2008 Washington Nationals Picks & Predictions

May 22, 2008

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The Nats might be playing in a new stadium this season, but it still looks like the same old team in Dave Price’s 2008 Washington Nationals predictions.

Pitching

Playing in pitcher-friendly RFK has helped a lowly pitching staff that still finished with the second worst ERA in the NL last season. What are the Nats going to do now that they are in a new ballpark designed to produce more power numbers? The Nats’ projected 2008 starting rotation combined for only 22 wins last season. Shawn Hill is considered this team’s number one. I can hardly say ace. This injury-plagued sinkerballer must stay healthy to stay out of the NL East cellar again this year. Jason Bergmann has shown potential but only in spurts and Matt Chico must gain better command of his pitches. John Lannan looks to be a guy that the Nats will want to keep around. He was Washington’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year last season, climbing all the way from A-ball to the bigs.

Closer Chad Cordero is a bright spot in the closer roll. He did blow nine saves to lead the majors last season, but he also cashed in on 37. John Rauch and Luis Ayala are solid setup men. If Washington is able to build on a 73-win season, the pen will have come up big.

Offense

Or should I say what offense? This team has no marquee players and little power at the plate. Christian Guzman at least gives them some speed and a high on-base percentage to work with. Ryan Zimmerman is the most talented player on the team. He belted 24 homerins and added 91 RBIs last season. First baseman Dmitri Young had 13 homeruns and 74 RBIs in 136 games – hardly impressive for a clean-up hitter. Willy Mo Pena is still unproven, but I look for him to become one of the best players on this team. Austin Kearns has one of the more powerful bats on this team and should benefit from the new park.

Defense

The Nationals could actually end up going with Nick Johnson at first base, who didn’t play last season while rehabbing injuries. He would be a defensive upgrade over Young, but Young is coming off an All-Star season in 2007 and is scheduled to make $5 million. Ryan Zimmerman is a stud and you’ll see this kid win a Gold Glove in the next several years. The middle infield has depth with Christian Guzman, Ronnie Belliard, and Filipe Lopez, but the Nats will play whoever puts up the best numbers offensively. Wily Mo Pena is not the most athletic or refined outfielder, but Washington feels his bat makes up for it. Lastings Milledge should be a solid centerfielder for this team as a former 12th overall draft pick.

How does the old saying go, “you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.” Maybe I made that up. Anyhow, the Nats may be playing in a new ballpark, but they are still a poor team with improvements to be made at nearly every spot. Thanks to the Marlins dealing away two stars, Washington should be able to stay out of last place however.

If you’ve never bet on pro baseball before, you are missing out on the easiest sport to win money betting on. Because the majority of MLB betting is done on the money line, all you have to do is pick the winner, and no one has been better than Dave Price at doing that the past 10 years.

Odds to win NL East: 40/1

Odds to win 2008 NL Pennant: 50/1

Odds to win 2008 World Series: 100/1

NL East

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Written by admin · Filed Under MLB 

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