Nationals Top 10 Hits of 2012: #1 Ian Desmond
By Jared Book
There were a lot of big hits this year for the Washington Nationals and there were a lot of big wins. This list is sorted by WPA which is Win Probability Added. It means that Jayson Werth‘s walk-off homerun in Game Four of the NLDS is not in the Top 10 because it was a tie game in the bottom of the inning meaning the swing of WPA was not big enough. This list is for games where Washington went from a low chance of winning to a high chance.
Next up is Number 1.
Ian Desmond: May 2 vs Arizona
The situation: 4-3 Diamondbacks, Bottom 9 (2 outs), Runner on 2nd
Pitcher: J.J. Putz
The result: +0.86
Like I mentioned, this is probably the biggest swing possible. Trailing with 2 outs in the 9th to a 100 percent chance of winning. No one knew the season Desmond, or the Nationals would have this early in May but this was telling of both of their seasons. The Nationals winning a close game, and Desmond hitting a big home run.