We Shouldn't Be Here. Should We? NLDS EDITION

WOW! We shouldn't be here. Should we?

NLDS EDITION

Thursday 03 October - Wednesday 09 October 2019

Sneaking into the playoffs the Nationals beat the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Wild Card game and Moved on to the NLDS to face the mighty 106 game winning Los Angeles Dodgers. To be painfully honest, the Nationals should NOT be in the position they wound up in. They started off the 2019 season dismally in what looked like it was going to be another sub par season. After 50 games and some early injuries always the injuries at inopportune times, they were a measly 19-31. Hardly a team that could make it to the playoffs. Then...

They started following skipper Dave Martinez's policy of going 1-0 every game. Don't worry about last night's loss, don't anticipate tomorrow's win just concentrate on the here and now one game at a time and "Stay in the Fight" and have fun. From mid May to the end of the season (and into the Playoffs) the Nationals got RED Hot and finished the regular season 93-69 and got the number one Wild Card spot with a 4 game lead ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Nats beat the Brewers in the Wild Card game 4-3 in a very unorthodox way with a Juan Soto bases clearing single with the help of a fielding error. That moves them on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the best of 5 NLDS. The Dodgers went 106-56 during the regular season. The two teams met 7 times and the Dodgers bested the Nats 4-3. Once again these two teams face each other in the playoffs in the NLDS, the last match up was in 2016 in which the Dodgers took it 3-2

Since the Nationals are the Wild Card team the action for this series began in L.A

Game 1 Thursday 03 October 2019: Buehler, Buehler.

Starting pitcher match up for game 1 Dodgers Walker Buehler vs Patrick Corbin. Bottom of the first Corbin allows the bases to get loaded and then walks Max Muncy forcing the Dodgers first run of the game in. For three innings not much happens, bottom of 5th a Howie Kendrick fielding error allows the Dodgers to lead 2-0. Bottom of the 7th the Dodgers load the bases again on reliever Fernando Rodney a single by Max Muncy (UGH there that guy is again, he was a thorn during the regular season) scores 2 more runs putting the Dodgers ahead 4-0. The Nationals allow two more homers in the bottom of the 8th increasing the Dodgers lead to 6-0. That is how this one would end with the Nats getting only two hits and dropping game 1 with the score 6 to zip.

LOSS: 0-6
SERIES: Dodgers Lead 1-0

Game 2 Friday 04 October 2019: Clayton Kershaw vs Stephen Strasburg

Kershaw vs Strasburg long boring pitching duel? No not really. Top of the first Nationals draw first blood on a Howie Kendrick single that plates Trea Turner. Nats lead 1-0 for first time in series. They add two more in the 2nd with RBIs by Adam Eaton and Anthony Rendon and lead 3-0. Bottom of the 6th the Dodgers get on the board with a sac fly by Justin Turner. Score now 3-1 in favor of Nats. Bottom 7 Max Muncy (There's that Muncy guy again) Homers off of late innings reliever part-time closer Sean Doolittle shortening the Nats lead to 1 making it 3-2. Top 8 pinch hitter Asdrubal Cabrera singles driving in Ryan Zimmerman score now 4-2 Nats on top. Bottom of the 9th the Dodgers threaten to walk off on closer Daniel Hudson, they load the bases with a double by Justin Turner, Max Muncy is intentionally walked, Will Smith walks ...and then Corey Seager strikes out swinging fortunately for the Nationals they win 4-2 and tie up the series one game a piece.

WIN: 4-2
SERIES: Tied 1-1

Game 3 Sunday 06 October 2019: Hyun-Jin Ryu vs Patrick Corbin
Game three bottom of 1st starts out nicely Juan Soto Homers plating Adam Eaton Nats up 2-0. Then Top of the 5th The Evil NLDSeries Villain Max Muncy solo homers knocking the Nats lead down making the score 2-1. Top of the 6th the bottom falls out Russell Martin doubles scoring Cody Bellinger and David Freese. Dodgers pull ahead 3-2. Two batters later Kike Hernandez doubles scoring Russell Martin and Chris Taylor score is now 5-2. Oh but the scoring fun doesn't end there NO of course not. Nats killer Justin Turner homers scoring Kike Hernandez and Evil Max Muncy score is now 8-2 in favor of the Los Angeles Blue Boys. Bottom 6th Wild Pitch Anthony Rendon scores, Juan Soto to 3rd, Howie Kendrick to 2nd score now 8-3. Asdrubal Cabrera hits a sac fly Juan Soto scores, Howie Kendrick out advancing on throw score now 8-4. Top of the 9th final damage done Russell Martin Homers scoring David Freese as well final score 10-4 Dodgers ahead in series 2-1.

LOSS: 4-10
SERIES: Dodgers Lead 2-1

Game 4 Monday 07 October 2019: Max Scherzer vs Rich Hill
Top of the 1st the Dodgers draw first blood Justin Turner solo homers LA up 1-0. Bottom of the 3rd Anthony Rendon hits a sac fly Michael A. Taylor scores Nats tie it up 1-1. Bottom of the 5th Anthony Rendon singles and Trea Turner scores Nats now up 2-1. A few batters later Ryan Zimmerman Homers bringing with him Anthony Rendon and Howie Kendrick score is now 5-1 Nats. Bottom 6th Anthony Rendon sac flies again this time scoring Trea Turner Nats up 6-1 and that would be the final score.

WIN:  6-1
SERIES: Tied 2-2

Game 5 Wednesday 09 October 2019: Walker Buehler vs Stephen Strasburg.
Game 5 began as many of the Nats loses began during the season and even in the postseason with the opposing team scoring a 2 run homer in the 1st. Max Muncy homers taking Joc Pederson with him. Dodgers up 2-0. Bottom 2nd Kike Hernandez helps the Dodgers killing cause by homering and raising the score 3-0. Things are not going well for Natstown. Then 3 innings of pitchers duel and hopes of making it past the first playoff round are all but dashed. Top of the 6th a spark named Juan Soto  singles Anthony Rendon scores. Nats are on the board score is now 3-1. The 7th inning passes by with little action.Top of the 8th Anthony Rendon homers, followed by Juan Soto homering score now tied 3-3. A light appears at the end of the dark playoff tunnel. The 9th inning shows some promise but comes up empty. Bottom 9th Daniel Hudson holds off the Dodgers, here we go extra innings. Oh boy the Nats are not great at these extra long games. Top of the 10th: Adam Eaton works a full count and draws a walk;  Anthony Rendon hits a ground rule double runners on 2nd and 3rd; Juan Soto is intentionally walked bases loaded for Howie Kendrick. Strike one, on the second pitch Howie Kendrick smashes a grand slam; Adam Eaton scores, Anthony Rendon scores and Juan Soto scores Nats break the game open lead 7-3. Next batters: Ryan Zimmerman lines out, Yan Gomes singles, Michael A. Taylor pops out; Brian Dozier pops out. Bottom 10th Dodgers come up will the postseason doom for the Nats continue? Sean Doolittle comes out of the bullpen to hopefully hold the Dodgers down. A.J. Pollock strikes out swinging. Max Muncy (UH-OH) grounds out to first (Phew). Justin Turner flies out to center Michael A. Tayler makes a spectacular diving catch, gets up and holds the ball as if he is asking what did he just do. Once again the Nationals comeback from behind to win a postseason game and series.

WIN: 7-3 (10)
SERIES: NATIONALS WIN 3-2

Game 5 highlights

 All of Los Angeles is stunned, even super fan Alyssa Milano doesn't know what to say.

Nationals Win NLDS for first time as Washington Nationals. They move onto the NLCS for the first time as The Nationals. Next opponent St. Louis Cardinals their 2012 NLDS nemesis.

2017 NLDS vs Chicago Cubs Final Results

2017 NLDS

vs Chicago Cubs
Cubs Won Series 3-2

In much the same way Snoopy imagines himself to be the World Famous World War I Flying Ace, I have been the World Famous Postseason Playoffs Professional Procrastinator when it comes time to post about the Nats Post-Season events and this post.  Sadly no cards will be shown in this post. I need to just get this post out there. This was the fourth time the Nats made the Post Season in six years and this is only my second end of the series results post things. Last year I made a quite detailed post with a game-by-game analysis. 

So the players aka Teams in this drama, were the 97-67 Nats, their second best season record and the 92-70 Cubs (who just happen to be the defending World Series Champs) . Once again the Nationals had home field advantage which usually doesn't matter all that much or at all.

Kyle Hendricks, Stephen Strasburg - Getty Image patch.com

Game 1: Friday 06 October Nationals Park, Washington, DC - Loss 0-3
Sleep overwhelmed me so I didn't actually see any of this tragic game. Apparently the first five innings were just a pitching duel between Kyle Hendricks and Stephen Strasburg no biggie. Top of the 6th the damage began. Kris Bryant singled to bring in Javier Baez to break the scorelessness 1-0. Next batter Anthony Rizzo singles Bryant home making the score 2-0 Cubs favor. Top of the 8th Rizzo doubles to bring in Jon Jay beating the Nats 3-0.

Game 2: Saturday 07 October Nationals Park, Washington, DC - Win 6-3
It is at this point in the draft for this post that it has been so long since this series has played I don't recall how much of the remaining games I actually watched. So I must rely on what the Internet has to say about the details of the games. Good things started happening for the Nats right from the bottom of the first. Anthony Rendon knocks a solo homer in 1-0 Nats. Top of the second, not so good for the Nats right off the bat literally, the Cubs answer back with a homer from first batter Willson Contreras to make things 1-1. Top of the 4th things get a bit worse for the homie Nats. The Cubs Anthony, Anthony Rizzo knocks a two run homer making it 3-1 in favor of the Cubs. After loading the bases at the bottom of the 5th and not doing diddly a few innings later in the bottom of the 8th good things for the Nats started happening again. Adam Lind leads off with a pinch-hit single then Bryce Harper homers bringing Lind in and tying things up 3-3. Then Anthony Rendon is walked, Daniel Murphy singles and Ryan Zimmerman knocks in a 3 run Homer putting the Nats on top 6-3. Closer Sean Doolittle then shuts the door on the Cubs. Nats win 6-3. Series tied 1-1.

Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy - Getty Image

Game 3: Monday 09 October Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL - Loss 1-2
The series moves to Chicago where our Ace Max Scherzer and the Cubs Jose Qunitana duel for 5 innings. The Nats strike first in the top of the 6th when Daniel Murphy turns a dropped fly ball to left that then gets kicked into a triple. Ryan Zimmerman doubles Murphy home putting the Nats up 1-0. Then it unraveled in the bottom of the 7th Scherzer allows the Cubs first hit a double to Ben Zorbrist. Scherzer is replaced by Sammy Solis who gives up a single RBI to Albert Almara tying the game 1-1. Moving to the bottom of the 8th Tommy La Stella gets a lead-off walk is then sac bunted to 2nd. Then The Wrong Anthony, Anthony Rizzo hits a bloop single to left center scoring pinch-runner Leonys Martin putting the Cubs ahead 2-1 for the win and 2-1 lead in the series.

Max Scherzer leaving mound game 3 - Washington Post John McDonnell

Game 4: Tuesday 10 October Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL - Postponed
                Wednesday 11 October Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL - Win 5-0
Things turned around for this game after being rained out the night before. Originally Tanner Roark was going to be the Nats pitcher, but a few hours before the game started they announced it would be Stephen Strasburg starting on the mound for Washington. The game was windy and a little rainy but the game went on and the scoring started at the top of the 3rd. With 2 on and 2 outs Ryan Zimmerman hits a grounder to the shortstop who has trouble with the ball allowing Trea Turner to score and Ryan to reach 1st safely. Nats up 1-0. Moving on to the top of the 8th. Daniel Murphy singles to right center, Anthony the good Anthony Rendon draws a walk. Matt Wieters walks to load the bases. Next batter Michael Taylor hits a ball that barely escapes out of right field for a Grand Slam the Nats increase their shut-out lead 5-0 and win with it. The series is now tied 2-2 and it moves back to DC. Can the Nats win and move on to the NLCS or will it be another "one and done" year?

Michael Taylor hitting Grand Slam - USA Today Dennis Wietzbicki

Game 5: Thursday 12 October Nationals Park, Washington, DC - Loss 8-9
The final game of the series, both teams face elimination or advancement to the NCLS to face LA. The starting pitchers are Kyle Hendricks for Da Cubbies and Gio Gonzalez for the Nats. The Cubs started things off in the top of the first whenThe Evil Anthony (Anthony Rizzo) scored Jon Jay with an RBI groundout. Seriously? First he scores in one game with a bloop single now he's scoring someone with a sac grounder? OK cubs lead 1-0. Now we go bottom of the 2nd. Good guy Daniel Murphy launches a first pitch homer to tie it up 1-1. Michael A. "Tator" Taylor smacks a 3 run homer to the left bringing in Anthony "The Good Anthony" Rendon and Matt Wieters home. This puts the Nats up top 4-1. Top of the 3rd we go Cubs load the bases and with one out Addison Russell grounds out to shortstop but Kris Bryant scores Nats lead now only 4-2. On next batter Jason Heyward, Gio throws a wild pitch that scores Wilson Contreras bringing the Cubs within one making it just 4-3. Top of the 5th Cubs do some damage. Addison Russell doubles to left Wilson Contreras and Ben Zobrist score putting Cubs on top 5-4. Jason Heyward is intentionally walked. Next batter Javier Baez strikes out but Wieters allows past ball get away, Wieters throws to first but the ball gets past Ryan Zimmerman AND Daniel Murphy allowing Addison Russell to score. Cubs up 6-4. Pinch hitter Tommy La Stella reaches base on catchers error loads the bases. Jon Jay gets hit by pitch forcing in a run score is now 7-4. Top of 6th Addison Russel doubles to left (again) and Ben Zobrist scores 8=4 Cubs. Bottom of 6th with 2 outs Jayson Werth walks, Bryce Harper doubles. Ryan Zimmerman at bat with full count a wild pitch sends Werth home and puts Ryan on base. Score now 8-5 in favor of Cubs. Next batter Daniel Murphy doubles bringing Harper home 8-6. Top of 7th Kris Bryant ground out sacs scoring Kyle Schwarber 9-6. Bottom of 7th Harper sac flies to center scoring Michael Taylor score now 9-7. Bottom 8th Michael Taylor singles to center scoring Daniel Murphy 9-8 and that would be the final score.

Bryce Harper makes the final out in game 5 to end the Nats 2017 Season - Chicago Tribune

Series Results:

Game 1: 06 October 2017 - Loss 0-3

Game 2: 07 October 2017 - Win 6-3

Game 3: 09 October 2017 - Loss 1-2

Game 4: 11 October 2017 - Win 5-0

Game 5: 12 October 2017 - Loss 8-9
Cubs Win Series 3-2

Chicago Cubs pose for picture on field at Nationals Park after winning NLDS - Chicago Tribune

The Cubs moved on to the NLCS to once again battle the Dodgers who had eliminated the Diamondbacks in their NLDS (West). The winner will meet either the Astros or Yankees in the World Series. Last year's AL Champs the Cleveland Indians were eliminated by the Yankees this year's ALDS in 5 games. So the Cubs lost to the Dodgers. The Astros beat the Yankees and went on to win the World Series against the Dodgers in 7 grueling games.

The image at the top of this post is from the Series Preview at bleachernation.com

Nats Mentioned in this post:
Sean Doolittle
Gio Gonzalez
Bryce Harper
Adam Lind
Daniel Murphy
Anthony Rendon
Tanner Roark
Max Scherzer
Sammy Solis
Stephen Strasburg
Michael Taylor
Trea Turner
Jayson Werth
Matt Wieters
Ryan Zimmerman

2016 NLDS vs Los Angeles Dodgers Results

2016 NLDS

vs Los Angeles Dodgers

Dodgers Won Series 3-2

Back in 2012 when the Nats took their first trip to the National League Divisional Series, I was too excited and then too depressed to do any sort of review post. Then in 2014 I was again depressed by the results. Well this year, the third year in five that the Nats have made the postseason, I decided that win or lose I'd do a post about the series.

The NLDS is a best out of five games series, and much like the Wild Card "play-in" game it comes and goes too swiftly. 3 wins and you move on to the Championship Series (NLCS). Lose those 3 and your season is over. The Nationals for this series won "home field" advantage by having the better season record 95-67 to the Dodgers 91-71. In the long run home field gets the advantage of an extra game and the homie crowd for one more game.. 

Game 1: Friday 07 October 2016 Nationals Park, Washington DC - Loss 3-4

The first game of the series was a real uphill battle. Unfortunately the Nationals lost. The first inning was soiled with a solo homer by LA's Corey Seager apparently he is their golden child this season. The first pitch he saw he knocks it out. Good thing he was the second batter and the lead off man had struck out. Things would only get worse from there. The Dodgers would tack on 3 more runs in the top of the third making it a 4-0 game. The nationals were able to cut the lead in half with a two-run homer by Anthony Redon that scored Bryce Harper and Jason Werth. The Nationals would then get their third and final run in the bottom of the 4th with a sac fly by Trea Turner to send catcher Pedro Severino home. The Nats would make a few more attempts to score but no love there.

Game 2: Sunday 09 October 2016 Nationals Park, Washington DC - Win 5-2
Game 2 of the series was rained out on its original Saturday game day 08 October then postponed for Sunday. This game started out much like the first Golden Boy Corey Seager knocked in a solo homer top of the first. Dodgers fans were wetting themselves with glee. The next scoring was again top of the 3rd this time just one run Josh Reddick singled and Justin Turner scored. That would be the final scoring by the Dodgers. The rest of the scoring would be ALL WASHINGTON starting bottom 4th with José Lobatón knocking a 3 run homer scoring the Brothers Dan Daniel Murphy and Danny Espinosa. Then next inning would be last year's wonder boy for the Mets Daniel Murphy hitting a single to get Trea Turner in. Then the bottom of the 7th Murphy would single again this time sending Jayson Werth home.

Game 3: Monday 10 October 2016 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA - Win 8-3
For Game 3 the fun moved to the left coast. This time bottom of the 1st. Yep you guessed it Corey Seager bats, but not a solo homer but a deep double that scores LAs Mr. Turner (Justin). Move to the top of the 3rd it is Jayson Werth's turn to double and for Washington's Mr. Turner (Trea) to score. Game tied 1-1. Bryce Harper singles and Jayson Werth Scores. Anthony Rendón homers deep left center (412 ft.), Bryce Harper scores. 4-1 Washington. Bottom of 5th Carlos Ruiz homers deep left center Joc Paderson scores 4-3 Washington. Then all is quiet until the top of the 9th. Jayson Werth homers deep left center (5-3), Ryan Zimmerman doubles deep right sending both Daniel Murphy and Bryce Harper home (7-3) he advances to 3rd on throw. Chris Heisey hits a sac-fly to left scoring Ryan Zimmerman 8-3. Nats take lead in series 2 games to 1. And that Mrs. Lincoln is all she wrote.

Game 4: Tuesday 11 October 2016 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA - Loss 5-6
Game 4 could have been a historic game for the Nationals. It SHOULD have been, but alas it was not. Top of the first Nats draw first blood Daniel Murphy singles to right Trea Turner scores (1-0). Bottom of the 1st Dodgers come back Adrian Gonzalez homers deep right also scoring Justin Turner. (1-2) Top of the 3rd Daniel Murphey does it again with a sac fly to center to plate Trea Turner (2-2). Bottom 3rd Justin Turner (Wrong Mr. Turner) singles to left center and Clayton Kershaw scores (2-3). WHAT? Their Pitcher? Oh yeah he did get on base Blah. Then with bases loaded Joc Pederson is hit by a pitch again Justin Turner scores (2-4). Bottom 5th Joc Pederson doubles to left scoring Josh Reddick (2-5). Top 7th bases loaded Jayson Werth hit by pitch Danny Espinosa scores Nationals turn for that fun trick (3-5). Daniel Murphy singles left center Trea Turner and Bryce Harper score tying the game 5-5. Bottom of the 8th Chase Utley (Huh? Haven't seen that troublemaker for some time) singles right center Andrew Toles scores go-ahead run (5-6). Big heavy sigh Dodgers tie series 2-2.

Game 5: Thursday 13 October 2016 Nationals Park, Washington DC - Loss 3-4
Game 5 the one that decided the whole enchilada. This was perhaps the biggest dramatic game of the series along with game 4. For the first 7 innings it was super, then the hour and a half long 7th inning turned sour. There was some hope near the end but it was quickly extinguished. The scoring got started in the bottom of the 2nd with the Brothers Dan. Danny Espinosa singled to right sending Daniel Murphy home 1-0. The score would stay that way for most of the game until the 7th inning. It didn't help matters that the bottom of the 6th ended with Jayson Werth trying to squeeze home. He was sent by 3rd base coach as the ball, hit by Zimmerman who doubled left, was about even with 3rd base. In the top 7th Joc Pederson knocks a solo homer deep left center 1-1. Carlos Ruiz singles shallow left scoring Ausin Barnes 1-2 with just one out. Then Justin Turner triples to deep center scoring Howie Kendrick and Carlos Ruiz 1-4. The top of the 7th alone ran for about 45 minutes and the Nats break a sad NLDS record of using 6 pitchers in just one inning. Bottom 7th Chris Heisey knocks in a 2 run homer deep left plating Danny Espinosa and bringing the game to within one run 3-4 with no outs. Sadly that would be the final scoring of the game. The Dodgers move on to the NLCS against the Cubs.

Series Results: Dodgers Win Series 3-2

Game 1: 07 October 2016 - Loss 3-4

Game 2: 09 October 2016 - Win 5-2

Game 3: 10 October 2016 - Win 8-3

Game 4: 11 October 2016 - Loss 5-6
Game 5: 13 October 2016 - Loss 3-4

Alyssa is Happy

Extras:
Parody of Taylor Swift's Shake It Off by Keith Elgin (Video) 2016 Nats Playoff Theme It isn't great but it is a fun fan-made parody. He debuted the song LIVE at a restaurant Ben's Chili Bowl a DC area landmark. He also sang it live on local radio (WRQX "Mix 107.3") on the Jack Diamond Morning Show

To conclude this semi-sweet post. Thank you Nationals for an exciting season with an excellent run. Plus an exciting NLDS especially the drama of games 4 and 5. I wish this Post Season was not a repeat of the last two even year seasons (2012 and 2014). Sadly the Nationals post season record is much like the Capitals Post Seasons. Get to the first round then lose.

Nats Win 3rd Division Title Within 5 Years: With 3 Different Managers

The Nats are going back to the playoffs!

On Saturday 24 September 2016 The Washington Nationals notched their 90 win of the season by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates. They were not quite in the playoffs yet, their magic number was down to 1, but only for about a half-hour. The 2nd place team the New York Mets last year's NL East Division Champs were still playing their game with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Mets were behind but were rallying for a comeback. They didn't succeed and so the Nationals celebrated their Division Championship Clinch, in the visitors locker room at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.

Hard to believe someone got them to stand still long enough for a group photo.

One again Bryce Harper wears interesting headgear for the celebrating. This year it was a Katie Ledecky USA Olympics Swim cap.

Sort of a repeat of the 2014 Division Clinch in Atlanta.

Harper's Headgear of choice was a Fire Fighter's Helmet.

The 2012 Celebration started an odd even year tradition in the Nation's Capital. Harper went with the standard backwards commemorative "Playoffs" hat like the rest of the team. He hadn't started his unique stylized trend yet.

When they won the division in 2012 it was the first time since 1933 a Washington Baseball team had been to the playoffs. The Nationals have won the NL East Division three times in the last five years.That is a mighty impressive achievement, although what makes it even more impressive is that they have done it with three different skippers at the helm. Davey Johnson, Matt Williams and Dusty Baker. Both Johnson and Williams won NL Manager of the Year the year they took the Nats into the Playoffs.

 2012 the salty dog Davey Johnson led the Nats to the stromy NLDS seas:

1975 Topps Baseball 57 Dave Johnson Braves

2014 saw the good ship Nationals sail into the rough seas of the playoffs with Matt Williams:

 1995 Fleer Ultra Baseball 247 Matt Williams Giants

This year 2016 the Captain at the helm is Dusty Baker:

 1981 Fleer Baseball 115 Dusty Baker Dodgers

The Nats need to start playing like they want to go deep into the playoffs. As of this posting there are four games left in the regular season and the Nats are only at 92-66. In 2012 they went 98-64 in the regular season and lost the NLDS 3-2 vs The Cardinals. 2014 they went 96-66 regular season and fell in the NLDS 3-1 vs The Giants.

This year even though they have the division they seem to have spun around and are backing into the playoffs. NOT GOOD. At least the other two times they seemed to be going forward into the post season.

Related Links:
CSN MidAtlantic - WASHINGTON NATIONALS CELEBRATE NL EAST TITLE

ESPN - Nationals clinch NL East -- now comes the hard part

ESPN (another blog post) - Another even year, another NL East title for Nationals
MLB - Nats jump on Bucs, wait out Mets, clinch NL East

USA Today - Nationals clinch NL East title with win and Mets loss

Washington Post - Nationals clinch third NL East title with win over Pirates, Mets’ loss to Phillies

Curly Clinch 2014 Edition

CONGRATULATIONS WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Clinch NL East PLAYOFFS BOUND!

The Nationals clinched 1st place in the NL East insuring a playoff birth by beating the Atlanta Braves in Atlanta by a score of 3-0. Step one complete clinching a playoff birth. Getting the Division Lead helps make it easier but we know is not necessary to get there. There will be two teams that squeak into the playoffs and duke it out in the wild-card play-in game. The team is now on the Playoffs Parkway. Heading the opposite direction is the Baltimore Orioles from the AL East on-ramp.

There are many people in the organization that have contributed to this. One man who has played a big role is skipper Matt Williams

CONGRATS AND GO NATS!

Tis The Season: Awards 2012

Wow Congrats to the Nats on the very cool individual awards that have been received for the 2012 season. I'm getting to this about a week late or so because I was lazy with the scanning (plus I didn't have some 2012 cards of some of the players so I had to improvise) So without further ado and little pomp here they are:

First Baseman Adam LaRoche received his first Golden Glove Award:

 2011 Topps Allen and Ginters 167 Adam LaRoche Nationals

Adam also received his first Silver Slugger Award for NL first basemen:

Adam is the second National to double-dip the Golden Glove with the Silver Slugger. Back in 2009 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman double-dipped. Z-Man also got a Silver Slugger in 2010. This year for 2012 he was awarded the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.

2012 Topps Heritage 494 Ryan Zimmerman Nationals

LaRoche wasn't the only Silver Slugger for DC this past season:

Shortstop Ian Desmond won his first Silver Slugger despite the injuries that kept him out for part of the season:

 2012 Topps Heritage 149 Ian Desmond Nationals

So they thought they'd shut him down huh? Well even with having a September Shut Down - September is supposed to be for Call Ups - Right-handed bullet slingger Stephen Strasburg won the Silver Slugger for Pitchers and yep it's his first ever.

2012 Topps Heritage 291 Stephen Strasburg Nationals

Hey even an Ex-Nat won his first Silver Slugger. Josh Willingham who is now on the Twins.

2010 Upper Deck Baseball Series 1 Season Biography

SB-132 Josh Willingham Nationals

The Nats also received two big big awards:

Not only did 19 year old Bryce Harper end up being a Rookie All-Star he won the coveted NL Rookie Of The Year Award:

2012 Topps Update WalMart Blue Variation 

US183 Bryce Harper Nationals

And Skipper Davey Johnson got the NL Manager Of the Year Award. It is his second MOY Award his first was 15 years ago for the AL when he was skipper for the Orioles.

2012 Topps Heritage 402 Davey Johnson Nationals

The 2012 Season saw the Nationals win First Place in the NL East sending them to their First Ever Playoffs in the NLDS (OK so back in 1981 The Expos went to the Playoffs and went as far as the NLCS but lost that one). Unfortunately they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals.


Related Links:
Two from MASN Sports Nationals Pastime Blog
Five Nationals Receive MVP Votes
Gonzalez finishes third in NL Cy Young voting


Nationals mentioned in this post:
Ian Desmond
Bryce Harper
Davey Johnson
Adam LaRoche
Stephen Strasburg
Josh Willingham
Ryan Zimmerman