Comments on: Springtime Storylines: Is this just another season in limbo for the Nationals?

By: cur68

cur68 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 04:22:43 +0000

Two words; Roger Bernadina. He’s legitimately in the best shape of his life. Either that or he had grapefruit implanted under his sleeves. I gotta think of him as the “X” factor here. Of all MLB players I think, for no reason other than I admire those guns, that he’ll be the difference maker for the Nats by playing some quality ball. I see them not owning the basement on the strength of Roger’s big shoulder’s (offensively and defensively) , Werth’s offense, and a better starting rotation than in previous years. Ankiel will be riding pine before the month of May is out.

By: fatcatt

fatcatt — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 02:56:43 +0000

I think it all comes down to pitching with both the Nats and O’s. I like jordan Z here as a wild card. If he can come back and continue to progress he helps this team win 8 more games and only because im unsure the bullpeen can give him more than that. Its probably less but i’ll give the kid the beneifit of the doubt. The O’s on the otherhand can bolster their win total on the account of The Buck Sho and their pitching. They have some studs progressing and will give them a few more wins along with Uncle Buck over the Nats this year. They will beat the Yanks eneough to put them ahead of the Nats total. The sox (who i cant stand by the way) 1st. Then the Tampa 2. Yanks (barely) and O’s tie for 3rd.(Thats right you heard it hear first) and the Jays Last. Batista wont come near last years break out season. And the others will continue to disappoint from 2 seasons ago. I dont think they have a healthy or solid pen all season. Lack of a solid #1. And nor do the rest of their starters progress eneough. However they continue to give the Yanks trouble

By: madhatternalice

madhatternalice — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:46:04 +0000

submitted respectfully to @redheadedbastard

Everyone’s in love with Tampa. Why? Yes, they have good pitching, but outside of Longoria or Upton, who is going to hit the ball? Time will tell.

Toronto: really? What does “The Jays are not gonna be a push over” actually mean? Their pitching got worse (the loss of Marcum is going to really, really hurt them), and they have to hope Bautista continues to knock the cover off the ball, or they’re going to be in for a very, very rough season.

Also, I’d sell my kidney and your kidney for a .500 season out of the Nats.

By: redheadedbastard

redheadedbastard — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:55:05 +0000

Expectations are useless. The O’s have made upgrades to their team just as much as the Nationals have made upgrades. The O’s still play in the AL East where the Yankees and Red Sox reside. The Jays are not gonna be a push over and Tampa has more talent than the O’s. The Nationals’ upgrades were more about defense and role acceptance. They were unable to acquire quality starting pitching but that doesnt mean that its an automatic last place finish. I feel that it is likely they will finish last but not by much as the Mets do have question marks of their own, while Atlanta, Philly, and Florida have pretty solid teams. Its too much to speculate and to have expectations as to where theses perennial last place teams will end up at the end of the season becuase the real games have not even started. And yes, i would sell a kidney to have the Nationals have a .500 record or better.

By: BC

BC — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:48:48 +0000

They’ll duke it out with the Mets to stay out of last. Maybe 75-77 wins.

By: dodger88

dodger88 — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:46:46 +0000

I don’t think the O’s sniff .500; on paper I say the Rays and Jays are both better than Baltimore. If a lot goes right for the O’s, they could challenge one or both of them but I think the O’s finish last once again, just like the Nats.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:35:01 +0000

They tried hard to better their pitching staff, but alas, no cigars. Should score plenty, but rarely more than their opponents.

By: madhatternalice

madhatternalice — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:23:41 +0000

tell me you’re dreaming here. you can’t compare the nats to the o’s. expectations for the o’s are .500 and 4th place (although 3rd in the AL East wouldn’t surprise me, as I think a lot of the TB love is unfounded). nationals fans would sell a kidney for a .500 season.

By: dodger88

dodger88 — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 19:48:33 +0000

Much like their DC area cousins the Orioles, they will be rewarded for their efforts with a last place finish. I like the offense, althought it might lack consistency. If/when the pitching improves they may finally leap frog the Mets and Marlins and play some meaningful late summer games. Figure 2013.