After a disappointing 2015 campaign, the Washington Nationals bounced back nicely in 2016. With low expectations, the Nationals were able to fly under the radar and produce at a very high level in the regular season.
Washington Nationals 2016 Season Review
The Hiring of Dusty Baker
After the quick firing of manager Matt Williams, the Nationals brought in Baker to take the reins. Baker is an old-school manager who knows how to play the game the right way, and knows how to maneuver a bullpen. His loose personality was perfect for this team; however, he couldn’t help Bryce Harper.
Bryce Harper’s Struggles
After winning the 2015 NL MVP, it was expected that Harper would produce at or near the same level at the plate; however, Harper had a rough season. Despite getting off to a quick start, Harper ended the year hitting just .243 and driving in only 86 runs. It was reported that he was dealing with shoulder issues, but both Harper and the Nationals strongly dismissed the notion that he was hurt. No matter the reason, Bryce Harper had a rough year; however, free agent signee Daniel Murphy helped mitigate the impact of Harper’s struggles with an MVP-like season.
Daniel Murphy’s MVP Season
In the offseason, the Nationals made a very shrewd, under-the-radar signing by bringing in New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy; the two sides agreed to a three-year, $38 million deal. Murphy was the king of the 2015 MLB postseason, putting on one of the greatest hitting displays baseball has ever seen, and his hot bat carried over into the 2016 season.
Murphy played at an elite level in 2016. He hit an astonishing .347, drove in 104 runs, and crushed 25 long balls. Murphy produced at an MVP level this season, and without him the Nationals wouldn’t have been able to win the division as easily as they did. Another key component to the Nationals success was the acquisition of All-Star closer Mark Melancon.
Mark Melancon Made the Nationals a Powerhouse
At the trade deadline, the Nationals acquired Melancon from the Pittsburg Pirates. Melancon was the missing piece for the Nationals bullpen. In previous years, the Nationals had been plagued by late-inning massacres in both the regular season and postseason, but acquiring Melancon gave Washington the closer it has been without in recent years. His ability to induce ground outs and throw his fastball by opposing hitters made him a must-get. Melancon made the Nationals bullpen elite, and the team a powerhouse; however, their lineup was another reason for their success.
The Lineup was More Than Murphy
The Nationals best everyday player was Daniel Murphy, but he wasn’t the only one who showed up at the plate this season. Third baseman Anthony Rendon bounced back to produce very nicely, as did rookie phenom Trea Turner.
The Rise of Trea Turner
The young Turner came up midseason to help give the Nationals some depth, but he ended up providing more than that. Turner got on base at will, giving Baker no choice but to play him everyday. His breakout rookie season was highlighted by his .342 batting average and his aggressive base-running; Turner stole 33 bags in the regular season. His monster year was crucial to the Nationals success, as was the power bat of catcher Wilson Ramos. However, Ramos was also part of the Nationals downfall as the season came to an end.
Injuries to Ramos and Strasburg Doomed the Nationals
Last season, Ramos was great. He hit a career high .307, and his power bat was an asset for the Nationals in the middle of their lineup. However, in late September he suffered an unfortunate ACL tear which ended his season. His injury doomed the Nationals, as did Stephen Strasburg‘s elbow injury.
Going into the month of August, Strasburg entered the conversation of elite starters. He became a force to reckoned with, one who could blow his fastball by anyone, and he began the year winning his first thirteen decisions. He was amazing, but his elbow acted up again, and forced him to ultimately be shut down for the remainder of the season. The two unfortunate injuries to both Ramos and Strasburg doomed the Nationals World Series aspirations.
The Nationals Lose in Five to the Dodgers
The Nationals matched up against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS. Despite taking a two-game lead, the Nationals weren’t able to defeat the Dodgers, due in part to their inability to drive runners in and get out to early leads. They fell behind early in a couple games and weren’t able to mount a comeback. However, what came as a shock was Clayton Kershaw not just pitching in games one and four, but appearing in the ninth inning of game five to record two final two outs of the game. The Nationals couldn’t have planned to face Kershaw three times in a five game series. Yet, though his appearance was a surprise, they ultimately couldn’t finish off the Dodgers and, as a result, they lost to the better team.
The Nationals finished the year with a 95-67 record, winning the NL East for the third time since 2012. Ultimately, however, they weren’t able to escape the first round yet again, having their World Series aspirations come up short. Overall, it was a fun and exciting season for the Nationals, but the disappointing end will make it a hard offseason for general manager Mike Rizzo and the rest of the organization.
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