The Nationals are 2-10 since the All Star break, currently in a nine game losing streak, and have been swept in three straight series. Their two wins came in a three game series in Atlanta. Atlanta’s response to losing a series to the Nationals was to trade Mark Teixiera and give up on their season, which is a reasonable reaction to losing a series to the Nationals.

The Nats are currently 38-70. The question for this team is, can they get to 63 wins and avoid losses in the triple digits? There are 54 games left in the season. The Nationals need to win 25 to avoid 100 or more losses. That is a .463 winning percentage, which is dramatically better than their current .385 percentage. It doesn’t look good.

For those looking for a little hope, the Nationals are currently not last in the Major Leagues in Batting Average with Runners in Scoring Position. That award goes to the Seattle Mariners, with a .235 average. The Nats are only second to last with a .236 average. Take that Seattlest!

Roster Changes
The trading deadline has passed, and that Nats have gotten younger. Starting with the trade of Rauch for Bonifacio, and then trading Jhonny Nunez to the Yankees for Alberto Gonzalez. No, not that Alberto Gonzales. Gonzalez and Bonifacio are expected to join the team soon, and start at Short and Second respectively.

The Nats then released Paul Lo Duca, Felipe Lopez, and Johnny Estrada. The three players combined salaries this year is around $11 million, or a fifth of the Nationals total payroll. They also take a combined batting average of .226, 41 RBIs, and 2 HRs., so the Nationals paid these guys $70,512.82 for every base they got. I would say that they are under performing, but I think that does a disservice to players who are just in a slump.

Photo by erin m