Monday, December 16, 2019

Uncustomed Heroes of 2019: Nationals


I wonder how future sports historians are gonna talk about this World Series, and this Nationals team. I personally thought it was a fun underdog story, and one of the better heroes and villains matchups of the decade, as well as catharsis for lots of veterans who deserved a ring. I'm still pretty happy it happened, I guess, even if it was at the expense of my Phillies.

Stephen Strasburg I already did a custom of this year, but I made another one because he had an awesome season and deserved more than one.

 Brian Dozier was signed by the Nationals before the season to be the primary second baseman. Unfortunately, Dozier's bat had calmed down completely since leaving Minnesota, and while he notched 20 homers in Washington this year, he also only had 50 RBIs, and struck out 105 times.
Why Him in 2019?: By September, he'd lost enough goodwill that the starting gig belonged to Howie Kendrick, leaving him open to make some huge postseason memories.
2020 Prediction: Will hit 15 homers from the bench.
 I'm glad the Nats were open to a reunion with Matt Adams after he spent the first half of 2018 valiantly covering for Ryan Zimmerman. He was so good at it in 2018 that he did it again this year, though, like Dozier, with diminishing returns; Adams led the team in strikeouts with 115, and only hit 20 homers as well.
Why Him in 2019?: Had a hit in his only at bat of the NLCS
2020 Prediction: Will be signed as a backup, but will still get some prime power-hitting done.

 Gerardo Parra had a weird year. He began the season tanking in San Francisco, was cut, landed in Washington and took some reps at 1st for the first time in a while. Over the course of the season he'd grow a sharp fan following, admirably gaining the nickname 'Baby Shark', and hitting .250 with 42 RBIs off the bench.
Why Him in 2019?: Also went 1.000 in his only NLCS at bat.
2020 Prediction: Will take his charisma to another continent.

Perhaps the most heartwarming part of this Nats win is the realization that Fernando Rodney, 13 years after pitching in a World Series with Detroit, finally won a ring at the age of 42. Granted, his season wasn't the most steady, as he was cut by the A's, and pitched a 4.02 ERA with 15 earned runs in 38 innings, but...he still got to pitch in a World Series and win this time.
Why Him in 2019?: Notched 5 more postseason strikeouts in a Nats uniform.
2020 Prediction: Probably retirement.

Coming Tomorrow- The Orioles. Thankfully I don't have many.

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