That Thing You DOOOOOOOOO

[Music Pun Streak #6. Yeah, it counts]

Yes, more with the Nationals. What fun.

The Nats are still in second place in the NL East, have a handle on a Wild Card spot, and are trying to push the Phillies out of the narrative. Granted, they're not as pompous as they were a few weeks ago because they've lost some games. But they have Scherzer back now, which means they have a Scherzer-Strasburg-Corbin-Sanchez rotation where they're all playing well. Which is definitely a start. That fifth position seems to be problematic, but...they're holding it open, so either they're just gonna bring up Fedde again or they're a trade brewing.

But if you look at everything else, it's not really too spectacular. Yes, Sean Doolittle is a force to be reckoned with in the 9th, but aside from that, the bullpen is pretty forgettable. Yes, Fernando Rodney's playing better than he was in Oakland, but is that really saying much? Matt Adams, Brian Dozier and Yan Gomes all have starting spots, and none of them are really doing anything with them. Gerardo Parra, Howie Kendrick and Kurt Suzuki are all better choices for their respective positions, and they're stuck on the bench.

You also look at this team, and you don't see a lot of power, especially after Harper's gone. Rendon has the most homers with 22, and he seems to be the only one here shooting for a 30-home-run season. Everyone else is really just a contact hitter who's gotten lucky, like Juan Soto or Victor Robles. Plus, they have guys like Jake Noll and Carter Kieboom who are KILLING IT in the minors, but can't seem to get a damn thing done in the majors, so they're stuck with what they've got.

So...even if they are kind of hot, they're still a very flawed team trying to make a name for themselves. In other words, they're the new 2016 Blue Jays. Which means this may not go well for all involved persons.

Coming Tonight (?): He's one of the best closers in the game, and he might be traded by the time I actually get to posting his custom.

The Voyage of Sean Doolittle

From closing for the classic 2010s A's teams to getting injured for a few too many years, to winding up as the closer for the nearly-classic 2017 Nationals, Sean Doolittle has already had a journeyman, wild career. And right now, as the Nationals begin to trickle back up the standings, he's penciled in as their trusty closer, which is nice, as he's filled a hole the Nats have been scrambling to fill since Rafael Soriano left.

He's a chief member of a Nationals team that SHOULDN'T BE winning games...yet is. Half the team's injured, including Ryan Zimmerman, Adam Eaton, Howie Kendrick, Daniel Murphy, Matt Wieters, Joe Ross and Brian Goodwin. That's half the lineup...and Joe Ross. That's a certifiable chunk of people that were saving the team last year, so...what are they doing?

Well, they signed Mark Reynolds, and he's been playing great 1st base...and they've been using Matt Adams as backup, which is still good as he's still hitting well. They also signed Jeremy Hellickson late, and he's been pitching like a pro so far (which is odd considering his Baltimore stint). They've also called up Juan Soto, who's been playing pretty well for a 19-year-old (take that, Julio Urias).

The only 3 starters that are still in the lineup from April are Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon and Trea Turner, and thankfully they're all still healthy and playing well. The pitching staff is still intact and playing beautifully. It's just this team's ability to revive themselves from near-universal injuries that will mark their season, and so far, they're doing well. True, they're in 3rd behind two vastly superior teams, but they're still playing alright enough to begin to chase them.

Coming Tomorrow- Someone from a second place team that's under .500

The Doctor is in

Never would have thought THIS GUY would be a lights out closer again, and since we're having a shortage of bearded closers, I'm glad that it's happening.

I'm also glad that Doolittle gets a less 'ragtag' and more polished team to be closer for. I don't wanna knock the 2012/2013 A's, because I love those teams, but...this Nats team has a lineup to die for, a rotation that's legendary, and some pieces all around that could infuriate competitors down the stretch. Not a ton of people are talking about the Nats as playoff favorites, because the NL is stacked with a ton of 'will it happen' kind of things, like the Dodgers and Cubs.

But...if the Dodgers' luck runs out, and the Cubs aren't as lucky as they've been....who does that leave? The Nats...and a team they might be able to beat.

I'm putting some good money on the fact that this is the year the Nationals will win their first NLDS. It's time. They have the team, they have the numbers, they have the momentum, and they're right in the middle, right where they need to be. They could make it all the way, if the cards fall their way. They definitely have it this year, even if they don't have Adam Eaton.

Then again...I could say that last year, and I could say that next year. I just hope it's finally this year.

Coming Tonight: His team just hit 100 wins, and he's actually having a pretty great season on the mound.

Uncustomed Heroes of Baseball: Athletics

I feel bad for the A's. They went from one of the best teams in baseball to losing the Wild Card, their star outfielder AND their star third baseman. That must hurt a lot.

Thankfully, they still had a pretty nice season. Sonny Gray made a case for the best pitcher on the squad, and he's becoming one of the stronger arms, even in his sophomore season.

Derek Norris had a really nice All-Star season, finally proving that he can be a great catcher with even better facial hair. If he has seasons like this one, he may get to be one of the best catchers in the league.

Speaking of facial hair, Sean Doolittle had a pretty nice season as the new closer in town, making me very happy by rendering Jim Johnson obsolete. It sucks that he had an injury towards the end of the season, but he'll probably be back to no good in no time.

Coming Tomorrow- A couple of Blue Jays.