Friday, September 30, 2011

Man, WHAT a review (and what a year, too)!!!

     And now, as promised, my review of the 2011 Washington Nationals season (on the new home for this blog). My God, where do I begin?
     Well, for starters, I predicted the Nats would go 77-85. Boy, did I get proven wrong!! 80-81 for the year (with a rainout against the Dodgers). Even I'm amazed...
     But then again, why shouldn't I be impressed? What with watching all 5 starters go 5+ innings for 20-some-odd games in a row to start the year and all...that surprised me.
     Then to see (IMO) the NL Rookie of the Year in Danny Espinosa, knowing I had seen him in July of last year @ Harrisburg...and seeing what he did with his glove and bat...brought joy to Nats fans everywhere.
     But the REAL surprise of the season, was Michael Morse. Call him what you want--"Mighty" Morse, "Danger" Morse, or simply "The Beast"--let's face it, he made everyone bop themselves on the head with excitement!! How far, or how high didn't matter...the question now is, where will the Nats put him on Opening Day? LF or 1B?
     The bullpen did their part (at times) just as well. Tyler Clippard to set up Drew Storen for the kill...sorry, I meant save...worked their magic.
     And then there's the return of "Strasmas". Yes, boys and girls, Stephen Strasburg is BACK!!! (And what a way to close out the year--not to mention Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphins/Land Shark/Sun Life Stadium--by getting 10 K's in the final win of the season against the Marlins. Yee-HA!!!)
     But I would be remiss if I didn't mention the rare down moment of the year came in June. That's when Jim Riggleman decided to bail on the Nats...while they were WINNING!!! All because he wanted a decision on extending his contract made by the end of June--and Mike Rizzo saying wait until the end of the season, and then talk about it.
     Instead of imploding, the team bought into Davey Johnson's way of things. The result, I just told you at the start of this entry. (The record...80-81.) Just in case Davey doesn't want to manage next year, there's one candidate out there as of today.
     Terry Francona. (Yes, let's talk about Wednesday night, shall we?)
     To see the Red Sox and the Braves BOTH go in the toilet the other night, had to be painful. (Hey, at least I can say the Nats had a hand in Atlanta's troubles...LMMFAO) So rather than suffer the indignity of being fired, Francona did the honorable thing and agreed to cut out on the option(s) for next year and 2013.
     (Which means if Mike Rizzo can get on the stick and call up Francona's agent, we can have a proven World Series-winning manager working with this young Nats team. I'm just saying...)
     You know, I said the Nats would finish better than the Mets and Marlins. And wouldn't you know it? I GOT PROVEN RIGHT, people!! Damn, I'm good...LMMFAO
     If the Nats don't contend next year, it's their own fucking fault!!! You heard it here first...