The Nationals Enquirer

5 run 9th! Nats running away with NL East!

"Everybody is calling us the worst offensive team in the league. We want to show we not only play hard, but play to win. We want to show we can hit, too."
(Lastings Milledge, via AP, 3/31/2008)

Nats 11, Phillies 6: Hold on, I thought the bullpen was the one thing not to worry about?

Hanrahan, King blow 6-3 lead for Chico, but Nats light up Flash, Phils for five in 9th to win it. L-Millz has a day!

Meanwhile...

We're still in denial about Dukes (15 day DL). Damn. No DL for Chief, yet.

Let's enjoy the view from up here, while we've got it. Have there been consecutive days in first since 2005?

(AP Photo/Tom Mihalek)

Just Zimm, baby!

 

Nats 3, Braves 2: Perfect Beginning, Ending: The $465,000 Face of the Franchise Saves Opening Night with 9th inning walkoff.

It's a beautiful view from the top of the NL East, at least for one night...

(Image of Ryan Zimmerman on TV by The Nationals Enquirer. Standings courtesy of mlb.com)

Official Nationals Enquirer 2008 Nats/MLB predictions

"What? Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over until we decide it is. Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell No! And it ain't over now. Cuz when the going gets tough, the tough get goin! Who's with me? Let's Go! Come on!"
(John 'Bluto' Blutarsky, via Animal House, 7/28/1978)

2008: just like 2007, over before it even started?

Hell no! Sort of. But that doesn't mean we won't be cheering 'em on all the way to September 28th.

2008 marks a new beginning for the Nats; a new ballpark, new faces, a rejuvenated farm system (ranked 9th in the latest rankings by Baseball America), etc. etc.: the organization seems to be headed in the right direction. But our gut tells us that in the end, the 2008 Nationals will end up looking strikingly similar to the 2007 model: not a historically bad team, just a hard working, but somewhat forgettable sub-.500 one. As a fan, I ask for one thing: just play hard.

We'll stick with the same W-L total we picked last year: 76-86, good for 4th place in the NL East. Despite what the headline of this post would lead you to believe (and what we said yesterday), we're going to omit the rest of our MLB predictions to spare ourselves the embarrassment. Remember: this is the site that predicted Jerome Williams would lead the Nationals in starts last year. You understand, of course.

One more prediction: Elijah Dukes will become the first player to homer at Nationals Park, and it'll happen tonight.

Meanwhile...

• More photos from last night (via ckstevenson). More words about last night. Reportedly, only minor glitches (Stan, "thrilled"). Getting to, from the new yard?
• How will Nationals Park play, anyway?
• No surprises: FelipE, Da Meathook, will come off the bench. FelipE has changed his tune about accepting his new role.

Opening Night at last!! (yes, we used the exact same video & quote above for Opening Day 2007. Will probably do the same next year, too.).