The 2018 baseball season has been a bit disappointing for some fans (and not just Orioles fans, whose team had the worst season in the history of the game). Those who started following Sohei Ohtani's career are sad and disappointed that the pitcher-batter needed Tommy John surgery; Robinson Canó was suspended for 80 games for failing a drug test (and came back to play first base?); and the trades that sent Manny Machado to the Dodgers, Daniel Murphy to the Cubs, and Gio Gonzalez to the Brewers left many fans disheartened (and who didn't see Buck Showalter's firing coming? Poor guy - I've always liked him).
For us Nationals fans, not only did we lose some players at the trade deadline, but the team ended the season in second place in their division, not making the playoffs despite being favored to win the NL East by most baseball "experts" in the beginning of the season. We were frustrated with all the injuries (especially Sean Doolittle's), upset with the underperformance of the bullpen (without Doolittle), and downright pissed off at the loss of some veteran players with seemingly nothing in return (at least Doolittle wasn't one of them).
But with all the doom and gloom, it is easy to find a silver lining in this past season. Take, for example, the friendly rivalry between rookies Ronald Acuña and Juan Soto. Acuña, a Venezuelan who plays for the Atlanta Braves, is flashy and confidently blows chewing gum bubbles as he trots around the bases after a home run - a true fan favorite who really got everyone excited. Soto, a Dominican outfielder for the Nationals, has a good knowledge of the strike zone and an infectious smile (and earned the nickname of "Magic Juan"). Both players are vying for the Rookie of the Year award, and my bet is that Acuña will get it (even though Soto deserves it more) because he has more home runs, and home runs are sexier than hits, RBIs, and batting average (categories that Soto leads over Acuña). Plus the Braves are in the playoffs, and the Nationals are not. Not that it should make a difference, in my opinion, but to some it does. Whatever.
Similarly "neck and neck" for a pretty trophy are my boy, Max Scherzer, and the Mets' Jacob DeGrom, who both apparently deserve this year's Cy Young award. The Marlins' manager, Don Mattingly, had the nerve to say that he was voting for DeGrom simply because Scherzer already has three Cy Youngs and someone else should have a turn. Really? Sorry, Mattingly - you're an idiot (and I never liked you anyway, because, well, you were a Yankee). While I'm not a fan of teams that repeat consecutive championships (the reason I'm not picking the Astros to win the World Series this year - more on that later), if you're the best and most badass pitcher year after year, then you should be rewarded year after year. It's not Max's fault that he's so great! Scherzer finished the season with 300 strikeouts, 18 wins, and more innings pitched than DeGrom, who only led in ERA. Again, the Nationals player probably won't get the award - it will go to DeGrom because he plays for a New York team. It's just a lousy trophy anyway, and yes, Max has three of them already. Pshaw!
And then there's Bryce Harper. Sigh! The 25-year-old Nationals outfielder is now a free agent, and no one has a clue as to where he will go at this point. Harper has been very nostalgic lately, letting us know that he has been playing for the same team since he was 19 - he has grown up in DC, gotten married, and established the "Harper's Heroes" foundation. And I know I have been critical of Harper in the past (he still shows some immaturity at times), but he has commented on how he would like to stay in DC because it's the only thing he's ever known and he truly appreciates the city's fans. Aw, Bryce! <3 So where Harper goes next season is any one's guess - my gut tells me he won't be staying in DC (since they will have a capable outfield of Soto, Adam Eaton, and Victor Robles), but there have been so many crazy rumors (Dodgers, Yankees, Angels, Phillies...) that it's a true mystery at this point. Stay tuned.
And regarding the playoffs? Well they will definitely be interesting, because the Red Sox have MVP-to-be Mookie Betts and the awesome J.D. Martinez, the Yankees have Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton, and the charming Didi Gregorius, and the Dodgers have everyone they could trade for but probably won't keep after the playoffs are over. But don't discount the Rockies, A's, and Brewers, and of course the two teams I'm tired of seeing in the postseason (the Astros and Indians). What two teams do I want to see in the World Series? Admittedly the Indians (just because they've made it many times before doesn't mean they've won) and Rockies, but unfortunately without the Yankees or Red Sox in it, most of America won't watch any of the games. So what the heck - for the sake of the game and TV ratings, it might as well be the Dodgers and (dare I say it?) the Yankees. Sigh! Really? Did I just say that? If that's the case, perhaps I will be the only one who will NOT watch! OK, then the Dodgers and Red Sox. Phew!
Regardless of what two teams take the field in late October, there is still a lot of baseball to be played. So check out a game or two no matter what two teams are playing - you might catch a glimpse of some greatness (Francisco Lindor), an amazing catch in the outfield (Aaron Judge stealing a home run), or a hot guy in tight pants (Matt Kemp! Who cares if you dated Rihanna - you're still not bad to look at!). Check out MLB.com to see what channel is showing what game (they tend to be all over the place in the early playoff rounds), sit back with a mojito (surely I'm not the only one who does that!), and enjoy some good baseball, because before you know it, this up-and-down season will be over.
