The future may, indeed, be here in Washington. I'm not talking about politics, or diplomacy, or economics. I'm talking sports.
The Washington Nationals, consistent cellar-dwellers in the national League East, have been in first place since the beginning of the season. As I write this, they have beaten the defending NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies seven times straight. They've also won eight of nine series this year, losing only to the best-in-baseball LA Dodgers.
The Washington Capitals are tied in their Stanley Cup second round playoff series against the NY Rangers after dispatching the defending champion Boston Bruins in the first round.
The Washington Redskins, mired in mediocre season after season, have just drafted perhaps the best quarterback in the country, reigniting fan interest and hope for the years ahead.
The Washington Wizards, perennially one of the worst teams in the NBA, are still one of the worst teams in the NBA. You can't have everything.
Perhaps the Nationals are the best story so far. The Capitals are always decent, and they get into the playoffs pretty frequently. The Redskins have had promising off-seasons before, and we won't know the results of their draft selections until the fall.
But the Nats are showing big promise day after day, game after game, and they have some young players making a big difference in the team's prospects. Stephen Strasburg, one of the most gifted pitchers in a generation, continues playing well after surgery on his arm. His record this year does not reflect his pitching; too often, the team has saved its run scoring until the late innings, after he's been relieved.
The big story of the Nats' year may be Bryce Harper, a 19 year-old phenom outfielder. He's shown real batting chops, getting key hits and also being patient enough to work the count to a walk in critical situations. On base is on base. Better to get to first via a walk than to strike out on close pitches most young players would attack.
Bryce Harper doubles home the winning run against the Diamondbacks.
Harper's arm is a real stunner, though. In his first-ever major league game, against the aforementioned Dodgers, he caught a long fly ball near the warning track in left field. The runner on third tagged and sprinted towards home. Harper uncorked a perfect strike to the catcher, who tagged the runner just before he reached home plate. The umpire called the runner safe, but replays showed Harper had actually thrown him out. You don't always get the call, but the camera doesn't lie. That was the kind of major league throw most pro outfielders could never make, and Harper did it on his first play. He's made similar throws since, and consistently shows a maturity beyond his years. He's a joy to watch in a game.
I'm hoping the teams of Washington will play well enough this year to generate fan interest throughout the area. Anything to relieve the drone of partisanship we're sure to face 'til November and beyond...
