Washington Nationals

This season has not been a pretty one for the Washington Nationals.

Losers of 10 of their first 11 games, they currently hold the worst record in either league. Last month, on consecutive days, they held leads against the Florida Marlins, only to see the Marlins tie the game on home runs and then win in extra innings.

Luck would not seem to be on their side.

While Nationals fans are no doubt frustrated with their team's misfortunes, they can feel honored to have one of baseball's young budding superstars: Ryan Zimmerman.

The Washington Nationals' season is one-sixth complete.  I know that sounds funny to say, but it's true.  The team has played 27 games so far, which is one-sixth of 162.  So how does the team stand?

Well, to listen to the national media or bloggers looking for cheap web page hits, the Nats are a laughingstock.  But how true is that?

The starting pitching leaves much to be desired.  Any staff that's counting on two rookies and Daniel Cabrera can not be considered good.  And the bullpen has been every bit as bad as advertised. 

If you do not know who Stephen Strasburg is, then it is time for you to wake up. Before Friday night, Strasburg was already arguably the greatest college pitcher of all-time. After his performance Friday, he may have separated himself from the field.

Strasburg added to his legacy by throwing a no-hitter against Air Force in what was probably his last home game. He did not disappoint the record-sized Tony Gwynn Stadium attendance; striking out 17, while only walking two.

Two things stood out in the Nationals' come-from-behind, 11-9 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday night.

Both of them were positive, and both were surprising.

First, the Nationals plated 11 runs and meted out 18 hits against the first-place Dodgers. They now have a .275 team batting average (third in the league), a .363 on-base percentage (second), and have drawn 125 walks (second). They are on pace to score in excess of 150 more runs this season than last.

Just in case you've been living under a rock, Ryan Zimmerman is on a ridiculous streak right now.

Last season, the Washington Nationals lost 102 games, and their accompanying statistics bore that out. They were 13th in runs per game, 15th in home runs, and dead last in slugging percentage.

This year, the Nationals are on track to lose 108 games, but this time, their statistics seem to make their bad start an aberration.

After 20 games, the team is scoring a league-average 4.5 runs per game, is sixth in the league with 22 home runs and a .270 team batting average, and tied for second with 87 walks.

What's cookin', fellas? Shoot, the ball we playin' now just ain't cuttin' it.

Honestly, I'm fit to be tied. Personally, I'm playin' real well, still jackin' a ton of bombs and all that, but this damn team can’t stop losin'.

We're 4-15, geez, that’s even worse than when I was playin in Cinci!

Washington, jump on the bandwagon.

The Nationals acquired bonafide stud in Logan Kensing from the Florida Marlins on Wednesday, just three days after the Marlins designated him for assignment.

Washington shored up the worst bullpen in the National League by adding Kensing, who will go in and compete for the newly open closer position.

Kensing has dominated in his six games with Florida! In seven-and-a-third innings, he allowed eight runs on 14 hits and his control has been pinpoint accurate, walking five batters for a phenomenal 2.59 WHIP.

Jordan Zimmermann has gone from small town kid to a big league starting pitcher in the Nation's capital.

Zimmermann was born and raised in Central Wisconsin's Auburndale, where he also attended the local high school.

He then attended a small Division III college 30 miles east of his hometown in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he played baseball for three years.