[Editor’s Note: With the Nationals readying to begin their third season in D.C., change is constant and questions abound. Today, like last year, we take a look at the 2007 roster and all the new contributors. Next week, we’ll discuss this year’s most pressing questions with some of the Nats’ best bloggers.]

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.

Filed Under: Alfonso Soriano, all-star, austin, austin kearns, austinkearns, bigjonrauch, bloggers, chadcordero, Felipe Lopez, flickr, josevidro, mannyacta, nationals, openingday, photos, ryanzimmerman, South Capitol, south capitol street, sports, stan kasten, The Plan, trends,