By the time the Nationals reported to spring training this year, virtually every significant baseball writer in the country had them pegged for 100 losses. Many others used the term “historically bad” when talking about the club. But really, what is “historically” bad?
When I hear the term I think of the 1962 Mets, who finished 40-120, a winning percentage of .250. Exquisitely bad baseball. After 32 games — one-fifth of the season — the ’62 Metropolitans were 12-20, or slightly better than the Nationals.
The 2003 Detroit Tigers were historically bad, at 43-119. After 32 games, they were 7-25, or slightly worse than the Nationals at the same point.
The 1916 Philadelphia Athletics were abysmal, at 36-117. After 32 games, though, they were 13-19, and probably thinking things weren’t that bad.
The worst Washington club in my lifetime was the 1963 Senators. They finished dead last in the 10-team American League, at 56-106. Like the ’16 A’s, after 32 games they were also 13-19. The worst Orioles club is easily the 1988 edition, which lost their first 21 en route to a 54-107 season. After 32 games they were 4-28.
Even an above-.500 start is little guarantee of a successful season. The 1949 Nats were 17-15 at the 32-game mark — including a 9-game winning streak that prompted a ticker-tape parade — and finished last at 50-104, 47 games out of first place.
Returning to the present, it’s perfectly plainthat the current Nationals have the potential to make the 2007 season memorable for all of the wrong reasons. What’s particularly interesting thus far, however, is how they’re doing it. Their weakness was supposed to be pitching, the starters in particular, yet half of the staff has ERA’s below 3.50. Their bullpen was going to be a strong point, but thus far the finishing unit has more blown saves than actual saves. Most scouts I spoke with this spring figured they would hit, despite the loss of Alfonso Soriano. Yet Washington bats have remained fairly silent, dead last in the NL in batting average and slugging percentage. They do have a slight lead in runs scored over the defending World Champion Cardinals, but have played two additional games, which pretty much negates the difference.
I can’t imagine any objective observer thought the Nationals had much of a shot at escaping last place this year. From my perspective, however, if they’re really and truly “historically bad,” so what? They’ve put together a solid cadre of scouts and player development people, and the high draft picks that come along with lousy W-L records should put some semblance of a smile on the face of V.P./Assistant G.M. Mike Rizzo.
However bad this season turns out, let’s remember that the ’62 Mets were frequently referred to as “loveable losers,” and a scant seven years later were World Champions. The ’03 Tigers drafted well, signed some key free agents, and were in the World Series three years later. Championships are won through smart decisions by your baseball operations people. After less than a year of local ownership, the Nationals deserve no shortage of patience.
Phil Wood appears Saturdays at 11 a.m. on MASN and weekly on Comcast SportsNet’s WPL.
