Can't wait...

And we wait for the Nats for begin their World Series Natitude run...oh, and also defending their NL East Championship.
This'll be fun...lol
More extensive blog entry, the closer we get to Opening Day. Till then...World Series Natitude!!

Cheers, Chipper!!

After watching Stephen Strasburg do his shit tonight...all 10 K's of it...we know the Nats have this series with Atlanta won. Only the game tomorrow is left.
Which means it's Chipper Jones' last appearance in Washington. So this is as good a time as any to salute Chipper, before the season (and his career) ends.
You have to understand, 20 years ago he was what Ryan Zimmerman is now...THE man at 3B. (Although my friend Mike just might disagree and put David Wright's name in place of Zim. Why quibble? LMAO)
Which reminds me...how come Fredi Gonzalez didn't have Chipper pinch-hit w/2 out in the 9th? You could've just as easily had him bat instead of Juan Francisco. Wonder if they talked about that during the Braves postgame show?
Anyway, the Nats are now 7 games up on Atlanta for the division lead. First Place Nats...that does have a nice sound to it, don't it?

Two weeks (and counting)...

Come June 8th, and I'm pretty sure I'be talked about it, I'll be at Fenway Park to see the Nats take on the Red Sox.
(This is on my brother's "bucket list", BTW.)
What'll happen with this blog, is I hope to write about the experience as the trip develops...40 hours altogether, from leaving here in Luray (around 4 a.m. Friday morning) to coming back close to 7 or 8 p.m. Saturday night.
God, I hope WiFi works along the Amtrak corridor...lol
(Oh, I'm on the right in both pictures.)

First-place Nats...SUCH a nice ring to it

At last, there's a cushion between the Nats and Mets. 1 1/2 games separate them...and who figured we have Atlanta to thank for this?
Keep it up, Atlanta...LMAO
Anyway, I think we can now say the NL agrees with Gio Gonzalez. All I wondered was, had he hit it out (instead of Justin Maxwell hauling it in on the warning track)...would the crowd have torn the joint down?
Funtime In Southeast D.C., I call it...although this probably says it better:
Natitude.
Enjoy it, America...it's for real!!

To "Begin the Beguine" for another year

So now spring training is done for 2012. Good.
Come Thursday, the Nats launch an assault on the wildcard in the NL...which means it's time to give my prediction on how (and where) the Nats will finish.
Last year I said it would be 77-85...and it wound up 80-81. So I'll just reverse those numbers, and say 85-77 (and contend for the wildcard).
Oh, and 2nd or 3rd in the NL East, too. Meaning, ahead of the Mets and Marlins...again!! (Just like last year...lol)
This year I can honestly say the Nats are a playoff-caliber team...provided everything falls in place. And by that I mean Stephen Strasburg fully recovers from Tommy John surgery (just as Jordan Zimmermann did last year).
Now add Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson to this rotation, and there's no telling what'll go down. Plus, I can say I have no reservations about Henry Rodriguez sharing the closer duties w/ Brad Lidge (until Drew Storen comes off the DL) at the start of the season.
All this, and Bryce Harper, too...
What, you didn't think I was leaving him out of this piece? Personally, I'm holding out for seeing him up w/ the big club by the time my brother and me go to Boston on June 8 to watch the Nats take on the Red Sox.
(His "bucket list" deal...before he retires from the government...and truthfully my only chance to see Fenway Park. I may never get this chance again.)
So that's it. Have at me, people...lol

Start spreading the news...

Maybe this idea of mine...seeing the Nats in a World Series by 2013...ain't so far-fetched after all.
Forever the Face of the Franchise
Anyway, time to GET MY RED ON!!

The unthinkable?

Let me state for the record that it's my view the deadline for Ryan Zimmerman's contract extension...is Opening Day. NOT this Saturday.
Having said that...
Here is my message to the Lerners and Mike Rizzo: GET THIS FUCKER DONE, NOW!! Just the thought of trading Zim makes me want to puke.
WHY that is being floated is a mystery to me (not to mention Nats fans altogether). There's no way in hell I picture Zim wearing a Mets uniform...just as Mets fans can't fathom David Wright wearing a curly "W" cap.
(Am I right, Mike?)
And you all thought the Albert Pujols situation last year was a fluke...or Prince Fielder, for that matter. We're about to live it here in Nats Town, so please don't laugh at us.
Now if you'll all excuse me, I need to throw up...

Find a place...

As long as Anthony Rendon understands he AIN'T replacing Ryan Zimmerman any time soon...I'm cool with him finding some other position to break in once he gets to Washington full-time.
Rendon will work out across infield
Just not 3B...for the time being.

Just DO it, already!!

To this story (from Nats Insider), I add this piece of advice from yours truly:
GET THIS DAMN DEAL DONE...NOW!! Thank you. I'm pretty sure Nats fans will thank you as well.
Zim needs to stay a Nat for life,dig?
Spring storylines: Zimmerman's contract