Washington Nationals stand poised for playoffs as they start 2012 regular season – MLB Feature
What they are going to be during the season can be glimpsed from impeccable preparations they kicked their regular season off with. Ace Stephen Strasburg tumbling the hitters with sheer pace and variety, hitters showing mannerism on the plate and manager
pinning a close eye on the players, everything looked well on track for the Washington Nationals.
Miami Marlins were perceived an only contender they can have trouble with in reaching top of the table. From their first two games where their hitters nearly wept for finding hits, watching them standing up to Nationals’ powerful arms does not look like
a reality.
So miserable their frailties were exposed that one will predict even against teams with relatively weaker rotation, their fate is not going to be any different. This goes to further boast Nationals’ prospects for the season.
Closer look into NL East reveals that even if Nationals go down in momentum down the line and experience few defeats in the process, their playoff spot will most probably remain intact. How so? From Atlanta Braves to New York Mets and Marlins to Philadelphia
Phillies, nothing suggests anything more than expected coming off from them, however the teams may be.
Phillies may have had their chances, but ever since Ryan Howard and Chase Utley have been lost to injuries, their offence has weakened to an extent that it appears only a matter of time when they reach the plate and fall down every time.
What about Atlanta Braves? Can they pull off few stunners, sufficient enough to take them anywhere closer with the Nationals on table? Story was to be different if Tim Hudson will be present, since nothing is certain about his return, and the fact that their
future Hall of Fame third baseman Chipper Jones is also struggling with an injury, pinning more hopes than are currently being levied on them will be nothing but gross over ambitiousness. A longing that hardly comes true in the world of Baseball.
If one takes the drive now toward the Mets, one will wonder were there to be any time better than the one Nationals have this year to win the division. Riddled with financial crisis, Mets hardly possess the kind of pitchers capable of taking them to any
respectable position in the season.
Starter Johan Santana is back though after sitting out 19 months, barely there is going to be anyone else stepping up in his absence. The fact Santana threw just 84 pitches in his first game signals an impact of his shoulder injury on his longevity on the
mound. That impact in worst scenario can weaken his capacity further and thus pitching even five innings for him will not be feasible.
Moving on, Mets’ offence relies largely on youth, even some of the most important positions of the game are held by their younger players. For example, all the options they went with in the season for shortstop consisted of young players.
Only remaining prospective challenge Nationals can come across is the Marlins. As discussed earlier their offence is weaker, chiefly they will count on their pitchers.
While their offence has betrayed them, it does not however negate the possibility of Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez lifting the club occasionally during the regular season. If this happens more often than not, Marlins can very well upsurge any time during
the season.
Irrespective of the competency of players with all the teams, what takes Nationals ahead of others is an inspirational manager they have. Davey Johnson left no stone unturned during the off-season in streamlining the offence in particular.
Thus, unless an aberration strikes other teams, Nationals have their journey straight to the playoffs for the 2012 regular season.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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