Don't be Spoiled
A lot is said about the Nats' role as a spoiler. With the Dodgers on their heels, the Nats look to figure prominently into the postseason races. With six games each against the Phillies, Marlins, and Mets, the Nats will serve to make the NL East race very interesting.
If there is anything that these kids have shown their fans, it is that they hate losing, a lot. With Zimm and Dukes back in the lineup, and the pitching staff performing at a season-high level, the expectations for the last month of the season have been reset. Now it's about showing the rest of the Division and the League that we can play big league baseball with the best of them.
Taking a series from the Dodgers is just the beginning.
The Mets and Phillies have become legitimate rivals for the Nationals, especially in light of last year's NY meltdown. For them, the Nats are they proverbial "team to beat" in the NL East. They need to win the games against Washington to keep their playoff hopes bright. Both of these teams will be on alert for any pre-postseason letdown.
Regardless of how well they are playing, it is time for the Nats to step up to the challenge. That extra hustle, that extra effort, needs to be there in every at-bat, every pitch, every fly ball, and every ground ball.
With a goal in mind, to make these teams EARN their playoff spots, the Nationals can look at themselves as the team to beat in the NL East.
-Marques Mazyck
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