Washington Nationals Team Impresses Rival Pilot

Washington Nationals Team Impresses Rival Pilot

Blog Article

Success Vs. Braves

Although the Nationals finished fourth in the five-team National League East with a 71-91 record, they played like contenders against Atlanta, winning eight of 13 games.

Then they added Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe, Amed Rosario, Paul DeJong, Lucas Sims, Jorge Lopez, Shinnosuke Ogasawara, and ex-Brave Michael Soroka, among others, as free agents. They also re-signed starter Trevor Williams and closer Kyle Finnegan, who saved 38 games – no mean feat for a team that finished 20 games under .500.

“He’s a nice little reliever,” Snitker said of the compact right-hander. “He’s done a really good job with them. I’m sure he’s glad to be back with a team he’s familiar with.”

Asked why the Nationals added two first basemen in Josh Bell and Nathaniel Lowe, Snitker sees a plan forming.

“The could flip-flop them,” he said. “Bell could play first base one day and be a DH the next.(General manager) Mike Rizzo does a great job of identifying talent. They’re a scrappy type of team.”

Devoid of a major power source, the Nationals will try to parlay pitching, speed, and defense into a better record. Lefty-hitting James Wood, a rookie last year, will play a key role, along with blue-chip rookie Dylan Crews.

Abrams was an All-Star last season, when he stole 31 bases while hitting 20 homers, and the switch-hitting Bell, a prior member of the club, returns to with 171 career home runs. Lowe, obtained from the Texas Rangers in a trade, adds left-handed power.

Never Won 100

The Nationals have never had a 100-win season but they have suffered five seasons of triple-digit defeats. The team has won four division crowns, one wild-card berth, and one pennant and World Series – both following that wild-card season of 2019.

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