Back in March,
I asked an esteemed group of individuals for their predictions for the
2025 Nationals season. Want to see how everyone did? Or would rather bury the
original post and hope that it never sees the light of day again? Well, since I
already created a blog post title, feel free to see how we did. Or don't.
1. There are
high expectations for 2023 #2 overall pick Dylan Crews. What do you expect from
him this season?
Crews, the #2
overall pick after some guy named Paul Skenes in Pittsburgh, only played in 85
games thanks to injuries. His overall stats of 10 home runs and 17 stolen bases
seem encouraging. 27 RBIs, a .208 batting average, and .280 on-base percentage
are not so encouraging. Crews was one of the best college hitters of the last
20 years, so it seems unlikely that he forgot to hit overnight. Still, it's
been a difficult adjustment to the major leagues. Most of the group had high
expectations for Crews, and he didn't live up to them. Frank probably was the
closest in his predictions of putting "some pressure on the defense with
his base stealing ability."
2. Who will
lead the Nationals in home runs in 2025?
This ended up
being an easy one. Nearly everyone (Ryan, Frank, Richard, Chris, Marc, and
Sean) picked James Wood who led the Nats with 31 home runs.
3. Will
the Nationals be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?
Pretty much
everyone through the team would be sellers and they were though not really any
big names. Kyle Finnegan went to Detroit, Amed Rosario to the Yankees, Michael
Soroka to the Cubs, Alex Call to the Dodgers, and Andrew Chafin and Luis Garcia to the Angels. You have to be very good at Immaculate Grid or really, really,
really follow the Nationals to know most of these players. (Maybe Josh Bell was frustrated not getting traded?)
4. Will CJ
Abrams go to a casino this season?
Probably a mean
question. I'll just pretend that I didn't ask
this.
5. Who will
be the team's surprise/breakout player this year?
Richard wrote
that this player isn't on the opening day lineup and he was right. Daylen Lile joined the Nats in late May and excelled after the All-Star break. Lile hit
.304 in August with 1 home run and 8 RBIs to go along with a .353 on-base
percentage. In September, Lile hit .391(!!!) with 6 home runs, 19 RBIs, a .440
on-base percentage and .772 slugging percentage. That's a 1.212 OPS! (OPS is
On-Base plus Slugging.) While I understand that this stat is for only one
month, as a comparison, Aaron Judge led the majors with a 1.144 OPS and Ohtani was next with a 1.014.
Partial credit
to Ryan for predicting Jose Ferrer. Ferrer pitched pretty well in the closer
role after the team traded Finnegan.
6. Which
Nats Summer Concert are you looking forward to the most?
OAR and Nelly were the right answers, but there really weren't any wrong answers.
7. Finally,
what's your overall prediction for the Nationals? (ex. record, finish in
the NL East).
Well, the team
was pretty lousy this year finishing 66-96 and last place in the NL East. The
record was only better than the Chicago White Sox and dreadful Colorado
Rockies. The team fired the manager and general manager mid-season. While I'm
not sure anyone would call this rock bottom, I think it's an understatement to
say that the Nationals 2025 season was a disappointment. No one thought the
Nationals would be THIS bad, though Frank was the closest predicting 70 wins.
I started this blog in January
2005, and the Washington Nationals moved from Montreal and played their first
home games at RFK Stadium nearly three months later. While I will always
consider myself to be a Pittsburgh sports fan, I have attended dozens of Nats
games over the last 20 years including the Max Scherzer near perfect game / no-hitter and Stephen Strasburg's debut. I think I have some Nats credentials here. Therefore, in addition, to my annual Pirates predictions blog post, I decided to create a Nationals predictions blog post
this year. I reached out to a variety of people, and I think you'll enjoy their
thoughts. Here's the starting lineup.
Well, different starting lineup.
Ryan Clary: Host of the Locked on Nationals podcast and producer of Grant & Danny on 106.7 The Fan. (Twitter)
Frank Hanrahan: WTOP sports
reported and fellow Ithaca College graduate (Twitter)
Sean: Author of Sean’s Ramblings
which you’re reading right now. Still hoping for media credentials to cover a
game at Nats Park someday. (Blue Sky)
There are also some special guest participants at the end of this post.
1. There are high expectations for
2023 #2 overall pick Dylan Crews. What do you expect from him this season?
Ryan: I expect Dylan Crews to be a
very impactful defender in right field. He’ll establish himself as one of the
best defensive right fielders in baseball, that’s one of my bold takes. I think
offensively he will have a middle of the road season, with some highs and lows
throughout the season. He’ll have to learn how to hit the off speed/ breaking
pitches.
Frank: I would expect Crews to be
the every day right fielder for the Nats and be a real threat at the top of the
lineup as well as put some pressure on the defense with his base stealing
ability. Team needs a spark plug like him.
John: You always worry about
lofty, rookie of the year type expectations. Just ask Jackson Holliday
last year. But the experience Crews got last year will definitely serve
him well. If he wins Rookie of the Year, then great, though that award
isn’t often indicative of stardom. At 23 you just hope for a solid
year. If he’s simply “good” this year – say .270 and 15-20 homers – then
you have to feel great. But with young guys who have amazing tools, I
hesitate to get too specific because you never know when it’ll actually
click. The Nats will feel great if that’s this year, but if you have to
wait a year to see him explode, that’s fine too.
Richard: It will be interesting to
see Crews at the Major League level all season. I am expecting big things from
him and a breakout year and will live up to all the hype that has been
placed on the rookie. However, he will fall short in ROY voting, but it will be
fun to watch for Nationals fans.
Chris:.265, 15 HR, 70 RBI if he
plays the full year. Which is great!
Marc: I really think that Crews is
going to win Rookie of the Year in the NL. Yes, Roki Sasaki brings high
pedigree, but Crews already has MLB experience. Additionally, I think Crews has
played really well during Spring Training and done a great job of hitting the
play to RF with authority. I can clearly see him going 20/20 this year.
Andrew: Big things - 30+ homers, 90+ RBIs. Breakout year.
Sean: Solid season and finishes with
15+ home runs and 20+ stolen bases. (Not quite a 20/20 season.) Finishes top 3
in the NL rookie of the year voting.
2. Who will lead
the Nationals in home runs in 2025?
Ryan: James Wood will lead the team
with 30 homeruns in 2025.
Frank: I think James Wood is going
to have a breakout season and lead the team in homers.
John: Does CJ Abrams take another
leap this year and club the crap out of the ball? On a team lacking a
consistently menacing threat – unless Crews takes that big leap this season –
it is probably Abrams.
Richard: I predict James Wood will
lead the Nationals in home runs this season.
Chris: Wood. (I hope).
Marc: I think that James Wood will
lead the team in homers. He nearly led the team in homers last year despite
only being called up in July, so he is the obvious pick. I could also see
someone like Josh Bell or Nate Lowe leading in HRs though.
Andrew: Crews
Sean: James Wood with at least 25.
3. Will the Nationals be
buyers or sellers at the trade deadline?
Ryan: I think we will be on the
fence. I don’t see us selling anyone big outside of Kyle Finnegan, but I also
don’t see us moving off of any prospects. I think we stay put for the most
part.
Frank: Nationals will be cheap
as they usually are and be sellers at the trade deadline.
John: This is a team that has to be
sellers again. They have a few talented pieces for a future playoff run,
but not nearly enough just yet. That said, how many guys look like
someone who will fetch you a big return? Though with what relief pitching
commands near the trade deadline, get a dominant arm or two in the pen and you
might get a couple dudes who can be pieces in 2027 or so.
Richard: Sellers
Chris: Still sellers. One more
year!
Marc: I don't think that Nats will
be buyers or sellers actually. I think they will stand pat or flip some of
their veteran players on expiring contracts, if anything. Players like Jorge
Lopez, Kyle Finnegan, Amed Rosario and Mike Soroka are all trade candidates if
the team decides to sell. That being said, I doubt Rizzo will want to sell
based on the last few deadlines.
Andrew: Sellers
Sean: Sellers. Josh Bell will
continue of streak of getting traded for the 17th straight season.
4. Will CJ Abrams go to a casino
this season? (Sean’s
note: CJ Abrams was essentially suspended near the end of the 2024 season for
apparently spending all night at a casino. It was a big deal. With that
written, I probably should have asked this question differently. At least one
person didn’t participate in this prediction post because of this question.)
Ryan: No, CJ and the team has out
that in the rear view mirror and we are all good on that front.
Frank: CJ Abrams better be
attending gamblers anonymous meetings and not even thinking about heading back
to a casino.
John: Bet you no one cares as long
as he’s hitting…
Richard: I just wanted to let you
know that I won't be able to answer this question.
Chris: GOD I HOPE NOT
Marc: CJ is going to silence a lot
of doubters this season. I have been really pleased with his answers to
everything from the press so far have demonstrated he is past the issue.
Whether he actually goes to a casino, I am not sure. Maybe he does, but it
likely will not be as late with a game the next afternoon or in the public eye.
Andrew: No
Sean: I feel like CJ and the
Nationals probably have some type of agreement stating that he can’t go to a
casino.
5. Who will be the team's
surprise/breakout player this year?
Ryan: I think your surprise
breakout will be Jose Ferrer, I think he will be the best bullpen piece that we
have and he could look to make his first All-Star game. He’s got all the goods
to be an elite arm for the next decade plus.
Frank: Opening day starter McKenzie
Gore showed flashes last season as being a pretty solid major league starter
but I expect Gore to take a bigger step with a bigger role and dare I say a
near 20 game winner.
John: I’m going to say James Wood,
not necessarily a huge surprise, but I think he blows up this year.
That’s also partly because a buddy of mine coached him in high school, but he
put up good numbers at a young age and as he gets older, you figure he’s only
going to get better. Him and Crews together in the outfield can be really
special. Maybe not this season, but pretty soon.
Richard: Honestly, this player
isn't in the lineup just yet.
Chris: Wood. I am also a Jacob
Young guy.
Marc: A surprise/breakout player,
for me, is two fold. Offensively, I think that Jacob Young is going to the next
steps to be a contributor outside of his blazing speed and defense. He put on
some muscle this offseason and has done well in ST. On the mound, I think that
three pitchers will break out. The first is Jake Irvin, who already broke out
to a certain extent in the first half last season, but really fell off in the
second half. If he limits the home runs, he can be one of the best pitchers in
the starting rotation. Another one I think will break out is Mitchell Parker. I
really like his stuff from the left side and he has a year of big league
experience under his belt already. The third one is Jose A. Ferrer. He is a
lefty that throws a 100 mph sinker. How much more needs to be said? I think
that Ferrer can become the closer by the end of the season if the Nats trade
Finnegan. If nothing else, he will be a strong relief option for the back end
of the bullpen.
Andrew: Not sure he's a surprise but Crews will breakout bigtime this year.
Sean: Pitcher Brad Lord. The Nationals
bullpen has been an adventure for years. Maybe the rookie can bring some
stability. More importantly, lots of potential nicknames. Lord of the Bullpen. Sith
Lord. Lunch Lord (for any Girls5eva fans).
6. Which Nats Summer Concert are
you looking forward to the most: O.A.R., Natasha Bedingfield, Nelly, Sam
Hunt, Ja Rule/Ashanti, or Riley Green (who is apparently not the Detroit
Tigers' outfielder)?
Ryan: Gotta be Nelly! Nelly has
some big hits so I’m excited for him.
Frank: Sam Hunt is a concert I
would stay after to watch. I am a deep undercover country fan and Hunt has some
bangers!
John: My heart says OAR, but you
gotta have a little nostalgia for Nelly too. What’s happening now?!
Richard: O.A.R. Shattered.
Duh!!
Chris: Uh, this is not exactly a
murderer’s row of music. Ja Rule probably.
Marc: For the concerts, I am
excited for Sam Hunt and Nelly. I am a country music fan so those names are the
ones I am most interested in.
Andrew: OAR
Sean: I asked this question to my
oldest son who replied Nelly. If we go, I hope he plays Hot In Herre.
7. Finally, what's your overall
prediction for the Nationals? (ex. record, finish in the NL East)
Ryan: I think the Nats finish
78-84. The NL East will be too tough for them to break .500 but they will be a
sneaky decent team and will be a hard out. Young, fun, scrappy team.
Frank: In 2025, the Nationals will
win 70 games as the cheap rebuild continues and they will finish fourth in the
NL East. I need a reason to watch this team and hopefully Crews, Wood or Abrams
will play well enough to make the Nats summer time appointment viewing.
John: Thanks to the eternal
ineptitude, or apathy, of the Miami Marlins, the Nationals figure to
be solidly in fourth place in the division. If Crews has a monster year
this season, maybe they threaten for third, but I think there’s a wide
disparity between them and the contenders that have much higher expectations in
the division. This Nats team could be a bit scrappy sometimes, a definite
pain in the butt for opposing pitchers if you have to play them enough, but
it’s hard to win 8-7 every game. And with a pitching staff that still
seems anonymous and lacking for the most part, it’s hard to envision them being
better than a mediocre team this year. But I also say that as an Orioles
fan who knows teams can come out of nowhere faster than you think. So if
I’m wrong, well, I won’t be surprised. But from out here my expectations
aren’t very high.
Richard: I predict the Nationals finish
a couple of games over .500 and will be third in the division.
Chris: 3rd in NL behind Mets and
Braves, 81-81.
Marc: Predictions: I think the Nats
finish somewhere between the range of 75-85 wins. In my most optimistic
opinion, I think the young core can lead the team to a Wild Card berth, much
like the O's in 2023. Conversely, this core has yet to play a full season together
and relying on a team that has an average age in the late 20s is a risk. The
lack of veteran leaders like Jayson Werth/Scherzer can easily hurt this team in
a maturity standpoint. It is easy for me to look at the NL East and say they
will finish in 4th, but I genuinely think one of ATL/NYM/PHI will falter and,
if the Nats play well, they can finish in 3rd. Every season, a team
overperforms and a team underperforms. Who says that team to overperform can't
be the Nats?
Andrew: Finish 4th in the NL East
Sean: 75 wins. Slight improvement
from last season, but they can’t compete with the Mets, Braves, and Phillies.
BONUS PREDICTIONS:
You may know Mike Ploger as the in-game host for Nationals and Capitals games (as well as being a realtor). While he was unable to provide predictions based on his role in the organization, he shared that the Nationals will go 162-0 and a World Series (with a winking smiley face emoji). (Sean's note: Since the Nationals lost on Thursday, I will amend Mike's prediction to the team going 161-1 and a World Series!) (Instagram)
Caroline, the lead vocalist and guitarist, for the DC-area band Cinema Hearts also shared this:
I'm just proud to say I was a Nats fan since they started in 2005. My only prediction is I hope everyone has a great summer watching baseball and that I will one day sing in the stadium!
Thanks to everyone for participating. Please feel free to leave your own predictions in the comments below.
Photo Credits:
Dylan Crews by Geoff Burke-USA Today
CJ Abrams by G Fiume-Getty
Nelly by John Amis-AP
Cinema Hearts from their Instagram page by Natania Krebs.
Welcome to Sean's Ramblings! If you're looking for thoughts on pop culture, music, fun and informative links, random DC and Pittsburgh info, sports (particularly Pittsburgh sports), and just what's going on in my life, then you're come to the right place.
Any questions, comments or links? Contact me at seanramblings[at]yahoo[dot]com.
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