Sometimes a team just needs to be left to do what they are doing with no scrutiny. There isn't a real tell if the Nats are that type of team but it is clear they have been working out of the spot light for longer they might have in a typical sports year. However this year we had a NY title in basketball with all those stars out, we had a crazy start to the Stanley Cup, and now we have the World Cup going on. In baseball the best teams are the Braves, Dodgers and Yankees (and yes the Brewers). The media air has been sucked out of the room. The Nats aren't on anyone's mind.
Let's put it some other baseball ways.
The Mets spent a ton and are almost certainly playing themselves out of the playoffs. The Red Sox might be the 2nd worst team in baseball (probably not and the Rockies aren't going to let anyone take the worst title from them). The Pirates with Paul Skenes are in the thick of the playoff hunt. The White Sox are leading the AL Central. The WHITE SOX.
The aforementioned Skenes has a 2.85 ERA and 100Ks already and who cares. Cam Schlitter has a 1.82 ERA, as does Christopher Sanchez who shut out teams for 5 games in a row. Both are looking up at Jacob Misiorowski who might be breaking through the media ceiling a bit by having a 1.34 ERA and 131 strikeouts while throwing the ball regularly well over 100 MPH over his starts. And all this while Shohei in his starts just went over 1.00 ERA.
It's not hitting like it might have hit in 2025.
So if the Nats ARE a team that need a little peace and quiet to keep going, they have it for a few more weeks.
We are two weeks into June. Keibert isn't hitting as he was but he's hitting fine. CJ isn't hitting like a star but he's hitting ok. Mead isn't hitting anymore but it's not embarrassing. And in their place Lile is hitting and Garcia is hitting and most importantly Wood is a superstar again. .281 with 20 homers and almost 60 walks. He's going to hit 40 plus homers. He's is leading all NL Players in Offensive WAR*, and is in a battle with Alvarez in Houston for best bat in baseball this year. Carrying this team.
The pitching is not better but they are also covering for themselves with better play here and there. Sure it just keeps them at "pretty bad" but with the offense as it is, that's all it needs to be.
The Nats are doing what they are doing and aren't stopping just yet. Take notice, even if everyone else isn't.
*Pete C-A is hitting pretty well and plays amazing defense, and of course you aren't going to catch Shohei in WAR unless you pitch
4 comments:
Will the Nats be sellers, holders, or buyers at the deadline? The next month will be telling
It’s fun to watch again….except last Wednesday. We are seeing player development produce results. Our year is 2027, but lovely to enjoy 2026 and watch it coming. All good.
Harper... what if 2027 really WAS gonna be our year? Is there any data from 1994 that would tell us how a year off might affect our young, developoing team? Is it worse for them or older vets to have that extended break??? I have zero faith we'll be playing ball in 27.
Under the radar is good. It’s clear that this team is breaking out. A few writers are picking up on it, but as Harper says, there are other stories sucking the oxygen. If this continues another month people will notice. Need a series win against KC in the short term.
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