Offseason Primer

The Nationals finished one game under .500 at 80-81 in 2011. It was an improvement of 11 wins from the previous season. The Nationals improved with Strasburg missing a significant part of the season recovering from an injury, Ryan Zimmerman missing 50 games, Jayson Werth having an awful year for his standards, and Jordan Zimmermann being shut down the last month. Even without any offseason additions, this team should be better with Strasburg and the Zimmerman(n)s getting more playing time, Jayson Werth playing better, and Bryce Harper being called up at some point.

The Nationals' opening day lineup if no moves are made.

1. Ian Desmond- SS

2. Danny Espinosa- 2B

3. Ryan Zimmerman- 3B

4. Michael Morse- LF

5. Jayson Werth- RF

6. Adam Laroche- 1B

7. Freewilsonramos.com- C

8. Rodger "The Shark" Bernadina- CF

The pitching rotation:

1. Stephen Strasburg

2. Jordan Zimmerman

3. John Lannan

4. Chien Ming Wang

5. Ross Detwiler

Relivers:

Setup: Tyler Clippard

Setup: Henry Rodriguez

Closer: Drew Storen

The lineup would eventually include Bryce Harper and Adam LaRoche can either be traded for as little as a Debbie Taylor replacement, or kept on the roster as a defensive replacement and an out machine off the bench. I hate Adam LaRoche.

Going forward with this lineup and rotation, the Nationals should get into the wild card discussion, which would be amazing as a Nats fan.

While it's fine to just compete, I want the Nationals to win the World Series next season because I'm a fan who roots for loser DC teams. My realistic, best case scenario would put us in the Phillies and Braves category.

My lineup:

1. Jose Reyes- SS

2. BJ Upton- CF

3. Ryan Zimmerman- 3B

4. Michael Morse- LF

5. Jayson Werth- RF

6. Danny Espinosa- 2B

7. Adam Laroche- 1B

8. Wilson Ramos-C

My pitching rotation:

1. Stephen Strasburg

2. Jordan Zimmerman

3. CJ Wilson

4. John Lannan

5. Chien Ming Wang/Detwiler/Peacock

Relievers are the same*.

So we sign Jose Reyes and CJ Wilson. The Nationals get a lead off guy and our infield defense will either improve. They then get CJ Wilson who is a left hander, who will hurt the Phillies, and is a ground ball pitcher who will be backed up by great infield defense with Zimmerman, Espinosa, Reyes, and LaRoche. He'll also eat innings.

I went CJ Wilson over Yu Darvish mainly because Japanese pitchers don't have a great track record, CJ Wilson is a known commodity, and Darvish's posting fee and contract may end up being more than what the Nationals could sign CJ Wilson for. That being said, if the Nationals do sign Yu Darvish instead, I won't complain. I think either would be fine. I also like the fact that CJ Wilson is straight edged. He's like a 1990's high schooler.

The Nationals can get BJ Upton by packaging a trade involving Ian Desmond, Derrick Norris and possibly some low level prospect. BJ Upton is too expensive for the Rays, and probably needs a change of scenery because I think they hate him. The Rays could use a utility infielder in Ian Desmond, who may be better than their current shortstop, and they will also receive a catcher in Norris who doesn't stink (they have enough of those). The Rays can move Desmond Jennings to center field, where he has more value.

Bossman Junior Upton can play center field, can steal bases, and has decent power. Losing Norris would be tough, but with Ramos behind the plate, the Nationals can manage.

If Bryce Harper makes the team out of spring training or gets called up in June the lineup may be one of the best in the NL:

1. Jose Reyes- SS

2. BJ Upton- CF

3. Ryan Zimmerman- 3B

4. Michael Morse- 1B

5. Jayson Werth- RF

6. Danny Espinosa- 2B

7. Bryce Harper- LF

8. Wilson Ramos-C

The Nationals would also have Anthony Rendon waiting in the wings. His development may create more trade options, or cushion them if they mistakenly let Ryan Zimmerman leave.

My best case scenario would make me get a Nationals tattoo on my ankle I'd be so exicted, but if I were a betting man, the 2012 lineup and rotation is probably going to look something like this:

1. Ian Desmond- SS

2. BJ Upton- CF

3. Ryan Zimmerman- 3B

4. Michael Morse- LF

5. Jayson Werth- RF

6. Danny Espinosa- 2B

7. Adam Laroche- 1B

8. Wilson Ramos-C

The pitching rotation:

1. Stephen Strasburg

2. Jordan Zimmerman

3. Mark Buehrle

4. John Lannan

5. Chien Ming Wang

That's not bad and should be enough for us to compete for the new and idiotic second wild card slot**. Plus Mark Buehrle will get us home in a quick two hours on game day. It may be impossible to get a Shake Shack Burger. Seriously, that line takes forever. I refuse to wait in line. I just grab a fried bologna sandwich and move on with my life.

The MLB hot stove is one of the best things about sports. I just spent an hour obsessing over roster moves that will probably not happen. Even if I'm wrong about everything, I hope the Nationals put themselves in position to make next season not suck.

*On a side note, it blows my mind the money relievers and closers are receiving. Relievers are prospects who can't find a third pitch. You draft them every year. A closer getting more money just because he pitches in the 9th instead the 8th is insane to me. The Nationals should never spend real money on relievers unless they're on the cusp of having a World Series winning roster.

**More on that in another post.

Why Hello

As a Washington Sports Fan there has not been alot to cheer about in recent years. The Redskins have sucked so long that fans have forgotten the 8 years of sucking before Dan Snyder. The Wizards have been so bad since in the 70's that we think a first round exit with Soulja Boy in the audience was a special run. The Capitals are the best team in Washington, but they can never win in the playoffs. And for the losers who defend DC Untited as a real franchise, get a life.

Washington Sports Fans, we have one hope. That hope is spelled N-A-T-I-O-N-A-L-S.

They have the richest owner in baseball and are in a major market. They spend money in the draft. The GM is competent and makes trades that make sense and finds value in players where other teams do not (Capps for Ramos and Langerhans for Morse). They have young building blocks in Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, Bryce Harper, Jordan Zimmermann, Danny Espinosa, Wilson Ramos, Tyler Clippard and Drew Storen. Michael Morse and Jayson Werth are good players in their prime, and you have above average, young guys in Ian Desmond and John Lannan who have room to get better.

The talent we have on the roster is something we have never seen in DC. This is a team that a couple of years ago had Austin Kearns, Ryan Chruch, Robert Fick, Nook Logan, Mike Bacsik, Felipe Lopez and Elijah Dukes. It makes me sick thinking about it. Why the hell did I bother rooting for these guys? I'm such a loser.

Anyway, the 2012 Nationals look like a young, talented team who are ready for a playoff run.

I've always been a baseball fan, but I has been tough living in DC. Our "home" team was the Orioles until the MLB owned Nationals moved to town. Since it was owned by MLB and run by Jim Bowden, we didn't have a shot. Jim Bowden somehow lucked his was into Ryan Zimmerman, so it wasn't a complete loss I guess. Those limitations set us back. Stan Kasten didn't help matters much either. With Bowden and Stan out of the way, we have an owner willing to spend and a GM who doesn't think Chris Marrero is Mark Teixeira (Man, I hate Jim Bowden).

After years of being irrelevant, DC baseball is about to enter years that should be fun and exciting. It will finally be worth it to be a Nationals fan. This blog will be three fans going through the ride.