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Krauthammer Loves The Washington Nationals

Charles Krauthammer is the Washington Nationals' number one fan even if they are far from being the number one team in Major League Baseball. As Dr. K puts it:

They are a baseball team. Not yet very good, mind you, but it matters not. When you live in a town with a great team, you go to see them win. When you live in a town with a team that is passing rapidly through mediocrity on its way to contention - the Nats have an amazing crop of upcoming young players - you go for the moments.

And believe me, the moments are usually fleeting. As of this writing, the Nationals are 26 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL East and have lost nine of their last ten games. Maybe Nats GM Mike Rizzo should have given Jim Riggleman that contract extension after all. When Riggleman abruptly quit on June 23rd, the Nats were 38-37 and had won eleven of their past twelve games. After John McLaren had managed three games, Davey Johnson (who guided the New York Mets to the 1986 World Series title) was brought on to manage the team for the rest of the 2011 season. Since Riggleman's departure, the Nats have gone 25-36.

Yet Krauthammer sees a lot of silver linings, particularly in their defense. He praised the work of Gold Glove third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, rookie second baseman Danny Espinosa and especially centerfielder Rick Ankiel's prodigious throwing arm. Krauthammer writes, "Now, when mortals throw a ball, they give it arc to gain distance. That's how artillery works. Ankiel is better than artillery."

It isn't the first time that Dr. K has sung the praises of Rick Ankiel. In August 2007, Krauthammer wrote about Ankiel's improbable return to the majors as an outfielder after wildness had curtailed his ability to throw a strike during the 2000 post-season. At the time of Ankiel's return to the St. Louis Cardinals, he hadn't appeared in a big league uniform in over three years. In less than four years, Ankiel has since gone from St. Louis to Kansas City to Atlanta and now D.C. - for now.

What Krauthammer didn't mention is that Tuesday night marks the return of Stephen Strasburg who will make his 2011 debut against the Los Angeles Dodgers. After striking out 92 batters in only 68 innings, Strasburg's rookie season was cut short when he required Tommy John surgery. A healthy Strasburg will help the Nationals passed through mediocrity that much more rapidly.

One could make the case that by rooting for the Nationals that Krauthammer is also rooting for the Montreal Expos. Of course, if not for the Expos there would still be no baseball in D.C. Krauthammer, of course, spent his formative years in Montreal. I wonder if he ever attended games at Jarry Park while he matriculated at McGill. Whether he did or not, I suspect that Charles Krauthammer would be a good guy to sit next to during a baseball game. If I am ever in Nationals Park, I shall saunter over to Section 128.

UPDATE: I don't know if Dr. K was present for tonight's game between the Nats and the New York Mets but if he was then he would have seen more than his share of moments. Tonight, marked the big league debut of pitcher Tom Milone. Although Milone would allow four runs over four and a third innings, he had a memorable first at bat. On the very first pitch Milone saw, he hit a three run homerun. That earned Milone a curtain call.

The Nationals beat the Mets 8-7 on a two-run single by Ryan Zimmerman in the bottom of the ninth.

I don't blame Krauthammer for loving the Nats one bit.

View all comments (16) | Leave a comment

Clint| 9.3.11 @ 4:26PM

That's how Krauthammer rolls.

Quartermaster| 9.6.11 @ 6:14PM

Reminds me of the Senators. Even Ted Williams was unable to teach them how to hit. I think the proximity to DC, and FedGov mediocrity, is the major problem.

PCP Smoker| 9.3.11 @ 4:51PM

The Nationals? Ridiculous.

Occam's Tool| 9.6.11 @ 2:31PM

Read the article by Krauthammer. He notes particular aspects of excellence, even if the overall product is subpar.

Keep in mind Ernie Banks and Andre Dawson BOTH won MVP awards playing for VERY weak Chicago Cub teams.

JohnD| 9.3.11 @ 9:33PM

My problem with the Nationals is this; in a company town where the Federal Government is basically the only industry, a pair of tickets behind the plate costs $700. If you want to sit between the foul poles in the lower seating bowl, you are looking at at least $200 for a pair of tickets. Bleacher seats 450 feet from home plate cast $40 each.

Obviously the Nats prefer a fan base of lobbyists and arms dealers. Therefore I drive up to Baltimore when I want to see a baseball game, rather than be relegated to some corner of Nats Park as punishment for being a civil servant. In Baltimore, I get to rub elbows with real people who work for a living.

Occam's Tool| 9.5.11 @ 6:29PM

Cool, JohnD. Myself, I'm looking forward to my Division I Hockey Team kicking tail this fall. Their beautiful $40 million arena is 15 minutes from my small town home, itself in a small town.

JohnD| 9.5.11 @ 8:37PM

I have got to ask, which team?

I went to law school in New Hampshire, and now that my law school has just become the UNH Law School, I finally have a team to root for (the UNH Wildcats). NCAA hockey is the best kept secret in sports, at least down here in MD it is.

Occam's Tool| 9.6.11 @ 2:26PM

John, if I tell you, my secret identity will be revealed. Upper Midwest, was an excellent Division II team for a long while, then upgraded to Division I, has been a strong contender for the national Championship once in the last 10 years. I will not confirm or deny. Hockey IS the Division I sport here where I live.

Occam's Tool| 9.6.11 @ 2:32PM

I will not confirm or deny should you correctly name the team, which is NOT well known outside of hockey circles.

JohnD| 9.3.11 @ 9:36PM

Oh, and in Baltimore I can wash down a crab cake sandwich with a National Bohemian beer (Natty Boh for those uninitiated to Charm City). Keep your microbrews, if Natty Boh was good enough for our fathers, its good enough for me.

mike in nc| 9.4.11 @ 2:03AM

Just wait until Bryce Harper starts knocking the stuffing off the ball, probably around mid July next season.

C Bowen| 9.4.11 @ 6:22PM

Why is this blog taking time to talk about Walter Mondale's speechwriter love of a bad baseball team?

Jack in Wi.| 9.5.11 @ 11:47AM

The Senaotors and the Nationals never had much in the way of teams. Kraut must be a real glutten for punishment.

JohnD| 9.5.11 @ 8:40PM

Hey, Jack, the Washington Nationals (they weren't called the Senators until 1957) won the 1924 World Series. They came back and won the 1925 American League pennant, and won another pennant in 1933. That's the last time a Washington baseball team won anything.

Occam's Tool| 9.6.11 @ 2:26PM

Which means, John, that they won the World Series more recently than the Cubs by almost 2 decades. Sigh.

yisong| 10.27.11 @ 9:43PM

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