Nats To Repeat 102-loss Season?

Whatever good feeling the Nats could have possibly had entering the season - the signing of Adam Dunn, a new starting rotation - died over the weekend.  Though they've played less than a dozen games the three excruciating losses to the Marlins - games in which the Nats led heading into the 8th inning each game - are potential season killers.

Those losses highlighted that the Nats' bullpen is even weaker - weaker - than their anemic starting rotation. But against the Marlins the Nationals got good staring pitching from the top three in their rotation: Lannan, Olsen and Cabrera.  And they hit well in two of those games, and in their win against the Phillies.  Holding those three leads would have given the Nats a four-game winning streak.  

Those good feelings only lasted 8 innings each game as closer Joel Hanrahan blew the first two games, including a three-run lead on Saturday, before Saul Rivera gave up a one-run lead on Sunday.  

The only good news is the Nats' offense is much improved. Dunn is hitting and getting on base; his OBP is over 500 and he has two dingers so far.  Zimmerman has a 10-game hitting streak, Elijah Dukes is hitting over 300, and since moving up to the 2 spot in the order Nick Johnson is 10 for 19 so there is some hope on offense.

Unfortunately, the name of the game is still pitching.  Let's hope rookie starter Jordan ZImmerman and the revamped bullpen (Rivera was reassigned and Hanrahan is hopefully no longer the closer) offer some hope for the pitching staff and this team can go 500 the rest of the season.  That would mean the Nats finish around 75-76 wins, nothing to write home about but a big improvement over last season's 60-102 record.