Without Leadership, Nationals Will Always Be Losers

Don’t let last night’s “this should have been over an hour ago” victory in extra innings fool you: these Nationals are losers. And that’s not just a childish act of name-calling, nor is it simply a re-statement of the obvious fact that the team is currently last in the NL East and has lost at least 100 games in each of the past two seasons. It’s a description of their reputation. And judging from their performance this year, it looks like the guys in the clubhouse are starting to accept that reputation as the team’s identity.

The Nationals need some leadership and a new identity fast. In early May, it looked like they might finally have found some swagger, as they accumulated a hard-fought record of 20-15. But the team lost that elusive toughness when it hit its first losing streak and has been piling on the mistakes ever since. They’ve demonstrated time and time again that they have no limits when it comes to squandering any semblance of momentum, and that they have no idea how to pick themselves up and respond to any adversity they may face.

Need some examples? Here are some of the best:

• The Nationals began the month of June by dropping three games to the Astros and losing two of three to the Reds. Then, they received what many thought would be a proverbial “shot to the arm” when pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg made his major-league debut against the Pirates. On the back of Strasburg’s 14 strikeout performance, the team swept the Pirates and looked to finally be back on the winning track. However, the Nationals managed only a 3-12 record on their subsequent inter-league schedule, effectively torching any momentum that they may have gained from Strasburg’s arrival. During those 15 games, the team failed to do much offensively and was easily dispatched by superior AL foes. They’ve been buried at the bottom of the division ever since.
• On August 10^th, Strasburg returned from his first trip to the DL. The Nationals had managed to play well in his absence, and the general consensus was that his return would only add fuel to their hot streak. But after he returned, Strasburg—understandably—struggled, and no one else picked up the slack. They would go on to win just 4 of their next 12 games.
• Later that month, the Nationals were up 5-0 on the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Through 4 innings, Strasburg has fanned 6 batters and was taking care of the Phillies’ lineup with ease. Then, on a 1-1 changeup, Strasburg flinched. He left the game minutes later with a strained flexor tendon (it would later be diagnosed as a torn ligament). How did the Nationals respond? Well, despite winning the game 8-1, Nyjer Morgan engaged in some verbal sparring with a fan in the outfield stands and ended up tossing a baseball into the crowd. As luck would have it, the ball hit someone, and Morgan was suspended for seven games. The Nationals would go on to lose their next four games including three to the Chicago Cubs, whose manager had abruptly retired the weekend before. They were outscored 28-5 in those games, with three of their five runs coming on a bases-clearing double by Adam Kennedy in the ninth inning of the second contest against Chicago. Safe to say, it was a hard stretch for the Nats’ offense.

Manager Jim Riggleman and GM Mike Rizzo have tried to do right by this bunch. In Rizzo’s case, it’s been by adding quality players like catcher Ivan Rodriguez to the clubhouse; in Riggleman’s case, it’s been by always standing up for his players and trying to get them to play to their potential. But there doesn’t seem to be anybody in the locker room who’s willing to rise up and take the lead. Sure, Rodriguez will eventually be in the Hall of Fame and has an impressive resume that more than proves his dedication and fierce competitive nature. But he’s also 38 years-old and in a couple of years will likely be out of baseball. To a certain extent, he’s playing out his time as a veteran on a team that’s trying desperately to manufacture some leadership.

So I’m excluding him from being the one who needs to accept the mantle of “team leader”. I’m referring more to guys like Ryan Zimmerman, Ian Desmond, and Nyjer Morgan, or even the new “face of the franchise” Stephen Strasburg. These are guys who are no doubt outspoken, confident, and talented. They might try their best try to lead by example (though in Morgan’s case, maybe not), but maybe it’s time they had a heart to heart with their teammates to see if they can’t dispel the dark cloud of the “loser mentality” that has settled over Nationals Park. Because if no one steps into that role, then the Washington Nationals franchise will continue to stagnate in the doldrums of the MLB.