Nats’ Magic Number is One; O’s Eliminated

Posted by KilgoreTroutIII

The Nats’ magic number in the Bryce Harper Sweepstakes Race is now one. One more loss for the Nats or one more win for the Pirates and it’s over. Meanwhile, despite a valiant 11-game losing streak, the Orioles have been eliminated.

See the full post at Natinals Natin.

Nats Reach a Double-Triple With 100th Loss

Posted by KilgoreTroutIII

For the second straight year the Natinals have lost more than 100 games, reaching the 100 mark Thursday and 101 Friday night to move within one of last year’s 102. They are only the fourth team in 25 years to accomplish the double-triple.

But have heart, struggling Nats fans. The Devil Rays lost 100 in 2001 and 106 in 2002. Six years later, after coming to Jesus and renaming themselves the Rays, they made it to the World Series in 2008.

See the full post at Natinals Natin.

And see my Top 5 Reasons for Nats Fans to be Optimistic.

Top 5 Reasons for Nats Fans to be Optimistic

Posted by KilgoreTroutIII

If there is a God, He – or She – must have created baseball to teach the vast majority of Americans to learn how to cope with year-in-year-out disappointment and still live with hope. Red Sox fans kept hope alive and eventually cast off their curse. The Cubs always have next year. And Washington has … 1924. But hope springs eternal, so we give you the Top 5 Reasons for Nats Fans to be Optimistic.

5. It can’t get worse than 2009.

See the full post at Natinals Natin.

Royals Give Up; Win 3rd Straight; Fall 7 Back

Posted by KilgoreTroutIII

The Royals seem to believe they can no longer catch the Nats. With their third straight victory, they fell seven games behind the streaking Nats. The race now is for the second, third, and fourth draft picks next year after the Nats make Bryce Harper the highest paid draftee in history. After Wednesday’s games, here are the standings:

The Bryce Harper Sweepstakes Race
Team       Record               GB           To Reach 58-104
Nats      47-92   .338          –              11-12       .478
KC         54-85   .388          7               4-19        .174
Pitts       54-84   .391        7.5              4-20       .167
O’s         56-83   .403           9              2-21        .087

See the full post at Natinals Natin.

Royals Gain on Nats

Posted by KilgoreTroutIII

With their fourth straight loss, KC pulled within 4.5 games of the Nats, who won on Ryan Zimmerman’s walkoff home run. The Pirates broke their nine-game losing streak; the O’s, the Indians, and the Reds all won, too. The standings after Sunday’s games:

The Bryce Harper Sweepstakes Race
Team       Record               GB           To Reach 60-102
Nats      47-90   .343          –               13-12       .520
KC         51-85    .375          4.5              9-17       .346
Pitts       54-81   .400           8               6-21        .222
O’s         56-81   .405           9                4-21       .160
Cleve     60-76   .441          13.5            0-26       .000
Reds      63-73   .463       16.5   (lose 29 of 26)  (.115)

For previous posts on the race see: Natinals Natin

Nats March On

Posted by KilgoreTroutIII

The Nats lost their eighth consecutive game Saturday, to edge closer to The Chosen One. The Royals lost their third straight to stay 5.5 games back. The Pirates are trying the hardest now, having lost nine in a row. They remain eight back, but they waited too long to have much chance of catching the Nats who have operated on a season-long plan that was thrown off track only temporarily by the elevation of Jim Riggleman (now 20-29/ .408 as manager). When Bryce Harper signs with the Nats, let the thanks go to Manny Acta who established an insurmountable lead with a record of 26-61/ .299.

To see the standings after Saturday’s games in The Bryce Harper Sweepstakes Race, go to Natinals Natin.