We all know how baseball works.

Baseball is littered with teams cursed with the “woulda, shoulda, coulda” curse. Point is, you can never just assume you’ll be back. You can’t actually think the NL will be this weak again for a while (this is the weakest NL, overall, in years). Championships aren’t easy to win. Anytime you have a shot at it, you have to go for it. What else are you saving him for?

1) The Strasburg Situation – The Nats did the same thing with Zimmermann last year and, since they only won 80 games, nobody blinked. Rizzo has long said the plan was to contend in 2013. It happened a year sooner but, they weren’t going to deviate from Strasburg’s innings limit. And it was not just because of TJ surgery. The most innings he’s pitched in a season was the 125 or so he pitched in 2010. No way they were going to go past 160, regardless of the situation. We’ve come to grips with it, why can’t everyone else.

2) Nats fans – You’re talking about building a fan base in a town where most people are from somewhere else. It takes time. Granted, DC loves a front runner (see Washington Caps) and hyped players (hello Ovie, RG3, Harper and Strasburg) but, this team has been here 8 short years, it will take time for real fans to develop. Show me a team that succeeds who doesn’t get fairweathers (i.e. Boston Red Sox).

3) This team is a contender – Say what you want (I know Championships are not quaranteed) but, this is a good young team that will compete for the next several years. Mets are in trouble and Loria is going to blow up the Marlins yet again. We’re going to see some great races between the Nats, Phils and Braves over the next few years so, rather than bitch about arrogant fans (haven’t mentioned Phillie fans once), maybe we should all just enjoy what is to come in the NL East.

The Cards are a hell of a good team but, I have confidence that Davey can get these guys ready for Game 4. And, if not, only about 130 days until pitchers and catchers report.

I don’t know about “chilidish” in their taunts – I mean all teams have fans that will do that. I think the thing that gets peoples goats up our way is the DC fans (not all, just the ones who do) that behave as though this season a dynasty makes. Not that I have a crystal ball and know what the next several years will bring. And heck, if they roll off a string of 95 win seasons, then the bragging rights are theres. But until then…..I’m telling you, it is a LOT harder to stay on top. Wait until next year when they are 3 games back, and all the press are writing there obit. It happened to the Phillies in ’08 – even September of that year. That group of Phillies was laid back, and let everything roll off of then (they still sort of do), they really had somethign special, and they just won…..and won…..and won. But a lot of Nats fans don’t realize it was HARD to do what the Phillies did – and somehow thing that what they have on paper translates to severl more crowns. All i would say is – lets wait and see

May have a great future like the phillies in 07 who got beat up and came back in 08 on a mission. And I can guess if they lose, fans will fade away if they dont get out too a fast start next year.

My advice is to not care what the fans of other teams think. And to start drinking heavily. You can trust me. I’m pre-med.

Strasburg would have started game 1. Teams don’t start from scratch at the end of the season and remake their rotation. Strasburg was number 1 in the rotation all year, and would have started game one.

Whether he could or could not have done enough by himself is irrelevant. My point is that the Washington Nationals went into the playoffs with a real shot at a championship and chose not to put their best team on the field. And that point is 100% undebatable.

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/14/the-nationals-are-looking-pretty-scary-right-now/

http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/17/bryce-harper-to-kids-be-as-sexy-as-you-can/

Also, a Strasburg win is not a foregone conclusion. After all, this was his first full season in the bigs, and even if he was still in top form, it’s highly unlikely that he would have pitched a complete game shutout. The bullpen has been less than spectacular this series and would have probably given up a run or two, and while Strasburg was hitting the ball pretty well the first half of the season, he probably wouldn’t have been able to provide enough scoring by himself.

They’re a better team with Strasburg, undoubtedly, but it’s unlikely he would have done enough by himself to completely change the series as it stands right now.