With the Nats preparing to head north from spring training in Viera for their third season on the Anacostia, it’s time to take a brief look back at last year, and introduce this year’s edition.

Last year, the Nats completely reversed the trends from their inaugural season. Back in 2005, the team started fast, using a combination of excellent pitching and solid defense to make up for a light hitting lineup, establishing RFK as a “pitcher’s park”. In 2006, the defense and starting pitching fell apart, and the team went straight to the cellar in the East and never looked back. The offense, though, was greatly improved with the addition of Alfonso Soriano’s MVP-caliber season and mid-season acquisitions Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez. After the All Star break, the team was second in the NL in getting men on base, though it didn’t translate into fantastic run production. The team stumbled down the stretch, buoyed only by Soriano’s 40/40 quest, and finished with only 71 wins.

In 2007, with permanent ownership finally in place, the team has focused on “The Plan,” a catch-all term for the team’s shifted priorities under team President Stan Kasten. The Plan focuses on building a top-flight scouting and player development system, and restocking the barren farm system. At the major league level, the team traded away, released, or failed to re-sign many of last year’s major contributors, choosing to compile prospects and draft picks with an eye on being competitive in the new stadium, which gets closer to completion every day down on South Capitol Street.

Panorama by Flickr user randomduck.

In the infield, the good news is that 3B Ryan Zimmerman returns to build on his stellar rookie campaign. After Zim, the situation is in disarray: 2B Jose Vidro’s departure necessitated a shift over from shortstop for Felipe Lopez, who had a solid bat last year, but was a defensive liability. Replacing him at short is ‘05 starter and Favorite Fan Punching Bag, Cristian Guzman, who sat out last year with a tear in his shoulder. 1B Nick Johnson, coming off a career year in ’06, is still rehabbing his leg from last fall’s gruesome break. While the team was hoping Larry Broadway would take advantage of the opening at first, he had one extra-base hit in 21 AB in the Grapefruit League, and the team quickly pulled the plug on his chances, letting veterans Travis Lee, rookie Kory Casto and the troubled Dmitri Young battle it out to be the interim starter.

In the outfield, the situation sounds settled, but appears less so. RF Austin Kearns returns as the everyday starter. All spring, new manager Manny Acta has said Kearns would be joined by CF Nook Logan and LF Ryan Church as the opening day starters, whatever happens this spring. However, with the duo combining to hit .195 and with newcomer Chris Snelling having a great spring, Acta could be pressured to adjust his thinking. Casto and Alex Escobar (starting the year on the DL) will also push for playing time.

In the battery, C Brian Schneider hopes to continue his hot hitting in the second half of ’06. On the defensive side, he’s asserting his leadership of an inexperienced group of pitchers vying for a spot on the Opening Day roster. John Patterson returns from a long injury layoff as the No. 1 starter, having never won more than nine games in a season. Behind him is a gang of unproven prospects and veterans looking for a second (or first) chance at the league with the Nats. Based on spring training performances, it appears as though righties Shawn Hill and Jason Simontacchi, as well as southpaw rookie Matt Chico, have nailed down spots in the rotation, though Simontacchi is already battling a leg problem that may cause him sit out. The fifth starter will likely be one of three righties, Jerome Williams, Tim Redding, or Jason Bergmann. But with this unproven and injury-prone rotation, we can also expect to see Mike O’Conner, Brandon Claussen, or even Pedro Astacio up with the Nats by May.

Thankfully, the team’s relief corps appears solid once again, since they’ll need to eat a ton of innings. The pen is again anchored by Chad Cordero as the closer, with righties Ryan Wagner and Big Jon Rauch returning as the primary setup men.

Season Outlook: This year, the results on the field at RFK will often be gruesome for the home team, and anything less than 95 losses will be considered a pleasant surprise. The real excitement will be in observing the evolving style of new manager Manny Acta and in watching the development of potential stars like Chico and Casto. Besides, isn't much of the joy of baseball is in the experience of sitting outside in the summer air with a hot dog and a cold drink?

We’ll just have to keep telling ourselves that.