Harper still key to Nationals’ push
Cards to deliver in Central; Rockies to reign in tight West
Washington goes into the season an urgent team. This could be the Nationals’ last chance to win with outfielder Bryce Harper.
In 2009, the Nationals selected right-hander Stephen Strasburg with the first overall draft choice. A year later, Washington picked up Harper at the same spot.
The Las Vegan joined Strasburg in the majors at age 19 in 2012. The Nationals seemingly were set for a long championship run.
Harper met expectations. He won the Rookie of the Year award, took the Most Valuable Player trophy in 2015 and has made five All-star teams.
The Nationals have fallen short. They are 0-for-4 in playoff series during Harper’s tenure. Three of the series went the full five games. Last year’s loss in five games to the Chicago Cubs cost manager Dusty Baker his job.
The franchise has not won a playoff series since 1981, when it was based in Montreal.
Harper can become a free agent after this season and likely will receive a staggering contract. New manager Dave Martinez clutches to the possibility of Harper remaining with the club beyond this season.
“I hope we get to work together for a lot of years,” Martinez said. “He’s a tremendous player. Anybody would want him on their team. But as of now, he’s a Washington National, and I’m looking forward to working together.”
With no challenger on the horizon, the Nationals should take the National League East by a healthy margin again. They have won the division by a total of 28 games over the past two seasons combined.
Martinez gets an advantage few first-time managers have had: Two No. 1 starters in the rotation with Max Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young winner, and Strasburg. The Nats were 43-16 in their starts last season and 54-49 in all other games.
“We’ve got a chance to do something very special,” Martinez said. “But we’ve got to focus on the here and the now. They get that.”