District Daily: Nationals built for return to playoffs in 2015

Sep 16, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Washington Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper (34, in hat) celebrates a victory against the Atlanta Braves with teammates at Turner Field. The Nationals defeated the Braves 3-0 to clinch the National League eastern division championship. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Good afternoon DoD readers, and Happy New Year! Checkout some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web in today’s District Daily:

Nationals built for return to playoffs in 2015

(Bill Ladson, MLB.com)

WASHINGTON — On paper, the Nationals look unbeatable. They have an outstanding rotation led by Jordan Zimmermann and Stephen Strasburg. With the exception of second base, the starting lineup is expected to give opposing pitchers problems.

But the 2015 season is still a ways off, and the Nationals still have some questions. With that in mind, here are the seven most important issues facing the Nationals heading into ’15:

1. Are the Nationals good enough to win their third National League East title in four years?

Yes. The Nationals’ rotation is still intact and their starting eight is above average. But it’s going to be harder than last year. Read full article here.

Watch What Goes Into Turning A Baseball Stadium Into A Hockey Rink

(Cork Gaines, Business Insider)

New Year’s Day marks the return of one of the great spectacles in sports, the NHL’s Winter Classic.

This year’s incarnation takes place in Washington D.C. at Nationals Park, the home of MLB’s Washington Nationals.

In all, it took 15 days to transform the baseball park into a hockey stadium. Below is a look at how it happened (click any image for a larger view). Read full article here.

Next: Is Ben Zobrist The Missing Piece For The Nationals' Offense?