Washington Nationals - The First Fifteen Years (2005-2019)

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Titles:

Top Nationals Players of the First Fifteen Years

2012 - Won Division, Lost NLDS (STL)

2014 - Won Division, Lost NLDS (SF)

Pitchers:

2016 - Won Division, Lost NLDS (LA)

Stephen Strasburg (32.46) - 67

2017 - Won Division, Lost NLDS (Cubs)

Max Scherzer (34.75) - 58

2019 - Won WC (Milwaukee), Won NLDS (LA), Won NLCS (STL), Won WS (Houston)

Gio Gonzalez (21.34) - 54

Jordan Zimmerman (19.72) - 44

Ballpark:

Tanner Roark (17.22) - 36

RFK Stadium (2005 - 2007)

Chad Cordero (5.19) - 33

Nationals Park (2008 - present)

Livan Hernandez (6.36) - 32

John Lannan (7.67) - 28

Team Name:

Drew Storen (5.29) - 26

Nationals

Tyler Clippard (10.11) - 23

Sean Doolittle (4.45) - 18

Owner:

Rafael Soriano (1.68) - 17

Major League Baseball (2005 - 2006)

Doug Fister (4.5) - 10

Ted Lerner (2006 - present)

Patrick Corbin (5.59) - 9

Anibal Sanchez (3.71) - 6

General Managers:

Jim Bowden (2005 - 2009)

Catchers:

Mike Rizzo (2010 - 2019)

Wilson Ramos (10.44) - 34

Brian Schneider (2.25) - 16

Managers:

Matt Wieters (0.03) - 6

Frank Robinson (2005 - 2006)

Manny Acta (2007 - 2009)

First Basemen:

Jim Riggelman (2009-2011)

Ryan Zimmerman (38.27) - 76

Davey Johnson (2012-2013)

Nick Johnson (10.87) - 28

Matt Williams (2014-2015)

Adam LaRoche (7.02) - 25

Dusty Baker (2016-2017)

Dave Martinez (2018-2019)

Second Basemen:

Cristian Guzman (5.7) - 21

Hall of Famers:

Daniel Murphy (6.55) - 18

None

Howie Kendrick (2.43) - 8

Wilmer Difo (0.98) - 5

Rookie of the Year:

Bryce Harper (2012)

ShortStop:

Ian Desmond (15.42) - 55

MVP

Trea Turner (13.73) - 48

Bryce Harper (2015)

Danny Espinosa (9.02) - 25

No Hitters:

Third Base:

Jordan Zimmerman (2014)

Anthony Rendon (27.5) - 60

Max Scherzer (2015)

Outfield:

Bryce Harper (27.42) - 67

Cy Young:

Jayson Werth (8.83) - 41

Max Scherzer (2016)

Denard Span (7.02) - 27

Max Scherzer (2017)

Michael Taylor (2.78) - 23

Mike Morse (5.59) - 18

Notable Events:

Juan Soto (7.51) - 17

Adam Dunn (2.11) - 16

2005 - The franchise is moved to Washington from Montreal. It is under

Ryan Church (6.12) - 15

Major League ownership. Jim Bowden is the interim General Manager

Alfonso Soriano (6.08) - 14

until a buyer for the club can be found. Why Washington? One reason is that

Josh Willingham (5.27) - 14

MLB has always liked having a team in Washington. The team moves into RFK

Willie Harris (2.21) - 12

Stadium, which is still around over thirty years since it was last used for major

Victor Robles (4.58) - 11

league baseball back in 1971. The team is mediocre but still draws 2.7 million

Jose Guillen (2.71) - 11

fans which makes them a pretty attractive buy,

Nyjer Morgan (0.98) - 11

Adam Eaton (2.97) - 10

2005 - 3B Ryan Zimmerman, 20, is the fourth overall pick of the draft,

he is brought up to the majors in September

Notable Events:

2006 - Ted Lerner buys the club and all becomes well.

2015 - Once again, the offense remains pretty much where it's been the

Jim Bowden is retained as GM.

previous several seasons, but it is the pitching that is roller coastering.

The Nats give back the 71 runs they picked up in 2014 and then some,

2007 Righty Jordan Zimmerman, 20, is selected in the 2nd round of the draft,

dropping them to 83-79 and second place. With all of this talent on hand,

He is a rookie in '09

the feeling is that Washington should be dominating, not mediocre.

The Big Four (Scherzer, Zimmerman, Strasburg and Gonzalez) all pitch OK

2008 - Nationals Park opens. Things are looking up for the franchise despite

and win in double figures, but you keep thinking that these guys should be

the club hitting rock bottom on the field, losing over 100 games.

lights out and, other than Scherzer, who pitches two no hitters along the

They repeat the over one hundred losses in 2009.

way, they're not. Pfister's arm goes bad and he drops to 5-7, but you

can't blame the swoon on a fifth starter.

2008 - Righty reliever Tyler Clippard, 23, is stolen from the Yankees

One reason that the starters' numbers look so ordinary is that the bullpen

in a trade for Jonathan Albaladejo

is the real culprit here. Soriano leaves for the Cubs in free agency,

but, as it turns out, his career is over anyway.

2010 - The bad news - the Nationals move into the decade coming off back

Clippard is dealt to Tampa for talented SS Yunel Escobar. Altho' Escobar

to back one hundred plus loss seasons in 2008 and 2009.

can play, they need Clippard out of the pen much more

The good news, they got the overall number one pick in the draft in both

- along with Soriano, Clippard is a huge loss.

2009 and 2010 as a result of their misfortune.

With the way handling of pitchers has changed in major league baseball

Positives moving forward. Owner Ted Lerner looks like he's willing to open up

as time has gone on in the twenty first century, while a good starting rotation

his wallet when necessary to help the club advance.

is critical, if you don't have a good bullpen, it means nothing.

Mike Rizzo takes over as GM and looks like he's a GM who knows what he's

If your starters are only allowed to go six innings, you better have a bunch

doing. The only thing is that they may be a bit quick on the trigger in

of guys who can take care of the last three.

unloading their managers.

You have to think that the Nats figured that Drew Storen and Tyler Roark

The Nationals' pattern for the decade is win the division, drop back, then win

would kick some serious booty out of the pen based on their 2014

the division again and not winning any playoff series. Sort of a bizzarre pattern.

performances. The Nats gambled and lost on this one. 29 of his

Each time Washington has dropped back a bit after a division title, the

Roark was just plain bad in 2015. Storen, meanwhile, saved

manager has gotten fired. You probably want to have managers stick

31 save opportunities up to the trading deadline, altho' his supporting

around longer than two years to get better management continuity throughout

numbers were non closer-like.

the organization.

The Nats dedided they needed someone better and picked up Jonathan

Papelbon from the Phillies at the deadline to replace Storen.

2010 - The keepers on the roster moving forward:

It didn't help, the pen, as a group, was still not very good and

□ C - Wilson Ramos, 22, obtained in a trade with Twins for Matt Capps in 2010

sabotaged what was an outstanding starting rotation.

□ SS - Ian Desmond, 24, 2004 3rd round pick, debuted in 2009

□ SS - Danny Espinoza, 23, 3rd round pick in 2008 draft

2016 - Another new manager as Matt Williams gets the axe,

□ 3B - Ryan Zimmerman, 25, 4th overall pick in 2005, debuted in 2005

is now on the hot seat. At this point, they would have been better off

□ OF - Mike Morse, 28, obtained in trade with Seattle in 2009

getting a manager who could also close games in his spare time.

□ RHP - Stephen Strasburg, 21, first overall pick in 2009 draft

□ RHP - Drew Storen, 22, 10th overall pick in 2008 draft

2016 - Speedy OF Ben Revere, 28, is picked up from Toronto for Drew Storen

□ RHP - John Lannan, 25, 11th round pick in 2005 draft

□ Closer - Tyler Clippard, 25, obtained in trade with Yankees in 2008

2016 - 2B Daniel Murphy, 31, FA signed from the Mets

□ RHP - Jordan Zimmerman, 24, 2nd round pick in 2007 draft

□ 2011 - 1B Adam LaRoche, 31, FA signed from Arizona

2016 - The love affair with Papelbon ends. The Nats pick up shut-down

□ 2011 - OF Jayson Werth, 31, FA signed from the Phillies

closer Mark Melancon, 31, yet another ex-Yankee, from the Pirates in

a trade deadline deal for live armed lefty Felipe Rivero, 23.

2012- OF Bryce Harper, 19, is Rookie of the Year,

Melancon carries Washington to the finish line.

he was the 1st overall pick in the 2010 draft

2016 - This time it's the hitting that lifts the Nationals to the Division title.

2012 - In a blockbuster deal, the Nats obtain ace twenty six year old

Six players top twenty homers and two more are in double figures.

lefthander Gio Gonzalez, 26, from the A's for four prospects.

It's a circular lineup. Despite Bryce Harper having an off year (for him)

This trade is a steal for Washington as none of the four players

and Ryan Zimmerman in decline, newly acquired Daniel Murphy goes

given up is anywhere near Gonzalez. Lefty Tommy Milone a tenth round

25-104-.347 and second year man Trea Turner forces his way into the

pick in the 2008 draft was the best player given up.

lineup going 13-40-.342 in only half a season's worth of at bats.

Catcher Derek Norris, a fourth round pick in the 2007 was next.

Meanwhile Scherzer goes 20-7, Roark bounces back to 16-10

and Strasburg goes 15-4. Of course, the Nats lose their Division

2012 - It all comes together for Washington.

playoff series, this time to LA. Dusty Baker's job is safe, for now.

They win the Division going 98-64 only to lose to the overachieving Cards in

the LDS. This was no fluke, the Nats are loaded. Five starters with double

2017 - The Nats obtain closer Sean Doolittle, 30, from the A's at the

figures in wins led by newly acquired Gonzalez's 21.

trade deadline for three players. Doolittle does a lot as he saves

Seven players in double figures in home runs including nineteen year old

twenty one games down the stretch. Meanwhile, one of the three sent

Rookie of the Year Bryce Harper's 22. On top of everything else, this team is

to the A's, Blake Treinen, 29, ends up having a phenomenal year

young with only a sprinkling of thirty year olds. A big controversy was

as a closer in 2018, leading the A's to a Division title

shutting down Stephen Strasburg down the stretch to limit his innings

to prevent injury. This seemed to be a bad idea to just about everybody.

2017 - Wahington is a juggernaut. This is the fourth season out of the

However, Washington's management was proven to be correct as Strasburg

past six where they win in the upper nineties and take the Division.

was still going strong at the end of the decade.

Unfortunately, their post season failures continue, as well, as

they are now four for four in losing in the NLDS.

2013 - RHP Tanner Roark, 26, debuts.

He was obtained three years earlier in a trade with Texas.

2018 - Another new manager, Dave Martinez. He's the franchise's seventh

manager in the fourteen years that they've been in Washington.

2013 - 3B Anthony Rendon, 23, is a rookie.

Maybe one of their problems in the post season isn't their managers, but,

He was the 6th overall pick in the 2011 draft

instead, the lack of continuity in the franchise from continually changing

managers. For players, changing your leaders almost as often as you

2013 - Former first round pick RHP Alex Meyer,23, 23rd overall in 2011 draft,

change your underwear, can't be a good thing.

is dealt to the Twins in exchange for speedy centerfielder Denard Span, 29.

This deal is a "steal" for the Nats

2018 - Nineteen year old stud OF Juan Soto is a rookie.

He was signed as an IFA in 2015

2013 - Washington unexpectedly drops twelve games in the standings and

finishes second to the Braves.

2018 - The Nats drop fifteen games in the standings to a mediocre 82-80

Both the hitting and pitching get significantly worse, moreso with the hitting.

and never contend. A silver lining is that their runs differential would predict

On offense, everyone just seemed to drop off a notch, no glaring falling off cliffs.

a 90-72 mark which indicates that the decline isn't quite as steep and that

On the mound, the same thing. Gonzalez dropped from 21 to 11 wins,

the basic ingredients of a quality ballclub are still there. When you have a

but didn't pitch badly. Strasburg went from 15 wins down to eight, but his ERA

runs to record disparity such as this, the first place to look is the bullpen.

improved significantly. Jordan Zimmerman took up a lot of their slack going from

If the pen is faltering, you're losing a disproportionate amount of the close ones.

12 wins to 19. The bullpen was actually better as Rafael Soriano, 33,

was picked up as a free agent from the Yankees and pitched well while the

2018 - Stud lefty Gio Gonzalez, 32, is dealt away to Milwaukee at the trade

2012 closer Tyler Clippard moved seamlessly into a setup role.

deadline in his FA walk year.

Anyway, the Nats just didn't seem to have the same swagger they had in 2012

and manager Davey Johnson got the axe as a result

2018 - 2B Daniel Murphy, 33, is dealt to the Cubs at the trade deadline in

his FA walk year.

2014 - Righthander Doug Pfister, 30, is picked up from the Tigers for three

non prospects. Unclear what Detroit was thinking, Pfister could pitch.

2019 - OF Bryce Harper, 25, leaves for Philadelphia as a free agent.

His departure is a big blow for the Nats.

2014 - Matt Williams is the new manager, it's hard to say how much, if any,

affect he has on Washington's improved performance. The Nats gain

2019 - Solid Lefty starter Patrick Corbin, 29, is signed as a FA from Arizona.

back ten games in the standings and win the Division.

2019 - Solid Righty starter Anibal Sanchez, 35, is signed as a FA from Atlanta.

The offense stays pretty much on course, but Washington gives up 71 less

runs than 2013 - that's significant. The acquistion of Pfister was huge, he was

2019 - Speedy CF Victor Robles, 22, is a rookie. He was an IFA in 2013.

the Nats' best pitcher. Also, Tanner Roark, who was terrific out of the pen in

2013, was moved into the starting rotation and won 15.

2019 - Despite the losses of some valuable veterans, Washington gains

Strasburg, Zimmerman and Gonzalez also pitched well altho' Gio pitched

eleven games in the standings and easily makes it in as a wild card.

below his norms. Soriano, Clippard, and former first round pick Drew Storen

Their runs differential is only a bit better than 2018, but they win more

were a formidable threesome out of the bullpen.

close ones depite a still shaky bullpen. Washington has a circular lineup

The Nats are still unable to win a playoff series, however, as a hot

with ten players in double figures in home runs, led by twenty year old

Giants team beats them in the NLDS

Soto and twenty eight year old Rendon who both have 34. The starting

rotation is deep with newcomers Corbin and Sanchez supplementing

2015 - In a complex three team deal involving San Diego and Tampa, the

incumbent aces Scherzer and Strasburg.

Nats obtain 2B Trea Turner, 22 for not very much.

Turner was the 13th overall pick in the 2014 draft.

2019 - Washington wins the World Series. Interestingly, when they had been

favorites coming into the post season after winning their division, the Nats

2015 - Righty Max Scherzer, 30, is signed as a free agent from Detroit

could not win a playoff series in four previous attempts this decade. However,

for a huge contract.

when they snuck in as a wild card and the pressure was off, Washington

If you ever had any doubt about whether the Nats were serious about

went on to win all four post season series and the title. Go figure.

winning it all, doubt no more. Scherzer is simply one of the best

pitchers in the game and combining him in a rotation with Gio Gonalez

and Stephen Strasburg almost seems unfair. As long as these

three are healthy, this club will contend.

Scherzer was picked up for the sole purpose of getting the Nats to the

next level - a World Series title. As it turns out, in 2015, he couldn't

even get them back to their previous level.