For Nationals, the future is now

[charlie and algernon]

It was a few minutes before 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 6. Mark down that date. Ian Desmond bounced to second for the final out of a tough extra-inning loss to the Reds. And with that, Nationals president Stan Kasten turned toward a friend and announced:

"Thank goodness that era is behind us."

Boy, he got that right.

Just two nights later, the most important era in the life of this franchise began.

Strasburg headed for the mound. The thunder in the ballpark rattled Richter scales from Annandale to Aberdeen. The ratings counters at Nielsen headquarters were calling the repairmen to make sure the equipment hadn't run amok. T-shirts were whooshing off the racks. Standing-room tickets were disappearing faster than Terrmel Sledge. And it was finally official …

The Washington Nationals had rejoined the baseball solar system.

much more here: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=5287694

OK, Who here actually thought the NATINALS would be on track to be the first team in the Maryland-DC area to make it to the playoffs?

[TZ]

1. Uhh I said it at the end of last year actually

That the Nats would start getting better. Its been apparant since last July (the looow point for this franchise) that things had turned around for this club. For those of us paying attention, none of this is a surprise. They have a lot of good young prospects in the farm system too, unlike Baltimore. Props to Stan Kasten and Mike Rizzo and Jim Riggleman who are doing well. There are many knowledgeable baseball people who think that the Nats might actually be in the wild card hunt by the end of this year. Me, I think more next year...but yeah its now apparant to those who don't follow on a daily basis the improvements.

[charlie and algernon]

3. it feels like the Marlins of 2003

I think the Nationals easily could be in the hunt this year. The Marlins were in an awful funk in 2002, early 2003. Then they call up Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis and suddenly they turn in the best record in the Majors from that point on. You'd be surprised what a call-up can do to invigorate a team and it's fan base.

[charlie and algernon]

2. I realized I never posted about my time at the Strasburg game, so here it is

I now know what it's like to be at a Game 7 of the World Series or Stanley Cup. It was INSANE. The electricity in the crowd was off the charts. The crowd ROARED when Strasburg was shown WARMING UP by the bullpen. The crowd ROARED when he and his coach walked to the dugout. The crowd ROARED when he walked to the mound. Flashbulbs erupted for his first pitch as people all around me were straining to get their cameras up so they could see his first pitches. The crowd booed loudly when the ump called his first two pitches balls, LOL!

Each time he got to two strikes, the crowd stood on their feet, cheering like it there were already two outs in the 9th. It was still the 1st inning. When he gave up the homer in the 4th, you could feel the air get sucked right out of the stadium as it got DEATHLY quiet.

I don't think I can accurately describe what it was like to be in that stadium from the 5-7th innings. With each successive strikeout, the crowd got a little more insane. By his 8th strikeout, the crowd, I think, really understood what was happening and it was thunderous. No one paid any attention to the Nationals batters in the bottom of innings. When Strasburg came out for the top of the 7th, you'd think he was on the verge of a 27 strike out perfect game. I've never been in a stadium more electric, more full of excitement than for that game, that night. Fans, strangers, were hugging, slapping five, cheering together. It was Game 7 of their World Series.

For Nationals fans, I truly hope you get to experience more games like that one.

[Kingofalldems]

4. Thanks--it must have been something special

I could sense the electricity and wasn't even there.

[Auggie]

5. Nat fans -- good luck

I've suffered through a lot of years with the Cleveland Baseball team and can totally appreciate the buzz and positive vibes I'm hearing regarding your franchise. I wish you well.

[TZ]

6. My parents are from Cleveland

I still hear about the trauma of the 1954 World Series from my Uncle....I root for any and all Cleveland teams but ESPECIALLY the Indians...

[Auggie]

7. I remember your Cleveland connection

'54 was a few years before me... my personal trauma is '97 and '07 (blew a 3-1 lead to the Red Sox in the ALCS in '07, remember?). I also root for the Bay Area teams -- fortunately, they've been a little more successful since I've moved here. But I had many lean and hopeless years in Northeastern Ohio.

[Kingofalldems]

8. I actually remember that 1954 team --I had cards of some

of the players. Al Rosen was one. Larry Doby, Bob Lemon? Man, am I old!

[Auggie]

9. Everyone born in that era is old now

:cry: