Today’s District Daily features stories on Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer’s goals for 2016 and catcher Wilson Ramos’s hopes heading into a contract year.
Good evening DoD readers, and welcome to today’s District Daily. Get caught up on the latest Nats news and opinions with some great Washington Nationals articles from around the web below.
In today’s Daily, MLB.com’s Jamal Collier discusses Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer, who is entering the second year of his 7-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals. As Collier writes, the right-hander will have a very tough act to follow in 2016: his own.
Scherzer was dominant in his first season with the Nationals last year, going 14-12 with a 2.79 ERA, 276 strikeouts and and a 0.92 WHIP. He also pitched two no-hitters and was in the Cy Young conversation until he began to struggle a bit in the second half.
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Scherzer will be a crucial part of the Nationals in 2016, and if he can improve on his dominant 2015 performance, he could help lead the Nationals back to the postseason this year.
Also in today’s Daily, the Washington Post’s Chelsea Janes discusses catcher Wilson Ramos’s goals for 2016 as he enters his walk year. After parts of seven seasons with the Nationals, Ramos is set to hit the free agent market next winter.
Be sure to check out both articles below, they’re definitely worth a read. And as always, stay tuned to DoD for all your Washington Nationals needs.
Scherzer his own tough act to follow
VIERA, Fla. — Max Scherzer was routinely compared to Johnny Vander Meer, the only pitcher to throw back-to-back no-hitters, last season during a two-start stretch where he allowed a combined one hit and one walk and hit one batter while throwing one no-hitter and producing the highest game score by any pitcher since 1914.
In his final start of the season, he threw his second no-hitter of the season, opening up the possibility of matching Vander Meer’s record with his first start this season. Read full article here.
Wilson Ramos prepares for contract year
(Chelsea Janes, Washington Post)
VIERA, Fla. — Wilson Ramos does not seal off his emotions. After bad games, he is visibly crestfallen, willing to admit his confidence is shaken. After good games, he smiles widely, and freely admits his confidence is high. This season, which will likely shape the kind of opportunities available to him in free agency next winter, will test him. He admits that, too.
“It’s hard to not think about that, but I’m not trying to think. I’m just trying to come back here, day by day, and see what happens. I just try to do my best…” Ramos said. “I know it’s hard not thinking about the contract. It’s my last year here. I’m going to be a free agent, but a lot of people, when they think too much about free agency, they lose focus, so I don’t want to do that. I want to stay focused on this year, and see what happens for the next.” Read full article here.