Nationals will be most improved cellar dweller in 2010
Article By smcneal.tsn on 7th January, 2010
Stan McNeal
We might never again see a worst-to-first story comparable to the 2008 Rays (from 96 losses in 2007 to the World Series in '08), but that doesn't mean a last-place team can't grab some headlines for impressive year-to-year improvement. This past season, for example, the Mariners rebounded from a 101-loss disaster to finish eight games above .500. But which last-place team from '09 will be the most-improved in 2010?
Chris Bahr explains why the Diamondbacks should make sizeable gains in the win-loss column, but Stan McNeal says the Nationals will show even more improvement:
Saying the Nationals will be baseball's most improved last-place team is kind of like telling your mom that she looks pretty nice ... for someone her age.
But, hey, a backhanded compliment is better than no compliment. And the Nationals are due some sort of compliment after putting themselves in position to end their streak of 100-loss seasons at two. Don't expect them to threaten the Phillies or even escape last place, but they should be able to pull off a 10- to 12-game swing in the standings.
Washington's seven-game winning streak to close out the 2009 season has nothing to do with this thinking. It's more about what the Nationals have done since June.
They drafted -- and signed -- Stephen Strasburg. No matter how well the phenom pitches in spring training, he is unlikely to begin the season in the majors. But look for him by summer.
"I had this kind of situation with Kerry Wood in '98 where he was the most dominant pitcher in the Cactus League and we sent him out," manager Jim Riggleman says. "It was tempting to keep him from Day 1. Now I don't know if that would have been a bad decision, but he started in the minors and joined us pretty quickly. I hope the same thing happens with Stephen." If it does, Strasburg will have plenty of time...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Chris Bahr explains why the Diamondbacks should make sizeable gains in the win-loss column, but Stan McNeal says the Nationals will show even more improvement:
Saying the Nationals will be baseball's most improved last-place team is kind of like telling your mom that she looks pretty nice ... for someone her age.
But, hey, a backhanded compliment is better than no compliment. And the Nationals are due some sort of compliment after putting themselves in position to end their streak of 100-loss seasons at two. Don't expect them to threaten the Phillies or even escape last place, but they should be able to pull off a 10- to 12-game swing in the standings.
Washington's seven-game winning streak to close out the 2009 season has nothing to do with this thinking. It's more about what the Nationals have done since June.
They drafted -- and signed -- Stephen Strasburg. No matter how well the phenom pitches in spring training, he is unlikely to begin the season in the majors. But look for him by summer.
"I had this kind of situation with Kerry Wood in '98 where he was the most dominant pitcher in the Cactus League and we sent him out," manager Jim Riggleman says. "It was tempting to keep him from Day 1. Now I don't know if that would have been a bad decision, but he started in the minors and joined us pretty quickly. I hope the same thing happens with Stephen." If it does, Strasburg will have plenty of time...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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