Baseball writers and broadcasters have not bought into the idea that the Washington Nationals are a team on the rise. They focus more on opposing fans at Nationals Park or the team overpaying for right fielder Jayson Werth.
Enter former Phillies closer Mitch Williams, who is now a highly respected analyst for the MLB Network. He is on record as picking Washington to finish third in the National League East ahead of the Mets and the Marlins.
JW » Why do you think the Nationals will be so improved in 2011?
Williams » The main reason is that they have become a much better defensive team. By adding Werth, Adam LaRoche, Rick Ankiel and a deeper bench with versatile guys like Jerry Hairston, they will help the young kids like Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa and Michael Morse all be better fielders. That means the pitchers can throw to contact and not have to worry about innings being extended by errors. Pitchers will be able to keep their pitch count down and go deeper into games.
JW » By signing Werth to such a big contract, does that make him the face of the franchise?
Williams » The face of the Nationals is the best third baseman in the National league, and that is Ryan Zimmerman. He is still the main man, but Werth is a great part of the future of the team. They have a solid team now, but you get Stephen Strasburg back and you see Jordan Zimmermann step up and be a solid number two starter along with Drew Storen, who could be the closer for the next 10 years, and this is a team with a huge upside.
JW » How do you see the Nationals’ future?
Williams » What the Learner family has done as owners has been a masterful sales job. I talk to players all the time and at the winter meetings Cliff Lee, for instance, was very impressed with the ownership’s sincere commitment to win. He signed with the Phillies, but the Werth signing was key because of his talent. The Nationals are going to be a long-term contender, and my guess is that it will happen sooner than later. I like what they are doing on all fronts, that is why I picked them to finish third.
Examiner columnist Jim Williams is a seven-time Emmy Award-winning TV producer, director and writer. Check out his blog, Watch this!
