Damning With Faint Praise

Here we go again:

The Washington Nationals are going to win the World Series in 2010.

April Fool!

The Washington Nationals are going to have a winning season in 2010.

Sorry, still April Fool.

The Washington Nationals are going to win 70 or more games this season. Okay, the Nationals may be able to do that.

Last season, the Nationals had the worst record in major league baseball: 59 wins and 103 losses (59-103). So 70 wins would be a big improvement. There are reasons to hope the Nats should be better this year.

What is it with this enthusiasm-and-water stuff? We've got all kinds of hot young prospects, seasoned vets and a skipper from the start who knows what he's doing and the best this fellah thinks we can do is eleven more wins than last year?

Come on!

I mean, look at the math: Manny Acta started out with a record of 26-61. Riggs (that's Jim Riggleman to those of you who don't keep up) came in and, despite the hideous hole the team was in and some key injuries, still managed to rack up a tab of 33-42 to finish up. It seems to me that any predictions about this year have to take into account not just the improved record under Riggs' management last season, but also the added bonus of certainty and consistency his leadership from the start will bring this time around.

By the bye, good luck and God bless Manny as he takes the helm at Cleveland this year. I really like the guy and wish him all the best. He simply wasn't what the Nats needed, but I hope the fit is better with the Tribe. I shall watch his future progress with considerable interest.

I, for one, am going to predict here and now that the Nats place somewhere in the middle of the NL East. I am also going to predict that we make Philly's pennant run merry hell. Payback can be a real beyotch.

But who knows? I may be being unduly cautious myself.

GO, NATS!!!