By my unofficial count of ticket stubs in a shoebox under my bed, I saw 12 Nationals games in person last season. I saw young starting pitchers with not much potential implode and then get replaced by relievers with even less potential and an unfortunate penchant for making bad situations worse. I saw Cristian Guzman flail at just about any pitch in his continued crusade to never, ever, draw a walk. I watched Josh Bard stand in the box for a several dozen overmatched at-bats.
But I was also standing and clapping on a cold September evening when in a 2/3 full stadium, the Nationals rallied for 5 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Mets in their final home game of the season. As Justin Maxwell approached home plate on his game-winning grand slam, he tossed his helmet skyward and was mobbed by an exuberant throng of bouncing teammates. In the brisk fall air 30,000 fans cheered the victory as if it was a game of some consequence. There was genuine excitement in Nationals Park that night. In some strange way, it was as if the entire putrid season hadn't happened. For all we cared, Maxwell was as good as hopping, skipping, and leaping homeward having just won a post-season game.
Even in their 4th straight miserable losing season, the Nats could provide excitement and joy. And this year, though the soul-crushing ineptitude remains to a degree, the arrival of Stephen Strasburg in a professional uniform, the continued flowering of Ryan Zimmerman, and an overall improved roster hold out the promise of more frequent competence. For those of use who will frequently make the subterranean journey to the Navy Yard stop on game nights this season, that hint of competitive play should make this summer a little brighter in DC.
New Faces
The Nats allowed an apocalyptic 5.4 runs per game in 2009, the worst average in baseball. Not surprisingly, they have added a number of new arms to the organization. Jason Marquis, fresh off of a 15-win season in Colorado, signed as a free agent and will likely be the Nationals' Opening Day starter. Matt Capps, who managed 27 saves at the back end of the Pirates' bullpen in 2009, also signed as a free agent and will be expected to close games. Last year's part-time closer, Mike MacDougal was non-tendered at the close of 2009, signed with the Marlins, got released, and re-signed with the Nats, so technically, he's a new arrival too. However, two of the potentially most important new faces in 2010 will not arrive on the banks of the Anacostia until undisclosed future dates this summer. Stephen Strasburg, last year's Number One Overall Draft Pick, earned the nickname "Jesus" in his eye-catching and radar gun-melting audition this Spring but will start the season in Double-A. Chien-Ming Wang had a 9.64 ERA when the Yankees ended his 2009 campaign and sent his shoulder to an operating table. He won 19 games in 2007, and when he's on, he's as effective of a sinker-baller as exists in the game today. The Nationals hope he can fill a spot near the top of their rotation once he's healthy.
Former Astros and Rockies speedster Willy Taveras recently inked a minor league deal with the team. With Elijah Dukes' recent dismissal from the team, Taveras is an early likely candidate for at least part-time duty in right field. Veteran catcher Ivan Rodriguez, arguably the finest defensive catcher of the past two decades, signed a two-year contract this winter. He will be the primary catcher as Jesus Flores works his way back into good health, which may take most of the season, according to some reports. Adam Kennedy signed early in the Spring and is slated to bring overall competence and stability to second base.
Offense
The 2009 incarnation of the Nationals' offense was far from great, but also far from the worst in baseball. 4.4 runs per game from the Nats' bats was good for 10th best in the National League. Compared to the effort by the pitching, the offense wasn't half bad. And with most of the critical pieces back from 2009, and a few younger faces looking to make bigger contributions, the Nationals will likely do an even better job in 2010 of putting big numbers up in the proper boxes on the MASSIVE CENTER FIELD SCOREBOARD.
-- 3rd Baseman Ryan Zimmerman hit like a man possessed for much of 2009, finishing with 33 homeruns, 106 RBI, and an impressive .292 batting average. After an injury-marred 2008, Zimmerman's 2009 campaign was exactly the statement year Nats fans wanted to see and it loudly announced Zimmerman as a real contender for the title of Best National League Third-Sacker.
-- Adam Dunn looked like a statue in left field for much of the season but after Nick Johnson was traded away, Dunn moved to the infield and played an almost serviceable 1st Base. His streak of consecutive 40-homer seasons came to an end last year, but the 38 dingers he did manage are certainly worth the $8 million he earned. To paraphrase a great President, I cannot spare this man. He hits!
-- Josh Willingham began the year as a man without a position but finished 2009 as the every day left fielder, launching 24 homers in the process. For much of the second half of the season, Willingham joined Dunn and Zimmerman to form a triumvirate of terror in the middle of the order for opposing pitchers.
-- Centerfielder Nyjer Morgan, aka Tony Plush, dazzled in DC after arriving in a trade from Pittsburgh. He hit .351 as a Nat, stole 24 bases, and generally endeared himself to the organization and its fans. Both of whom would like to see an encore of those numbers in 2010.
-- Cristian Guzman, as of earlier today, has finally lost his hold on the job of Nationals' shortstop. Ian Desmond who hit the ball with General Patton-esque authority during his September cameo last year, will bring youth, energy, talent, and the ability to occasionally take pitches to the lineup this season and start the season as the every day shortstop. Similar to Morgan, much is expected of Desmond this season by fans and management alike.
-- Willie Harris should be a part of the rightfield platoon to start the season, but should see action up and down the lineup and all over the field. He won't contend for the team lead in homeruns (oh how 2008 was a dark year for the Nats offense) but Harris has proven a competent utility man whose bat and legs provide occasional offensive spark.
Pitchers
In a perfect world, the previously discussed Strasburg, Marquis, and Wang will be fixtures in the Nationals' rotation for much of the season, allowing Jim Riggleman to lean less and less heavily on "John Lannan and the chuck-and-duckers," who saw most of year's mound time. Lannan is a legit big league pitcher who was forced last season to play the role of staff ace on a very bad team. He kept his ERA under 4.00 but only managed 9 victories. He'll be near the top of the Nats rotation this year and likely for seasons to come. For the time being, Lannan will be joined in the rotation by some combination of Scott Olsen, Garrett Mock, JD Martin, Livan Hernandez (yes, the same guy who made the all-star team in 2005 as the Nationals' ace), and Craig Stammen.
The bullpen will, ideally, be anchored by the arrival of Capps, the return of MacDougal, and continued development by Tyler Clippard, Sean Burnett, and Jason Bergmann. New arrival Brian Bruney had an eye-catching 0.99 WHIP and 1.83 ERA in 2008 and serviceable numbers last year as a Yankee. He'll see a lot of action out of Riggleman's pen. Non-roster invitee Miguel Batista, and whoever loses the 5th starter sweepstakes also figure to join the bullpen mix.
Overall
Every time the Nationals lose, the following plays over the Nats Park PA system
That got a lot of air time in 2009. With new big league additions to the team and more experience for young role players, the Nationals should subject their fans to noticeably less losing in 2010.
And even if Bob Marley once again does fill the air this summer at Nats Park, with the arrival of Stephen Strasburg on the horizon, Nats fans can listen to the song's wise advice and not worry about a thing. Things may turn out all right in DC sooner rather than later.
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