May 21, 2013
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider
The Nationals (23-21, .523) may be second in the National League East standings, but for the defending division champions, second place is not good enough. Washington is just two games above .500, an unimpressive statistic for a thus-far unimpressive team.
While the Nats have given glimpses of a strong team—they had a five-game win streak at the beginning of May—they have struggled to put up the numbers and maintain the momentum that leads to sustained success and first place.
Since heading to California for a series against the Dodgers, Padres, and Giants, the Nats are 3-4, with their latest loss an embarrassing 4-13 blowout by San Diego.
The lack of offense from the Nats lineup is troubling, but nothing new. During the first week of the season they were shutout 0-15, and a quarter into the season they have yet to score more than ten runs in a game.
“We have not been very consistent,” third basemen Ryan Zimmerman told reporters after Sunday’s loss.
Zimmerman himself is a prime example of that. Once hailed as the team’s best player, his errant throws, which have garnered him nine errors this season, have been a talking point for some sportswriters.
Still, Zimmerman, a fan favorite who is signed with the club through 2019, is still viewed as a great asset, despite some setbacks.
Not all of Washington’s hurdles can be helped. Key players Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos remain on the disabled list, and Bryce Harper’s play time has been spotty since he crashed into an outfield wall last week.
Despite the injuries and lackluster offense, their trip hasn’t been all bad. On May 16 Stephen Strasburg (2-5) broke his seven-start winless streak after pitching a career-high eight innings in his hometown of San Diego. Adam LaRoche and Bryce Harper both contributed homers in the 6-2 win, which Strasburg got to celebrate with family and friends.
The Nats complete their West Coast trip with three games against the Giants (24-20, .545), another team that has had a disappointing start to the season. The defending World Champions are second in their division, and host the Nats fresh off a three-game losing streak.
With both teams looking to turn their seasons around, Nationals manager Davey Johnson seems hopeful that, whether it happens in San Francisco or not, his team will turn a corner soon. “The middle of the lineup is swinging the bat very good, and other guys look like they’re starting to come around,” he said on Sunday. “Sometimes it just takes time to jell.”
