October 2012



Ryan Zimmerman, after a walkoff grandslam vs. the Phillies in August



"There's a fly ball hit well, deep left-centerfield...  Victorino racing back, at the trackkk, at the WALLL... GOODBYEEEEE..  ZIMMERMAN DOES IT AGAIN! THE FACE OF THE FRANCHISE ALL THESE YEARS, THE WASHINGTON NATIONALS ARE HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFS!  YOUR 2012 NATIONALS ARE HEADED TO THE PLAYOFFSSS!!!!" -  Charlie Slowes', Nats radio announcer, about 355 days from now.

I am an eternal optimist when it comes to the Nats. 

I have been ever since  their 51-32 start when they first moved to town in 2005.  Since then, they have finished with the worst record in baseball twice and until this season they had never done better than 4th place in the National League East. 

But things are about to change.  The 2012 Nats going places.  To quote the man at the end of my last conference call about the government agency permit process: "Buckle up, because it's going to be one hell of a ride."

There has never been a sports season which I have been more excited about.  The 2006 Redskins season, which ended 5-11, is a distant second.  However, I will have plenty more posts before the start of the season to talk about roster moves, in-depth statistics, and other analysis.  For now, just believe me.

In the past years six years I have watched the MLB playoffs, I watched as a passive fan, who did not care because his team was not playing.  But now I am asking myself, what will the Nats do next year when Jordan Zimmermann wins game 3 of the NLDS and Ross Detwiler is scheduled to start game 5.  Can we use Zimmermann out of the bullpen in the most important game of the year, or will we  say he's off limits under any circumstances? 

These are problems that I would love to have.  Sure our team has some holes, but if I'm not mistaken, the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010 lost almost 100 games, and they were one rally short from scrapping their way to the NLCS.

Holes can be fixed.  Whether through free agency, trades, or your own system, there are plenty of ways to fill that 25 man roster with the talent you need.

For now, just believe.  It is a beautiful October day, the leaves outside my house are turning red, and next year, the Nationals will play playoff baseball here on a warm, Indian Summer afternoon at Nationals Park.

I will be content, win or lose, because I am proud of the struggle we have had to get to this point.