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Washington Nationals: Passion and fight missing now

By Ron Juckett |
Apr 25, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Washington Nationals manager Dusty Baker (12) before the game against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

As the Washington Nationals play an easy stretch of the schedule, they come across as bored. That is not a good sign for the future.

The Washington Nationals are in a funk. Over the course of the grinding marathon that is a Major League Baseball season is to be expected.

The problem developing for the Nats, however, is complacency. Behind the cool demeanor of manager Dusty Baker and the rest of the coaching staff, Washington’s approach to games is too casual.

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Masked behind the well-documented bullpen problems are a lack of fundamentals. In the Pittsburgh Pirates series, cutoff men were not in place on throws from the outfield. Too many times, they settle for a strikeout when the Nats need to move a runner into scoring position. No regular player can bunt.

These are the things that can kill a season. Outside of Max Scherzer’s mound stalking in his starts, the lack of visual anger on the field sends red flags. The Nats give off a vibe these mistakes are okay. That is wrong.

Having a firebrand manager—Ozzie Guillen comes to mind—who throws chairs and gets in players faces is not what the team needs. Once players tune out, the team is toast.

But looking glum and passive solves nothing either. Some nights, you run into a better pitcher or hot team. It happens. With a game the next day, you cannot dwell on what went on the night before.

Yet too often, you get the sense the Nats shrug their shoulders and move on. How much longer will the overused starting rotation sit quietly as another game goes down the drain?

The extreme example is Jonathon Papelbon’s attempted choking of Bryce Harper a couple years ago. In a season gone bad, Papelbon’s frustration boiled over and made headlines. That was a mistake.

But, it is time for players to be upset. Games take forever. No lead is safe and those little things teams do to win titles are not happening. This is the moment for clubhouse leaders to work their power.

Although the bullpen goes beyond one player, expecting pitchers to throw strikes and with urgency must happen. Barking at a player not in position for a cutoff or a double play, Daniel Murphy Friday night, is fine Baseball must happen with passion, something lacking at the moment with the Nats.

There is a common goal for this team in 2017. Advance in the playoffs. Yet, you cannot turn the switch on in October.

Next: Draft watch: Keston Hiura

It is a credit how professional the Nats are, but the robotics are too much. Fans expect more. Show some pride.

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