The Oscillating Fan

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(Posted 8-9-26)

Greetings from The Booth!

What a difference 8 games makes. Think about it. 8 games in a 162-game Major League baseball season is a proverbial drop in the bucket, but in this 2026 Washington Nationals campaign, 8 games recently changed the direction and philosophy of the team.

It’s said that over the course of a full MLB season, a team’s strengths will be revealed, and it’s weaknesses exposed. Going into last weekend’s key series against the Atlanta Braves, the Nats were one of the top offensive teams in all of baseball, and despite a suspect starting rotation and terrible bullpen, were finally relevant after a 7-year rebuild. With his analytical approach to the game, Manager Blake Butera had the Nationals 2 games over .500 and in the thick of the Wild Card race.

Then, they were exposed. In a 4-game sweep by the Braves, Washington proved to be a pretender, not a contender. While Atlanta came up with the clutch hits and made stellar defensive plays, the Nats left numerous runners on base, and in the field, threw the ball around like little leaguers. Oh, and let’s not forget the “Gas Can Gang,” who wasted several solid efforts by Nats starting pitchers by giving up late-inning runs with games on the line. It didn’t take an analytical genius to see who the better team was in the series.

By the time Monday rolled around, the Nationals went from buyers to sellers, and ahead of the trade deadline dealt Curtis Meade, Luis Garcia, Jr., and Foster Griffin. Garcia led the league in slugging percentage, while Griffin posted a 12-3 record with the Nats.

While the Nationals received some promising prospects in return, namely some much-needed arms, the malaise of the trades and the 4-game sweep by Atlanta carried over into the next series in Philadelphia, where former Nats Bryce harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber had their way with Washington, winning 3 of 4. And just like that, the season was effectively over. Going into the trade deadline I was, like lots of Nats fans, all in on a possible postseason run. Just days later, I did a complete 180.

But hold everything. Like the oscillating fan that I am, I may be changing direction once again. After a 3-game weekend sweep of the Reds (their first series sweep since mid-April), the Nationals are clawing their way back to .500, and maybe with any kind of win streak, can get back in the conversation. I know, it’s a stretch.

No matter what happens with regard to the postseason, it could still be a fun remainder of August and September. CJ Abrams, still a National, is worth the price of admission. Former Yankee Yovanny Cruz gives Washington a live arm out of the pen who can hit triple digits. Cade Cavalli has been looking like an ace recently. And Trevor Williams is back and has pitched to a 0.00 ERA since his return. Although Abrams probably won’t be with the team next season, I’m filled with hope for 2027 (if there’s baseball).

But, check back with me the next time the Nats lose 3 in a row…

Until the next Visit from the Booth…GO NATS!

RW

 

 

 

 

Sports Dogs Podcast: The Crown Jewel of Podcasts

The Dogs touch on the iconic College Basketball Crown, for about 60 seconds…

Then it’s the Final Four talk with Randy’s National Champion still alive, Nats Pitching Therapy and offensive optimism, and the start of another Little League Season in Front Royal with The Duke stepping in as guest speaker for the festivities.

For the latest Sports Dogs Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon Music, CLICK HERE.

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For more local sports coverage, check out the Sports Dogs podcast.

Opening Day and Media Day at Nats Park

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(Posted 3-25-26)

Greetings From The Booth!

This week, the Booth is decorated in red, white, and blue bunting as we celebrate Opening Day in Major League Baseball (yes, folks, “Opening Day” is capitalized!). Opening Day is one of my favorite days in sports. The grass is always greener, the uniforms are more pristine, the hot dogs taste better, and the beer is colder. And, hope springs eternal for every team, because everyone is undefeated on Opening Day. Even the worst of teams can get out of the gate with a win and dream of a dream season, like the ’69 “Miracle Mets.” At the end of every season, cries of “wait until next year!” ring out. In baseball, there’s always next year. “Next Year” begins today.

This could be another long year for the Washington Nationals. We’re another year removed from the World Series Championship season of 2019. Long gone are Scherzer, Soto, and Strasburg, replaced by Abrams, Wood, and Gray. This year signals a front-office and field manager shakeup, as well.  The Nats underwent a youth movement in the Fall, hiring 35-year-old Paul Toboni as President of Baseball Operations. Toboni then hired 31-year-old Ani Kilambi from the Phillies front office. And, Field Manager Davey Martinez has been replaced by 33-year-old Blake Butera, who becomes the youngest manager in MLB since 1972. Both Toboni and Kilambi are grads of UC Berkeley, and are “analytics guys” who feel like they can turn things around in a hurry in DC.

That may not happen this season. Most experts are picking the Nationals to be one of the worst teams in baseball. The (lack of) offense in the exhibition season did not inspire optimism, and pitching ace Josiah Gray has been placed on the 60-day injured list with a flexor strain. Gray, who came to the Nats in the Max Scherzer trade with the Dodgers, has made only two starts since 2023 and has missed most of the last 2 seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery. And sadly, another “generational” player, James Wood, is probably thinking of what he looks like in a Yankee or Dodger uniform. Pitching will be an issue this year, and despite a few bright stars like CJ Abrams and Wood, this will be a Year Zero for the new front office.

Still, it’s always great to be at the ballpark, and the Nationals once again hosted their annual Media Day, with yours truly and Ryan “The Duke” Rutherford in attendance. We got a first-hand look at changes to Nationals Park, like the wire-cam, which will give viewers some great panoramic shots of the game. As always, we got to see the new “merch” that will be unveiled this season (I especially like the Hawaiian shirt and shorts combo), hang out with a few of the Racing Presidents, and sample the new food offerings. We especially loved the Smashburger, and the hot dog topped with crab meat, cheese, and Old Bay was to die for! And, it’s always a great sight to see that green outfield grass and the grounds crew making the field perfect for Opening Day, when all things are renewed, and hope springs eternal.

Until the next visit from The Booth…Play Ball!

RW