The second installment of a five-part series on the pressing questions confronting each team in 2013.
Ben and Sam preview the Nationals’ season with Paul Sporer and Daniel Rathman, and Pete talks to Adam Kilgore, who covers the Nationals for the Washington Post (at 19:51).
Dan looks at the Nationals’ bullpen situation following the surprising signing of Rafael Soriano.
Ben and Sam discuss the three-way trade between the Mariners, A’s, and Nationals and talk about whether Seattle was too fixated on adding power this offseason.
Scouting, drafting, developing and signing have all helped the Nationals get good, but they wouldn’t be where they are without a series of smart trades.
It took two months, but Adam LaRoche eventually accepted the Nationals’ offer to return for two more years.
The resilient Cardinals manage one more comeback to stun the Nationals and advance to the NLCS.
Ben and Sam discuss Game Three of the Yankees-Orioles ALDS, the decision to pinch-hit for Alex Rodriguez, and A-Rod’s future in New York, then talk about why the Stephen Strasburg debate won’t go away.
The Cardinals smack Jordan Zimmermann around to even their series at one game apiece.
Can the Cards even up their series behind Jaime Garcia before heading to D.C. for Game Three?
The Nats and Cards kick off their series with a matchup between Gio Gonzalez and Adam Wainwright in St. Louis.
Does a look at Stephen Strasburg’s PITCHf/x data reveal what might have caused the Nationals to shut him down early?
Was Stephen Strasburg’s velocity loss during his last start atypical? And if so, should we be worried?
If the Nationals had handled their ace’s innings limit a little more like the Braves massaged Kris Medlen’s, they might not be facing a Strasless October.
Ben and Sam discuss sabermetric managerial favorite Davey Johnson’s impact on the Nationals, whether certain managers can make their players play better, and what the ideal relationship between a GM and manager might be.
The Rangers and Giants will probably both be playoff teams, but two other virtual locks for October, the Yankees and Nationals, made them look bad last night.
Washington Nationals