Nats or Frats?

In 2010 the Washington Nationals once again finished last place in the National League East after starting off the season pretty well. The Nats finished 69-93 in 2010, but during the offseason they have made some pretty good moves and have some young talent on the way. Should we watch out for the Nationals in 2011?


The Nationals starting five is much undecided with having eight starting pitchers available for the spot. It is clear the Nats will figure out their starting five come spring training. In the offseason they signed three starting pitchers in Tom Gorzelanny who in 2010 had an ERA of 4.06, 7 wins, 9 losses, 119 strikeouts, Chien - Ming Wang who didn't start in 2010 having arm issues, and Jason Marquis who in 2010 had an ERA of 6.60, 2 wins, 9 losses, 31 strikeouts. It’s sad to say that one of these pitchers might end up in the Nats starting five, but don't bet on it. If I had to choose I would have to go with Gorzelanny because he isn't a bad pitcher to have on your rotation with such a young pitching staff, then again he might not make it. Now if none of these pitchers wore to make the rotation they would have to go with Livan Hernandez (2010 - ERA 3.66, 10 wins, 12 losses, 114 strikeouts), John Lannan (2010 - ERA 4.65, 8 wins, 8 losses, 71 strikeouts), Craig Stammen (2010 - ERA 5.13, 4 wins, 4 losses, 85 strikeouts), Jordan Zimmermann (Rookie), and Ross Detwiler (2010 - ERA 4.25, 1 win, 3 losses, 17 strikeouts). So the Nats are going to have to pick and choose carefully. The biggest lost for the Nats this year will be without a doubt losing their big pitching star in Stephen Strasburg.

This kid was their future of their team and after he blew out his arm last season he will miss this season and maybe the 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. You just don't know how long those kinds of things take time to heel right and get better. I'll tell you what though he won't be throwing 102 MPH anymore; the most he might throw is 92-94 MPH which is still very good for a starting pitcher. I think the key for this Nats rotation will be rookie pitcher Jordan Zimmermann, on how good he will be at the major league level? The question to that answer is up to him and how well he does in 2011. I think he will make the starting rotation for the Nats this year only because they need pitching and the guys they got during the offseason will just not cut it.


As for the Nationals bullpen I think it could be one of the best in the NL and it will only get better. They have a lot of young players in this bullpen to come in and shut down innings. They have Sean Burrnett who in 2010 had an ERA of 2.14, 20 HLD, and 62 strikeouts. Then they have Tyler Clippard who I think will be the Nats closer this season with having a pretty good season last year with an ERA of 3.07, 23 HLD, and 112 strikeouts.

After him they have Drew Storen who in 2010 had an ERA of 3.58, 10 HLD, and 52 strikeouts. The last guy in this bullpen who I think will have a pretty good year is Tyler Walker who had an ERA of 3.57, 1 HLD, and 30 strikeouts in 2010. The Nats bullpen looks like it will be set come opening day, they still have to fill some room in the bullpen but it's not going to come easy.



Now the Nationals line-up has always been strong but only if their pitcher would come around they would be a team to watch out for in the NL East and in the offseason they made two big moves. First move was signing first baseman Adam LaRoche after losing Adam Dunn. LaRoche came from the D-Backs and is a great power hitter for the Nats. The only issue with him is that he strikeouts a lot. In 2010 he had 172 strikeouts but he also had a pretty good year batting .261, 25 home runs, and drove in 100 RBI's. The second move the Nats made that no one saw coming was signing free agent outfielder Jayson Werth to a 7 year deal worth $120 million dollar. Now some people don't believe he was not worth that much for a guy who never batted .300 or drove in 100 or more RBI's, but he got paid and to the Nats he was worth it.

Werth came from the Phillies where he helped them win four straight NL East Division titles, make it to two World Series match ups, and won a World Series in 2008. Werth might be one of the best outfielders in the league with having speed, power, and a great arm. In 2010 with the Phillies he hit .296, 27 home runs, and drove in 85 RBI's. With having Werth in this line-up it will make them an even better team and it will be fun to see how Werth will face his former teammates and bat against Phillies starting four pitchers in Halladay, Lee, Oswalt, and Hamels. Werth makes this line-up a lot stronger in 2011 and for the long run. Without that being said they have another great hitter in third baseman Ryan Zimmerman who has been the face of this team for the past 6 years and he's another power bat they will have in their line-up. Zimmerman is the leader of this team and has such a great glove over at third base having won a gold glove in 2009. In 2010 Zimmerman hit .307, 25 home runs, and drove in 85 RBI's. The Nationals also have an upcoming star outfielder by the name of Bryce Harper,

you might have heard of him? If not he was the Nats number one draft pick in 2010 and he is only 18 years old and will be invited to spring training. Now I don't think he will make it on the 25 man roster only because of how young he is, they may want to coach him a little better to get him ready to face major league pitching before he is called up, but hey you never know. This kid can hit with the best of them.



Between Harper, Strasburg, Zimmermann, Clippard, Werth and Ryan Zimmerman they are the future of this team and in about 4 years from now I think they will be the team to beat in the NL East. As of right now they still have a lot of work to do with that pitching staff but I do think they will finish above .500 and maybe finish ahead of the New York Mets or the Florida Marlins in 2011. The Nationals are headed in the right direction.