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Call It Anything
Member since Aug 13th 2005
10951 posts
Tue Oct-07-14 07:49 AM

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"The 2014 Washington Nationals"


  

          

A lot of things went wrong last year and they still won 86 games. With Doug Fister, full-time Anthony Rendon, and Jeremy Blevins this team is better on paper. Meanwhile the injury bug has bit the Braves with Medlen and Beachy. Everything is set-up for this team to win the division and compete for the pennant. But after 2013, I think there has been a check on expectation as both a team and a fan base. That being said, this might be the best team that we see in Washington in a while.

Some questions I have going into the season:

-How healthy can this team be? Anthony Rendon, Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg, Wilson Ramos, Ryan Zimmerman, and Jayson worth are key players who all have had "injury prone" labels attached to them at some point in the recent past.

-Can Doug Fister be the healthy ground ball machine that we traded for?

-Will Adam LaRoche be jettisoned for a better 1B? He's 34 years old, coming off a season in which he looked kind of old and very average. There are several options here. Go out and get somebody on the trade market. Move Zimmerman over and shuffle cards in the infield. Which leads to...

-Will Ryan Zimmerman's yips get worse? The elite defensive 3B that we all knew and loved 5 years ago is dead. After an embarrassing first month, he was tolerable at the corner. But by 2015, he'll flip sides on the infield. Will it be earlier?

-Can Danny Espinosa regain his strike zone? The number one thing that went wrong in 2013 was Espinosa. He's never going to hit .275 but he walked enough and carried a little pop to make him a relatively valuable bat (just don't tell 90% of the fan base that). But the strike out machine that couldn't buy a walk has been relegated to defensive stud off the bench. It's entirely possible that he's the best defensive SS in the organization. If somebody gets hurt in the infield, he'll be the first guy in to plug the hole. Can he look like the 3 win player he was in 2011-2012?

-Who's going to make the jump to hyperspace? Strasburg, Harper, and Jordan Zimmermann have all been tossed out for potential hardware this year. They're all entering their prime. Will any of these guys have that transcendent season?

More out there, I suppose, but no time for pontificating. Opening Day is upon us.

Go Nats.

  

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The 2014 Washington Nationals [View all] , Call It Anything, Tue Oct-07-14 07:49 AM
 
Subject Author Message Date ID
sweet.
Mar 31st 2014
1
no love for my post o aight then
Mar 31st 2014
2
My bad. I searched 'Nationals' for post titles and found nothing
Mar 31st 2014
3
Dusty Baker rules*
Mar 31st 2014
5
I wish Bryce Harper played more like Robinson Cano
Mar 31st 2014
4
Interesting batting order on opening day
Mar 31st 2014
6
better order:
Mar 31st 2014
7
btw i love how we have battled in this game.
Mar 31st 2014
8
he's almost formulaic now
Mar 31st 2014
9
get on record now BTW: over/under/predictions
Mar 31st 2014
10
we have identical predictions.
Mar 31st 2014
15
Yo, we could still make it to 94 wins, homie BTW nm
Sep 17th 2014
245
damn I was pretty on point here. nm
Oct 06th 2014
286
They're reporting Wilson Ramos with a broken hand
Mar 31st 2014
11
crap. nm
Mar 31st 2014
13
and the braves lost. win/win nm
Mar 31st 2014
12
what a bad ass way to win.
Mar 31st 2014
14
thus far...offense is clicking!
Apr 03rd 2014
16
they are just so fun to watch man.
Apr 03rd 2014
17
While we're on that party too soon train...
Apr 03rd 2014
21
Zimmermann scratched with the flu
Apr 03rd 2014
18
kick ass. I hope that's true because I'm going.
Apr 03rd 2014
19
      I as well. Apparently the alternative is a bullpen game
Apr 03rd 2014
20
this team is too vicious bruh I love the Nationals for real man
Apr 03rd 2014
22
great start
Apr 03rd 2014
23
My biggest takeaway is that the Mets bullpen is terrible
Apr 03rd 2014
24
im willing to call todays game a must win.
Apr 06th 2014
25
Groundhog Day
Apr 06th 2014
26
Meanwhile Harper benched and Zimmerman complaining about shoulder
Apr 06th 2014
27
ok, soe abt this zim thing i have questions
Apr 08th 2014
28
Seems like they kept espinosa just in case zimm was a problem.
Apr 09th 2014
29
Depth is never a bad thing
Apr 09th 2014
30
Rendon was a really, really good defender at third in college
Apr 09th 2014
31
Harper! nm
Apr 09th 2014
32
WERTH DOE
Apr 09th 2014
33
      That's two games they snatched out of the jaws of defeat
Apr 10th 2014
34
           truthiness. last year they'd have folded down 5 in the 3rd
Apr 10th 2014
35
                with this team especially, a good start is critical
Apr 10th 2014
36
                     next weeks spring break taking things 1 and 2
Apr 10th 2014
38
right this second? best record in the bigs.
Apr 10th 2014
37
Get that claim in before the Brewers game goes final, I guess
Apr 10th 2014
39
      i want em to drag their nuts all up & down peachtree
Apr 10th 2014
40
      Lol
Apr 14th 2014
51
           *fumes silently* nm
Apr 14th 2014
53
      that was the disappointing part about last year
Apr 10th 2014
41
any Miami series without facing Jose Fernandez is a fortunate one
Apr 10th 2014
42
kids @ they mamas house for the wknd
Apr 11th 2014
43
3 HBP = its abt to be a brawl
Apr 11th 2014
44
owned
Apr 13th 2014
45
'Mentally incapable of playing with' seems like a bit of platitude
Apr 13th 2014
46
      the time for reassuring platitudes is over
Apr 13th 2014
47
           im pretty sure he was joking but the gist of his point stands
Apr 13th 2014
49
                he was right, "mentally incapable"
Apr 13th 2014
50
embarassing.
Apr 13th 2014
48
Matt Williams' baserunning philosophy is hilarious.
Apr 14th 2014
52
good to see Danny still hitting
Apr 15th 2014
54
The bench is so much better than last year
Apr 15th 2014
55
      Oddly, the Zimmerman injury sorts out the Rendon/Zim/Roche thing
Apr 15th 2014
56
           for now at least nm
Apr 15th 2014
57
im also seeing as how Stras gets ZERO run support
Apr 15th 2014
58
That's one way of looking at it
Apr 15th 2014
59
thats true as well
Apr 16th 2014
60
      personally, I think the book is out on him
Apr 16th 2014
61
His peripherals are still good, so I'm alright with a little rough up
Apr 16th 2014
62
And now Matt Williams is pulling Bryce Harper for lack of hustle
Apr 19th 2014
63
Wait...what?
Apr 19th 2014
64
      My worst fears are being realized
Apr 19th 2014
66
Feast or famine.
Apr 19th 2014
65
There's still a lot to like, but rarely do all of those items gel at onc...
Apr 20th 2014
67
Split series with the cards has to be considered at least a moral victor...
Apr 20th 2014
68
Agreed
Apr 20th 2014
69
ouch. i really dislike the cardinals.
Apr 22nd 2014
70
damn, I remember being in the house for Pujols' 400th
Apr 22nd 2014
71
harps out til early july @ least after thumb surgery
Apr 28th 2014
72
It's still really early but I find myself checking the Brewers and Giant...
Apr 29th 2014
73
      i credit williams for de-empasizing harper's importance to the offense
Apr 29th 2014
74
           What do you mean by de-emphasizing?
Apr 29th 2014
75
                williams tried to humble him and he seems to need it.
Apr 29th 2014
76
                     bryce is/was a star & should have been let loose
Apr 29th 2014
77
                     This is gold
Apr 29th 2014
79
                     incongruous
Apr 29th 2014
78
Anthony Rendon: Very Good at Hitting Baseballs
Apr 30th 2014
80
Against LHP this year, it's unreal
May 01st 2014
81
      Yeah I thought the mets were supposed to suck
May 01st 2014
82
that series could've been a little better
May 04th 2014
83
0-6 with 10 runs over that span
May 04th 2014
84
      IF...if he can stay on the field. re Ramos
May 05th 2014
85
Ramos back.
May 07th 2014
86
If Fister shows up, the team is in a pretty good spot
May 07th 2014
87
      I'm real happy with the bullpen
May 07th 2014
88
           I'm starting to keep an eye on Sorinao's GFs
May 07th 2014
90
best game of the year so far from a performance standpoint.
May 07th 2014
89
getting our asses handed to us by the A's.
May 11th 2014
91
Oakland is very good
May 11th 2014
92
      I picked the wrong series to take a road trip for, I know that much
May 12th 2014
93
So at what point does Denard Span drop in the line-up?
May 15th 2014
94
Now Gios on the DL
May 18th 2014
95
At least there's a reason he pitched like ass the last 2 starts, I guess
May 18th 2014
96
Tied for first despite all these injuries
May 18th 2014
97
There are no saviors for that Braves line-up
May 18th 2014
98
smh. we are regressing to the mean
May 25th 2014
99
Yeah it feels a lot like 2013
May 25th 2014
100
is it June yet?
May 27th 2014
101
Only real disappointment is rendon
May 27th 2014
102
      Right, the bigger problem is that those guys have double digit starts
May 27th 2014
103
Ryan Zimmerman, Left Fielder. Thoughts?
May 29th 2014
104
I like span as a lead off hitter tho
May 29th 2014
105
I think it gives a lot of options for rest/platooning
Jun 01st 2014
107
      guys are getting creative about ways to get dinged up
Jun 02nd 2014
110
despite a historically terrible May...2.5 out for the east
Jun 01st 2014
106
great series to exhale a bit
Jun 02nd 2014
108
Phillies at home. Let's eat.
Jun 02nd 2014
109
dont look now but...
Jun 05th 2014
111
1 back for the nl east...statistically tied for the wild card
Jun 06th 2014
112
4th best run differential in all of baseball
Jun 09th 2014
113
Nats usually play well against the Giants
Jun 09th 2014
114
      RE: Nats usually play well against the Giantsou sure this wasn't a repla...
Jun 09th 2014
115
yo! Fister been dealing!
Jun 11th 2014
116
sweet nm
Jun 12th 2014
117
15-7 against San Francisco since 2011
Jun 12th 2014
118
Up for Atlanta.
Jun 19th 2014
119
Zimmermann, Strasburg, Fister lined-up
Jun 19th 2014
120
      sounds like a Rizzo pre-game speech
Jun 21st 2014
121
smh.
Jun 21st 2014
122
Finally. nm
Jun 21st 2014
123
Should have swept the sorry ass Cubs.
Jun 28th 2014
124
yeah, weird
Jun 28th 2014
125
Bryce might be back today. copped tkts just in case
Jun 30th 2014
126
and back in left
Jun 30th 2014
128
& it's Bryce bobble head night. #ultracombo #sweet nm
Jun 30th 2014
127
nats win...braves lose. im cysed. the end. nm
Jul 10th 2014
129
and they beat the o's in balmer.
Jul 10th 2014
130
There was a sequence in today's game
Jul 23rd 2014
131
RE: There was a sequence in today's game
Jul 23rd 2014
132
Harper had a good weekend against Milwaukee
Jul 23rd 2014
133
can they win the division? yes.
Jul 28th 2014
134
You're really down on what I think is a totally capable group
Jul 28th 2014
135
      I think it's odd that there is a light-panic over the team right now
Jul 28th 2014
136
           heres the thing tho...when he does make this start?
Jul 28th 2014
137
           agreed. He's the one thing I'm bearish about.
Jul 28th 2014
138
                The odd thing is that he has been that guy...at home
Jul 28th 2014
139
                Strassy is excellent AND most of what you said is still hilariously true
Jul 29th 2014
148
           Dodgers would be an even series to me
Jul 28th 2014
140
           last night exemplifies the doubt
Jul 29th 2014
147
           my attempt to speak this into existence failed
Aug 08th 2014
177
WTF?
Jul 28th 2014
141
Yeah, that sucked
Jul 28th 2014
142
dude.
Jul 29th 2014
144
lol....ESPN seeing it
Jul 29th 2014
143
I'm going to go ahead and blame Matt Williams because I don't like him
Jul 29th 2014
145
      lol
Jul 29th 2014
146
Tanner Roark, top three* favorite Nat this season
Jul 30th 2014
149
Gio was bad last night. This staff remains a mystery.
Aug 01st 2014
150
RE: Gio was bad last night. This staff remains a mystery.
Aug 01st 2014
151
the post "reported" that the nats think stras is their 3rd starter
Aug 01st 2014
152
I can definitely see that
Aug 01st 2014
153
      and boras plays a roll in maintaining all of these expectations.
Aug 01st 2014
154
           RE: and boras plays a roll in maintaining all of these expectations.
Aug 01st 2014
155
                it'll happen with Harper
Aug 01st 2014
156
                     I had a conversation with my boss about Harper this morning
Aug 01st 2014
158
                          He's 21.
Aug 04th 2014
162
                               Still the youngest player in the NL
Aug 04th 2014
163
                                    yeah, he's the one i'd keep between him and stras
Aug 04th 2014
164
depends on the opponent
Aug 01st 2014
157
is there any doubt Harpers comments lit fire under Spans ass?
Aug 03rd 2014
159
Two months ago, his option was kind of a question
Aug 03rd 2014
160
      he heard your complaints
Aug 03rd 2014
161
           Let's not go crazy here
Aug 04th 2014
165
                how about you interface his TWTW?
Aug 04th 2014
166
                     Denard and Adam LaRoche bring veteran presents to the club house
Aug 04th 2014
169
                          That's how 21 year olds get better at hitting LHP
Aug 04th 2014
170
i been noticably absent...
Aug 04th 2014
167
is it too early to start reminiscing on when they sucked?
Aug 04th 2014
168
i started paying more attention during the 08/09 seasons.
Aug 05th 2014
171
Bam Bam!
Aug 07th 2014
172
abt damn time! nm
Aug 07th 2014
173
      now bring on the braves.
Aug 07th 2014
174
@ Atlanta
Aug 08th 2014
175
Game 1 - c'mon stras...
Aug 08th 2014
176
he is who we think he is re: stras
Aug 09th 2014
178
Spans reached base in 35 straight games.
Aug 10th 2014
179
they celebrated after harper hit that game winning homer last week
Aug 11th 2014
182
soft ass good team with no power bat. Competitive but far from great.
Aug 10th 2014
180
not really soft, just lots of injuries
Aug 11th 2014
183
      rizzo is an excellent GM. im glad hes w/ us nm
Aug 11th 2014
184
      I figure I'm rooting for a 2012 Giants scenario
Aug 11th 2014
187
bryce, if you gonna talk that shit, you gotta back it up @ the plate
Aug 11th 2014
181
he's pressing
Aug 11th 2014
185
      Yeah
Aug 11th 2014
186
Michael Taylor!
Aug 13th 2014
188
Nice sweep
Aug 14th 2014
189
yup
Aug 14th 2014
190
is it too early to start quietly...meekly...talking abt a I-95 Series?
Aug 17th 2014
191
I feel like it should be called the BW Parkway/MD-295 Series
Aug 17th 2014
192
      if it happens, i hope dc fans show up at home
Aug 18th 2014
193
ok, I'm really feelin it now.
Aug 18th 2014
194
its really nice to root for a good team for once.
Aug 19th 2014
195
My situation is similar
Aug 19th 2014
196
10.
Aug 21st 2014
197
Nice tie-in to 2005
Aug 22nd 2014
198
stras is killing it
Aug 22nd 2014
199
still own San Fran. another series win. Tim Hudson please retire.
Aug 24th 2014
200
It's great to know you don't ever have to turn the game off
Aug 24th 2014
201
if you got that mcd app?...these mcnuggets go so hard
Aug 24th 2014
202
Shout out to mike morse and Adam Dunn btw
Aug 31st 2014
203
Josh Willingham also contributing to KC down the stretch
Aug 31st 2014
204
Looking forward to eyeballing Puig in this upcoming series as well
Sep 01st 2014
205
took the series in LA
Sep 03rd 2014
206
gotta win these next 2...
Sep 04th 2014
207
Gio is right on time
Sep 04th 2014
208
Up for the Braves.
Sep 08th 2014
209
Good narrative building to be had the next few days
Sep 08th 2014
210
      Ch. 1 - Fister is back and Storen might be ready for primetime
Sep 09th 2014
213
           Ch 2. - No more demons. Magic #10. Storen!
Sep 10th 2014
215
                dissappointed that they rested so many in game 3
Sep 11th 2014
221
we in the house
Sep 08th 2014
211
gotdamn nearly got swept by the Phillies again
Sep 08th 2014
212
what a fantastic story Drew Storen is
Sep 09th 2014
214
Storen is another good Rizzo decision
Sep 10th 2014
216
      it was, but from what I remember
Sep 10th 2014
217
           interesting. I thought we got in trouble for paying above slot value
Sep 10th 2014
219
           Yeah, low cost and signability was a big draw for Storen
Sep 10th 2014
220
*switches from ATL score watching to LAD score watching*
Sep 10th 2014
218
Dodgers/Giants this weekend will be interesting for that reason
Sep 11th 2014
222
gatdamn is larouche in a contract year or what?
Sep 11th 2014
223
Got a $15 million option next year
Sep 11th 2014
224
      depends on the postseason...if and how.
Sep 11th 2014
225
gripe: the n-a-t-s nats nats nats WOOO cheer...is lame.
Sep 12th 2014
226
100% agree
Sep 12th 2014
227
bryce left the game due to light headed ness?
Sep 15th 2014
228
i think rendon and werth missed a game recently due to flu
Sep 16th 2014
230
1 game to clinch.
Sep 16th 2014
229
Tonight's the night boys
Sep 16th 2014
231
#nojinx nm
Sep 16th 2014
233
i dont want to play the Cards in a series.
Sep 16th 2014
232
We can't run. Got the braves monkey off our back. Cards are next.
Sep 16th 2014
235
up 2-0 in the 6th.
Sep 16th 2014
234
Fk Jason heyward and his perfect late 70s teddy p beard btw. Nm
Sep 16th 2014
236
tonight's da night n/m
Sep 16th 2014
237
POP MOTHERFUCKING BOTTLES
Sep 16th 2014
238
So now the discussions about the postseason roster can begin in earnest
Sep 17th 2014
239
Gio is gonna start, I don't see anyway around it
Sep 17th 2014
240
      I agree
Sep 17th 2014
241
           even if it's just a public ploy
Sep 17th 2014
242
                See I trust Roark more than I do Gio and Stras...
Sep 17th 2014
243
braves just sorry as shit, basically. & i luv it.
Sep 17th 2014
244
LITERALLY as soon as I say it out loud, dog! EVERY time!
Sep 17th 2014
246
i tried to get INSIDER playoff tix today...
Sep 19th 2014
247
I was able to get 4 for the If Necessary game in the 400 section
Sep 19th 2014
248
      general public sale is 9 a.m. Monday...
Sep 19th 2014
249
           two things re tickets
Sep 22nd 2014
251
They keep plugging away with lesser lineups and great pitching
Sep 22nd 2014
250
damn on 2nd thought check these prices out
Sep 22nd 2014
252
lotta yap abt a beltway series
Sep 23rd 2014
253
PARKWAY series it would be a PARKWAY series
Sep 23rd 2014
254
JZ!
Sep 28th 2014
255
is it possible to go into the offs on a higher note?!
Sep 28th 2014
256
I've never seen a winner in DC.
Sep 28th 2014
257
real talk, if you wanna sell your tyler clippard bobblehead?
Sep 29th 2014
258
I was in attendance for the no-hitter...
Sep 29th 2014
259
Giants it is. Bring it bitch.
Oct 01st 2014
260
oy @ getting the giants next.
Oct 02nd 2014
261
Fielder, Teixeira or LaRoche???
Oct 02nd 2014
262
Prepare For Glory
Oct 03rd 2014
263
Also, Prepare For Disappointment
Oct 03rd 2014
264
      Hey we're still cool right? I SAID WE'RE FUCKING COOL RIGHT?!?!?
Oct 03rd 2014
265
           Light years ahead of 2012 NLDS Game 1
Oct 03rd 2014
266
must win.
Oct 04th 2014
267
Span & Harper on pooch screw mode.
Oct 04th 2014
268
*groan* nm
Oct 04th 2014
269
So, was pulling Zimmerman the right thing to do?
Oct 04th 2014
270
absolutely not.
Oct 04th 2014
271
      I'd probably agree. Wasn't like Zimm was losing control
Oct 04th 2014
272
so ive turned the game off. im very sure that the Nats will lose.
Oct 04th 2014
273
I can't take this kinda stress. Nm
Oct 04th 2014
274
Top of the 17th...
Oct 04th 2014
275
welp
Oct 05th 2014
276
This is more on Matt than Drew though
Oct 05th 2014
277
      you can blame the manager
Oct 05th 2014
278
           meat of the order not incl 2bag tony forgot how to hit
Oct 05th 2014
279
*prepares to go down with the ship*
Oct 06th 2014
280
Yo, what channel is this on? MLBTv?
Oct 06th 2014
281
One win at a time
Oct 06th 2014
282
IMO, give the ball to Roark for game 5
Oct 06th 2014
284
two game sweep, this can be done
Oct 06th 2014
287
gatdamn it storen nm
Oct 06th 2014
283
1-2. We have a series now
Oct 06th 2014
285
well, at least he got the save
Oct 06th 2014
288
Picked the right game to road trip for
Oct 06th 2014
289
Sooooo...... we need a true closer?
Oct 06th 2014
290
We're going to win this game. And if we win this game, we'll win the ser...
Oct 07th 2014
291
vogelsong has sucked this year. its doable
Oct 07th 2014
292
      & MLB is super lame for putting playoff games on its channel
Oct 07th 2014
293
What can I say? I'll say what I can - seƱor love daddy
Oct 08th 2014
294
Bye bye laroche
Oct 08th 2014
297
real talk...people got to chill with this doomsday shit
Oct 08th 2014
295
End of the world talk is a bit OTT, I'll say.
Oct 08th 2014
296
retires "bring on the Giants!" (c)
Oct 08th 2014
298
Werth bout to get locked up (c) Akon
Dec 05th 2014
299
Speeding the the commonwealth is a huge no-no
Dec 06th 2014
300
rizzo gonna rizzo re: SD/Tampa trade
Dec 18th 2014
301
Joe Ross pitched against a team I was coaching in 2010
Dec 18th 2014
303
Nats are basically the best run franchise in sports
Dec 18th 2014
302
up until an OG Nats poster creates the 2015 post...
Mar 02nd 2015
304
Obvious flaws though?
Mar 02nd 2015
305

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