Comments on: 2013 Preview: Washington Nationals

By: jdouble777

jdouble777 — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 18:09:04 +0000

We will blow it again…have to pay our dues before actually being home the championship. That said, this team is oozing with young stars and probably will stay legit long enough to squeeze one out at some point. Why signing Burnett as too expensive or irrational I have not a clue. Dodgers are probably one of the best teams in the history of baseball and will probably send us packing if nobody else does first. Nonetheless, should win enough to make the season fun. Really is a treat watching Strasburg and Harper building what could be a trip to Cooperstown for them both. Should e equally interesting the most overweight President in history finish a race 81 times.

By: madhatternalice

madhatternalice — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 23:11:44 +0000

Manny! I had forgotten about that!

Thanks…between you and someguy up there, MLB seems a little less sparkly today.

By: DelawarePhilliesFan

DelawarePhilliesFan — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 19:47:34 +0000

“I thought MLB’s drug enforcement policy only allowed individuals to be suspended if they failed an MLB-administered test”

I am answering a question – not trolling, not suggesting it will happen.

A player can and would be suspended if a prescription for a PED surfaced. On Manny Ramirez’s second go around, he did fail a test, but he appealed that test. A prescription then turned up, and MLB suspended him for that rather then go through the appeal of the test. I can’t recall who, but there was one other suspension that was for a precription turning up – and that guy did not fail test.

By: runnerish

runnerish — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:07:37 +0000

They played .500 ball last year with three or four scrubs in the lineup every day, terrible middle relief for most of the year, no Utley and Howard until July, and very little from Halladay and Worley.

By: someguyinva

someguyinva — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:59:12 +0000

erm, chain of custody, not command.

*derp*

By: someguyinva

someguyinva — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:54:36 +0000

The standards used are not that far off from those used by BBWAA members with Hall of Fame voting credentials:

- Positive test for PEDs? That’s a suspendin’
- Proof of possession of PEDs? That’s a suspendin’
- Negative test for PEDs? Doesn’t matter; where there’s smoke there’s fire. That’s a suspendin’
- Strong suspicion of possession of PEDs? That’s a suspendin’
- Positive test but able to appeal based on chain of command? We’ll let you go this time, but watch your back, fella.

By: madhatternalice

madhatternalice — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:29:46 +0000

The Nats can’t do anything about it, but if Major League Baseball decides to suspend the Biogenesis players, the Nats could lose one of their best pitchers for 50 games.

How exactly would that work? I thought MLB’s drug enforcement policy only allowed individuals to be suspended if they failed an MLB-administered test. This would be second-hand information, at best.

By: churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged

churchoftheperpetuallyoutraged — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:27:37 +0000

needs braces

By: historiophiliac

historiophiliac — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:18:02 +0000

Lisa

By: heyblueyoustink

heyblueyoustink — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:16:52 +0000

Now *that* made me laugh.

By: joejaws75

joejaws75 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:28:25 +0000

Wow hardball talk is really going out on a limb. Suckatude

By: buffalomafia

buffalomafia — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:13:21 +0000

It’s between the Nats & Braves! Then again if I was a betting man I’d pick the Nats because the Braves always had great teams but always & I say always choked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:07:04 +0000

The Phillies are going to struggle to play .500 ball, and if Halladay continues his decline, any chance of winning more than they lose becomes fanciful.

By: runteddyrun

runteddyrun — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:48:04 +0000

Natitude my friends, Natitude.

By: runnerish

runnerish — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:23:13 +0000

They’re certainly the chalk, but a starting pitching regression wouldn’t surprise me at all. And I wouldn’t write the Phillies off just yet, “only one good team in their division” wise.

By: hasbeen5

hasbeen5 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:10:14 +0000

Have you read this site before? Craig is clearly a Philly fan. /s

By: asimonetti88

asimonetti88 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:58:14 +0000

They’re not my team, but I hope they do well. I like Harper, I like Strasburg, and their rotation is full of good pitchers who are fun to watch. They have a lot of young talent and as a baseball fan you have to enjoy watching young players develop, learn the game and realize their potential.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:54:58 +0000

The Nats clearly are the most gifted team in MLB, as noted they have spare parts that would be starters on most teams. It is hard to see how they do not win the NL East, even if the Braves excel, and they are young, so look for them to contend for some time. Plus they play in a division that has only one other good team, so look for them to make a run at 100 wins. The play-offs are always a crap shoot, but expect them to have home team advantages.

By: Todd Boss

Todd Boss — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:45:54 +0000

This is literally the first Calcaterra post about the Nats that I can recall that doesn’t include a blatant troll of Nats fans. Congratulations.

By: kevinleaptrot

kevinleaptrot — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:58:21 +0000

Wouldn’t be surprised to see Rendon get some time at 2nd. Espinosa’s dealing with a rotator cuff issue in his non throwing shoulder. One tough dive for a ball could put him out of the lineup for a significant amount of time. Lombardozzi’s an option there too. I’d like to see the pitchers get a little better at holding runners at first, and apparently they’ve worked on that some this spring. It would be nice if the Nats didn’t strike out so much too, but at this point I may be nit picky. Looking forward to another great season from my Nats, and hopefully an extended run in the post season.

By: heyblueyoustink

heyblueyoustink — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:54:13 +0000

He strikes me to be more Bart than homer, but whatever.

By: alang3131982

alang3131982 — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 13:48:08 +0000

homer