35,000 FEET OVER AMERICA – I always get a kick out of using this dateline.
As you read this, I am (I hope) en route from New York to Chicago for the final road series of the season. The Nationals just got swept in ugly fashion by the Mets. Now they've got a four-game weekend series at Wrigley Field against a Cubs team that's technically still in the race but would need a miracle to make up a seven-game deficit with only 10 games to play. So perhaps that plays to the Nats' advantage.
There will be plenty to discuss when the season ends next week, but let's go ahead and take the opportunity this morning to start addressing some of those pertinent Hot Stove topics. Where do the Nationals look to be in good shape heading into 2025? Where do they need to improve? What are the chances they will be able to adequately improve and actually become a contender again?
Submit your questions in the comments section below, then check back throughout the morning for my answers. Fingers crossed the WiFi works and I'm able to crank out my responses while we're in the air. If for some reason you don't see anything from me by, say, 10:30 a.m. EDT, there unfortunately was a problem. Apologies in advance if that happens!