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Washington Nationals: The Season Starts Now

By Ron Juckett

Feb 21, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (left) talks with the Nationals owner Ted Lerner (right) during spring training workouts at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2017; West Palm Beach, FL, USA; Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy (left) talks with the Nationals owner Ted Lerner (right) during spring training workouts at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Grapefruit League begins for the Washington Nationals Saturday against the New York Mets. Although it is an exhibition, it is perfect to have them back.

For the Washington Nationals, the long winter of discontent is over.

When they take the field Saturday afternoon in Port St. Lucie against the New York Mets, the marathon begins anew. From now until October—and we hope November—the Nats are now a daily presence on the field and not a moment too soon.

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With high expectations and wary eyes towards Chicago and the west coast, this franchise starts their 49th spring overall and 13th under the Washington banner. This year, it is all about October.

Or is it?

Although we expect the Nats to return to the playoffs in some form, baseball is all about the journey. Those hot summer nights watching Bryce Harper slug or Max Scherzer shut down the Philadelphia Phillies are as important.

Did you giggle watching the presidential mascots race? Is your favorite Nats hat finally broken in comfortably? Do you read Chelsea Janes or Mark Zuckerman before anything else in the morning? Well, then you know where we are.

Baseball is a grind. A never-ending marathon starting this year in February and running through the first-half of the Washington Redskins season. As with any grueling road race, there are twists, turns and hills that will test the spirit of the most diehard of fans.

Losing streaks, injuries and popular players slumping have filled the pages of sports sections for over a century. They will again all summer as long as we love this game and for decades to come.

Those first tentative steps of the season start now from the sunny confines of Florida. With players you need a scorecard to recognize now to the 25 you will lose sleep over by Labor Day, every game counts to a degree.

Yes, the standings and statistics are unimportant now. However, what starts in West Palm Beach sets the tone for the real season to come. Exhibition games matter.

Not because everything hinges on wind sprints and bunt fielding practice, but, simply, we miss the game. We miss seeing our uniforms on the grass and dirt. One of the most charming things about baseball is the daily grind of it. The sport renews itself close to 200 times a year.

While others see that as tedium, we call it normal. Sure, the Nats are still favored to win the National League East, but remember to enjoy and embrace the return of Washington.

Next: Projecting The Opening Day 25

Baseball is back and not a moment too soon.

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