Sunshine Squad: 2025

[imref]

Watching MASN classics tonight showing a game from last year in which our lineup featured a stretch of Gallo, Meneses, Rosario, Adams, and Senzel.

It has to be better this year!!

[GataNats]

Don’t forget Vargas, a total dead weight

[Smithian]

At this point, I doubt the Opening Day lineup or any of the first five starting pitchers will make me mad.

From a viewing perspective, rather huge improvement over past few seasons.

[imref]

For comparison:

OD 2024 lineup:
1. Abrams - SS
2. Thomas - RF
3. Winker - LF
4. Meneses - DH
5. Gallo - 1B
6. Ruiz - C
7. Rosario - CF
8. Vargas - 3B (sub for Senzel)
9. Garcia Jr. - 2B

2025 likely OD lineup:
1. Abrams - SS
2. Crews - RF
3. Wood - LF
4. Bell - DH
5. Lowe - 1B
6. Garcia Jr. - 2B
7. Ruiz - C
8. Tena - 3B
9. Young - CF

[JCA-CrystalCity]

For comparison:

OD 2024 lineup:
1. Abrams - SS
2. Thomas - RF
3. Winker - LF
4. Meneses - DH
5. Gallo - 1B
6. Ruiz - C
7. Rosario - CF
8. Vargas - 3B (sub for Senzel)
9. Garcia Jr. - 2B

2025 likely OD lineup:
1. Abrams - SS
2. Crews - RF
3. Wood - LF
4. Bell - DH
5. Lowe - 1B
6. Garcia Jr. - 2B
7. Ruiz - C
8. Tena - 3B
9. Young - CF

wow. I buy addition by subtraction.

[imref]

https://starsandstrikes.substack.com/p/sleep-on-the-washington-nationals-at-your-own-risk

[Smithian]

At this point, I doubt the Opening Day lineup or any of the first five starting pitchers will make me mad.

From a viewing perspective, rather huge improvement over past few seasons.

DeJong signing threatens this, but possibility of an average Nats defense thawed my heart.

This should be an enjoyable, interesting team to watch.

[imref]

Nats rank 18th in the Athletic's "Hope-o-Meter"

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6186874/2025/03/11/mlb-fans-optimism-results-rankings/

18. Washington Nationals: 62.7 percent optimism

2024: 50.6 percent (18)
2023: 12 percent (27)
2022: 5.6 percent (28)

Pessimist Tom: Juan Soto will wear a Mets cap on his Hall of Fame plaque, and I’m still not over it.

Optimist Peter: The hyped young prospects I’ve been excited about since they were drafted (James Wood, Dylan Crews, Robert Hassell III, Brady House) are on the starting roster or will be soon. Our core is coming to fruition. Still anxious about ownership’s willingness to spend when needed.

Optimist Michael: We’re going to be bad. Not Marlins bad, but bad. This year is the tipping point. Optimism stems from hope for the young kids to show they can be part of the next core. If there are more misses than hits, it will be tough to be optimistic for the next few years.

Pessimist Juniper: The 2010s rebuild was so vigorous. It really felt like the team was building towards greatness. I don’t feel that now. The World Series was six years ago but there’s still no sense of urgency.

[English Natsie]

Nats rank 18th in the Athletic's "Hope-o-Meter"

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6186874/2025/03/11/mlb-fans-optimism-results-rankings/

'The World Series was now six years ago, but there's no sense of urgency...'   Sort of like first class mail, these days...  

[OfftheBat]

https://starsandstrikes.substack.com/p/sleep-on-the-washington-nationals-at-your-own-risk

I like this Natelli guy's optimism lol. I need to apply this kind of optimism to my personal life 

[varoadking]

I like this Natelli guy's optimism lol. I need to apply this kind of optimism to my personal life 

I believe folks might think you a bit delusional... 

[OfftheBat]

I believe folks might think you a bit delusional... 

Yeah, don't know if this should be qualified as optimism or delusion 

[imref]

reminder, this is the sunshine squad. Negative thoughts are not welcomed in this thread.