The defining snapshot of the Washington Nationals’ failed 2015 season was relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon choking Most Valuable Player Bryce Harper in the dugout near season’s end.
One big, unhappy family.
That tragicomic moment, after a brief exchange of words between the two, told you all you needed to know about the Nats. You can bring talent together – and they have lots of it – but that doesn’t make them championship material.
After a string of underwhelming post-season appearances, Washington couldn’t even drag themselves into the play-offs last year.
Changes were inevitable, including the dismissal of manager Matt Williams. Most thought Papelbon had to go, too, but he’s still there, having an outstanding season.
Oddly enough, so are the Nationals. Under veteran field boss Dusty Baker, the team have displayed a more mature and humble approach while taking control of the National League East.
No longer bearing the weight of expectations, the Nats have thrived. Baker has clearly brought a different, calmer feel to the daily grind. He is an old-school manager who emanates accountability.
After a recent 18-inning loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Baker was the first to bring up the crucial mistake of the game: pitching to slugger Starling Marte, who hit the game-winning home run, instead of walking him and going after the next batter, pitcher Jon Niese.
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Baker said he recognised the situation just as pitcher Oliver Perez went into his windup to throw the first pitch to Marte, which soon disappeared over the left field wall.
“It falls on me,” Baker said. “I take full responsibility.”
Which makes it easier for players to own up, as well.
Said Perez: “It’s my job to recognise the situation and make a difficult pitch for him to hit.”
A much better response than choking each other, no doubt.
The Nationals personnel is not much different than a year ago, but one addition, free agent second baseman Daniel Murphy from division rival New York Mets, has been noteworthy. Murphy made his splash in last year’s post-season with a seven-home run binge. The fact that he leads the NL with a .350 average is a little more in character with his line-drive swing, albeit the number is 56 points over his career average. His 18 homers already are a career high.
Catcher Wilson Ramos, with 13 home runs, 49 runs batted in and a .330 average, has put himself in the company of the game’s best hitting catchers. Ramos was once best known for being kidnapped and dramatically rescued in his native Venezuela after his 2011 rookie season.
Their contributions are timely, with Harper lagging behind his MVP numbers. Not that Washington are complaining about the 23-year-old star’s 20 home runs and 55 RBIs. Pitchers are making it harder for him, after all, surrendering a league-leading 74 walks to him.
Overall, the offence is only a bit better than average, but they do go deep. The Nats have an NL-leading 132 home runs.
The Nats classy starting rotation have been tweaked a bit, but haven’t lost their touch. The pillars – Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark – have helped produce a major league leading 3.20 earned run average.
As for the 2015 villain Papelbon, he will never be voted Most Popular Nat. But he is having a typically solid year, with 19 saves in 21 tries, and a 2.73 earned run average.
A near-certainty for the play-offs, Washington still have an awkward post-season reputation to change. At least they may have overcome the other choking problem they had.
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