2015 Nats prediction: Block off Constitution Avenue

The Nationals have finally reached the end - and yet just the beginning.

Six weeks ago, it started with some of the game's elite pitchers reporting to the same clubhouse in Space Coast Stadium. You could probably say the hype machine officially commenced in mid-January when the Nats stunned the baseball world by signing right-hander Max Scherzer. But it was really the first day of spring training when the Nats embarked on this journey, as the barrage of never-ending questions regarding expectations began, giving this a feel like a season has already been played.

A few days into camp, as if the world needed any more convincing, a bullish Bryce Harper showed up to camp and dumped a gasoline tanker on the fire.

"I just started laughing," Harper joked when asked about his response to his team signing Scherzer. "I was like, 'Where's my ring?' You know what I mean? It's stupid. It's absolutely stupid how good our staff is.

"I mean, good luck. Because that's insane. Going into that, it's just, I'm crying because it's hilarious having to go in there and face them. It's absolutely stupid. We have the best staff in all of baseball, I don't care what nobody says."

Of course that was before the adversity of camp set in. Sure the Nats arrived to Viera, Fla., expecting to be without outfielders Jayson Werth and Nate McLouth - both recovering from shoulder surgeries - for most of, if not all of the spring. And injuries to star players, including Harper, have interfered with this team's growth the past few seasons. But if you asked what statistical category the Nats would be tops in over the Grapefruit League season, nobody would've guessed MRIs.

That's unfortunately the misfortune the team faced right out of the gates with center fielder Denard Span (core muscle surgery) and third baseman Anthony Rendon (sprained left MCL) going down in the first week of the exhibition season and never returning. Soon after, the contagious injury bug traveled to the pitching staff. First, it was closer Drew Storen's fluky broken left hamate bone, then right-hander Stephen Strasburg's sprained left ankle and finally righty reliever Casey Janssen's throwing shoulder tendinitis.

Span tied for the National League lead in hits a year ago. Rendon finished fifth the NL MVP voting in 2014. Werth drove in 82 runs last season. None of them will play today against the Mets as they begin the season on the disabled list along with Janssen and McLouth.

"It's an interesting spring, to say the least," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "That part of it's over. Now we get to get back to our own park, which is good, and give everybody a little shot of energy in that regard. We're ready to start. We're ready to go and give Max the ball on opening day and see what we get."

Through all of the calamities, Williams knows he still possesses baseball's most imposing starting rotation. Scherzer and company figure to be relied on heavily early in the season for a team that may still be feeling the offensive hangover left from last year's National League Division Series.

Only shortstop Ian Desmond and catcher Wilson Ramos will be on the field at the same positions as a year ago, when the Nats opened the season against the Mets at Citi Field. Harper moves to right field. Ryan Zimmerman begins a new chapter of his career at first base. Three-time All-Star Dan Uggla attempts to make a surprising comeback, in a curly W hat at second and Yunel Escobar finds himself in unfamiliar territory at third.

The injuries to Werth and Span showcased outfielders Tyler Moore and Michael A. Taylor all spring. But can their scorching bats stay hot into the regular season when it counts until the veterans return?

So, as it's time to get the proverbial official predictions in before opening day, let's first revisit Harper's pro wrestling-like speech that he offered early in camp.

"I absolutely love this organization," Harper said. "I love the city that I play for. And I'm not done here. Like I said before, five years ago when I first signed here, I'm going to bring back a title to D.C., no matter what. And I'm getting chills thinking about it. I mean, I absolutely want to do that for this city, this town, and I don't care how long it takes me. I'm going to stick and do what I need to do to help this organization win. They showed me what they wanted and how they wanted to do it and got that deal done, and I'm here for the next two years definitely and I'm excited to get going this year and doing the things that I need to do to bring a title back to D.C., and hoist that trophy over the monuments."

That's how I see the Nationals' 2015 campaign ending - with a parade down Constitution Avenue. The only question is whether Harper will actually scale the Washington Monument with the Commissioner's Trophy and lift it up over the nation's capital.