In an effort to get every preview done by the season opener, you may notice that some of the team previews will be of the shorter variety. With some of the “extra information” not included, this should make for an easier read. Enjoy!
Key Additions: Daniel Cabrera, Scott Olsen, Josh Willingham, Adam Dunn
Key Subtractions: Emilio Bonafacio, Aaron Boone, Tim Redding
A look at the lineup:
CA – Jesus Flores will get a majority of the at-bats at catcher. Wil Nieves will be the primary reserve and Luke Montz and Josh Bard are also options.
1B – Nick Johnson is back as the everyday firstbaseman and will hit cleanup. Although he will start in left field, newcomer Adam Dunn is also expected to see some action at first base. Ronnie Belliard adds depth.
2B – Anderson Hernandez and Belliard will duke it out for playing time at second. Willie Harris likely will see action as well.
SS – Cristian Guzman will man the shortstop position and hit second. Alberto Gonzalez is the top reserve.
3B – Ryan Zimmerman returns as the starting third baseman and is expected to hit third. Belliard adds depth at the hot corner.
LF – Adam Dunn was the team’s big offseason signing and will be asked to play most days in left field, while adding pop to the middle of the order. Another off-season acquisition, Josh Willingham, will be his backup. Harris adds depth.
CF – Lastings Milledge will be a huge part of the team’s plans this season as the leadoff hitter and center fielder. Elijah Dukes could also see some work in center and Harris could get some action as well.
RF – Elijah Dukes will start in right field and hit in the middle of the lineup. Austin Kearns will be the top reserve in right and Harris will likely see some time as well.
A look at the pitching:
Starters – Scott Olsen and Daniel Cabrera were both acquired in the off-season and will be called upon to lead the rotation. Prospect Jordan Zimmerman is expected to start the season in the rotation and could make an impact. John Lannan and Shairon Martis fill out the final two spots. Collin Balester, Jason Bergmann, and Garrett Mock could also see starts during the 2009 season.
Relievers – Joel Hanrahan will be the team’s closer in 2009, a role he carries over from the end of last season. Saul Rivera, Steven Shell, and Joe Beimel are the top setup candidates. Jesus Colome, Julian Tavarez, Marco Estrada, Wilfredo Ledezma, Bergmann, and Mock will battle it out for a spot in the bullpen.
Outlook:
The top half of the lineup is pretty impressive and there is a ton of depth in the outfield. The health of the team’s young stars, most notably Milledge, Dukes, Zimmerman, and Johnson, will be key. There is a bunch of depth in the outfield and a roster void could be filled via a trade of Kearns. The pitching staff has a ton of question marks, most specifically the rotation, which is less than impressive to say the least. If the rotation can keep the team in games, the Nationals could actually be half decent this season. They could easily win 10-15 more games than the 59 they won in 2008.
Prediction:
The offense will be respectable, but the pitching staff will prove to be the Achilles heel. The Nationals will finish fourth in the NL East with a record of 77-85.
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