Opening Day: Nationals vs. Braves
When » Thursday, 1:05 p.m.
Where » Nationals Park
TV/Radio » MASN/106.7 FM
THREE BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Who’s the ace?
Trick question. There really isn’t one. Or if there is he’ll spend much of this season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. But until Stephen Strasburg returns, a patchwork of eight different pitchers will likely make up the rotation. Ageless veteran Livan Hernandez will be the Opening Day starter. But Washington would be thrilled for Hernandez to simply match last year’s comeback performance. No, the best bet in 2011 is a breakthrough from Jordan Zimmermann, 25. Now 19 months removed from his own Tommy John surgery, Zimmermann has had a nice spring training outside of one rough start against the Cardinals. If he can prop up this group until Strasburg arrives, the Nats will have the two biggest building blocks in place for their future rotation.
2. Is he Werth the money?
The Nats shocked everyone by aggressively paying Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth a seven-year, $126 million contract on the free agent market. On the surface, that seems over-the-top for a player who turns 32 this season. But general manager Mike Rizzo believes he needed to end his club’s reliance on one-dimensional wonders like Adam Dunn. Werth has become a fine offensive player. But he also has speed and athleticism in the outfield and a cannon for an arm. Will his numbers dip outside of the Phillies’ star-studded lineup and cozy ballpark? Yes. But if his presence helps Washington land another top free agent next winter and keep homegrown stars like Ryan Zimmerman happy, then all the better.
3. Offense or defense?
Good fielding has rarely been a priority in the organization’s six seasons in the District. Save for drafting Ryan Zimmerman in 2005, the Nats had often accepted mediocre — even bad — defense as long as that player could mash. That has begun to change under Rizzo. The Werth signing is a prime example. Adam LaRoche will also save some runs at first base. But balance is a good thing, too. And Washington scored just 655 runs even with Dunn, ranking 14th in the National League. Did Rizzo better his club defensively at the expense of the lineup? If the Nats do score more runs it will be because of internal improvements by players like Michael Morse and youngsters Ian Desmond, Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
While we wait … » Since Stephen Strasburg blew out his elbow last summer, 2011 has been seen as a transition year for the Nationals. It doesn’t mean the organization doesn’t want to make a push for .500. And there is plenty of young talent on the roster that bears watching. But true playoff contention won’t happen without No. 1 draft picks Strasburg and Bryce Harper living up to expectations. That will have to wait. Strasburg continues to recover from Tommy John surgery. He will make some minor league starts by season’s end and could even reach the big leagues in September — though the Nats are in no rush. Harper, meanwhile, will start at low-A Hagerstown after he recovers from a sprained ankle. He held his own in spring training, but general manager Mike Rizzo also wants Harper to learn how to endure the daily grind of minor league life. For so much of the organization all signs point to 2012.
Double trouble » Do the Nats have their middle-infield combination of the future already in place? Ian Desmond, 25, now has a full year of big-league experience at shortstop. Danny Espinosa, 23, made noise in a late-season call-up at second base. There are questions. Desmond has to cut down on his errors and needs to get on base more. Espinosa has enough pop in his bat and is a fine defensive player already. He was also overpowered at times last September at the plate and needed surgery on his right wrist during the offseason. Still, there is enough promise to envision a bright future for both. But will they become solid regular starters? Can either develop into an All-Star caliber player? If one excels, does he become the team’s shortstop — Espinosa can play there, too — and the other become trade bait? All questions that 162 games will go a long way toward answering.
BY THE NUMBERS
3.35 » ERA for the Nats bullpen in 2010. That ranked fourth in National League, fifth overall. Washington likely returns five relievers from the group that finished last season.
.910 » OPS posted by new Nats outfielder Jayson Werth in 2010. That ranked 10th among all MLB players. Nats third baseman Ryan Zimmerman led the team at .899 last season.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST PREVIEW
Atlanta Braves
If any team is going to challenge the Phillies it will be Atlanta. The Braves have a solid rotation led by Tim Hudson and Tommy Hanson. The addition of Dan Uggla gives a needed boost to a lineup that just wasn’t good enough in 2010. At 39 and coming off major knee surgery, does Chipper Jones have anything left? It will be the first time since 1990 that Bobby Cox won’t be in the dugout. Fredi Gonzalez takes over as manager.
Florida Marlins
While they wait for a new stadium to be finished for 2012, the Marlins are gradually adding pieces from their productive farm system. Last year it was Gaby Sanchez, Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton. Josh Johnson leads an underrated starting rotation. Florida hopes Javier Vazquez will benefit from a return to the NL. Hanley Ramirez is still an MVP candidate at shortstop, though he’s had attitude issues in recent seasons.
New York Mets
With ownership in a financial mess and coming off an awful 2010, the Mets look like an organization in crisis. But the overhaul of the front office provides hope. Injuries have crippled this team. Healthy seasons from Carlos Beltran, Jason Bay and Jose Reyes would help. David Wright is still one of the best third baseman. The rotation is without Johan Santana until at least June and looks shaky beyond Mike Pelfrey
Philadelphia Phillies
No team made a bigger move in the offseason. The Phillies reacquired LHP Cliff Lee and put him in a rotation with Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels. That’s an absurd collection of talent. There are concerns about the health of second baseman Chase Utley and if the team can replace Jayson Werth in right field. But the rotation alone makes the Phillies the favorites in the National League.
