A 5-game losing streak, and having lost 7 of their last 10 games, has the Nats inching towards not meeting some pretty realistic goals for the season.
Most pundits thought a 70-win season was a good goal for this team after going 59-103 last year. For the first time this season, the team is now projected to miss that goal. Currently sitting at 49-66, they are on pace to finish 69-93. We’re 71% of the way through the season and this losing streak is coming at a time where we are (finally) getting our presumed starters back.
More interestingly, the Nats are now inching closer to the “loser pack” of teams that are going to make up the top 10 of next year’s (talent-rich) draft board. For months we have more or less been locked into the #9 pick in the 2011 amateur draft. We are fully 5 games behind Milwaukee for the 10th pick. Here’s how the draft order is shaping up (records as of 8/13/10):
9. Washington Nationals: 49-66
8. Houston Astros: 48-65
7. Chicago Cubs: 48-67
6. Cleveland Indians: 48-67
5. Kansas City Royals: 47-68
4. Arizona Diamondbacks: 46-70
3. Seattle Mariners: 44-71
2. Baltimore Orioles: 40-75
1. Pittsburgh Pirates: 39-75
Hey, we’re only 3 games from drafting #4 next year!
And apparently Willingham has a pretty significant knee injury which will require surgery in the offseason. I think he’ll try and play through it but it can’t feel too good at this point in the season. I wonder if they’ll shut him down at some point also.
I was looking ahead at the schedule; another potentially interesting Phillies series on the horizon, end of September, next to last week of the season before the Phighten Phils head to Atlanta to close out the season. Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 27th through 29th. One would think an NL East title could be on the line. I’d love to win it BEFORE the Atlanta series, but that may be asking too much. Either way, as they usually do, the Nats will have a say as to who wins the East. Because BEFORE THE PHILS SERIES, the weekend prior, they host the Braves for three — Friday Sept. 24th through the 26th.
Anyway, as far as the Phils series, I would assume if a third NL East title were on the line, even on a weeknight, you could get quite another horde of rowdy Phils phaithfuls on their way down I-95 for one or more of those games.
I may perhaps attend a Braves game, root for the Nats and against Atlanta, then obviously attend one or more of the Phils games the next week. It will be here before you know it! 48 games left…
Droopy
13 Aug 10 at 12:20 pm