10 reasons the Nationals are for real

It’s August already and officially safe to invest your time and emotion in the Washington Nationals. The Post’s Thomas Boswell explains why.

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Will the Nationals wilt this summer? That's a clown question, bro. Post columnist Thomas Boswell shares 10 reasons the Nationals are worth following.

1. Your eyes tell you so.

There is so much talent, especially young talent, that players who would have had key roles on Nats of just three years ago are now backups or in lesser bullpen roles. They include Steve Lombardozzi (switch-hitting inf, pictured here), Tyler Moore (1st & OF), John Lannan (LH SP sent to AAA, then called up for two key spot-start wins), Ryan Mattheus (RH reliever), Jesus Flores (backup catcher), Roger Bernadina (4th OF) and Chien-Ming Wang (stashed on the DL with Henry Rodriguez as a quasi-"taxi squad").

Greg Fiume / Getty Images

2. The pitching staff has heat and more.

Stephen Strasburg (tops at 100 mph, pictured left), Gio Gonzalez (tops 96, right), Jordan Zimmermann (96 mph, center), Edwin Jackson (98 mph, not pictured) and Ross Detwiler (96 mph, not pictured) may be the hardest-throwing rotation in baseball history. And none thinks his fastball is their best pitch. Strasburg (91 mph change-up), Gonzalez (curve), Zimmermann (slider), Jackson (slider) and Detwiler (sinker). The ERA (3.20 as of early August) of the Nats starting pitchers is the second best in the N.L. in the 21st century.

3. That old saying 'Defense wins championships'

Ryan Zimmerman; Ian Desmond (currently injured), right; Danny Espinosa, center, and Adam LaRoche are one of the rangiest, flashiest infields in MLB in many years. All have won (Zimmerman), may win (Desmond, Espinosa) or already should have won (LaRoche) Gold Gloves. Lombardozzi, playing second while Espinosa fills in for the injured Desmond at short, as of early August has made only three error at second base in his last 150 games (majors and minors).

Chris Trotman / Getty Images

4. Michael Morse is back ...

Morse, the Nats’ best hitter and slugger in 2011, sat out the first three months with an injury. He's always hit — and the second half of this year has been no exception.

Julio Cortez / AP

5. ... and so is Jayson Werth.

Werth was getting close to his Phillies form on offense (with an on-base plus slugging stat over .800) when he broke his wrist. After two months, he's baaaaack, too.

Greg Fiume / Getty Images

6. The bullpen has been strong

With their best ’11 reliever Drew Storen now healthy again, the Nats strong bullpen may become one of the best. Storen's injury provided chances for Tyler Clippard (pictured with catcher Jesus Flores), Sean Burnett, Craig Stammen, Mike Gonzalez, Ryan Mattheus and Tom Gorzelanny to shine in larger roles. Were they overworked in the process? We’ll see.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

7. Davey Johnson is the man for the job.

This is the team that may get him over the hump and into the Hall of Fame as a manager, though he was a four-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove second baseman who once hit 43 homers in a season. And he started for the Orioles in four World Series.

Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images

8. Bryce Harper is just getting started.

He's "arrived" one to two years early as an energizing force. He has a temper, star swagger and attracts controversy. He also made the N.L. All-Star team. Few managers, aside from Johnson, would be comfortable handling such an edgy teen prodigy. Davey, no day at the beach in his time, always loves the challenge of developing big talent with big personality. Harper’s season at 19 is a close equivalent of Ken Griffey, Jr.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

9. Mike Rizzo is pulling the right strings.

The general manager drafted and signed Strasburg, Harper, Storen and a half-dozen prospects now in the minors. He found unknown Jordan Zimmermann on a frosty scouting trip to Wisconsin. He traded Matt Capps for Wilson Ramos (now injured). He signed free-agent Jackson, then got coaches to correct a flawed windup, making him a top-flight starter. And when he gets mad, man, does he know how to speak his mind — from players to ownership. Ask Cole Hamels.

Toni L. Sandys / The Washington Post

10. The Nationals are in good hands with the Lerner family.

After a tough learning-curve for two or three years, changing from the cut-every-cost business model of real estate development to the grow-revenues model of MLB — antithetical methods — the family, led by principal owner Ted Lerner, now has a grasp of what is needed to build winner. They have signed two $125 million deals with Zimmerman and Werth, extended Gonzalez for many years and invested heavily in amateur draft prospects. Ballpark experience is improving. If they get a fair cable-TV reset fee from MASN — plus growing crowds — they will have the resources to contend for many years. Despite their current success, the Nats still have the lowest payroll in the NL East, with a great deal of flexibility to pursue free agents the next two winters. If they can find a position where they need a free agent.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

FEATURED PHOTO GALLERIES

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