free-agent signing in team history when, on Sunday December 5, 2010, the Nationals signed him to a seven-year deal worth $126 million.
This signing sent shock waves throughout major league baseball. It did so for two reasons. The first is the obvious large dollar amount usually reserved for the likes of the Yankees and Red Sox. The second is the arrival of the Nationals as a major player in Major League Baseball. The Nats are now competing with the big boys of the game. This signing was needed in order to convince future free agents that Washington is the place to be when it comes time for their decisions.
Werth will be crucial on the field and in the building of this team for the future. He has an arm that runners fear throughout baseball. He brings a bat that will hit for a high average as well as for power. He can steal bases and is a great baserunner. You can bat him anywhere in a lineup and he will produce what you need from that position. He also brings years of playoff and World Series experience with him from the Phillies, which will prove to be invaluable when the Nats start to make trips to the postseason. Werth will be worth every penny for the Nats.
Position Preview: Starting Pitchers
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The 2011 Washington Nationals starting pitching staff will be a major key to success. The lack of production from the starters wore down the bullpen halfway through last season. This trend must turn around in 2011.The staff has more questions than answers but could surprise with some rebound years from veterans. Here is the staff responsible for quality starts and a fresh bullpen for the 2011 Nats.
Livan Hernandez: Opening Day starter Livan Hernandez returns to lend his valuable years of pitching experience to the staff. He brings a sense of calm in pressure situations and frustrates opponents with his crafty ability to actually pitch instead of just throw. His precise, low-speed pitches eat up innings and give the Nats an opportunity to win each time he takes the mound.
John Lannan: 2010 Opening Day starter John Lannan pitched poorly before being sent down to the minors last season. He returned and pitched much better. He seemed to be more confident and was able to throw all of his pitches well. Lannan could be a major contributor if he can continue his late-season pitching performance for a full year in 2011.
Jordan Zimmermann: Youngster Jordan Zimmermann is back after Tommy John surgery and will be the ace of the staff by season's end. He has a full complement of pitches in his arsenal and looks to have a breakout season in 2011. He should establish himself as the clear No. 2 pitcher in the rotation for the 2012 season behind superstar Stephen Strasburg. They will form one of the top 1-2 pitching duos in baseball.
Jason Marquis: Marquis started the 2010 season with horrible results. We later found out he was injured. He did return but still did not pitch up to previous billing. He hopes to be 100 percent healthy this season and prove all the critics wrong. A 2009 Marquis could really help the Nats.
Tom Gorzelanny: Former Cubs pitcher Tom Gorzelanny has landed the No. 5 spot in the rotation. He brings experience to the staff and looks to be a solid option until some of the youngsters are ready to crack the rotation.
Position Preview: Bullpen
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The Nationals bullpen looks to be a new-and-improved version in 2011. Last season the bullpen started out well but soon wore down from overwork. This looks to be a much stronger area of the ballclub with the offseason moves made by the front office. If those moves prove correct, it could be the end of a bad nail-biting habit owned by most Nats fans last year. Here is the corps of pitchers due to put out fires for the Nats in 2011.
The long relief duties have been awarded to Brian Broderick, whom the Nats signed as a Rule 5 draft acquisition from the Cardinals. The 6'6" Broderick has really impressed the coaching staff in spring training.
Middle relief will be left to the trio of lefty Doug Slaten and right-handers Chad Gaudin and Todd Coffey. All three have experience in the bullpen with Slaten being one of the bright spots for the Nats last season. Gaudin has made many stops in the league and has experience as both a reliever and a starter. Coffey brings a much-needed excitement and flair with his vigorous runs from the bullpen to the mound. He looks to help with closing duties early on before settling in to a more defined role later in the season.
Setup duties will belong to lefty Sean Burnett and righty Tyler Clippard. Burnett progressed last season and soon became one of the steadier performers in relief. Clippard started like a ball of fire, leading the majors in wins with seven at one point of the season. Soon the glasses-wearing star faded due to a tired arm from overwork but finished the last month of the year strong.
The closer position is held down by second-year phenom Drew Storen. The former first-round pick of the Nats pitched very well early but struggled late in the season. 2011 will be his first full big league season and he will not disappoint. Storen looks to be the real deal with a nasty fastball and slider and a cool demeanor. That is a lethal combination when you look for a closer and the Nats have found theirs in Storen for years to come.
Position Preview: Bench
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You always hope that you can assemble a group of guys to make up your bench that are good enough to fill in when needed, and are also understanding of their lack of playing time. This proves to be very tricky for most teams. Either your production falls way off when the bench guy comes in or he starts to cause trouble with grumblings of his lack of playing time and opportunity.
The 2011 version of the Nats bench seems to have a bit of everything. Young catcher Wilson Ramos will see a good portion of playing time sharing the duties with Pudge Rodriguez. He appears to be the front-runner in the competition of Nats catcher of the future. He may take over the duties full-time if Pudge is traded at the deadline.
Veteran slugger Matt Stairs will provide a huge bat on the bench for those late-game situations when a home run or deep sacrifice fly is needed. He can also play first base in an emergency. The run on veteran bench players continues with the Nats choosing to keep longtime infielder Alex Cora. He has never been a major threat at the plate but plays solid defense and is a threat on the base paths. He won a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2007. That experience should be helpful to the Nats in their quest to do the same.
Jerry Hairston Jr. can play anywhere on the field and is the perfect bench player with his versatility. His ability to play in both the infield and outfield allows the team to carry an extra pitcher if needed.
Position Preview: Down on the Farm Position Players
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The Nationals have done a good job of rebuilding a farm system that was destroyed by the mismanagement of the Expos front office and the lack of interest from the MLB owners who were in charge of the team prior to its move to Washington from Montreal.
The Nationals have a top prospect at catcher in Derek Morris. The 22-year-old will give Wilson Ramos a run for his money at becoming the Nats catcher of the future once Pudge Rodriguez departs. He has a great arm and above-average power with the bat.
Chris Marrero is a big, powerful youngster at first base. He has the ability to become a huge threat at the plate but has struggled finding a position where his defense is not a liability. It looks like the experiment at first base may be his last chance or he may never live up to his early potential.
The Nats don't have middle infield or third base prospects high in their system. Hakuna Matata, No Worries, with Ryan Zimmerman, Espinosa and Desmond there for years to come.
The outfield has depth with Roger Bernadina only a phone call away following an impressive campaign in 2010. Should Ankiel fail in center the Nats have a great fallback plan that can hit, run and has a great arm. He should see plenty of time with the Nationals this summer.
The outfield is also where the star of the farm system and probable star of major league baseball presides. Bryce Harper is the crown jewel of the Nats position prospects. The 18-year-old first overall pick in the 2010 draft has drawn comparisons to the legendary Mickey Mantle. He is a natural catcher but the Nats want him to play in the outfield as a matter of need and more importantly to extend his career and protect his knees.
Harper has it all. Power, adequate speed, a great arm and unbelievable confidence. Some call him cocky and arrogant—I call him just what the doctor ordered for the Nationals. He should see time this season with the big club and be a fixture starting in 2012. He will be a superstar for the Nationals and will make Washington D.C. the place to be for all free agents looking for a new home.
Position Preview: Down on the Farm Pitchers
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The Nationals have had a philosophy when making trades since their arrival in town. Every trade made must include a pitcher in return. The thought behind this is you can never have enough arms. They have stockpiled and turned over the arms in trade after trade and the results are coming to fruition. The pitching is the clear strength of the Nats farm system.
Take a look at the Syracuse roster and you will see it littered with guys that were key components to the Nationals pitching staff in 2010. The Nats can call up an experienced thrower like Craig Stammen, who can start or come out of the bullpen. Stammen was a productive member of the starting rotation last year but had trouble in early innings. He seemed to conquer that problem by going to the bullpen and becoming a valuable middle and long reliever for the club. That kind of flexibility is invaluable.
The Nats have two members of the Chiefs that are future mainstays in either the starting rotation or bullpen in Collin Balester and Ross Detwiler. Both guys are big, tall, strong throwers that add quality to both facets of the pitching staff. Don't be surprised to see both up with the Nats early in the season and making large contributions. These two are in the minors now because of their availability of options.
To call the star of the Nats pitching down on the farm a minor league player is truly unfair. Stephen Strasburg is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. He should make a return to the Nats for a few starts in September. Strasburg burst onto the scene last June striking out 14 Pirates in his debut. Strasburg sent shock waves through baseball that have not been seen since Fernando Mania in the early '80s.
He has a 95-100 mph fastball, an unbelievable curveball and a filthy slider. He was the star of baseball in 2010 and will regain that spot upon his full return in 2012. Strasburg has "Cy Young" written all over him. He looks to be the cornerstone of this franchise and a permanent participant in the annual All-Star game.
Position Preview: Manager and Coaching Staff
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Manager Jim Riggleman returns to guide the Nationals again in 2011. He replaced former manager Manny Acta midway through the 2009 season and has brought a sense of stability to the team. He has led the Nats to a record of 102-135 in his one-and-a-half seasons in D.C. His calm and steady demeanor seems to be a good fit with the players and front office.
Riggleman will finally have a complete major league roster and depth at the minor league level as well. With good players at both levels at his disposal it will be up to Riggleman to prove that he is the right man to guide the Nats in 2012 when the club looks to become a legitimate contender, buoyed by the additions of Strasburg and Harper.
2011 Washington Nationals Coaching Staff
Batting Coach: Rick Eckstein
Pitching Coach: Steve McCatty
First-Base Coach: Dan Radison
Third-Base Coach: Bo Porter
Bench Coach: John McLaren
Bullpen Coach: Jim Lett
Coach: Trent Jewett
2011 Washington Nationals Projected Award Winners: The Nattys
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I thought it would be fun to create an awards program for the Washington Nationals. Without further ado, here they are, your Washington Nationals and their 2011 Awards Ceremony.
2011 Washington Nationals Awards: The Nattys
Most Valuable Player: Ryan Zimmerman
Offensive Player of the Year: Ryan Zimmerman
Defensive Player of the Year: Ryan Zimmerman
Starting Pitcher of the Year: Jordan Zimmerman
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Drew Storen
Surprise Player of the Year: Michael Morse
Newcomer of the Year: Jayson Werth
Infield Gold Glove of the Year: Ryan Zimmerman
Outfield Gold Glove of the Year: Jayson Werth
Silver Slugger Power Hitter of the Year: Michael Morse
Farm Call-Up Position Player of the Year: Roger Bernadina
Farm Call-Up Pitcher of the Year: Craig Stammen
2011 Washington Nationals: Season Prediction
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It's time to add it all up and see how this team will fare in the 2011 season. It seems the thought in the offseason was that for this team to take the next step in its development it needed to improve on defense. That explains why the Nats let the bat of Adam Dunn walk out the door and you replaced it with Adam LaRoche and his superior defense at first base. It shows why Rick Ankiel and his much more accurate throwing arm made Nyjer Morgan and his speed expendable. This philosophy also shows why now is the time to turn the middle of the infield over to the young double-play tandem of Desmond and Espinosa.
The Nats have made a decision to let everyone know they are a major player in the world of baseball with the huge signing of outfielder Jayson Werth. The signing let everyone know that the Nats are no longer an afterthought in the world of Major League Baseball. This move improves the Nats on the field, their image amongst players and insiders throughout the league and, most importantly, with their fans. The ownership has shown it will invest in this team and now it is time for the fans to do the same. The ballpark should be more crowded this summer with better results from the team on the field.
Here is what I see for the new-and-improved version of the 2011 Washington Nationals.
2011 National League East Standings
1. Philadelphia Phillies 102-60
2. Atlanta Braves 90-72
3. Washington Nationals 84-78
4. Florida Marlins 72-90
5. New York Mets 66-96
Yes, the Nats will have their best season in team history in 2011. Baseball will become a factor in Washington D.C. for the first time in decades and the Nats will finally be able to call themselves something they never have before—WINNERS!!!!!!
2011 Washington Nationals: The Dawn of a Contender
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The 2011 Washington Nationals will lay the groundwork for the future of the franchise. The front office has replenished the talent pool and the team is now ready to take off and climb the ladder into the elite levels of Major League Baseball. With the success of the 2011 season, manager Jim Riggleman will be re-signed and allowed to guide the team into the future.
The 2012 version of the Nats will be the buzz of baseball with the return of Stephen Strasburg and the full-time arrival of phenom Bryce Harper. A lineup featuring Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, Michael Morse, Wilson Ramos and Bryce Harper will put fear into pitchers across the league.
The 2012 Nats will feature one of the best double-play tandems in baseball with Ian Desmond and Danny Espinosa. They will make it very difficult for offenses to thrive against the Nats. Ryan Zimmerman will continue to win Gold Gloves at third and the lethal arm of Jayson Werth in right will keep runners from taking extra bases.
The 2012 Nationals will have one of the most potent pitching tandems in the majors with the return of flamethrower Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann. If one of the youngsters on the farm or a free agent comes along to secure the No. 3 spot in the rotation the Nats will have what you need to win seven-games series in the playoffs and World Series.
That's right, I just said playoffs and World Series in an article talking about the Washington Nationals. A baby must first crawl before it can walk, and walk before it can run. Since 2005 when the Nats arrived in Washington they have been crawling. In 2011 the Nats begin to walk. In 2012 the Nats will begin to run.
The 2011 Nationals will have their first winning season, will lay the groundwork for the 2012 season and beyond and it will prove to be the Dawn of a Contender!!!!!!
