Nationals Thrive With Can-Do Attitude
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By DERON SNYDER
The Washington Nationals barely needed an airplane as they flew to Miami from Atlanta last Sunday night, having completed their first series sweep this season. The flight home Wednesday wasn’t nearly as sweet, though, after they were swept by the Marlins.
But the Nats have no reason to feel down. Every NL East opponent continues to look up at Washington, in its first-place perch.
Entering Friday’s opener of a three-game series with the Braves, the Nats have spent 55 days atop the division. They haven’t gotten too high or too low, with five-game streaks being their longest for consecutive wins or losses. They are 11-4-2 in their 17 series while boasting the majors’ second-best home record (15-8).
All of that is well and good. But the Nats’ most-amazing aspect through two months isn’t their respectability. It’s their resiliency.
Manager Davey Johnson and his team would deserve props for their performance under any circumstances. However, they get extra credit when you consider the massive losses they’ve endured since the end of spring training.
