Who had a 15-17 record at the end of April? There is still a long way to go, and let’s no get too far ahead of ourselves but at least this team is exciting to watch and playing with heart and effort.
The starting pitching with starters going deeper in to the game has really helped. There are now starting to be roles for the BP pitchers. If the team keeps scoring like they have and they cut down on giving up HRs and walks the team could get really interesting. Still a long way to go but I like what I'm seeing.
We are not in the same place as last year. Last April we were expecting a team around 500 that with luck could make a wild card push. This year I predicted 68 wins on Marks review of his peers. Again let’s not get crazy, but let’s not pretend last year’s expectations are the same as this years.
The bullpen, defense, clean fielding with no errors, good situational hitting, moving runners over, and aggressive baserunning all came together. That may have been one of the best all around games the Nats have played this year.
The Mets, meanwhile, looked like they were playing for one run on both offense and defense. Bringing the infield in during the third inning and bunting with one of their best hitters in the sixth does not exactly scream confidence.
This may be irrational exuberance, but I'm no longer thinking it impossible for the Nats to finish around .500, as long as they keep improving bit by bit as the season goes on.
You're not wrong, but if CJ continues to rake, and somebody offers Toboni a king's ransom for him (like one that includes a couple of top-100 prospects, at least one of them a pitcher), then I would hope he'll say YES.
Can't believe I'm saying this, but he has been much better his last three times out. Even today, he was one out away from four scoreless, and Bichette worked a 10-pitch walk and even the home run wasn't a bad pitch. I'm not confident it will continue, but fair play to Mikolas for improving. Littell has been a different story altogether.
Got home late last night from a week in Texas, fighting a cold. Hadn't seen a live game since forever. Very considerate of the Nats to treat me to a game like this while I'm in bed surrounded by used Kleenex.
Watching the degree of active managing (platoons, pinch hits, set baserunning plays, openers, unique use of long men to save the pen) is just absolutely jaw dropping after watching years of lazy, checked out managing. This is what it's supposed to look like.
Nice win and road trip. CJ and JW are well on their way to Philadelphia for the All-Star game, and we're seeing notable improvement from a number of players that some would have given up on weeks or years ago.
I do wish that there was a little less absurd instant-gratification demands, especially on what is mostly a very young team. Show me one individual or team that has ever, in the history of baseball, had the same rate stats at the end of April as at season end. "On pace for..." today is far less relevant than trend to 90% of this roster, and there is a lot of upward trending even with plenty of room to grow.
"absurd instant gratification demands" is a bit harsh and largely unfair. We all know about the age and inexperience of this team, and all know that seeing improvement in individual and team play is the goal. That doesn't mean it isn't fun to speculate how their final record might end up being, knowing exactly of what little value it is.
That shouldn't be taken as a reflection of just the few comments on today's game that were posted when I wrote that. It's much more general.
Sure, speculating is completely fine. I did in projecting CJ and James as All-Stars. Just not so much when it devolves into demanding an overreaction to a bad stretch. You know, stuff like "DFA Vivas" because he made an error the other night, or demote Young because "he'll never hit emough", or move Wood to 1B because somebody thinks his easy style indicates a lack of hustle or inability to play the outfield.
I could go on and on, but my point is that some people demand instant gratification in a sport that still requires some degree of patience over the long haul of 162. Non-existant is the player that will never change.
I then misunderstood the actual point of your comment. As for the examples you are citing, I absolutely agree they get tiresome. That's the poster mistaking dubious speculation with certainty.
I guess I just simply categorize posters as those who are fans of baseball, and those who are fans of winning. I'm sympathetic with the first group.
If you told me in 2025 we’d finish April only 2 games under .500 with THIS roster, I would’ve put you into an insane asylum. On the flip side, I genuinely can’t see a world where Mendoza keeps his job after this.
Won a series with Littell and Mikolas starting
This is the most remarkable thing about the series, and a very good sign.
With this team, no lead is safe, but no deficit is insurmountable.
With neither getting a win.
Varland gets it done! Keep the Mets down
That was a nail biter. What an exciting game. Now, we gotta win at home.
I'm really proud of these guys.
76 wins path, for those who like it.
Who had a 15-17 record at the end of April? There is still a long way to go, and let’s no get too far ahead of ourselves but at least this team is exciting to watch and playing with heart and effort.
With Tena, Vivas and Nunez in the lineup
The starting pitching with starters going deeper in to the game has really helped. There are now starting to be roles for the BP pitchers. If the team keeps scoring like they have and they cut down on giving up HRs and walks the team could get really interesting. Still a long way to go but I like what I'm seeing.
Agree the team is fun to watch, but we had a 14-15 record at the end of April last year. Let’s stay away from long losing streaks this year!
We are not in the same place as last year. Last April we were expecting a team around 500 that with luck could make a wild card push. This year I predicted 68 wins on Marks review of his peers. Again let’s not get crazy, but let’s not pretend last year’s expectations are the same as this years.
Then they went on a 7 game losing streak in May and an 11 game losing streak in June. Need to keep those losing streaks short short short.
Minor correction according to Baseball Reference: that was 2024. We were 13-18 at the end of April 2025. But doesn't change your point!
Really glad the terrible baserunning in the top of the 9th didn't end up biting us. But a nice and gutsy win from our boys.
Just saw the replay of the Vivas score. That was a ton of guts with a sprinkling of athletic magic. Nice!
It was really aggressive but it paid off. As they say speed kills.
Nice write up, Mark.
The bullpen, defense, clean fielding with no errors, good situational hitting, moving runners over, and aggressive baserunning all came together. That may have been one of the best all around games the Nats have played this year.
The Mets, meanwhile, looked like they were playing for one run on both offense and defense. Bringing the infield in during the third inning and bunting with one of their best hitters in the sixth does not exactly scream confidence.
This may be irrational exuberance, but I'm no longer thinking it impossible for the Nats to finish around .500, as long as they keep improving bit by bit as the season goes on.
You're not wrong, but if CJ continues to rake, and somebody offers Toboni a king's ransom for him (like one that includes a couple of top-100 prospects, at least one of them a pitcher), then I would hope he'll say YES.
Don't harsh my fantasy!
Hoping that Mikolas will be benched. Every time he pitches, we can count on runs scored.
He gets benched every five days.
All of our pitchers regularly do that. He is one piece of the bridge to the other side of the river and the next good Nats team.
He did ok today, yea I know still not very good but its baby steps. Zack Littell is a bigger concern, there no way he should be pitching this badly.
Can't believe I'm saying this, but he has been much better his last three times out. Even today, he was one out away from four scoreless, and Bichette worked a 10-pitch walk and even the home run wasn't a bad pitch. I'm not confident it will continue, but fair play to Mikolas for improving. Littell has been a different story altogether.
Got home late last night from a week in Texas, fighting a cold. Hadn't seen a live game since forever. Very considerate of the Nats to treat me to a game like this while I'm in bed surrounded by used Kleenex.
Yea for used kleenex:)))
CJ has “it”. Need to keep him here.
He is a walking conundrum.
Watching the degree of active managing (platoons, pinch hits, set baserunning plays, openers, unique use of long men to save the pen) is just absolutely jaw dropping after watching years of lazy, checked out managing. This is what it's supposed to look like.
It seems coaching does make a difference.
I was wondering if the job might be too big for him. Happy to see I was wrong.
Yeah. Having a real hitting coach instead of Coles makes a difference. Is Mr Emoji over here from the Post to defend how great Coles is?
Nice win and road trip. CJ and JW are well on their way to Philadelphia for the All-Star game, and we're seeing notable improvement from a number of players that some would have given up on weeks or years ago.
I do wish that there was a little less absurd instant-gratification demands, especially on what is mostly a very young team. Show me one individual or team that has ever, in the history of baseball, had the same rate stats at the end of April as at season end. "On pace for..." today is far less relevant than trend to 90% of this roster, and there is a lot of upward trending even with plenty of room to grow.
"absurd instant gratification demands" is a bit harsh and largely unfair. We all know about the age and inexperience of this team, and all know that seeing improvement in individual and team play is the goal. That doesn't mean it isn't fun to speculate how their final record might end up being, knowing exactly of what little value it is.
That shouldn't be taken as a reflection of just the few comments on today's game that were posted when I wrote that. It's much more general.
Sure, speculating is completely fine. I did in projecting CJ and James as All-Stars. Just not so much when it devolves into demanding an overreaction to a bad stretch. You know, stuff like "DFA Vivas" because he made an error the other night, or demote Young because "he'll never hit emough", or move Wood to 1B because somebody thinks his easy style indicates a lack of hustle or inability to play the outfield.
I could go on and on, but my point is that some people demand instant gratification in a sport that still requires some degree of patience over the long haul of 162. Non-existant is the player that will never change.
I then misunderstood the actual point of your comment. As for the examples you are citing, I absolutely agree they get tiresome. That's the poster mistaking dubious speculation with certainty.
I guess I just simply categorize posters as those who are fans of baseball, and those who are fans of winning. I'm sympathetic with the first group.
If you told me in 2025 we’d finish April only 2 games under .500 with THIS roster, I would’ve put you into an insane asylum. On the flip side, I genuinely can’t see a world where Mendoza keeps his job after this.