Nats Update: Pessimists Be Damned!
73-89. Anyone who would have predicted that record at the start of the season would have been seen as either an optimist, an idiot, or both. After starting the season 9-25, the prognosticators who saw 100 losses seemed generous, but somehow the Nationals managed to play .500 ball (64-64) for the rest of the season, finish out of last place in the NL East for the first time since 2003, and win 2 more games than last year. Yet the Nationals were last in the Major Leagues in runs scored this year, and did lose 16 more games than they won. So congratulations on lowering expectations enough that we can celebrate 73 wins, but this team still doesn't look like a threat to contend for the post-season next season.
Where Are My Cheesesteaks?
The Nationals played their last 13 games against the Mets and Phillies, the two teams vying for the NL East. They went 5-1 against the Mets, and 2-5 against the Phillies all but ensuring the Phillies comeback and division crown. So Phillyist, where are our cheesesteaks? We practically gave you the division. I think you owe us something. How about this? If the Eagles continue their current level of play, we will call it even.
Photo by jjsoderberg
Looking Ahead
As the Nationals move into the off-season, a lot of eyes are going to be on Jim Bowden. Bowden and Kasten have already hinted that the team will not be acquiring any big free-agents this year, and that they will possibly look to trades to acquire the pieces that they need. While we agree with Manny Acta; "We are not one piece away from being a playoff-caliber team. We need more than one piece," 73 wins is not going to acceptable next year. Similarly, a $37 million dollar payroll will be tough to swallow while sitting in the brand new publicly funded stadium. The Lerners and Kasten need to show that they are willing to spend to improve this team.
The Lerners essentially threw their first season as owners, and saved a lot of money in the process. They did make some important steps towards rebuilding the team this year, but attendance was down this year to 14th in the National League. Stan Kasten has said thatit takes 3 million fans to run a franchise and compete. That would mean about a 50% increase from this year's total. It is certainly possible, but the ownership needs to give fans a reason to pay attention to this team. The big question this off-season will be what lengths are the Nationals willing to go to in order to improve this team?
Briefly Noted
After a strong debut, rookie Justin Maxwell is off to the Arizona Fall League. Maxwell hit .269 with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs after being called up in September... The Nats picked up Manny Acta's 2009 option on his contract... Dimitri Young has been named the "Comeback Player of the Year" for the National League...
Meaningless statistic of the week: The Nationals are tied with everyone else in the National League with 0 quality starts pitched while playing in a dome.