How' bout those Expos.....Ahem ...Nationals.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 8:49 pm

HOLY CRAP:

"Big collapses? Yeah, there's the White Sox, if you want to call that a collapse. But, really, no one has hit the skids worse than the Nationals, who officially were eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday and fell to .500 for the first time since May 29. The Nationals, who we all know were flying much higher in the first half than they had a right to be flying, are 26-42 in the second half (better only than the Pirates, Royals and Orioles) after losing seven of their last eight."

I didn't know they were THAT bad in the 2nd half. Wow.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:36 pm

I always compare collapses and successes relatively to what type of a team is made of, chemistry, superstars, high end salary players etc. Nats or the former Expos had no "home" the last 3 years or so and ask any player if they don't prefer to sleep in their own bed.

When still in Montreal they were averaging a fan base of about 5.000,instead they were Puerto Rico's team whenever they played their home games. They did a lot of traveling the last couple of season's until they finally found home in Washington.

With no superstars, no high salary players, it was a great run the first half of the season. After the ALL STARS, they realized they were no longer on cloud 9. I was rooting for them because they were a typical underdog team and yet they were doing so well. Plus the title of the thread was for those Montreal fans more in irony of what they must have been feeling about a team that just left town and yet were doing so well in the beginning of the season.

Talk about collapses, then it's fair to mention teams like the Marlins, Orioles, maybe the Chisox. With their huge payroll, owners, fans and managers expected better from their players. Look at A.J Burnett, who's gone public saying nothing positive about Florida. Here's a team that was in contention all along until the last couple of weeks. On paper they had great pitching and hitting with additions like Delgado.

Ditto for the Orioles and Sosa. But until the end of the season if the Nats stay .500 or better ahead of NY or FLO it'll be a big accomplishment for them. And today they beat FLO 4-0

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 10:38 pm

Yeah, but 26-42? That's the third worst record in the ENTIRE league...I don't care who's on your team. And I consider Vidro and Guillen stars in MLB...as well as Livan Hernandez.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 1:56 am

For all the doubters...yet again, another divsion title. #14 in a row.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:21 am

Let's see how well they do in the playoffs.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 2:22 am

It's irellevant at this point...just making it to the playoffs with this time is a monumental acheivement. Anything else is just gravy.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:56 am

Piazza & B. Williams, will this season be the end of the 2 Stars in NY? Both are 37, Williams has lost speed while Piazza still struggles with his injuries, and there's rumours his days as a catcher are numbered. Maybe a DH in the AL?

Can't wait for the Yankees- Redsox series to decided their division.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:24 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:Yeah, but 26-42? That's the third worst record in the ENTIRE league...I don't care who's on your team. And I consider Vidro and Guillen stars in MLB...as well as Livan Hernandez.

So what, the Nats overachieved in a big way in the 1st half.

All those 1 run games they won in the 1st half, it just balanced out in the 2nd half.

Still, great year by them.

jLp vAkEr0 · Post by **jLp vAkEr0** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:27 am

dbdynsty25 wrote:It's irellevant at this point...just making it to the playoffs with this time is a monumental acheivement. Anything else is just gravy.

LOL, sure.

Nice copout for the inevitable.

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 12:57 pm

jLp vAkEr0 wrote:
dbdynsty25 wrote:It's irellevant at this point...just making it to the playoffs with this time is a monumental acheivement. Anything else is just gravy.
LOL, sure.

Nice copout for the inevitable.

Jealousy will get you know where Met-fan.

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:22 pm

10spro wrote:Piazza & B. Williams, will this season be the end of the 2 Stars in NY? Both are 37, Williams has lost speed while Piazza still struggles with his injuries, and there's rumours his days as a catcher are numbered. Maybe a DH in the AL?

Can't wait for the Yankees- Redsox series to decided their division.

There is a nice article at nytimes.com about just this today. (You do have to register, though)

rubba19 · Post by **rubba19** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 3:24 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:HOLY CRAP:

"Big collapses? Yeah, there's the White Sox, if you want to call that a collapse. But, really, no one has hit the skids worse than the Nationals, who officially were eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday and fell to .500 for the first time since May 29. The Nationals, who we all know were flying much higher in the first half than they had a right to be flying, are 26-42 in the second half (better only than the Pirates, Royals and Orioles) after losing seven of their last eight."

I didn't know they were THAT bad in the 2nd half. Wow.

They flat out ran out of any healthy talent, combined with some stubborn moves early (trading Ohka, letting Sunny Kim go via waivers), that they resemble the Royals right now.