I still don’t take Opening Day for granted because for more than half my life, Washington didn’t have it.

I’m not expecting much

My expectations for the Nationals are, but I anticipate a little improvement. I don’t like the “everybody plays everybody schedule” that Rob Manfred has dropped on us. Reducing the number of games the Nats play against the Phillies (2022 NL champs), Braves and Mets (both won 100+ games last year) probably helps in the short term. I can’t say I am excited that more games against the A’s or Rays is a good thing though.

I think the Nats go 62-100 – pathetic, but an improvement. Perhaps Patrick Corbin will approach mediocrity or get relegated to the pen. Hopefully, he’ll be good enough to sent off to some other team. Josiah Gray probably leads the staff in wins. Stephen Stasburg though probably doesn’t pitch at all which may yet again be better than whatever Corbin does. Perhaps #1 Mackenzie Gore will show promise, though I don’t like single-digit pitchers. Cade Cavalli – see you next year, good luck with Tommy John surgery.

I’m not even going to attempt to predict the bullpen.

Among the position players, only Keibert Ruiz, C.J. Abrams and Luis Garcia make me take notice. I thought Ruiz would have more power after two long outs last Opening Night. Perhaps Joey Meneses and Dominic Smith will do enough to generate some excitement while we wait for reinforcements.

It’s going to be a while before this team is competitive and that will be reflected in attendance. Opening Day may not even sell out.

Speaking of selling, Mark Lerner is not after all (Sports Business Journal). It isn’t shocking because the poison pill of MASN is depressing the price of the team. How many more years of purgatory for the Nats?

Reversion to the norm or just a prolonged rebuild?

Historically, baseball in D.C. seems to be playing against a stacked deck. The Griffiths were undercapitalized and once Calvin got control, he moved the franchise away because he was a racist. Then the expansion team gets flipped to Texas by Bob Short. Thirty-three years elapsed with nothing. We get a team again, but we couldn’t watch it for two years because the nearest franchise throws a decades-long temper tantrum. The Nats finally win the World Series and a pandemic happens. Strasburg breaks. Brad Hand happens. The owners won’t even sell out because they can’t get the value they were hoping for because of the broadcast rights uncertainty.

Even in lost seasons, magic can happen. It was 15 years ago tonight that one of the greatest moments in D.C. sports history occurred:

Thankfully, that isn’t the high-water mark for the franchise any more. It’ll be interesting to see what this era’s greatest moment will be.

Trying to look on the bright side of life, we’re about 3.5 years removed from a parade. That’s one more parade than I expected in a lot of senses. Everything that preceded and followed it makes it all the more surprising. Let’s hope we get to do it again some day.

See you at the ballpark (section 416)