Washington Nationals enriched with resources to defend 2012 division crown - MLB Update
Washington Nationals have all the resources to claim that they can defend their 2012 National League East Division Championship.
From the rotation to the bullpen and offence to the defence, they have players that boast incredible credentials.
Their rotation is arguably the best in Major League Baseball.
At-least, in the East Division, none of the teams is even near to the level of effectiveness that their starting pitchers have.
Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Dan Haren form a formidable front for the oppositions.
Besides, their offence has strengthened, following an inclusion of Denard Span in the team.
Span will act as a lead-off hitter, lightening the burden on Jayson Werth, who performed this job last year.
Many believe that if Werth was used down the order by the team during the last season, his offensive numbers would have improved.
As a matter of fact, the Nationals did not have any other option but deploy him as a leadoff man.
Fortunately, the presence of Span will allow them to move Werth down. As a result, the probability that Werth will be exceptional next year has increased.
Bryce Harper is another player from the Nationals, who is going to be outstanding ahead.
He is no longer a Minor Leaguer looking to be promoted to the Majors. His performance in 2012 suggests he will be extraordinary, both offensively and defensively, in the upcoming season.
Though there is no guarantee that the first baseman Adam LaRoche returns, his inclusion or exclusion is not going to make a huge difference.
This is because Span is almost as capable. He can easily offset the impact of an absence of LaRoche.
Only potential area that the Nationals can be concerned about is a dearth of left-handers in their bullpen.
If they add some relievers before Spring Training, they can handle discrepancies in this area.
As far as the catching department is concerned, Kurt Suzuki can do a remarkable job for the team, as he did last year.
Fortunately, the Nationals host some replacements of him that can be introduced at the time of need.
Indeed, the Nationals are ideally poised to claim the Division title once again.
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