Some people in the area are disappointed in the progress of the team and I don't really understand why. Last season the Nats were expected to be one of the worst teams in baseball history and far exceeded those predictions. The Nats got younger this season and have faced a frightening array of injuries. It's no wonder they are where they are. It's no great cause for concern either.
Many people thought the Nats would win simply because of the new stadium. But playing in a new stadium neutralizes a team's home field advantage. We all can agree that the longer you play in a stadium, the more familiar you become that stadium, and the greater your home field advantage. Surely the fans are excited about the new stadium, but its foolish to think that would transfer to play on the field.
The big offseason additions were Lastings Milledge and Elijiah Dukes. As far as I can remember, no one was claiming that those trades were made to win this season. These are two young guys who have played pretty well considering their age. Now, they're both injured. It comes with the territory. Ryan Zimmerman, another young player, is also injured. Of course losses are going to accompany those realities.
Dmitri Young's comeback was a great story last season. It is silly to believe that it was anything more. In actuality, his 2007 was sub par compared to decent first basemen. He hit for a high average, but that didn't result in enough runs. The same can be said for Ronnie Belliard. Nick Johnson has always been overrated. Forget that he's often injured. He's a contact hitter that doesn't even hit .300. I love all three. They're easy to root for, but they aren't the answers. The Nats need help on the right side of the infield and for their young players to develop. It's going to take time. Be patient.
The pitching has been inconsistent, but with so many young gunners, a good staff will surface in the coming years. The bullpen was one of the best in baseball last season. Now it is terrible because of some injuries. In the same time period, the starters have improved. The worst thing the Nats can do is throw their money away on an overpriced free agent. I understand a lot of Nats fans were formerly backers of the Orioles, so they're used to dumping money on the situation. But it doesn't work. It will wreck the franchise. I used to be a Braves fan. Trust me. You want to stack the teams with talented youngsters and cheap consistent veterans before you make a splash on the free agent market.
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