The Washington Nationals finished the 2022 campaign with a 55-107 overall record. 46.0 games behind 1st place in NL East, 14.0 games total behind 4th place miami marlins in the department.
It didn’t help that the Nationals finished 17-59 against divisional rivals (5-14 against Atlanta, 4-15 against Miami, 5-14 against New York, 3-16 against Philadelphia). 13 of his 17 in the division round out his 22-year schedule.
Knots skipper Davey Martinez has spoken out about turning a corner and returning to competing in the East again at the end of the year, and what his club has to do.
How will they fill the gap?
“We have to play better. We have to play clean baseball,” Martinez said in the final weekend of the 2022 season.
Photo by Jonathan Newton/Washington Post via Getty Images
“I think, like I always say, it all starts with the starters. The teams in our division, their starters are really, really good. We always talk about trying to score first, but we have to improve on that, knock them out of the game early on and go from there.”
Later the same day, Martinez shared his thoughts more deeply when asked for a different take on the competition in the NL East.
“We definitely have to start here and now,” he said. “And looking back, in a lot of games, except for the last couple of games that we played in the division that we’re in, we were right there and we were competing, but I’ll go back and see how many of those games are. We had to finish one of our bullpens and sharpen them.This division is good, I’ve always said this division is going to be tough. We need a piece of that, give the young players an opportunity, and what I see from the young players is that they are not afraid to go out and compete.”
Reflecting on the season, Martinez told reporters this winter that he liked how his game for the club lasted until the end and stressed that he wants the club to put the 2022 season behind them and keep building.
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Photo by Jonathan Newton/Washington Post via Getty Images
“I want — I want them to come to spring training so that everyone has a fresh start, right?” Martinez said. “We are young, but we can compete. I don’t want them to think we are rebuilding. No, we are here to compete. We are trying to win as many games as possible.” that will be the message.
“I sent that message at the end of the season, but I want them to understand that losing 100 games is unacceptable. I want them to come to spring training knowing we will be competing to win.
In our season preview here at SB Nation’s sister site, The Good Phight asked what it would take for the club to get back into the mix at the NL East in 2022.
Q: The National League East is probably the second strongest division in the game today. What does it take for your team to win a division or secure a wild card spot and enter playoff contention?
what is our reaction?
A: What does it cost? little miracle? I don’t think anyone sees the 2023 Nationals as a threat to make the postseason at this point of rebuilding, rebooting, resetting, etc. GM Mike Rizzo has repeatedly pointed to the 2009-12 restructuring the club went through as a blueprint for what the organization is currently trying to do, with young talent growing up and signing free agency this winter. Some have bounced back as hoped and regained more depth of perspective if traded by the trade deadline. can continue to build the next contenders, they may assess where they are and start adding via trade and free agency for their next run. “
Here’s the rest of the 2023 preview we contributed:
