{"id":696,"date":"2025-04-09T15:15:47","date_gmt":"2025-04-09T22:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/?p=696"},"modified":"2025-04-09T15:17:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T22:17:19","slug":"2025-ottawa-nationals-a-no-respect-preseason-preview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/?p=696","title":{"rendered":"2025 Ottawa Nationals: A \u201cNo Respect\u201d Preseason Preview"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dangerfield.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"289\" src=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dangerfield.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-697\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dangerfield.jpg 512w, http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/dangerfield-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">This Team is as Serious as a Rodney Dangerfield One Liner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Ottawa Nationals are heading into the 2025 Belted Deep Baseball season feeling a lot like a Rodney Dangerfield routine \u2013&nbsp;<strong>they just get no respect, no respect at all!<\/strong>&nbsp;Despite a solid 88\u201374 record last year and a surprise wildcard berth\u200b, the preseason predictions have them&nbsp;<strong>pegged to finish dead last<\/strong>&nbsp;in the highly competitive Robinson Division. Manager&nbsp;<strong>Dave Barras<\/strong>&nbsp;might need to brush up on his one-liners, because every analyst and their dog is predicting a rough road ahead for his club. The league\u2019s number-crunchers looked at Ottawa\u2019s Team WAR (Wins Above Replacement) and effectively said,&nbsp;<em>\u201cWhat\u2019s the opposite of a WAR? A surrender?\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;In a division full of heavyweights, the Nationals are projected as the featherweight \u2013 and you can bet they\u2019re feeling the lack of respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But hey, with low expectations comes the element of surprise. Ottawa is primed to&nbsp;<strong>embrace the underdog role<\/strong>&nbsp;with a chip on their shoulder (and maybe a chip in their clubhouse snack stash \u2013 it\u2019s a long season, after all). In true Dangerfield fashion, the Nationals are saying,&nbsp;<em>\u201cLast place? We\u2019re honored\u2026 it\u2019s the only place we&nbsp;<strong>can\u2019t<\/strong>&nbsp;fall any lower!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Get ready for a preseason preview that\u2019s equal parts analysis and self-deprecating humor \u2013 the kind of preview where if you laugh, the Nationals might just laugh along to keep from crying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Robinson Division Gauntlet<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Welcome to the&nbsp;<strong>Robinson Division<\/strong>, a veritable gauntlet where even the&nbsp;<strong>basement is a battle<\/strong>. Last year, three of four teams in this division finished at or above .500\u200b, making it one of the toughest houses on the block. The&nbsp;<strong>Bristol Wicketmen<\/strong>&nbsp;are the reigning champs, coming off a 106-win season\u200band a league title (their third)\u200b. Bristol\u2019s so good, even their water boy has a championship ring. When Ottawa visits Bristol, the Nationals might feel like they\u2019re opening for a headliner at Dangerfield\u2019s comedy club \u2013 hoping just to get a polite chuckle while the crowd saves the real applause for the main act. In other words,&nbsp;<strong>Bristol\u2019s roster gets the ovations; Ottawa\u2019s roster gets \u201cbetter luck next time.\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;No respect!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it\u2019s not just Bristol. The&nbsp;<strong>Beaconsfield Pathfinders<\/strong>&nbsp;are no pushovers either \u2013 they finished just shy of .500 last year\u200b&nbsp;and have been reloading to close the gap. Word around the league is that Beaconsfield\u2019s front office spent the winter finding a path to more WAR, while Ottawa spent it wondering if WAR stood for \u201c<strong>We Are Rebuilding<\/strong>.\u201d The Nationals will have to contend with Beaconsfield\u2019s improvements at every turn. Even the&nbsp;<strong>Montreal Menace<\/strong>, who languished at 65\u201397 last year\u200b, are looking to menace the division more seriously now. In fact, some predictions have Montreal climbing out of the cellar \u2013 meaning the one team Ottawa beat in the standings might leapfrog them.&nbsp;<em>Ouch!<\/em>&nbsp;When the last-place team from a year ago is projected to leave you in the dust, you know you\u2019ve got a&nbsp;<strong>tough crowd<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So here sit the Nationals, picked by pundits to finish fourth out of four. The&nbsp;<strong>division outlook<\/strong>&nbsp;reads like a bad joke at Ottawa\u2019s expense:&nbsp;<em>\u201cThe Robinson Division? It\u2019s Bristol and the other guys\u2026 and then the Nationals bringing up the rear.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;The Nats\u2019&nbsp;<strong>Team WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;is reportedly the lowest of the bunch (we hear even the calculators in the front office rolled their eyes). One rival GM allegedly quipped, \u201cOttawa\u2019s WAR? I\u2019ve seen higher numbers on a pH scale.\u201d It\u2019s a brutal assessment. But if you think Dave Barras\u2019 boys are just gonna lie down and accept it, think again. They\u2019re using this lack of respect as bulletin-board material \u2013 literally, they\u2019ve pinned all the grim predictions up in the locker room, right next to Dangerfield\u2019s famous catchphrase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the season kicks off, let\u2019s break down this team \u2013 the bats and the arms \u2013 and see if we can find some hope amid the jokes. After all, the Nationals might be underdogs, but underdogs have a funny way of biting back when least expected (or at least delivering a few punchlines on their way down).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Hitting: Swinging for Respect (and the Fences)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-698\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-1024x683.jpg 1024w, http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-300x200.jpg 300w, http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-768x512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Trea-Turner-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Trea Turner &#8211; a Three Way Threat &#8211; hitting, running and in the field.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Nationals\u2019 lineup in 2025 has more&nbsp;<strong>storylines<\/strong>&nbsp;than a comedy roast. There are genuine bright spots with the bat\u2026 and a few spots as dark as the humor we\u2019re leaning on. Last year, the offense wasn\u2019t terrible \u2013 they scored 773 runs\u200b, which isn\u2019t too shabby \u2013 but consistency was harder to find than a polite umpire in Philly. This year\u2019s hitters are determined to prove they can hang with the division\u2019s best, but they\u2019ll need to address some serious highs and lows. Let\u2019s meet the cast, shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Marcell Ozuna (DH)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The undisputed&nbsp;<strong>powerhouse<\/strong>&nbsp;of Ottawa\u2019s lineup. Ozuna crushed&nbsp;<strong>39 home runs<\/strong>&nbsp;last year\u200b, drove in over 100, and slashed .302\/.378\/.546\u200b, good for a team-best&nbsp;<strong>4.7 WAR<\/strong>\u200b. Those are legit All-Star numbers \u2013 in fact, Ozuna\u2019s bat was so hot, fire departments in Ottawa issued a warning for spontaneous combustion. He\u2019s the kind of guy who can carry an offense on his back. The only problem? Sometimes it feels like he has to carry it&nbsp;<strong>all by himself<\/strong>. As Dangerfield might say, \u201cOzuna\u2019s got power \u2013 he hits moonshots! But with this team\u2019s luck, when he hits a solo homer, even the moon might not acknowledge it.\u201d If anyone in this lineup commands respect, it\u2019s Ozuna\u2026 now if only opposing pitchers would stop intentionally walking him because they don\u2019t fear whoever\u2019s up next.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Trea Turner (SS)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Turner is the Nationals\u2019&nbsp;<strong>spark plug<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 a dynamic leadoff-type star with a rare blend of power and speed. In an injury-shortened campaign (121 games), he still popped&nbsp;<strong>21 homers<\/strong>&nbsp;and swiped&nbsp;<strong>19 bases<\/strong>\u200b, hitting .295 in the process\u200b. That was good for&nbsp;<strong>3.9 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;in roughly 3\/4 of a season\u200b. When healthy, Turner can do it all: hit, run, field, maybe even sell popcorn in the stands between innings. He\u2019s so fast, rumor has it he can steal first base \u2013&nbsp;<em>that\u2019s<\/em>&nbsp;how eager he is to get something started for this team. But here\u2019s the rub: Turner spent a chunk of last year on the shelf, and without him the lineup often looked as lively as a comedy club at 9 AM. Ottawa needs Turner on the field and wreaking havoc. As Dangerfield might put it, \u201cWith Trea\u2019s talent, the Nats have a fighting chance \u2013 but if he takes another mid-season vacation, this offense will be on permanent break!\u201d No respect for a schedule without Turner \u2013 so here\u2019s hoping he\u2019s full-go in 2025.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ian Happ (LF)<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Seiya Suzuki (RF)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The corner outfield duo brings a dose of steady production. Happ quietly put up&nbsp;<strong>25 homers and 13 steals<\/strong>&nbsp;with a .341 OBP\u200b, while Suzuki hit&nbsp;<strong>.283<\/strong>&nbsp;with 21 homers and 16 steals\u200b\u2013 each tallying a solid&nbsp;<strong>3.6 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;last year in their everyday roles (and yes, that\u2019s each)\u200b. In most divisions, a pair of 3.5-WAR outfielders is reason to celebrate. In the Robinson Division, it\u2019s more like \u201cyeah, join the club.\u201d Still, these two are bona fide contributors. Happ is that switch-hitter who\u2019ll take his walks and occasionally ambush a pitcher. Suzuki is a hitting machine \u2013 apparently, he adapted to North American pitching faster than you can say \u201csushi roll.\u201d Together, they form a respectable heart-of-the-order presence behind Turner and Ozuna. But here\u2019s the comedic catch: for all their solid play, neither is a mega-star that scares the daylights out of opponents. They\u2019re the straight men in this lineup\u2019s comedy act \u2013 delivering their lines reliably, even as Ozuna tries for the big laugh (or big fly). Dangerfield might note, \u201cOur outfielders are good, real good \u2013 but when they walk into a bar, they still don\u2019t get asked for autographs.\u201d No respect, I tell ya, even when you\u2019re doing a good job.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Paul Goldschmidt (1B)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Ah, the veteran former MVP. Goldy might as well change his first name to \u201cOldie.\u201d Last year, he hit a pedestrian&nbsp;<strong>.245 with 22 homers<\/strong>\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>and managed a measly&nbsp;<strong>1.1 WAR<\/strong>\u200b. For context, that WAR is roughly one-quarter of his MVP season output \u2013 basically the baseball equivalent of a comedian bombing on a stage where he used to earn standing ovations. At 37, Goldschmidt\u2019s power and consistency seem to be waning. He swiped 11 bags (sneaky!), but let\u2019s be real \u2013 the Nats didn\u2019t bring him in for his base running. They need his bat to show more life than it did. Perhaps he\u2019s got one more big year left in him; if not, Ottawa\u2019s offense could suffer. As Dangerfield might crack, \u201cGoldschmidt\u2019s not over the hill, but he\u2019s checking out real estate on the other side. Last year he looked so slow, when he hit a double, they timed him with a calendar.\u201d Okay, that\u2019s exaggeration \u2013 but the Nats&nbsp;<em>do<\/em>&nbsp;need Goldy to find some vintage form. He\u2019s supposed to be a respected elder statesman anchoring the infield; another year like 2024 and even&nbsp;<em>he<\/em>&nbsp;will be saying he gets no respect (from Father Time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Rhys Hoskins (DH\/1B)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 In theory, a right-handed power bat to complement Goldschmidt. In practice, Hoskins hit just&nbsp;<strong>.214<\/strong>&nbsp;last season\u200b\u2013 yes, that\u2019s below the Mendoza line plus your weekly sales tax. He did slug 26 homers\u200b, proving that when he connects, the ball can go a long way. Unfortunately, making contact was an issue. With only 0.1 WAR to show for his efforts\u200b, Hoskins was basically replacement-level \u2013 and that\u2019s&nbsp;<em>without<\/em>&nbsp;playing the field (where he might do even more damage\u2026 to his own team). One might joke that Hoskins\u2019 batting average was so low, even his on-base percentage (.303) barely beat out Ottawa\u2019s winter temperatures. If he doesn\u2019t improve, Dave Barras might deploy him as a very expensive pinch-hitter or a platoon option. Dangerfield would surely sympathize: \u201cRhys Hoskins struck out so much, when he walked past a construction site, the jackhammers got jealous.\u201d The Nationals need Hoskins to rediscover his mojo, or at least hit enough dingers that we forget about the whiffs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Brendan Donovan (2B)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 A bright spot of consistency. Donovan hit&nbsp;<strong>.278<\/strong>&nbsp;and got on base at a .342 clip\u200b, tallying a healthy&nbsp;<strong>3.2 WAR<\/strong>\u200b&nbsp;thanks to solid all-around play. He\u2019s not a flashy name, but he might be the&nbsp;<strong>unsung hero<\/strong>&nbsp;of this infield \u2013 a guy who can hit a bit, field multiple positions, and grind out at-bats. In a lineup full of feast-or-famine types, Donovan is like a nice reliable side dish that compliments the meal. (Think of him as the mashed potatoes that keep the fancy steak dinner from being just steak.) He even chipped in 14 homers, proving he\u2019s not just a slap hitter. The Nationals will take all the steadiness they can get, and Donovan provides that. Of course, in keeping with our theme: he\u2019s quietly effective, which means outside Ottawa he gets about as much respect as a backup singer. But inside the clubhouse, they know his value. As Dangerfield might say, \u201cDonovan\u2019s so under-the-radar, radar guns don\u2019t even pick him up at the airport \u2013 but he gets the job done, and on this team, we respect that even if no one else does.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ozzie Albies (2B)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Splitting time at second and DH, Albies had an injury-shortened year (99 games). He hit .251 with 10 homers\u200b&nbsp;and posted 1.3 WAR\u200b, far below what he\u2019s capable of when healthy. Albies is usually a firecracker \u2013 a switch-hitter with pop and speed. Ottawa traded for him hoping for some All-Star caliber play, but so far they\u2019ve gotten more&nbsp;<strong>\u201couch\u201d than \u201cwow.\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;If Albies can stay on the field and regain form, he\u2019s a difference-maker atop or in the middle of the lineup. If not, the Nats essentially have a part-time spark plug that sparks only on occasion. One can imagine Barras pleading, \u201cOzzie, we need you out there!\u201d in the same tone Dangerfield would use to ask for a break.&nbsp;<em>\u201cLast year Albies spent more time on the IL than on base \u2013 no respect for my health,\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;Ozzie might say. Ottawa is crossing fingers that 2025 is a bounce-back year for him, because an in-form Albies plus Donovan would actually make second base a strength.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Catching Committee (Austin Wells, Yainer Diaz, J.T. Realmuto)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 How many catchers does it take to get respect? Ottawa is apparently trying three.&nbsp;<strong>Austin Wells<\/strong>&nbsp;(youngster with pop),&nbsp;<strong>Yainer Diaz<\/strong>&nbsp;(hit .299 last year\u200b), and&nbsp;<strong>J.T. Realmuto<\/strong>&nbsp;(veteran star, hit .266 with 14 HR\u200b&nbsp;in a half season) are all on the roster. It\u2019s an unusual embarrassment of riches behind the plate \u2013 collectively the trio produced&nbsp;<strong>over 8 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;last year (Wells 3.4, Diaz 3.0, Realmuto 2.0)\u200b, which is outstanding. The Nationals effectively have two starting-caliber catchers and a solid prospect. The plan: mix-and-match to keep them fresh, maybe use one at DH occasionally, and ride the hot hand. The reality: carrying three catchers is a luxury, and Ottawa might trade from this depth if they need help elsewhere. But for now, Barras is happy to have options. As Dangerfield would joke, \u201cWe got so many catchers, even our pitchers are asking if they can take a day off from throwing to all of them!\u201d Or,&nbsp;<em>\u201cIf you have two catchers, you have none \u2013 so we got three just to be safe.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;The hope is that this catching carousel gives Ottawa an edge most teams don\u2019t enjoy. At the very least, when it comes to respect, our catchers demand it \u2013 opposing runners will think twice before stealing, and opposing pitchers know these guys can hit a bit. It\u2019s the rest of the squad that needs to catch up (no pun intended).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Third Base (Ryan McMahon &amp; Ernie Clement)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Over at the hot corner, the Nationals have a timeshare.&nbsp;<strong>Ryan McMahon<\/strong>&nbsp;brings a lefty power bat (20 HR) and solid glove\u200b, but with a .242 average and 1.9 WAR, he was more league-average than league-leading\u200b.&nbsp;<strong>Ernie Clement<\/strong>&nbsp;is the utility man extraordinaire \u2013 listed at both 3B and SS on the depth chart, doing whatever is asked. He actually surprised with 12 homers and a .263 average, notching&nbsp;<strong>2.2 WAR<\/strong>\u200b&nbsp;in 139 games of do-it-all duty. In fact, Clement was so versatile the team practically cloned him to cover two positions at once (hence his stats appearing twice in the media guide). Third base isn\u2019t a black hole for Ottawa, but it\u2019s also not a glowing strength. It\u2019s more of a 60-watt bulb: it\u2019ll shed some light, just not enough to illuminate the whole room. Dangerfield might riff, \u201cAt third we got McMahon and Clement splitting time. McMahon\u2019s the power guy \u2013 when he hits one out, fans call it a McBlast. Clement\u2019s the utility guy \u2013 when he gets a hit, fans call it a miracle. Together they\u2019re a decent pair, but I asked if either could pitch in relief and they told me to go take a hike. No respect for a manager\u2019s creativity!\u201d All kidding aside, this duo should be serviceable. Just don\u2019t expect an MVP campaign from third base in Ottawa this year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Center Field (Parker Meadows &amp; Lourdes Gurriel Jr.)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Center field looks like a platoon or a work in progress.&nbsp;<strong>Parker Meadows<\/strong>&nbsp;is a youngster who in 82 games showed flashes (9 HR, 9 SB, decent defense) and totaled 2.2 WAR\u200b.&nbsp;<strong>Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/strong>, typically a corner outfielder, logged time in center as well, hitting .279 with 18 HR and matching 2.2 WAR over 133 games\u200b. Neither is a traditional star center fielder, and deploying Gurriel in center is a bit like asking Rodney Dangerfield to do Shakespeare \u2013 you can try it, but it might not be his best role. The Nationals might rotate these two based on matchups or hot streaks. Meadows, a lefty hitter, could take the strong side of a platoon, with Gurriel playing against left-handed pitchers and filling in across the outfield. The combined production should be respectable, but again, look around the division: other teams might have established stars in center. Ottawa has a kid finding his way and a veteran playing a bit out of position. You can practically hear Dangerfield:&nbsp;<em>\u201cWe got two guys for center field \u2013 one\u2019s a rookie and one\u2019s playing out of position. If you put \u2019em together, you almost get one complete player. I\u2019m tellin\u2019 ya, it\u2019s tough!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;On the plus side, both guys are capable of exceeding expectations; on the minus side, if they slump, center field could become a revolving door.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bench Brigade<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Ottawa\u2019s bench actually has some intriguing pieces, even if a couple might induce eye-rolls.&nbsp;<strong>Garrett Mitchell<\/strong>&nbsp;(OF) hit .255 with 8 HR and 11 SB in limited action\u200b, good for 1.8 WAR \u2013 that\u2019s a great sign for a young player in 69 games.&nbsp;<strong>Luis Rengifo<\/strong>&nbsp;(utility INF) also impressed, batting .300 with 6 HR and 24 SB in half a season\u200b(1.4 WAR), showing off a nice mix of contact and speed. These two are the kind of bench players who could start on some teams. If injuries strike (and with this team, they often do), Mitchell and Rengifo can step in without Ottawa completely punting a win. Now for the lighter side:&nbsp;<strong>Alec Burleson<\/strong>&nbsp;got a full season of at-bats (595 PAs) and hit .269 with 21 HR\u200b, but only managed 0.6 WAR \u2013 suggesting his defense or situational hitting dragged him down.&nbsp;<strong>Jo Adell<\/strong>, once a hyped prospect, hit 20 homers in 130 games\u2026 and still put up just 0.1 WAR thanks to a .207 average and tons of strikeouts. And then there\u2019s&nbsp;<strong>Nolan Jones<\/strong>, another prospect with power who struggled mightily: .227 average, only 3 HR in 79 games, and a&nbsp;<strong>-0.8 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;boat anchor. Ouch. If Adell and Jones continue to flail, they\u2019ll be giving&nbsp;<em>negative<\/em>&nbsp;value \u2013 it\u2019s like they\u2019re paying back the WAR they owe to the baseball gods. Dangerfield\u2019s voice echoes:&nbsp;<em>\u201cOur bench has potential, but let me tell you, potential can get you fired. One guy hit under .210 \u2013 I\u2019ve seen better batting averages on my golf scorecard! Another guy had negative WAR \u2013 when he entered the game, we were literally&nbsp;<strong>worse off<\/strong>. No respect, no respect at all.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;In all seriousness, Ottawa will need the bench to step up when called upon, especially if veterans get hurt. If Mitchell and Rengifo build on last year, that\u2019s a big plus. If Adell or Jones finally figure it out, even better. If not\u2026 well, the starters better stay healthy, or those last place predictions might become reality in a hurry.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To sum up the offense:&nbsp;<strong>there\u2019s talent here, but it\u2019s uneven<\/strong>. The Nationals have power (Ozuna, Hoskins, even Happ and Suzuki), they have a bit of speed (Turner, Albies, Rengifo), and they have some high-average hitters in spots (Turner, Diaz, Ozuna). What they lack is the intimidating top-to-bottom depth that, say, the Bristol Wicketmen boast. Ottawa\u2019s lineup is more like a rollercoaster: thrilling highs and stomach-turning lows. On any given day, they could mash 5 homers and score 10 runs, or they could strike out 15 times and look lost. The inconsistency is what worries prognosticators \u2013 and fuels the \u201cno respect\u201d narrative. If the Nationals want to shock the world (or at least the division), they\u2019ll need a lot of those question-mark players to step up and deliver. As Dangerfield would say, \u201cOur bats need to wake up \u2013 last year some guys slept so much at the plate, I thought we were sponsored by a mattress company!\u201d The potential for a solid offense is there, but potential doesn\u2019t win games. The Nats have to turn that potential into performance, or they\u2019ll be the punchline of the Robinson Division again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pitching: Arms Searching for a Little Respect<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/valdez.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/valdez.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-699\" srcset=\"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/valdez.jpeg 720w, http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/valdez-300x169.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Valdez makes it all look too easy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If the offense is a comedy of errors at times, the&nbsp;<strong>pitching staff<\/strong>&nbsp;might be the drama \u2013 with moments of heroics, occasional tragedy (looking at you, injury bug), and a whole lot of heavy lifting. Ottawa\u2019s pitchers actually performed admirably last season, allowing a reasonable number of runs (738 runs against) compared to their peers\u200b. In fact, one could argue the pitching&nbsp;<em>carried<\/em>&nbsp;the team to that 88-win mark. The rotation and bullpen combined for around&nbsp;<strong>27 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;(18.4 from starters\u200b&nbsp;and 8.8 from relievers\u200b), which is nothing to sneeze at. Yet here, too, the Nationals get very little respect \u2013 perhaps because the names aren\u2019t all household names, or because pundits think this staff can\u2019t repeat those performances. Let\u2019s break down the arms, with a healthy dose of humor to keep things light:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Starting Rotation \u2013 The Five (or Seven) Horsemen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ottawa plans to open with a&nbsp;<strong>five-man rotation<\/strong>, but realistically they have about&nbsp;<strong>seven guys<\/strong>&nbsp;penciled in \u2013 because, as we all know, pitchers tend to break like cheap pencils. Here\u2019s the crew:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Framber Valdez (LHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The&nbsp;<strong>ace<\/strong>&nbsp;and workhorse. Valdez put up a sterling 15\u20137 record with a&nbsp;<strong>2.91 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;over 176 innings\u200b, compiling&nbsp;<strong>3.6 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;in just 28 starts\u200b&nbsp;(he likely missed a few starts due to a minor injury or skipped turns). Framber is the real deal \u2013 a groundball machine, keeps the ball in the park, strikes out enough guys, and goes deep into games. In a division full of scary aces, Valdez can hold his own. When he\u2019s on the mound, the Nationals actually&nbsp;<em>do<\/em>&nbsp;get some respect \u2013 you can almost hear the opposing announcers saying, \u201cTonight might be tough, Framber\u2019s pitching.\u201d The only concern is keeping him healthy and not overworked. Dangerfield might quip, \u201cValdez is our ace. He\u2019s so tough, when he pitches, even our own fielders take a break \u2013 they know he\u2019s got it under control. With our offense, the poor guy has to hold teams to 2 runs or fewer. That\u2019s a lot of pressure, but Framber\u2019s cool \u2013 I haven\u2019t seen a lefty this calm since I tried meditation to stop worrying about our lineup.\u201d Ottawa will count on Valdez to be the&nbsp;<strong>stopper<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 losing streak? Send out Framber to end it. If he repeats last year, the Nats have at least one rock to build on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reynaldo L\u00f3pez (RHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Perhaps the most&nbsp;<strong>surprising story<\/strong>&nbsp;of Ottawa\u2019s staff. A converted reliever, L\u00f3pez stepped into a starting role and absolutely dazzled:&nbsp;<strong>1.99 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;over ~135 innings, with a 9.8 K\/9 rate\u200b, racking up&nbsp;<strong>3.5 WAR<\/strong>\u200b. Those numbers are ace-like, and yet if you ask casual fans about Reynaldo L\u00f3pez, they\u2019ll go \u201cWho? The White Sox reliever?\u201d Yes,&nbsp;<em>that<\/em>&nbsp;guy \u2013 apparently rebranded as a dominant starter in this universe. Is it sustainable? The Nationals sure hope so. L\u00f3pez basically gave Ottawa a second ace-level performance last year, which they\u2019ll need again to navigate this brutal division. Of course, the Dangerfield in us has to poke fun: \u201cL\u00f3pez was so good, I asked if he could hit, too. With that 1.99 ERA, we wanted to clone him. Heck, I haven\u2019t seen a transformation like that since my cousin Lou lost 200 pounds on a bet. But can he do it again? The way our luck runs, I\u2019m half-expecting him to show up throwing underhand this year.\u201d Jokes aside, keep an eye on L\u00f3pez \u2013 if he even comes close to last year\u2019s form\u200b, the top of this rotation becomes a legitimate strength.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Zac Gallen (RHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The bona fide #3 starter, though on many teams he\u2019d be a #1 or #2. Gallen went 14\u20136 with a solid&nbsp;<strong>3.65 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;in 28 starts\u200b, tallying about&nbsp;<strong>2.8 WAR<\/strong>\u200b. He\u2019s a control artist with a wicked curveball and a competitive streak. If not for a mid-season slump that inflated his ERA, his numbers would look even better. Ottawa acquired Gallen to be a front-line guy, and he largely delivered, though perhaps not quite to his own high standards (we\u2019ve seen him contend for Cy Youngs elsewhere). In Dangerfield terms: \u201cGallen\u2019s a great arm \u2013 he\u2019s got more pitches than a used car salesman. He had a few rough outings, sure, but who wouldn\u2019t, carrying this team\u2019s expectations? I told the guy, Zac, you keep pitchin\u2019 like that and we might name a holiday after you in Ottawa. He said, \u2018How about you name an offense after me instead?\u2019 Tough crowd, tough crowd\u2026\u201d Gallen gives the Nationals a terrific #3 \u2013 if he\u2019s your third-best starter, your rotation is in decent shape. The key will be keeping him consistent. If Gallen can avoid those occasional blow-ups and maybe cut that ERA down closer to 3.00, the Nats might have the&nbsp;<strong>best trio of starters<\/strong>&nbsp;in the league. That\u2019s a big ask, but the talent is there.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sean Manaea (LHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The comeback kid. Manaea had a renaissance of sorts, posting a 12\u20136 record with a&nbsp;<strong>3.47 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;over a team-high 181 innings\u200b, good for&nbsp;<strong>2.8 WAR<\/strong>\u200b. Not bad for a guy who had some tough years prior. He reinvented himself by mixing speeds and relying on guile as much as power. The tall lefty became a reliable innings-eater \u2013 think of him as the&nbsp;<strong>steady hand<\/strong>&nbsp;at the back of the rotation. Every fifth day, Manaea will give you 5-6 serviceable innings and keep you in the game. For Ottawa, that\u2019s invaluable, especially given some of the volatility elsewhere. Dangerfield might say, \u201cManaea\u2019s so steady, I fall asleep by the third inning \u2013 in a good way! He\u2019s like comfort food, nothing too spicy, just gets the job done. Of course, with our run support, sometimes even a quality start gets you a no-decision. The guy went 12\u20136, and I bet he had another 6 no-decisions where he left with the score tied 2-2.\u201d In short, Manaea is the kind of veteran presence every underdog team needs: unspectacular but solid. He\u2019ll need to maintain that form, because any regression could leave a big hole. But given his track record and last year\u2019s results, cautious optimism is warranted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gavin Stone (RHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 The rookie in the mix. Stone went 11\u20135 with a&nbsp;<strong>3.53 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;in 25 starts\u200b, notching&nbsp;<strong>2.0 WAR<\/strong>\u200b&nbsp;in what I believe was his debut season. Those are&nbsp;<strong>excellent numbers for a rookie<\/strong>, suggesting the 24-year-old more than held his own. Stone is known for a devastating changeup and poise beyond his years. However, youth can be fickle \u2013 he had a lower inning count (around 140 IP\u200b), implying the team managed his workload or he spent some time in the minors. As the presumed #5 starter, Stone will be tasked with proving last year wasn\u2019t a fluke. Sophomore slump? The Nationals can\u2019t afford it. They need him to keep rolling. Cue Dangerfield: \u201cThis kid Stone, I like him \u2013 mostly because at his age, he doesn\u2019t know any better. He just goes out and pitches, blissfully unaware that he\u2019s on a team everyone\u2019s picking to finish last. That innocence is beautiful! I saw him reading a preseason magazine and I yanked it away \u2013 I said, \u2018Kid, don\u2019t read that garbage. You\u2019re doing great.\u2019 We gotta protect his confidence, you know?\u201d In all seriousness, Stone is a reason for genuine optimism in Ottawa. If he continues to develop, the rotation\u2019s depth gets that much better. Just don\u2019t put too much pressure on the kid \u2013 he\u2019s got four veterans ahead of him for that.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Yoshinobu Yamamoto (RHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 In today\u2019s MLB (and BDB) you often need more than five starters. Enter Yamamoto, the Japanese phenom who made 18 starts for Ottawa after a mid-season call-up, going 7\u20132 with a&nbsp;<strong>3.00 ERA<\/strong>\u200b. He struck out hitters at a high clip (10.5 K\/9) and amassed&nbsp;<strong>2.8 WAR<\/strong>&nbsp;in half a season\u2019s work\u200b. Those numbers scream \u201cthis guy could be in the rotation full-time.\u201d Indeed, Yamamoto might push someone like Stone for the #5 spot, or step in if any starter falters or gets hurt. The Nationals are thrilled to have him \u2013 he\u2019s an ace in the making, with a dazzling array of pitches and impeccable control. The only question is how to fit him in. It\u2019s a good problem to have (for once, a&nbsp;<em>good<\/em>&nbsp;problem!). As Dangerfield might say, \u201cWe got this Yamamoto fella \u2013 came over from Japan and started mowing down hitters like he was Godzilla and they were Tokyo. The guy\u2019s legit. In fact, he was so good, I tried to hide one of our other pitchers on the injured list just to keep him around. With our luck, though, he\u2019ll end up too good and Bristol will buy him off us! No respect for small-market teams, I tell ya.\u201d Keep an eye on Yoshi (can we call him Yoshi?) \u2013 he could be a game-changer for Ottawa if he gets a chance to throw a full season.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jacob deGrom (RHP)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Yes,&nbsp;<em>that<\/em>&nbsp;Jacob deGrom. The legend made a brief cameo, 3 starts (10.2 innings) with a&nbsp;<strong>1.69 ERA<\/strong>\u200b&nbsp;before, presumably, his arm fell off (as unfortunately has become custom). He contributed 0.4 WAR in those 10 innings\u200b, which tells you how brilliant he is when available. Ottawa took a flyer on deGrom hoping to catch lightning in a bottle; instead, they caught a thunderstorm of doctor\u2019s visits. Still, whispers say deGrom might attempt another comeback late this season. It\u2019s a longshot, but if he somehow returned even for 5-6 starts at the end, it could provide a boost (or at least an emotional lift). The realistic view: anything from deGrom is gravy. Or as Dangerfield would frame it: \u201cWe signed deGrom, he got hurt \u2013 big surprise. That guy\u2019s UCL is made of tissue paper at this point. When he pitched those 10 innings for us, I wept \u2013 tears of joy and pain, because I knew it wouldn\u2019t last. I said, \u2018Jake, you got the best arm in baseball \u2013 please don\u2019t detach it.\u2019 Next thing I know, he\u2019s on the surgeon\u2019s table. No respect for my wishes, that elbow.\u201d You gotta feel for deGrom and the Nationals; it was a worthwhile gamble that went about as expected. They\u2019ll survive without him, but man, imagine if they had a healthy deGrom to add to this mix \u2013 talk about not being last place then!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Others<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 One more name to mention is&nbsp;<strong>Sean Burke<\/strong>, a young righty who made a few spot starts (19 innings, 1.42 ERA\u200b\u2013 yes, absurdly good in a tiny sample). He\u2019s depth in case of emergencies, and his brief showing (0.4 WAR)\u200bturned heads. And let\u2019s not forget that Ottawa\u2019s farm might have a prospect or two waiting in the wings if disaster strikes. In a long season,&nbsp;<strong>depth is key<\/strong>, and the Nats have at least&nbsp;<em>some<\/em>&nbsp;arms they can call upon.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, this rotation could quietly be one of the better units in the league. Seriously. Valdez-Lopez-Gallen-Manaea-Stone (with Yamamoto chomping at the bit) is a solid crew, even if it doesn\u2019t have the name recognition of some rivals. The projections might doubt that Lopez can repeat a sub-2.00 ERA, or that Stone and Yamamoto can keep excelling, but if the Nationals have any hope of beating the disrespect allegations, it starts with these starters. They need to keep games close, because the offense, as we detailed, might not always show up. In the Robinson Division, you\u2019re regularly facing lineups like Bristol\u2019s (which likely features juggernauts \u2013 probably some 40-homer guys and high OBPs over there). The Nationals\u2019 starters have to bring their A-game every night. No off days against division foes, or they\u2019ll get pummeled. It\u2019s a tough task, but this group has the talent to hold its own. As Dangerfield might encourage them:&nbsp;<em>\u201cHang in there, fellas \u2013 strike \u2019em out quick and maybe the other team won\u2019t notice who they\u2019re losing to.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;That\u2019s one way to earn some respect, sneaky as it may be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Bullpen \u2013 High-Voltage Closers and Middle-Relief Blues<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After the starters do their thing (and pray for a lead), it\u2019s up to the&nbsp;<strong>bullpen<\/strong>&nbsp;to seal the deal. Bullpens are notoriously finicky \u2013 one year you\u2019re lights out, next year you\u2019re on fire (and not in a good way). The Nationals\u2019 bullpen in 2024 was actually pretty strong, compiling about 8.8 WAR\u200b&nbsp;collectively. They had a mix of veterans and young fireballers that often kept games in check. Will that continue in 2025? The Nats sure hope so, because blown leads are something an underdog simply can\u2019t afford. Let\u2019s break down the key relievers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Mason Miller (RHP, Closer)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;<strong>Remember this name.<\/strong>&nbsp;Miller burst onto the scene as Ottawa\u2019s closer and racked up&nbsp;<strong>28 saves<\/strong>&nbsp;with a sparkling&nbsp;<strong>2.49 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;in 55 appearances\u200b. He also struck out the world (14.4 K\/9)\u200b. Not too shabby for a rookie who many thought was a starting pitching prospect. The Nationals said, \u201cKid, we need a closer,\u201d and he obliged, turning the 9th inning into his personal playground. Miller\u2019s fastball can hit 100+ mph \u2013 rumor has it, one of his pitches hasn\u2019t landed yet. He was so dominant that poor&nbsp;<strong>Edwin D\u00edaz<\/strong>, the would-be closer, got relegated to middle relief (more on him in a sec). Miller enters 2025 as the locked-in closer, and he\u2019s one big reason Ottawa might&nbsp;<strong>overachieve<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 if they can just hand him a lead, he usually keeps it. Of course, closers are an eccentric bunch. Miller is still very young, so there\u2019s always the worry of a sophomore jinx. As Dangerfield might joke, \u201cOur closer\u2019s a kid named Mason \u2013 he\u2019s so good, when he walks into a bar (not that he\u2019s old enough), batters just leave. But I tell ya, with our team\u2019s luck, the one night he gives up a run, we\u2019ll have scored zero. No respect for a 0.50 ERA if the offense can\u2019t score 1.\u201d The Nats will be leaning heavily on Mason \u201cLights Out\u201d Miller to slam the door when it matters. If he repeats last year\u200b, the 9th inning will be a rare stress-free experience for Ottawa fans\u2026 assuming the first 8 innings went well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Edwin D\u00edaz (RHP, Setup\/Middle)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Yes,&nbsp;<em>the<\/em>&nbsp;Edwin D\u00edaz of trumpet-blaring fame. Ottawa acquired D\u00edaz (perhaps mid-season) expecting a&nbsp;<strong>shutdown closer<\/strong>. He did log&nbsp;<strong>20 saves<\/strong>\u200b&nbsp;and struck out 14.1 per 9, but an unfortunate 3.52 ERA and maybe a bout of wildness (3.4 BB\/9)\u200b&nbsp;led to him being replaced by Mason Miller as the closer. By season\u2019s end, D\u00edaz was pitching in the 7th and 8th as a high-leverage fireman, rather than exclusively closing. It\u2019s a bit of a blow to the ego for one of MLB\u2019s top closers, but to his credit, D\u00edaz still contributed a respectable 1.1 WAR\u200b&nbsp;in 54 innings and embraced the team role. Heading into 2025, D\u00edaz forms a&nbsp;<strong>two-headed monster<\/strong>&nbsp;at the back of the bullpen with Miller. If the Nationals have a lead after 6, they can go D\u00edaz in the 7th-8th, Miller in the 9th \u2013 shortening games, just like the big boys do. That\u2019s the theory, anyway. D\u00edaz will want to reclaim some glory, and he\u2019s certainly got the talent to do it. In a way, Ottawa having him as a setup man is an enviable luxury. Dangerfield might spin it as: \u201cWe got Edwin D\u00edaz setting up \u2013 that\u2019s like having a Lamborghini to go get groceries. Sure, it\u2019s overkill, but who\u2019s complaining? Of course, with our luck, we\u2019ll pull out of the lot and get a flat tire. Hopefully D\u00edaz\u2019s knee holds up better than my last punchline.\u201d The reference, of course, is to D\u00edaz\u2019s freak injury in the 2023 WBC (in real life). If healthy and effective, D\u00edaz plus Miller could be one of the league\u2019s best late-inning combos \u2013 giving Ottawa a fighting chance to lock down wins.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Robert Garcia (LHP, Setup)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Garcia was a workhorse, appearing in 72 games last year\u200b. As a lefty, he\u2019s the go-to guy for tough left-handed hitters, but he actually handled full innings just fine. He posted a 4.22 ERA\u200b, which is a bit high (perhaps a few bad outings skewed it), but also struck out over 11 per 9 and compiled 1.5 WAR\u200b. So clearly, in many outings he was effective. Garcia\u2019s role is likely as a 7th-inning bridge or situational arm when a big lefty bat from Bristol comes up in the 6th with men on base. You need those guys to navigate the heart of opposing orders. Dangerfield\u2019s take: \u201cGarcia\u2019s our lefty specialist. He\u2019s so tough on lefties, he makes them wish they were switch-hitters. But sometimes he had trouble with righties \u2013 they hit him like he insulted their mother. I told Robert, maybe wear a disguise when a righty\u2019s up. No respect, these right-handed batters.\u201d If Garcia can trim that ERA down (perhaps avoid facing too many righties in critical spots), he\u2019ll be a key cog. Every good bullpen needs balance, and he provides the southpaw element in Ottawa\u2019s late innings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Osvaldo Bido (RHP, Middle Relief)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Bido split time between starting and relief (16 games, 9 starts)\u200b, but looks to slot into the bullpen mix full-time now. He put up a solid 3.41 ERA in 63.1 innings\u200b&nbsp;with 9.0 K\/9 and 1.4 WAR. Bido is one of those unsung arms who doesn\u2019t get much publicity but quietly helps a team win. He can go multiple innings if needed, making him a useful&nbsp;<strong>long relief or swingman<\/strong>&nbsp;option. And if one of the starters hits the IL, Bido can spot start in a pinch. His flexibility is his value. In comedic terms: \u201cBido? He\u2019s our jack-of-all-trades. Start, relieve, mop-up, high-leverage, he\u2019ll do it. I asked him if he could sell peanuts in the stands on off days \u2013 I think he considered it. The guy\u2019s hungry to stay in the bigs. You gotta respect that\u2026 because no one outside our clubhouse will!\u201d Look for Bido in the middle innings when the starter exits early, or whenever there\u2019s a need for a groundball double play \u2013 he has the stuff to get one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jared Koenig (LHP, Long\/Middle)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Another lefty, Koenig pitched 62 innings over 55 appearances\u200b, often as a long man or low-leverage reliever, but he was sneakily excellent:&nbsp;<strong>2.47 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;and 0.9 WAR\u200b. When you have a long man with a sub-2.50 ERA, that\u2019s a blessing. It means when games got out of hand or a starter got knocked out early, Koenig came in and quietly put out fires, saving the rest of the pen. He even made a spot start or two (1 start recorded\u200b). Koenig\u2019s not going to grab headlines, but he\u2019s like the relief equivalent of Brendan Donovan \u2013 steady, unheralded, effective. Dangerfield line: \u201cKoenig\u2019s ERA was 2.47. I saw that and said, \u2018Why aren\u2019t you pitching more often?!\u2019 Then I remembered, he usually comes in when we\u2019re either up or down big. Maybe we should only play blowouts. Hey, at least we win the games where nothing\u2019s on the line!\u201d The Nats will hope Koenig can repeat his magic as a reliable plug-the-gap guy. Having two lefties (Garcia and Koenig) with good arms is a nice asset in a division with some tough left-handed hitters on opposing teams.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Robert Suarez (RHP, Long Relief)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Suarez was once pegged as a closer candidate for the Padres; in Ottawa, he found a home as a long reliever. He threw 65 innings across 65 games\u200b&nbsp;(lots of one-inning outings), notching a strong&nbsp;<strong>2.77 ERA<\/strong>&nbsp;and 0.9 WAR\u200b. He also led the team with 36 \u201csomething\u201d \u2013 likely innings or games finished, hard to tell from the stat line, but possibly he was used to finish games that weren\u2019t save situations. Essentially, Suarez was the guy for the 6th or 7th inning when the team was behind or occasionally to eat the last inning of a loss. And he did that job exceedingly well. Every bullpen needs a couple of these low-ego, high-effectiveness dudes. Suarez is 32, a veteran who just goes out and competes. He doesn\u2019t have the closer glory here, but he\u2019s contributing. Dangerfield-esque: \u201cSuarez is so under-the-radar, when he finishes a game, sometimes the stadium crew doesn\u2019t realize the game\u2019s over. He\u2019s Mr. Invisible in a good way \u2013 he sneaks in, gets three outs, and sneaks out. I tried to give him a compliment once, and he ducked because he thought it was a line drive. Talk about focused!\u201d If Ottawa ends up surprisingly good, people will look back and notice guys like Suarez who kept them in games that could have gotten away.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jacob Webb (RHP, Middle)<\/strong>&nbsp;\u2013 Webb was another middle reliever, 60 games, around 56.2 innings, with a 3.02 ERA\u200b. He walked a few too many (4.3 BB\/9)\u200b, but managed to wiggle out of trouble often enough to post 0.6 WAR. Essentially, Webb is depth in that middle-relief corps \u2013 not as flashy as Miller or D\u00edaz, but capable of handling the 6th inning or bridging to the late guys. Ottawa might use him when they\u2019re trailing by a run or two to keep it close, hoping the offense can rally. Comedy take: \u201cWebb\u2019s got an appropriate name \u2013 sometimes he weaves a web of walks and strikeouts so tangled you don\u2019t know what\u2019s happening, but next thing you know he left with a zero on the board. I tell him, less drama is fine by us. My heart can\u2019t take bases-loaded jams every other outing. He told me, \u2018Skip, that\u2019s just how I roll.\u2019 These guys, no respect for my blood pressure!\u201d Webb will need to keep those walks down lest he tempt fate once too often. But as the 7th or 8th man in the pen, you could do worse.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In summary, the&nbsp;<strong>Nationals\u2019 bullpen<\/strong>&nbsp;might actually be the secret sauce that keeps them in the fight. With Mason Miller and Edwin D\u00edaz anchoring the late innings, and a posse of solid arms (Garcia, Bido, Koenig, Suarez, Webb) covering the middle, Ottawa can shorten games and not worry if the starter goes only 5 or 6. In fact, this bullpen might be one of the better ones in the league on paper \u2013 certainly top half. The issue, of course, is giving them leads to protect. Too often last year, these guys pitched well only to see the effort wasted in a 3-2 loss because the offense couldn\u2019t get over the hump. If the lineup can just be league-average, the pitching staff \u2013 both starters and relievers \u2013 might steal some wins and upset some contenders. The Nationals are banking on that formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Dangerfield might sum it up, in a way only he can:&nbsp;<em>\u201cOur pitching\u2019s got talent, no doubt. The starters, the bullpen \u2013 they\u2019re like a bunch of comedians delivering solid sets. But if the headliner (the offense) bombs, the whole show still stinks. These poor pitchers, they\u2019re throwing gems and getting nothing to show for it. I took the staff out for dinner after one tough loss \u2013 the restaurant gave&nbsp;them&nbsp;a free dessert out of pity. Even the chef knows they get no run support, no respect!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Conclusion: Hoping to Have the Last Laugh<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 Ottawa Nationals know the world is picking on them. They\u2019ve read the previews (heck, you\u2019re reading one now) and seen the predictions:&nbsp;<strong>last place in the Robinson Division, bottom of the barrel, the team nobody believes in.&nbsp;<\/strong>It\u2019s basically a giant bulletin-board material buffet. Instead of whining, the Nationals are leaning into it \u2013 much like Rodney Dangerfield leaned into his \u201cno respect\u201d persona and turned it into comedy gold. The clubhouse has embraced the underdog mindset. Dave Barras is cracking jokes at press conferences, saying things like \u201cWell, when you\u2019re predicted last, there\u2019s nowhere to go but up \u2013 unless they start inventing new places below last!\u201d The players are loose, having fun with it, but make no mistake, they\u2019re&nbsp;<strong>motivated to prove people wrong<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What would \u201cproving people wrong\u201d look like? In an ideal world, it\u2019s&nbsp;<strong>competing for a playoff spot again<\/strong>. Maybe Bristol is too strong to topple for the division crown \u2013 they are the defending champs and a juggernaut \u2013 but the Nationals could chase another wildcard. They did it last year, why not again? For that to happen, a lot needs to go right: the lineup needs consistency and health (Turner playing 150+ games, Goldy finding a fountain of youth, Ozuna staying hot, one of the young guys like Adell\/Jones breaking out or a trade bringing in reinforcements). The rotation needs Lopez to prove he\u2019s not a one-hit wonder, and the kids (Stone\/Yamamoto) to avoid regression. The bullpen needs to remain a strength, and maybe even steal a couple wins on their own. It\u2019s a tall order, yes. That\u2019s why most are skeptical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But here\u2019s a twist: sometimes teams with a chip on their shoulder come out swinging (literally and figuratively). The Nationals might relish being overlooked. If they get off to a decent start, watch the narrative shift from laughter to&nbsp;<em>\u201cWait a minute, these guys aren\u2019t that bad.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;And wouldn\u2019t that be something? The Ottawa Nationals turning the joke around on everyone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In classic Dangerfield style, let\u2019s imagine the best-case scenario punchline come season\u2019s end:&nbsp;<em>\u201cThey told us we\u2019d finish last. Well, we fooled \u2019em \u2013 we finished third!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;(cue rimshot). Okay, maybe second, or even first if miracles abound \u2013 but let\u2019s not get ahead of ourselves. Even a climb out of the cellar would qualify as earning a measure of respect. And that\u2019s really what this season is about for Ottawa:&nbsp;<strong>earning respect<\/strong>. They don\u2019t want to be an easy win on contenders\u2019 schedules or the butt of league-wide jokes. They want to be taken seriously, to have teams circle the calendar when they come to Ottawa because they know they\u2019re in for a fight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing\u2019s for sure: the preview writers and odds-makers will keep cracking wise until the Nationals give them reason to stop. So it falls to the players to supply the punchlines on the field \u2013 preferably the kind that involve hitting one into the upper deck or striking out a rival slugger with the game on the line. If they can do that, the jokes will turn into genuine applause. And wouldn\u2019t that be the ultimate comeback?&nbsp;<strong>From no respect to earned respect<\/strong>, with a lot of laughs along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we wrap up this preview, let\u2019s raise a glass (or a Gatorade cup) to the 2025 Ottawa Nationals. They might be predicted to finish last, but they\u2019re first in our hearts for bravely facing the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune \u2013 and for doing it with a smile. In the immortal words of Rodney Dangerfield,&nbsp;<em>\u201cI don\u2019t get no respect!\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013 but perhaps, just maybe, by season\u2019s end the Nationals will be getting&nbsp;<strong>just a little more<\/strong>. And if not? Well, they\u2019ll have a whole new set of one-liners ready for next spring. Play ball \u2013 and lighten up, because the Ottawa Nationals are here to deliver punches and punchlines in equal measure!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ottawa Nationals are heading into the 2025 Belted Deep Baseball season feeling a lot like a Rodney Dangerfield routine \u2013&nbsp;they just get no respect, no respect at all!&nbsp;Despite a&hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=696"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":701,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/696\/revisions\/701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.belteddeep.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}