February in the nation’s capital is a cold month. Temperatures have just barely started to climb above freezing and the promise of a spring breeze is not yet more than a promise. But dream we do.
Baseball, the proxy for life it often is, carries with it the same dream of better times. And this February 11th, this promise was made with a $20 million, 2 year contract for slugging 1B/OF Adam Dunn. The strategy was that Dunn, as a club carrying middle-of-the-order thumper, would provide game changing run production while the Nationals’ young pitching developed into a legitimate big league staff.
This Saturday, May 2nd, Washington fans saw an example of that strategy paying off against the National League’s best team, the St. Louis Cardinals. After rookie Shairon Martis finished the top of the 5th inning having just allowed his first baserunner of the day, the Nationals came to bat with the score tied at 0.
Catcher Wil Nieves singled to center. Martis attempted to bunt him over, but accepted first as consolation after the fielder’s choice. He would move to third on leadoff hitter Christian Guzman’s single and score on Nick Johnson’s sac fly to center. Chris Duncan, giving gold glover Albert Pujols a day off at first, would drop Ryan Zimmerman’s 2 out pop up in foul territory. Given a second chance, Zimmerman singled to left bringing up Dunn.
He hadn’t gotten a hit all game and wouldn’t again after this. But with two runners on, Dunn took 3 pitches and the parked the 4th deep in the right field seats. Given a 4 run lead, Martis stepped back on the mound with confidence to finish his first major league complete game.
If the Nationals fans can start to see the team’s strategy for the future, there may yet be more to discuss in the District of Columbia than the latest bailout news.
