Werth Is Nationals’ Wild Card
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By DERON SNYDER
The season’s first half was a blast from the beginning, when the Washington Nationals peeled off to a 14-4 start. They have been playing with house money ever since — no pressure to win, nothing to lose — enjoying their emergence as one of baseball’s best and most popular teams.
Most everyone expected Washington’s upward mobility in the NL East … next year. Yes, the Nats were a cute pick to contend for a wild card this season, but 2013 was supposed to be their year for real, with an unrestricted Stephen Strasburg and a 20-year-old Bryce Harper.
Whatever happened this season would be gravy, the season-long appetizer before years’ worth of entrees.
Much to the delight of Nats fans everywhere, manager Davey Johnson convinced his team otherwise. His bold proclamations in spring training, stating that he should be fired if Washington misses the playoffs, set the tone and changed the culture. Even through the spotty offense and a slew of injuries, the Nats have grown in confidence with each series win.
The season’s second half will be more like work as they fight to maintain what they’ve established, namely the National League’s best record. But his team being a year early to the party gives someone the perfect opportunity to make his grand entrance a year late: Jayson Werth.
