The Sunshine Squad 2024

[varoadking]

If we're lucky, maybe they'll find a way to play fewer than 162 regular season games this year...

[Five Banners]

remember - this is a sunshine thread. Nothing but best cases and optimism.

The Gameday thread should be sufficient for everything else

[English Natsie]

It's the Nationals. It's WNFF. Another season of fun and frolics beckons. Aren't you smiling yet?...

[Natsinpwc]

It's the Nationals. It's WNFF. Another season of fun and frolics beckons. Aren't you smiling yet?...

Yes. To keep from crying.

[OfftheBat]

And after going 34 years without one that is a great point. I was a diehard Senators fan. I can put up with a handful of losing seasons after 8 year of winning capped off by a world series win.

Yes good point, I'm happy as long as there are no relocation rumors/speculation surrounding the sale of the team. Here's to a fun 2024 season 

[Natsinpwc]

Patrick Corbin has pitched the fourth most innings in baseball since 2016. So he is durable. 
Cole, Scherzer and Nola are 1-2-3.   

[Slateman]

Thats a lot of drop off

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Patrick Corbin has pitched the fourth most innings in baseball since 2016. So he is durable. 
Cole, Scherzer and Nola are 1-2-3.   

one of these things is not like the others ...

[IanRubbish]

Even if it's just four games, very encouraging to see what Hassell's been doing

[CoryTheFormerExposFan]

It’s a small sample and just Spring Training, but it’s hard not to be excited about Wood, Crews, House, and now Harrell.  As soon as next year, we may have an entire lineup of young core guys.

C Ruiz
1B YoYo
2B Lipscomb
3B House
SS Abrams
LF Harrell
CF Crews
RF Wood

SP Gray/Gore/Cavalli

Of course it’s unlikely all these young guys emerge, and Lipscomb lacks elite pedigree.  However, hopefully we can spend our money on early extensions on guys like Abrams and on an ace for the rotation.  We without a doubt will need to go sign a 9 figure free agent SP.  We should have a clearer picture where we need a bat next Winter. 

Another thing to follow is the development of the next wave of prospects beyond the above guys.  We need to maintain a strong and deep system, even if we don’t have MLB openings we can trade for areas of need.  Guys like Green can’t just waste away.

[IanRubbish]

We without a doubt will need to go sign a 9 figure free agent SP. 

Our fine lead owner has enough health problems as it is, please don't say things like this that could make his health even worse.  Rather, say something like "if the market can come to us, we're prepared to act", or "there's a sale this weekend at Harris Teeter, perhaps we can use the savings to give the Screech costume a much needed wash".

Thank you for your sensitivity to these matters.

[Natsinpwc]

Our fine lead owner has enough health problems as it is, please don't say things like this that could make his health even worse.  Rather, say something like "if the market can come to us, we're prepared to act", or "there's a sale this weekend at Harris Teeter, perhaps we can use the savings to give the Screech costume a much needed wash".

Thank you for your sensitivity to these matters.

[imref]

Another thing to follow is the development of the next wave of prospects beyond the above guys.  We need to maintain a strong and deep system, even if we don’t have MLB openings we can trade for areas of need.  Guys like Green can’t just waste away.

The phenomenon - https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=39903.25

[Slateman]

I actually think the bullpen will be solid. At least until the deadline

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I actually think the bullpen will be solid. At least until the deadline

do you know anything about Derek Law? Zucker(berg/man?) seems to think he has a good shot along with Barnes.

[Slateman]

do you know anything about Derek Law? Zucker(berg/man?) seems to think he has a good shot along with Barnes.

Just a middle relief guy that has a lot of walks and diminishing strikeout stuff. If he works out, fine. If not, his contract isnt so big that they cant just cut him.

[IanRubbish]

After 40+ years, teams have finally stopped falling for Boras' nonsense.  First Bellinger, now Blake Snell saying he'd do a one year deal with opt outs.  Great news for any MLB fan. 

[Slateman]

After 40+ years, teams have finally stopped falling for Boras' nonsense.  First Bellinger, now Blake Snell saying he'd do a one year deal with opt outs.  Great news for any MLB fan. 

Except its terrible news for baseball and the players. Which ultimately means its bad for the fans.

[HalfSmokes]

Except its terrible news for baseball and the players. Which ultimately means its bad for the fans.

Baseball is a collection of local fan bases. Very few people care about the game on a national level or even bother watching national games up to and including the World Series. For the 25 fanbases than never had any chance at either of them, they’re non signing is irrelevant

[varoadking]

This belongs here as Mini Me is always happy to blow smoke up the fan's asses...

https://curlyw.mlblogs.com/from-the-desk-of-mark-d-lerner-spring-training-16f048dab785

[HalfSmokes]

At least he doesn't pretend they will be watchable this year

[OfftheBat]

At least he doesn't pretend they will be watchable this year

He kinda does though, in that second-to-last paragraph where he mentions his family's commitment to winning another WS, lol.

[varoadking]

He kinda does though, in that second-to-last paragraph where he mentions his family's commitment to winning another WS, lol.

He should just STFU...him and his stooge Rizzo...

[Natsinpwc]

He should just STFU...him and his stooge Rizzo...

You probably want Leonsis to STFU also. 

These guys are richer than us and we need reminders that they always know best. 

[HalfSmokes]

He kinda does though, in that second-to-last paragraph where he mentions his family's commitment to winning another WS, lol.

He doesn't give a time frame