District Daily: Is Anthony Rendon the face of the franchise’s future?
Oct 6, 2014; San Francisco, CA, USA; Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) bats in front of San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (28, left) during game three of the 2014 NLDS baseball playoff game at AT&T Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Good morning DoD readers, start off your day with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web in our District Daily:
Anthony Rendon Will Replace Bryce Harper as Face of Franchise’s Future in 2015
(Jacob Shafer, Bleacher Report)
With all the attention being heaped on the Washington Nationals‘ new super-rotation, it’s easy to forget there’s a young Nats position player with “future superstar” written all over him.
No, not Bryce Harper, though the brash, big-swinging former No. 1 pick remains an indelible part of the picture in the nation’s capital.
We’re talking about Anthony Rendon, who quietly put together a breakout 2014 campaign and looks poised to claim the franchise-player mantle.
If he does, expect humility. “He’s not walking around with his chest puffed out, he’s doing things the right way,” shortstop Ian Desmond said of his young teammate in 2012, the year after Rendon was drafted, per The Washington Times‘ Amanda Comak. Read full article here.
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Washington Nationals’ 5 Most Important Players for 2015 Success
(Danny Garrison, Bleacher Report)
Contrary to popular belief, the Washington Nationals have not been crowned 2015 World Series champions just yet, and there are a number of players on the roster who must perform up to or beyond their potential for the team to reach its lofty goals.
In 2014, the Nationals’ Achilles’ heel was a lack of offense when they needed it most.
Washington’s pitching staff mowed down opponents all season, earning the best ERA in baseball. And the addition of Max Scherzer without the subtraction of any starters from a year ago should equal continued dominance from the mound.
With the disclaimer that Washington only played one postseason series, the team had the second-lowest batting average of the 10-team playoff field. That could be Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants‘ fault, but the Nats’ .253 regular-season average wasn’t all that impressive either. Read full article here.