Are the Washington Nationals owners playing fans for suckers again?
First, Major League Baseball asked for patience when the team arrived in 2005. After 33 years without baseball, fans willingly gave it in return for simply having the sport back. There were 100-loss seasons, but the Nats said it would lead to better days. And, it did, with the drafts of Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper.
Some disappointing playoff losses led to more pleas for patience. Finally, it paid off with the 2019 World Series championship.
Five years later, the team again pleads for patience. That magical season was quickly dismantled, its great players peddled for prospects rather than paying them. The one player kept – Strasburg – has been a medical bust.
Washington opens the season on Thursday in Cincinnati, once more pleading for patience. A fifth straight NL East last-place finish since the championship seems likely.
And that is B.S.
The Lerner family wanted patience while planning to sell after the death of patriarch Ted Lerner. But, the family finally opted to retain control. No problem there, but another offseason passed without significantly upgrading the roster.
Media day was all about overpriced food and a facial recognition system for season ticket holders to enter quickly. Funny, this team has been bad enough for fans to enter the witness protection program.
The Nats were better than expected last season, but that was still only 71-91. Washington might fare a few games better this year, but that’s still ugly.
The Punch-and-Judy offense has no punch and Judy signed elsewhere. The most exciting players – outfielders Dylan Crews and James Wood – remain in the minors. Patience, remember. Maybe they both arrive come August, along with a healthy Brady House.
Yes, this team is a season or two away from wild-card contention. That means a half dozen seasons of misery. You don’t see Atlanta stinking for more than a season or two. The New York Mets tried to buy a title, which failed miserably, but at least they tried.
Washington is still looking for stars. Lane Thomas, Joey Meneses, Joey Gallo and CJ Abrams is half a lineup. Josiah Gray is still promising, but Patrick Corbin is simply finishing a disappointing contract that ownership was too cheap to eat two years ago.
So, we’re looking at another long season and talk of better times. It feels old after 19 years. The Nats haven’t built themselves into a regular contender, just one that acts like such.
And that’s getting old.