Washington Nationals
From the Press Box @ RFK Stadium:
UPDATE The Nationals won 3-0.
While the baseball world keeps an eye on Barry Bonds' progress toward breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record (as of this writing Bonds needs two to tie), Major League Baseball Press Box types have been not-so-closely following the progress of the Washington Nationals in their race to lose an all-time high number of games in a season.
The modern record for dreadful play is 120 losses held by the 1962 Mets when they went 40 - 120. (I know that doesn't add up to 162 games. Under the rules if, at the end of the season, a game which was rained-out has no effect on the standings, it is dropped. If such a game would change a division or wild-card race, then it is played.
The 2003 Detroit Tigers came THIS close when they ran their record to 43-119.
When this season started the Nats had so little power and so little pitching that it seemed likely they could surpass - or at least challenge - the Mets and Tigers.
Alas, that is not the case. As we await the start of today's Nats-Rockies game the Washington Nationals have a record of 41-56 after 96 games. Not good, but consider this: In order to get to the 2003 Tigers, the Nats would have to go 2-63 the rest of the way. Not likely.
The goal the Nats are now ready to aim at is losing less than 100 games. At their current pace (.423) they would end the season at 69-93 which would beat the pre-season expectations of every reporter in the press box.
To lose 100 games, the Nats would have to go 21-44 the rest of the way (.323) - not impossible, but not likely, either.
All this is taking place under the guidance of rookie manager Manny Acta and a pitching staff which has had half of the 20 pitchers who have worn a Nationals' uniform this year having spent at least some time on the disabled list.
That's the kind of thing you do when you sit in the press box before a game.
It's very cool.
Rich
UPDATE The Nationals won 3-0.
While the baseball world keeps an eye on Barry Bonds' progress toward breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record (as of this writing Bonds needs two to tie), Major League Baseball Press Box types have been not-so-closely following the progress of the Washington Nationals in their race to lose an all-time high number of games in a season.
The modern record for dreadful play is 120 losses held by the 1962 Mets when they went 40 - 120. (I know that doesn't add up to 162 games. Under the rules if, at the end of the season, a game which was rained-out has no effect on the standings, it is dropped. If such a game would change a division or wild-card race, then it is played.
The 2003 Detroit Tigers came THIS close when they ran their record to 43-119.
When this season started the Nats had so little power and so little pitching that it seemed likely they could surpass - or at least challenge - the Mets and Tigers.
Alas, that is not the case. As we await the start of today's Nats-Rockies game the Washington Nationals have a record of 41-56 after 96 games. Not good, but consider this: In order to get to the 2003 Tigers, the Nats would have to go 2-63 the rest of the way. Not likely.
The goal the Nats are now ready to aim at is losing less than 100 games. At their current pace (.423) they would end the season at 69-93 which would beat the pre-season expectations of every reporter in the press box.
To lose 100 games, the Nats would have to go 21-44 the rest of the way (.323) - not impossible, but not likely, either.
All this is taking place under the guidance of rookie manager Manny Acta and a pitching staff which has had half of the 20 pitchers who have worn a Nationals' uniform this year having spent at least some time on the disabled list.
That's the kind of thing you do when you sit in the press box before a game.
It's very cool.
Rich
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