Daniel Murphy, Ben Revere aiming to help Nats get back to division crown

Daniel Murphy and Ben Revere entered 2015 on ballclubs with different outlooks for the season. Murphy's Mets were seen as on the rise, especially with an assembly of dominant young starters, while Revere's Phillies figured to battle for last place in the National League East during a rebuilding phase. But neither team was expected to challenge the Nationals, who had been predicted to run away with the division.

Obviously, we know what happened. The Phillies tanked, fired everyone and had a trading spree that included Revere being shipped to the eventual American League East champion Blue Jays. And, of course, the Nationals collapsed, allowing the Mets to catch and bury them en route to an appearance in the World Series.

So as Murphy and Revere now find themselves in curly W caps, both offered their perspective of the organization from across the diamond over the past few years.

"I think with what Mr. (Mike) Rizzo and Mr. (Ted) Lerner have already done, they've laid the foundation of a really, really good and competitive team here," Murphy said after playing the past seven seasons for the Mets. "I've got to experience that competitiveness being in New York. It's always a tough place to come in here and play. The rotation itself is deep and is talented. Then when you start talking about position players, you've got the best player in the National League and possibly on Earth (Bryce Harper) hitting third for you every night. That's nice. Anthony Rendon, Jayson Weth and Michael (A.) Taylor, it's a good group, and hopefully I can just add to the foundation already laid here."

After facing the Nationals 19 times a year - plus several times in spring training - Murphy has become friendly with some Nationals players. But he knows outfielder Matt den Dekker directly from playing together in New York from 2013-2014.

"He spoke very highly of the clubhouse, the unity that this group has," Murphy said.

Murphy played behind imposing Mets right-handers Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard. Now he gets the benefits of the Nationals' powerful rotation.

"Looking from the other dugout, it didn't need to go much further than seeing (Max) Scherzer, (Stephen) Strasburg, Gio (Gonzalez). That's kind of the first thing that you thought about when you were coming to town. To be on this side of it is really exciting, not facing those three guys. Then the depth with Joe Ross and Tanner Roark, as well. It will be much more pleasant to be on this side of it rather than the other side of it."

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Revere watched from afar as the talent-laden Nationals fell woefully short of expectations. He's aiming to help them quickly clear the sour taste away in 2016.

"Definitely trying to help these guys get back to the playoffs," said Revere, who played in Philadelphia from 2013-2015. "I know last year I could tell was a big disappointment for them. I know with the Phillies, of course, we were at the bottom of the barrel, and then me getting traded over to the Blue Jays, I kind of watched every league and the playoff race. I watched the Nationals and how the guys kind of let it slip out of their hands. I'm sure every person is eager to get this season going to just get back to that step.

"I know we have a lot of great guys in here. I have faced them all. The starting rotation, of course some the hitters. The Nationals, they do a great job as an organization to prepare their guys who come up to the big leagues and the show. No matter if it's a position player or a pitcher. If they call somebody up, they're ready to roll and help this ballclub try to clinch the division and get back to the playoffs. Right now, I know already that every single guy in there is ticked off about how the season ended and, knowing what they did, they want to get back to the playoffs and hopefully bring the championship back to D.C."