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| This year’s MLB playoff teams have 99 problems; Washington Nationals barely have one | This year’s MLB playoff teams have 99 problems; Washington Nationals barely have one |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| All across America, the brow of baseball is wrinkled with worry. Except for Washington, where everything is so ideal that fans of the Nationals are entitled to mutter, “It’s a little too quiet out there.” | All across America, the brow of baseball is wrinkled with worry. Except for Washington, where everything is so ideal that fans of the Nationals are entitled to mutter, “It’s a little too quiet out there.” |
| In Los Angeles, they’re holding casting calls for pitchers. For the fourth time since ace Garrett Richards was lost for the season, the Angels were forced into “a bullpen game” on Tuesday and lost by 11 runs. Hector Santiago and rookie Matt Shoemaker are in their playoff rotation. The Dodgers have both Dan Haren and Roberto Hernandez in theirs unless Hyun-jin Ryu’s various injuries improve. | In Los Angeles, they’re holding casting calls for pitchers. For the fourth time since ace Garrett Richards was lost for the season, the Angels were forced into “a bullpen game” on Tuesday and lost by 11 runs. Hector Santiago and rookie Matt Shoemaker are in their playoff rotation. The Dodgers have both Dan Haren and Roberto Hernandez in theirs unless Hyun-jin Ryu’s various injuries improve. |
| In Oakland, since the trade of slugger Yoenis Cespedes, the A’s have crashed like an infected computer. In Detroit, Justin Verlander has not had a scoreless start all season and only one one-run start — but the Tigers are stuck with him. | In Oakland, since the trade of slugger Yoenis Cespedes, the A’s have crashed like an infected computer. In Detroit, Justin Verlander has not had a scoreless start all season and only one one-run start — but the Tigers are stuck with him. |
| Baltimore wonders when the 25-game drug suspension of Chris Davis, on top of the season-ending injuries to Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, will finally take its toll. “If Buck can’t find a way, hon, nobody can.” Too bad, Buck probably can’t. | Baltimore wonders when the 25-game drug suspension of Chris Davis, on top of the season-ending injuries to Manny Machado and Matt Wieters, will finally take its toll. “If Buck can’t find a way, hon, nobody can.” Too bad, Buck probably can’t. |
| In St. Louis, last season’s playoff hero, Michael Wacha, is still in the weeds, trades for Justin Masterson and John Lackey blew up and a lineup that always hits has forgotten how — for six months. San Francisco plans to start Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong — combined record 24-35, combined age 109. | In St. Louis, last season’s playoff hero, Michael Wacha, is still in the weeds, trades for Justin Masterson and John Lackey blew up and a lineup that always hits has forgotten how — for six months. San Francisco plans to start Jake Peavy, Tim Hudson and Ryan Vogelsong — combined record 24-35, combined age 109. |
| All those potential playoff teams have additional problems. The rest? Even worse. | All those potential playoff teams have additional problems. The rest? Even worse. |
| So it’s baseball angst from coast to coast. Many towns are happy to be in the playoffs. But the fans who follow those teams daily are wringing their hands that their squads are just one more injury away from a life-support vigil. | So it’s baseball angst from coast to coast. Many towns are happy to be in the playoffs. But the fans who follow those teams daily are wringing their hands that their squads are just one more injury away from a life-support vigil. |
| Then there is D.C., where anyone wanting to be a bearer of bad news would need this long a reach: If 17 Nats go on the disabled list by Sunday, it looks like the ol’ whammy. | Then there is D.C., where anyone wanting to be a bearer of bad news would need this long a reach: If 17 Nats go on the disabled list by Sunday, it looks like the ol’ whammy. |
| But journalism is stuck with one-day cross-sections of reality. Results from seances with the dear departed, use of crystal balls, are useless. We’re in the “How It Looks Today” swindle. And it looks like Washington gets one day to glow. | But journalism is stuck with one-day cross-sections of reality. Results from seances with the dear departed, use of crystal balls, are useless. We’re in the “How It Looks Today” swindle. And it looks like Washington gets one day to glow. |
| By tomorrow the future becomes the past and all of life is just one darn rewrite anyway. But after 81 years without a World Series visit and 90 years since its only victory in a postseason series of any kind, D.C. deserves a day, just one, to take a clear 360-degree look around itself and simply smile. | By tomorrow the future becomes the past and all of life is just one darn rewrite anyway. But after 81 years without a World Series visit and 90 years since its only victory in a postseason series of any kind, D.C. deserves a day, just one, to take a clear 360-degree look around itself and simply smile. |
| The Nats have more fine starting pitchers (five), more quality relievers (eight) and, as soon as Ryan Zimmerman returns in a few days, more first-rate everyday players (nine) than they can use at one time. | The Nats have more fine starting pitchers (five), more quality relievers (eight) and, as soon as Ryan Zimmerman returns in a few days, more first-rate everyday players (nine) than they can use at one time. |
| After clinching their division a dozen days early, they have to figure out which players to leave out of their rotation, out of their starting lineup, out of the back end of their bullpen and even off their postseason roster entirely. A closer, Rafael Soriano, who looked like their logical all-star selection two months ago may not make their playoff roster unless he quickly finds his form. | After clinching their division a dozen days early, they have to figure out which players to leave out of their rotation, out of their starting lineup, out of the back end of their bullpen and even off their postseason roster entirely. A closer, Rafael Soriano, who looked like their logical all-star selection two months ago may not make their playoff roster unless he quickly finds his form. |
| No other playoff-bound team has even one such “good problem,” except perhaps the Orioles, who will have to choose which of their five starters — each of whom has been scalding for more than a month — to leave out of their playoff rotation. | No other playoff-bound team has even one such “good problem,” except perhaps the Orioles, who will have to choose which of their five starters — each of whom has been scalding for more than a month — to leave out of their playoff rotation. |
| On Tuesday, Tanner Roark pitched seven scoreless innings in the clincher over Atlanta, a team he’s so close to owning (1.70 career ERA in seven games) that he has a lease with an option to buy. In October he may go to the bullpen because he’s close to 200 innings, more than he has ever thrown, and the Nationals want him healthy for the next five Octobers. You know, typical Crazy Nats: think long-term, protect arms and careers, use best practices in player development and rehabs. | On Tuesday, Tanner Roark pitched seven scoreless innings in the clincher over Atlanta, a team he’s so close to owning (1.70 career ERA in seven games) that he has a lease with an option to buy. In October he may go to the bullpen because he’s close to 200 innings, more than he has ever thrown, and the Nationals want him healthy for the next five Octobers. You know, typical Crazy Nats: think long-term, protect arms and careers, use best practices in player development and rehabs. |
| Two years ago, the Nats got ripped for shutting down Stephen Strasburg because “who knows if they’ll ever get back to the playoffs again?” Don’t look now, but everyone in the organization assumes Strasburg will start Game 1 for the Nats, probably as the NL strikeout leader. | Two years ago, the Nats got ripped for shutting down Stephen Strasburg because “who knows if they’ll ever get back to the playoffs again?” Don’t look now, but everyone in the organization assumes Strasburg will start Game 1 for the Nats, probably as the NL strikeout leader. |
| Might the Nats ever, from here to eternity, get to October again? They control their entire current roster for next season, except Asdrubal Cabrera (free agent) and Adam LaRoche (mutual option). Will they keep ’em all? No. But they could. | Might the Nats ever, from here to eternity, get to October again? They control their entire current roster for next season, except Asdrubal Cabrera (free agent) and Adam LaRoche (mutual option). Will they keep ’em all? No. But they could. |
| The list of things that can still go wrong for the Nationals is as long as . . . reality. And some of them will, indeed, happen. | The list of things that can still go wrong for the Nationals is as long as . . . reality. And some of them will, indeed, happen. |
| The Nats lead the Dodgers by two games for best record in the NL and home field through the NLCS. That could change in 48 hours. The Nats lead the Cardinals by 31 / 2 games, a fat but not safe margin. That might be vital because both the Nats (46-28) and Cardinals (48-29) are wonderful at home. | |
| But for one crisp September day in D.C. when the weather feels like Oct. 21 (a day all of Washington may want to circle), nothing is a fret to the Nats. | But for one crisp September day in D.C. when the weather feels like Oct. 21 (a day all of Washington may want to circle), nothing is a fret to the Nats. |
| This is the team that worried itself and its fans sick in Game 5 of the 2012 division series. They agonized for 162 games last season, flagellating themselves for why they didn’t play better. For almost a third of this season, they were sub-.500. | This is the team that worried itself and its fans sick in Game 5 of the 2012 division series. They agonized for 162 games last season, flagellating themselves for why they didn’t play better. For almost a third of this season, they were sub-.500. |
| When many things looked as dreary as they now look ideal, I asked whether the Nationals were really a high-quality team — as gifted as they thought (and often said) they were — or if they just talked a big game. Since then, 62-37. | |
| In his division-winning toast, just before a champagne storm hit, Manager Matt Williams raised his beer bottle to his team and quoted Robert Frost: “We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.” | In his division-winning toast, just before a champagne storm hit, Manager Matt Williams raised his beer bottle to his team and quoted Robert Frost: “We have promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.” |
| The “miles” part certainly is right. The next few weeks may feel like months, especially on all the days that are far less perfect than this one. | The “miles” part certainly is right. The next few weeks may feel like months, especially on all the days that are far less perfect than this one. |
| But as to the Nats promise as a team, few would deny that they’ve now shown its true size: extra large. And their intention to fulfill it. | But as to the Nats promise as a team, few would deny that they’ve now shown its true size: extra large. And their intention to fulfill it. |
| For more by Thomas Boswell, visit washingtonpost.com/boswell. | For more by Thomas Boswell, visit washingtonpost.com/boswell. |
| More Nationals and MLB coverage: | More Nationals and MLB coverage: |
| For Washington, celebration cedes to deliberation | For Washington, celebration cedes to deliberation |
| Bog Poll: What to call a Nats-Orioles World Series? | Bog Poll: What to call a Nats-Orioles World Series? |
| Manager Matt Williams quotes Frost in clubhouse | Manager Matt Williams quotes Frost in clubhouse |
| How Harper got his Helmet | Projecting the playoff roster | How Harper got his Helmet | Projecting the playoff roster |
| Best 21 photos from the clincher in Atlanta | Best 21 photos from the clincher in Atlanta |
| Video: Nats celebrate a second division title in three seasons | Video: Nats celebrate a second division title in three seasons |
| On Baseball: Nationals can celebrate present, and future | On Baseball: Nationals can celebrate present, and future |
| Photos: Nationals clinch division title in Atlanta | Photos: Nationals clinch division title in Atlanta |
| Bog: The best Nats selfies from the celebration | Bog: The best Nats selfies from the celebration |
| Zimmerman plays three innings in first rehab game in Viera | Zimmerman plays three innings in first rehab game in Viera |
| Orioles win American League East title | Orioles win American League East title |
| On Baseball: Go ahead and hand Kershaw the NL Cy Young | On Baseball: Go ahead and hand Kershaw the NL Cy Young |