What has happened to the Battle of the Beltways? Every year we lament how the Orioles and Nationals stink, rendering irrelevant what should be one of Major League Baseball’s better rivalries.
A year ago, the Nats were the team in disarray. The general manager had been fired — in spring training. Crowds and television ratings were an embarrassment. The team lost over 100 games for the second year in a row. Now, Washington is one of the sport’s best surprises with a winning record entering play Thursday and pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg likely on the way next month.
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Meanwhile, the Orioles have fallen apart. Young stars like Adam Jones (.639 OPS) are regressing and there are few position players in the minor league system to help supplement Nick Markakis and Matt Wieters. Mix in fading veterans, another terrible bullpen, a lingering injury to second baseman Brian Roberts and a hellacious American League East schedule and Baltimore might be headed for 100 losses and the No. 1 pick.
But things aren’t quite as bad as they seem for the Orioles or as good as they seem for Washington. Baltimore doesn’t have Strasburg. It does have more pitching depth in the minors ready to join rookie Brian Matusz (4.18 ERA) and second-year pro Brad Bergesen. A struggling Nolan Reimold and injured Felix Pie (back) have crippled the team’s outfield depth.
The Nats, meanwhile, are generating buzz in the District for the first time since 2005. There is still work to do, however. Washington, too, lacks impact bats in the minor league system that will be ready in 2011. They must re-sign free-agent-to-be Adam Dunn and need to find a long-term option in right field. For now, Roger Bernadina is getting the chance. Adding expected No. 1 pick Bryce Harper is a coup. But he’s only 18 in October. Harper, catcher Derek Norris and outfielders Destin Hood and Michael Burgess are not big league options for next season. That’s a long way of saying, this weekend’s Orioles-Nationals series still doesn’t feature contending teams. It may be a while yet.
