Nats 7, Cardinals 4
Admit it. You’re getting a little giddy now. You fill out possible 2012 rotations with “Strasburg” penciled in. You find a spot on the field for top draft pick Anthony Rendon, who you’re sure will be an on-base machine. Bryce Harper in a corner outfield spot and batting fourth behind Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman in this future lineup is a given.
Now take a deep breath. Yes, the Nats have won six games in a row – their longest winning streak since the end of the 2009 season – and are giving off an altogether different vibe then they have at any time since 2005. But let’s take a step back for one, quick second. I promise then we’ll go back to wondering if Derek Norris can somehow play center field.
In 2006 the Nats were 30-34 on June 11. They had just won three of four in Philadelphia and had posted a 17-7 mark over a 24-game stretch. The good times were rolling and no one wanted to think about trading Alfonso Soriano at the deadline. Okay, almost no one. Washington then lost nine of its next 10 and went on to lose 91 games in all. Even the 2008 team that lost 102 games and netted the No. 1 pick in the draft (Strasburg) won seven in a row and 10 out of 13 at one point. The very next year the Nats topped themselves and lost 103 – yet still finished the year with a seven-game win streak. It’s baseball. It happens.
Okay – now that I’ve gone Debbie Downer on you – even this team’s harshest critics must concede that given the promising players the organization has in its system now there is some light at the end of what’s been a very dark tunnel. Even if you believe that the Lerner Family is the party that shot those lights out it’s time for a little optimism. On June 16, the Nats are 33-36. That’s the closest they’ve been to .500 since that semi-magical 2005 season (I’m saving a straight “magical” for a year when they actually have a winning record). Also, they’re not in last place in the National League East. Last time that’s happened this late in the season was 2006. So go nuts, everybody. With games against Baltimore (31-35) and Seattle (35-34) left on the homestand and the third-place Mets (34-35) just one game in front why not dream big? Any interest in a July 4 weekend series between the Nats and Pirates (35-33) with both teams sporting a winning record?
“It kind of feels like the early stages of those teams,” outfielder Laynce Nix said when asked about winning teams he’s played on before and how this group compares. “We’ve got to convince ourselves and believe we’re capable of that. And we are. This team has a good makeup and is really versatile – especially withg how young the guys are and the track record of the veteran players. It’s one of those things where if we keep playing well and scoring runs like this and playing and beating good teams we’ll start realizing that we can compete and should compete.”
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