(06-01-2018 09:01 AM)GoodOwl Wrote:  For my money, the NL east is going top be a pretty interesting race this year. Only the Marlins have conceded. Will Washington last for a last hurrah? They have all that talent, but never have put it together quite right. May be their last good chance for a while if/when Harper becomes a Yankee or red Sock (x) next season.

Braves had a great start, and a lot of help from some no-name fringe players who overachieved to start the season. Unbelievably, their main problem is starting pitching (well, bullpen, but so is everyone else's) and the young hurlers in the minors are getting closer and closer, so you have to figure with their youth, hitting and figuring out 3rd base, they will be getting way better the next two years. That leaves the Nats in a b8ind as their window closes to a sliver of what it has been these [past few years.

And the Philloies--are they for real, or just a momentary rising up before flaring out like a Texas Leaguer? The New Yerk Mess have to be the most snake-bitten team when it comes to injuries over the past 20+ years. Not sure if they'll be able to retool and keep pace.

Would actually hope Braves' Markakis keeps hitting and we get to do a July trade off for some value for him as this is his last year and we won't need him next season--to get younger and a bit cheaper. I'd like ATL to win division this year, but 2019 will more than likely be the start of another special run for the Braves.

I'm starting to think we shouldn't keep holding Harper up as some kind of legend whose absence would doom the Nats for years. I'm not saying Soto and Robles are going to be as good as Harper, but we're talking about a guy whose fWAR is tied for 32nd in MLB. In 2018 he's been a very good player, but if this is who he's going to be, the Nats would be better off spreading that money around.