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It’s Never to Early to Worry about the Division Race

2017 Articles Leave a Comment

The Nationals have finished either 1st or 2nd in the NL East every year since 2012, winning in ’12, ’14, and ’16.

The Mets have finished either 1st or 2nd in the NL East every since 2014, winning in ’15.

Between them, that’s the last three division pennants and four of the last five. Considering talent, projections, and early season returns, it’s a reasonable assumption that one of these two will win again this year. Yesterday, the Nats and Mets began their season series with a game and a half separating them in (yep) first and second place in the NL East, respectively.

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Lobaton Dings Off Harvey, Hilarity Ensues

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Some days the universe works to wreak havoc. It laughs at the person realizing they studied the wrong chapters for an exam or at the person getting in the wrong metro car when they were already late. Some days, the culmination of events is just so perverse that it laughs you recount every life event that led the victim to their moment of reckoning.

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Nobody Puts Strasburg in a Corner!

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Every Nats fan knows June 8, 2010. The immortal Charlie Slowes bellowed the now-famous line: “Remember where you are, so you remember where you were!” It was voted one of the Five Greatest Moments in Nationals history. The “Natinals” were a laughing stock after the incredible 50-31 run in the first half of 2005, compiling a 362 -529, a paltry .406 winning percentage since. Stephen Strasburg’s debut was the first tangible fruit of “The Plan.” His debut filled Nationals Park with a playoff-like atmosphere, and he did not disappoint.

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Three Prospects To Watch

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As we all know, the past year has been rough on the Nationals’ minor league system. Trades and promotions have turned what was once an excellent farm into just a mediocre one, with only a handful of high-end prospects remaining. While all of these moves have been done for the betterment of the major league club, the farm system is still in need of some restocking at all levels. With a low draft pick combined with a small bonus pool, as well as a cap on international spending after blowing through the cap last July 2nd, the traditional methods of restocking the farm offer limited near term value.

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Don’t Get Too Excited About Gio Gonzalez… Yet

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Three turns of the rotation into the 2017 season and the most frustrating pitcher on the Nationals staff has put together a trio of strong starts. Gio Gonzalez has allowed only three earned runs (plus two unearned) in 20 1/3 innings, and if not for The 2017 Nationals Bullpen in his first start and The 2017 Nationals Bullpen in his third start, the 31-year old lefthander would have three wins as well.

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2017 Player Preview: Joe Ross

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Thanks to some quirks in the early season schedule, Joe Ross finally takes the bump for the Nationals in 2017 today. Ross hopes to build on the positives from 2016, while avoiding the injuries that cut his previous season short. As the youngest member of the Nationals’ starting rotation, there are plenty of positive signs for Cool Joe Ross but some causes for concern as well heading into 2017.

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Bucknor’s Bad Night Frustrates Nats

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Sometimes umpires are bad, and sometimes umpires make you question the validity of ever giving effort to anything, as we are all just specks in the universe, beholden to another speck’s horrible strikezone. And sometimes, Jayson Werth is gonna yell about it. The Nationals Tuesday night game in Atlanta was all three with CB Bucknor behind the plate.

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Ryan Zimmerman Really Has Improved His Launch Angle

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{Exterior, Ryan Zimmerman’s house, October 14, 2016, Virginia Beach, VA}

Zimmerman steps out onto his spacious porch overlooking the Atlantic. You can see the weight of the season on his shoulders. He wistfully looks out over the waves, and sighs.

ZIMMERMAN: Never again. Something has to change. No, damn it. I have to change.

{camera pans up to the setting sun as ominous bass notes play underneath}

(Writer’s note: …I made all that up)

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