After a 5-2 streak, the Nationals have finally decided to wake up and play up to a real pennant race. Alas it may be too little too late because of the scorching play of the New York Mets who had won 7 straight before a 2 game slide. With September on the horizon, a 5 1/5 game lead isnt insurmountable, but it’s prospects are looking dire and dire by the day.
Great late season comebacks arent foreign to Jayson Werth, who happened to be a member of the 2007 Philadelphia Phillies who also trailed the Mets by seven games with 17 remaining and won the division on the final day of the season. Also in 2008, the Phils were 31/2 games behind with 16 games left, comparable in bad odds to the Nats now. The Phils won the division by three games, then won the World Series. These probabilities don’t seem likely at all at this point but its nice to dream right?
The uninspired play early on, spotty, inexperienced managing and injuries didnt help the cause. Everyone from fans and players alike thought a switch could be turned on but it never really happened.
As season full of promise now enters a slow crawl of sorts. With the Redskins a national debacle, in previous seasons, fans at least had the Nationals to take our minds off that monstrosity of a franchise for the 1st month or so of the season. Unfortunately this season, we have to watch both franchises together sink to depths we didnt think possible.
This September run will undoubtedly be the final days in a Nats uniform for at least 3 huge free agents in Ian Desmond, the longest tenured National, Jordan Zimmermann, and Doug Fister. Each has under performed this season and I can guess that their impeding free agency was a major part of their performances.
As a fan, I am hoping for a miracle, but I know that it’s most likely not going to happen. So, I will be watching to look at the improvement of the young guys such as Trae Turner, Michael Taylor and better consistent efforts from the guys returning in 2016. The window for contention isn’t closed for this franchise at all, not when you have a healthy Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon to build around, but the other teams in the division are improving. This season was a lost opportunity.
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