I think the Nats could contend for the wild card

Well to contend we're looking at 90 wins. I think were a year off on that goal. The goal this year should be to win 82 games at all costs. That can be achieved easy. Only 20 injuries like last year would keep the NATS from 82 wins.

Remember the team played better then .500 ball the last 120 games last year. The NATS will score as much as they did those last two months. That Bullpen except Cordero { he will not be in the pen for our first playoff game} is one of the best in the league. We probably have 3 starters for NEXT year that will start this season at AAA. And there is that much much much improved bench. It cannot be emphazised enough the improved bench.

So if we have a shot at 90 so be it. But 82-85 is probably more like it.

What I find interesting is the baseball fans that think that the NATS will lose 100 games this year. That is quite laughable. 

I think we can realistically win 80-85 games this year. I am really looking forward to a great new season in our new ballpark.  I think as long as we stay fairly healthy we should have a decent season.

GO NATS

I'm a Nats fan, and I see things a little differently.

Milledge cannot be expected to be a start this year. He'll grow and hopefully be good in 2009. Same goes for Dukes. Patterson is a 5 starter at best (and when healthy) and Chico has the upside of a 4. Hill is our best pitcher when healthy. Perez is terrible. Clippard is not a future ace. Cordero is a shaky closer. He flirts with trouble every 9th inning.

We've got promise with Milledge, Dukes, and Zimmerman in the majors. We need Chris Marrero, Ross Detwiler, and Zechary Zinicola to be good in order for us to get over the hump.

As a Brevard County resident, I'm hoping to get some Nats games in soon at Viera. From everything I've read in the newspaper and on the internet, we seem to be pretty solid.

Any thoughts on Cordero? He was lights out a couple of years ago, but now I worry every time he comes in. Any particular reason for his shakiness or has he just lost his mechanics?

wishful thinking IMO. man i hope so. my thing is, they can't depend on anything. are top 5 SP are MR anywhere else, and you need pitching to make it through the long haul.