The Washington Nationals began the 2013 season as strong favorites to win their division and win the National League pennant. The Atlanta Braves, their main rival, were predicted to be competitive in the division, but probably not match the Nats due to starting pitching and hitting.
Two weeks into the season the question of who the better team is still, of course, unanswered. Baseball campaigns are long, played in each season except winter, and so full of ups and downs. Protracted slumps and injuries often derail early season surges, and early season slumps and injuries are overcome by players and teams who prove their anti-fragility in July, August, and the September pennant chases.
Both teams surged early coming into this weekend series at Nationals Park. The Braves had been slightly better, winning 8 of 9. The Nats, 7 of 9. The 3 games offered an early glimpse into which team MAY have the upper hand.
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After 2 games and 3 innings, the Braves clearly appear to be the better team. They came from behind against the Nats bullpen on Friday night and won 6-4 in extra innings. Both Tim Hudson and Stephen Strasburg dueled admirably on Saturday, but the Braves prevailed 3-1. In both games the Nationals defense made untimely miscues that lead to unearned Atlanta runs.
Sunday rolled around and the specter of an Atlanta sweep loomed over South Capitol Street. However, the hometown had Gio Gonzalez pitching and he had been highly effective at home since coming over from the Oakland A's last year. Atlanta scored 3 in the first inning and 4 in the third. They hit three homers, and their pitcher, Paul Maholm, shut down the Nats on 2 hits through 5 innings.
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Your correspondent turned off the game and watched a documentary called Bully, which focuses on how some people come to dominate others and break their will.
There was not much of a discernible difference in theme between the game and the film. The Braves have simply put a hurting on the Nats this weekend, not unlike the one inflicted on them by the New York Yankees last June.
It's clear that the Braves are not intimidated by the Nats, and after this weekend they may even lose some respect for them. Hopefully they won't start name calling and beating the Nats up as they board their bus to go to Miami tonight.
Goodness gracious, it's now 9-0 as the bottom of the sixth approaches.
There is a silver lining in this weekend's thumping and there is no doubt Davey Johnson, the Nats manager, will seek to exploit it with his young squad. The Nationals have yet to learn to play as a favorite, and it's clear that collectively this psychological hump has yet to be surmounted. Davey has had talented, but yet-to-ascend teams before, and they eventually learned how to fend off challengers. Time will tell if the potential of the Nationals will be realized and they learn to win despite the opposition's best efforts.
It would be easy to feel discouraged after this weekend, but there is a good chance that the bullying that the Nats took this weekend will be turned into a positive. Davey knows the way, the team just needs to follow his lead through the twists, turns, and occasional spankings.
