are the nationals for real?

[dominik]

They are having a monster season. of course they are helped a little by the weakness of the phillies and marlins (on paper the east division was by far the best in the NL but the phillies with their injuries are struggling and the marlins are not as improved as people thought) but the season is still absolutely fantastic.

first I thought they were lucky since they seem to have a lot of close games but they have only 2 more wins then their pythagoran expectation.

anyone knew they had talent and would be improved but most thought they need more time and this is not their year yet. I expected them to come down but 2/3rd through the season it still didn't happen. they still lead all majors in wins and are on pace for nearly 100.

funny was that their best hitters (morse, zimmerman, werth) were injured for quite a long time (otherwise harper would still be in AAA) and still they didn't collapse.

but still I can't really believe how good they are. their rotation is really good and their BP absolutely lights out. probably some guys play over their heads and will regress but this is really impressive. I think even a healthy phillies team would not have an easy time against them. what do ou think about the nats?

[ol' aches and pains]

I've watched them a lot vs the Mets this year, and they are for real. Great pitching, good defense, good hitting. They really don't have a glaring weakness. They can go far into the post-season.

[Ben Grimm]

They've done really well so far. Don't forget too that they had to use 6 different cathers this season.

[ol' aches and pains]

They've done really well so far. Don't forget too that they had to use 6 different cathers this season.

Catching probably is the Nats' weakest position, but they picked up Kurt Suzuki from Oakland a couple of weeks ago. He's not Roy Campanella, but I think he's stabilized the position.

[ian2813]

I said at the beginning of the season that they could make some noise if everything broke right, and as they're something of a secondary team of mine, I couldn't be happier to see them playing the way they are.

Of course, if they plan to rest Stephen Strasburg for the entire postseason, will that hinder their chances this year?

[dominik]

their BP is really lights out:

ERA+
Clippard 138
Stammen 157
Gorzelany 124
Matheus 161
Rodriguez 205

Is there any BP remotely close to this in the majors right now?

[RaysFan_98]

I think they will start to falter when they shut down stras but thats just me. Thats Like Taking Price or CC or Cain or Verlander out of your rotation.

[SamtheBravesFan]

I think they will start to falter when they shut down stras but thats just me. Thats Like Taking Price or CC or Cain or Verlander out of your rotation.

The dirty little secret is that the Nationals also have Gio Gonzalez and the league ERA leader in Jordan Zimmerman. All they'll miss about Strasburg is his brand name. I don't see them missing a step if they go through with their threat of shutting Stephen down.

[Ben Grimm]

their BP is really lights out:

ERA+
Clippard 138
Stammen 157
Gorzelany 124
Matheus 161
Rodriguez 205

Is there any BP remotely close to this in the majors right now?

Baltimore's has been very good all season as well.

[GiambiJuice]

their BP is really lights out:

ERA+
Clippard 138
Stammen 157
Gorzelany 124
Matheus 161
Rodriguez 205

Is there any BP remotely close to this in the majors right now?

The Yankees are pretty close:

Soriano 259
Logan 112
Robertson 174
Eppley 124
Phelps 158
Rapada 144

Just imagine if Mariano Rivera hadn't gotten injured. There is no better 7-8-9 inning combo in baseball than Robertson, Soriano and Rivera.

[UnderPressure]

Catching probably is the Nats' weakest position, but they picked up Kurt Suzuki from Oakland a couple of weeks ago. He's not Roy Campanella, but I think he's stabilized the position.

Or they could move Bryce Harper back to catcher.

[Tenorman]

Or they could move Bryce Harper back to catcher.

That's a clown suggestion, bro!

(Sorry, I had to before someone else did...)

[RaysFan_98]

That's a clown suggestion, bro!

(Sorry, I had to before someone else did...)

Lol Pwned........

[Rich the Giants fan]

I think they're for real. I picked 'em to win the East, you know.

http://www.baseballevolution.com/previews/2012richpred.html

[UnderPressure]

Lol Pwned........

Reported for trolling/harassing.