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| The Nationals have gone from luxurious to practical, and that’s not a bad thing | The Nationals have gone from luxurious to practical, and that’s not a bad thing |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| VIERA, Fla. — You know better than to be seduced by the Washington Nationals’ spring training possibilities. If their 2012 and 2014 playoff disappointments didn’t restrain premature hype, then last season’s debacle obliterated all naivete. It is best to dream about this team with one eye open. | |
| In the absence of effusive expectation, there is room for measured hope, however. And so there’s this thought: Although the Nationals lack a super power, they’re a much more balanced and well-devised ballclub. The 2015 team was built around a historically gifted starting rotation that crumbled because of injuries and underperformance. If the rotation had been as overpowering as advertised, it could have obstructed the Nationals’ many flaws, but it didn’t, and not even an MVP season from Bryce Harper could save them. | In the absence of effusive expectation, there is room for measured hope, however. And so there’s this thought: Although the Nationals lack a super power, they’re a much more balanced and well-devised ballclub. The 2015 team was built around a historically gifted starting rotation that crumbled because of injuries and underperformance. If the rotation had been as overpowering as advertised, it could have obstructed the Nationals’ many flaws, but it didn’t, and not even an MVP season from Bryce Harper could save them. |
| The current team does not have the same potential because there is no stunning, shiny unit capable of toying with the rest of baseball. Instead, it possesses better protection. The Nationals are plenty talented, but they aren’t as stylish. They’re like a house that underwent renovations for more structural support; the changes don’t stand out as much because they’re meant to keep the team from falling apart. | The current team does not have the same potential because there is no stunning, shiny unit capable of toying with the rest of baseball. Instead, it possesses better protection. The Nationals are plenty talented, but they aren’t as stylish. They’re like a house that underwent renovations for more structural support; the changes don’t stand out as much because they’re meant to keep the team from falling apart. |
| [Jim Bowden: I’ve never seen a worse player contract than Ian Desmond’s] | [Jim Bowden: I’ve never seen a worse player contract than Ian Desmond’s] |
| The Nationals have sacrificed the wow factor to mitigate the whoa factor. Their holes shouldn’t be as gaping. To be a playoff team, they’ll need more things to go right, but they’ve reduced the likelihood that so many things could go wrong. | The Nationals have sacrificed the wow factor to mitigate the whoa factor. Their holes shouldn’t be as gaping. To be a playoff team, they’ll need more things to go right, but they’ve reduced the likelihood that so many things could go wrong. |
| Spend several days at spring training, gauging the available talent, pondering players’ histories and running through scenarios. It’s telling to note the many areas in which the Nationals appear to be improved. How much better? It remains to be seen. Certainly, preseason perception doesn’t always turn into regular season reality. And in some areas, better might not mean they’ve even graduated to functional. Nevertheless, General Manager Mike Rizzo’s tweaks are full of promise. | |
| To detail the tangible improvements, let’s start with the lineup. The additions of Ben Revere and Daniel Murphy ease the Nationals’ overload of right-handed hitters, and they make the offense peskier. They’ll still be a free-swinging team, and depending on health, the offense might remain inconsistent. But opponents should have to work harder to get outs. | To detail the tangible improvements, let’s start with the lineup. The additions of Ben Revere and Daniel Murphy ease the Nationals’ overload of right-handed hitters, and they make the offense peskier. They’ll still be a free-swinging team, and depending on health, the offense might remain inconsistent. But opponents should have to work harder to get outs. |
| Murphy struck out only 7.1 percent of his at-bats last season, the lowest rate in baseball. Revere ranked seventh, at 10.1 percent. Last season, the Nationals had two of the five easiest players to strike out — Michael A. Taylor (second) and Ian Desmond (fourth). If the Kansas City Royals taught us anything last season, it’s a profound understanding of the value of quality at-bats and making contact. | Murphy struck out only 7.1 percent of his at-bats last season, the lowest rate in baseball. Revere ranked seventh, at 10.1 percent. Last season, the Nationals had two of the five easiest players to strike out — Michael A. Taylor (second) and Ian Desmond (fourth). If the Kansas City Royals taught us anything last season, it’s a profound understanding of the value of quality at-bats and making contact. |
| With the infield defense, there’s a significant upside to starting Danny Espinosa at shortstop to replace the departed Desmond and putting Anthony Rendon back at third base, his natural position. In the outfield, the trio of Revere, Taylor and Harper is intriguing, but if Jayson Werth is healthy, it’s uncertain how much they will play together. | With the infield defense, there’s a significant upside to starting Danny Espinosa at shortstop to replace the departed Desmond and putting Anthony Rendon back at third base, his natural position. In the outfield, the trio of Revere, Taylor and Harper is intriguing, but if Jayson Werth is healthy, it’s uncertain how much they will play together. |
| [Jordan Zimmermann found a soft landing place in Detroit] | [Jordan Zimmermann found a soft landing place in Detroit] |
| The starting rotation doesn’t have five big names anymore, but with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg at the top, it’s hardly a trouble spot. And the bullpen, a glaring issue a year ago, has better options (additions include Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez, Yusmeiro Petit and Trevor Gott), better versatility and a better mix of veterans and youth, so much so that Manager Dusty Baker shook his head at the depth and said, “It’s a heck of a problem to have.” | The starting rotation doesn’t have five big names anymore, but with Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg at the top, it’s hardly a trouble spot. And the bullpen, a glaring issue a year ago, has better options (additions include Shawn Kelley, Oliver Perez, Yusmeiro Petit and Trevor Gott), better versatility and a better mix of veterans and youth, so much so that Manager Dusty Baker shook his head at the depth and said, “It’s a heck of a problem to have.” |
| Throw in a solid bench and the upgrade at manager with Baker replacing the overmatched Matt Williams, and there’s reason to believe the Nationals won’t be lagging seven games behind the New York Mets in the standings by the end of 2016. | Throw in a solid bench and the upgrade at manager with Baker replacing the overmatched Matt Williams, and there’s reason to believe the Nationals won’t be lagging seven games behind the New York Mets in the standings by the end of 2016. |
| This isn’t a luxurious team, but it’s a practical one. The 2016 Nationals don’t leave you fantasizing about tattooing a curly W on the Major League Baseball logo, but they might be equipped to play with more grit and frustrate you less. When things don’t go their way, they’re more capable of adjusting. And if they have some luck, it’s easier to see them overachieving. | This isn’t a luxurious team, but it’s a practical one. The 2016 Nationals don’t leave you fantasizing about tattooing a curly W on the Major League Baseball logo, but they might be equipped to play with more grit and frustrate you less. When things don’t go their way, they’re more capable of adjusting. And if they have some luck, it’s easier to see them overachieving. |
| The safe bet is probably to project 86 to 88 wins. But reaching the low 90s isn’t crazy, especially considering that Baker has quickly elevated the three previous franchises he inherited. There’s always a Baker boost, and you can feel the Nationals’ vibe changing already. The tension is gone. Jonathan Papelbon doesn’t seem like such a dangerous outcast because Baker embraces characters. | The safe bet is probably to project 86 to 88 wins. But reaching the low 90s isn’t crazy, especially considering that Baker has quickly elevated the three previous franchises he inherited. There’s always a Baker boost, and you can feel the Nationals’ vibe changing already. The tension is gone. Jonathan Papelbon doesn’t seem like such a dangerous outcast because Baker embraces characters. |
| There’s no doubt Baker is in charge, and the coaching staff is establishing a fresh, blue-collar culture. Still, there’s a calm about the team. It could be merely the comfort of early spring training, but it’s a distinct feeling. | There’s no doubt Baker is in charge, and the coaching staff is establishing a fresh, blue-collar culture. Still, there’s a calm about the team. It could be merely the comfort of early spring training, but it’s a distinct feeling. |
| “It’s so good. So far,” Werth said. “It’s still early, but everybody’s upbeat. I’ve always said players reflect their manager, and so far Dusty’s been an upbeat guy. See how it goes.” | “It’s so good. So far,” Werth said. “It’s still early, but everybody’s upbeat. I’ve always said players reflect their manager, and so far Dusty’s been an upbeat guy. See how it goes.” |
| It’s all laughs and fist bumps right now, but amid the congeniality, it feels like a team is developing. It’s clear that Rizzo and the Nationals learned from the miscalculations and mischief of 2015. Have they changed enough? See how it goes. | It’s all laughs and fist bumps right now, but amid the congeniality, it feels like a team is developing. It’s clear that Rizzo and the Nationals learned from the miscalculations and mischief of 2015. Have they changed enough? See how it goes. |
| In Esquire’s “What I’ve Learned” feature, actor Michael J. Fox once said something that applies to the recovering Nationals’ situation: “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations.” | In Esquire’s “What I’ve Learned” feature, actor Michael J. Fox once said something that applies to the recovering Nationals’ situation: “My happiness grows in direct proportion to my acceptance, and in inverse proportion to my expectations.” |
| The Nationals have accepted that they blew 2015. Naturally, their expectations are tame now. It leaves them an opening for surprise, which often carries the greatest joy. | The Nationals have accepted that they blew 2015. Naturally, their expectations are tame now. It leaves them an opening for surprise, which often carries the greatest joy. |
| For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer. | For more by Jerry Brewer, visit washingtonpost.com/brewer. |