I went to the Washington Nationals game last night with some friends. Here are some random thoughts from my visit to the park.
If you smell like you just smoked a doobie, I am going to have a negative impression of you: Three guys sat right behind us in the Club level and they smelled like they were the prime supplier of Snoop Dog. The odor was so overpowering, the older couple that was sitting next to the three amigos left their seats in the 4th inning, never to return. It turned out that they were nice guys and we struck up a conversation with them in the 7th inning about the Nationals inability to get any hits, but maybe if they took fewer hits from whatever marijuana delivery device they were toking, they would have given off a better impression.
Speaking of hits, the Washington Nationals can’t hit. They can pitch, but they can’t hit. They have lots of young players on the team, but these guys all got the Major Leagues and should be able to compete at the big league level. Dylan Crews needs to do better. Keibert Ruiz needs to be traded. Joey Gallo needs to be released. I like Jacob Young but he needs to bunt more. CJ Abrams needs to play less poker and blackjack and get more sleep.
James Wood is the only real star on the team. The Nationals publicity machine needs to work overtime to make him a star.
Davey Martinez needs to go. He won one title a half decade ago and we all appreciate him for that effort, but that team was loaded and he should have won the title. It seems like Martinez is sleep-walking through this season and with a little more creativity, he could have won a ton more games. The Nationals have no coherent strategy to score runs when you have a player at 2nd base with nobody out, which is what happened in extra inning these days, by rule.
The service at Nats Park is still not good. The beer guys are usually good, but not the beer guy in the club level last night. There are two bars in the club level, but only one good bartender between the two. Food and drinks are way too expensive, especially beer. The food quality is at best so-so, and you shouldn’t have to spend close to 20 bucks for a beer. Bringing a family of four to a baseball game shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg.
I like the atmosphere around the ballpark. There are lots of good restaurants and bars that surround the area and sports book attached to ballpark. There aren’t enough police officers in the area and I think DC could beef up the security to keep away the riff-raff and make the whole experience more pleasant.
It’s year 5 of the rebuilding process. Patrick Corbin’s big salary leaves next year. Strasburg has finally retired. The Nationals need to get some marquis players and be exciting again. They have a good group of starting pitchers and some good young players, but they need some team leaders who aren’t afraid to kick ass and take names. CJ Abrams is a head-case. They should trade him away. Luis Garcia is ok but not awesome. I like Jacob Young but he is not a star. They need a new catcher. They dont’ really have 3rd Baseman or a First baseman. They need to invest and get some good players and bring the excitement back to the ball yard.
I enjoyed hanging out with the fellas. I look forward to a better year, next year.