Home Run Derby

By the request of Nationals Nation (wow that takes alliteration to a different standard), I am going to take a look at the Nationals from time to time and see how they are progressing against my “worst team in baseball (WTinB)” tag I hung on them in our 30 in 30 segment. 

Now that the season is through its first 10 game segment, let’s take a look at team and the status of my predictions.

Win Total:I have the under on 71.5 and have the Nats pegged for 65 wins.   The team is 3-7 and a -9 on run differential.  Simple average pace has them at 49 wins (which is meaningless but fun to point out), baseball reference suggests they Nats should be one game better than their record. 

Needless to say, while the poetic 3-0 start was nice, the seven game losing streak shows this team has its work cut out for it.  The Nats are struggling at the plate (Team has a 90 OPS+ and 14th in the NL in OBP) and on the mound (Team has a 85 ERA+ and is 14th in ERA and runs allowed).

Funny thing is the starters, while not good, hasn’t been as bad I thought.  Collectively, they have 5.00 ERA, 2 quality starts, a 1-6 record, 1.50 WHIP, and 2.1:1 K/BB ratio.  Don’t get me wrong, by all definition that is bad, but I was thinking even worse.

The “Strength” of the team, as Nats fans told me, was the bullpen. Unfortunately, they have been bad too.  4.05 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 1:1 K/BB ratio (20 walks in 33 innings!!!! BTW the starters have 18 in 54).

It early in the season, maybe things will pick-up for them.  For a good laugh (strictly for the picture and headline), check out the Nationals Enquirer post from yesterday’s game.

Break-out Home Run performer: Elijah Dukes. He’s been on the DL and will be for some time still. 

Disappointing Home Run performer:  Austin Kearns.  None in 33 at bats.  He is playing all the time with Dukes out but needs to warm up.

Bold Statement: 0-18 vs Mets.  first game vs NY on Tax Day at Shea.

Best Case Scenario:Win the inaugural game at the new park…and they did in fine fashion with Ryan Zimmerman’s walk-off.  Which, while unposted, is the first Home Run of the Day selection for the 2008 season (Photo credit:  AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais).  So we check that one off.  Woo-Hoo!!!!

Current WTinB: Detriot Tigers 1-8

Nats: 3-7, 1.5 games ahead.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 at 2:02 pm and is filed under 2008 MLB, 30 Teams in 30 Days, Nationals. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.