The Nationals 2010 season was full of headlines, but the results on the field were more of the same. While the arrival, and subsequent injury, of Stephen Strasburg and the exciting performances of Adam Dunn, Ryan Zimmerman and others provided the buzz, the Nationals finished last in the National League East for the 5th time in 6 seasons since moving to Washington, DC.
Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg's debut on June 8th was treated as a historic event. The Hall of Fame sent staff to authenticate many of the items that were used in the game: baseballs, uniforms and more. The media hype was off the charts. Talking heads discussed whether Strasburg would immediately be the best pitcher in the game. How could he possibly live up to expectations? Well, he did in his first outing striking out 14 Pirates while walking none and allowing 2 runs over 7 innings. It might have been his best performance of the season. His remaining 11 outings were a mix of mostly solid performances and a few efforts more in line with the expectations of a typical rookie. He really only had one bad outing.
All in all, Strasburg's rookie season was that of an absolutely elite pitching talent. Without the injury, he surely would have pitched his way to the Rookie of the Year award. His pitching metric stats (WHIP, K/9IP, etc.) were in line with Cy Young candidates. More importantly, he entered the majors with the weight of his franchise on his back and the most unrealistic of expectations, and he pitched like none of that even mattered to him. His mental approach seemed just perfect. He pitched like a fierce competitor while displaying mastery of his emotions -- a rare quality for a rookie pitcher.
As we all know, his injury is a serious one. Fortunately, for Nats fans and, I would argue for the rest of the baseball world, today's technology sets the odds of his return to baseball as certain. So, the question isn't whether he will return but, will he return the same pitcher he was before the injury. Only time will tell.
The Rest of the Team
While the Nationals did finish last, they were a better team in 2010 finishing with ten more wins than each of the two prior seasons. In fact, they were competitive through mid-May standing just one game out of first on May 13th. No one would argue that they could have competed with the top of the division over 162 games. But being a factor for six weeks and even being a bit of a spoiler in September were significant for a franchise trying to remove the label of cellar dweller.
The Nats had no shortage of stars in 2010. Adam Dunn finished second in the NL with 38 homeruns while driving in 103 runs. Ryan Zimmerman continued to prove that he is one of the best young players in the game and that he is already one of the best thirdbasemen in the game. In a "year of the pitcher" Zimmerman hit over .300 while hitting for power and playing stellar defense in the hot corner. Josh Willingham was one of the better NL sluggers in the first half and was having a career year before an injury ended his season prematurely. Ian Desmond's promising rookie season and Michael Morse's second half breakout provide optimism for the coming seasons. Offensive stars aside, the Nats did finish near the bottom of the league in offense indicating that it takes a complete lineup of offensive threats to be an offensive force.
The Nats finished a bit better in the pitching department but were still in the bottom half of the league. The injuries to Strasburg, Jason Marquis and Jordan Zimmerman didn't help. But, injuries aside, its hard to imagine the Nats would have been one of the better staffs in the league. Livan Hernandez did pitch an awful lot of quality innings.
The best part of the Nats 2010 team was undoubtedly the bullpen. Nats' relievers posted the 4th best ERA in the NL. Before his trade to Minnesota, Matt Capps was one of the better closers in baseball. Still, it was the depth of the bullpen that made the difference, especially considering the struggles of the injury-depleted rotation. Tyler Clippard was an effective workhorse throwing 91 innings, one inning shy of the league high. Solid contributions from Sean Burnett, Joel Peralta and others were valuable as well. Ultimately, the Nats managed to succesfully transform an area that has been a real struggle for this team into the team's strength without spending big bucks and without trading away key players. Credit certainly goes to the Nats' front office, pitching coach Steve McCatty and manager Jim Riggleman.
A Look Ahead
While the Nats haven't shaken the cellar dwellar label just yet, the franchise is being transformed. The most imporatant development for the Nats in recent seasons isn't directly related to young star players or big investments in top draft picks. It is the fact that Stan Kasten and Mike Rizzo have changed the mindset in the organization. While the results are not yet seen on the field, the organization is being run with a winners' mentality. The front office has been judicious and patient, not itching to fill every hole in the roster in one off-season -- a high-risk approach that can dig a deep hole for a franchise. Also, the front office hasn't allowed the organization to become insecure about its current place in the baseball world. The front office seems to have a real clarity about where the team is and where it is heading -- a stark contrast to other teams in similar positions in the standings.
As we look ahead to 2011, like many other teams, the Nats have a lot of decisions to make. Will the Nats resign Adam Dunn or will they look to find another marquee player? Will they able to put together a solid batting order, top to bottom, in 2011? Will they be able to transform the rotation for 2011 as they did the bullpen for 2010? It will certainly be an interesting off-season for the Nats.
At this point, the Nats really don't reek of a team on the verge of greatness or even being a solid competitor. There are just too many holes to fill and the team relies on too many young players at this point. This isn't a franchise that needs to win now. But, it is a franchise that needs some traction that translates to results on the field. Two years of finishing in the bottom third in attendance prove the fan base is ready for more than just headlines. Perhaps the fan base isn't as patient as the front office.
Still, the organization is headed in a positive direction. The team is young and getting better. Sound decisions are being made by the front office. The organizational mindset is where it needs to be. The goal of being a .500 team just might be a reality for the Nats in near future. And once they reach .500, they can shake the cellar dweller label and set their sights on loftier ambitions.
