Los Natos

The Washington Post has their Washington Nationals preview today.  It's a good look.  One should check it out were one to be interested in such a thing.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/mlb/longterm/2008/front.html 

Anyone who really thinks they know what's going to happen with this team is crazy.  Everyone thought they would be so epically bad last year that the stadium might implode.  They weren't.  No one thought they would compete for the division in their first season until fading down the stretch.

The point here is that there are just too many variables with this team this year.  The new yard, the young players, players returning from absences, too many characters (Elijah Dukes anyone?).  Here are some of the questions that will need to be answered:

Nick Johnson: Can dude stay healthy long enough to get traded to a contender?  I hope so.  I think he'll fetch a player or two.  Make no mistake about it.  He is on a 3 month showcase tour to prove that he can still play.  After missing all last year with a freak broken leg injury, he 'won' the 1B job in spring training.  This might seem curious considering the frugal Nats spent 10 mil on Dimitri Young.  Don't look too far into it.  That move was for him to act as player/mentor for a team with tons of young players on it who might need some sage wisdom now and then (Dukes, Willy Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge etc.).

The Young outfielders: What will the Nats get out of Milledge, Dukes, Pena etc?  Hard to say.  That's a talented group.  That's a young group.  That's a group made up of 2 guys that other organizations got tired of dealing with for different reasons and another guy who was viewed as over-hyped and thus, expendable.  Tough to say.  I will say that I saw Dukes take batting practice.  You can put him on a small list of guys who put on ungodly shows.  The ball SOUNDS different off his bat.  It gets hit and stays hit if you know what I mean.  If you don't, you shouldn't be reading a baseball blog.

Those things...what are they called...pitchers.  Right pitchers.  The Nats released the guy most thought would start opening day.  Ummmm...OK...anyone know what is going on here?  I do.  The bullpen will actually be really good.  They'd better be.  No bully threw more innings last year.  The return of Luis Ayala will provide a boost, Cordero is in better shape which should help him, and Jon Rauch is quite solid.  They've also got some guys that will emerge to give quality innings: Saul Riviera gave up 1 HR in 93 innings last year, Jesus Colome can long relief for your, Ray King...is still left handed. One more thing, remember this name: Joel Hanrahan.  The dude throws shadows.  He pitches ideas, concepts, fleeting moments.  His stuff is darkness and the light is afraid.  Does anyone here have a mid 90's fastball with a cantankerous slider?  Oh, Joel does?  Cool.

I actually think, the Nats will take a step forward as an organization this year.  I think they will improve the overall talent on the big league club as well as in their system.  I think it will be a great year for them.  I just don't think they'll win many games.  The starting staff only has 1 guy that has the potential to pitch for an elite team (Shawn Hill).  Everyone else is meh.  The rotation this year is not what the organization thinks the rotation will look like in 2010.  The NL East will be really good this year.  That will hurt the Nationals.  I hope they get to 70 wins.

Prediction: 65-97 Last place NL East.