Ted Lerner likes the Nationals' chances
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Ted Lerner likes the Nationals' chances
Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner had some bold words for the crowd at NatsFest:
"We're going to the World Series this year."
Spoken like a man with the best team on paper.
Look, we all know how easy it is to get to the World Series when you have the team with the best players. Just ask the 2011 world champion Phillies. It's also laughably simple to punch through the playoffs when all the analysts pick you to win, a rule proven by the 2010 National League champion Phillies.
Basically, getting to the World Series comes down to a simple formula.
- Have all the best players
- Want to win the World Series
- Win the World Series
So you can understand Lerner's argument. I mean, the Nats didn't sideline their best young pitcher during the franchise's first ever postseason run because they weren't going to get back. What incredibly talented team has ever not made it to the World Series, I ask you?
Lerner is just presuming that the Nationals aren't going to run into a Cardinals team with all the momentum, or some scrappy bunch of underdogs from San Francisco, or any team with those completely controllable baseball notions of "mojo" and "hustling." Besides, what problem could surface that Lerner couldn't just throw money at until it goes away?
There will be no surprises for the Nationals in 2013; there will be no poorly timed injuries to key players, there will be no stretches of bad luck, there will be no blown calls by umpires. They are the favorite to get to the World Series and therefore they will, and there are no extremely recent examples that could prove otherwise, so don't even bother pointing them out easily.
In all seriousness, it is important to instill confidence in a fan base, especially if you have an exciting team on the verge of breaking through.
That way, in a few years, when you sign Delmon Young to play an everyday position in the field, they have some warm memories to look back on.
UPDATE: Jayson Werth's confidence is also sky-high.
Rube let the Nats pass and lap the "Phightins". Thanks Rube.- Hey knuckles...it didnt hurt that the Nats were so bad for so long that they had 2 #1 picks in the draft. But give them credit, they have built a nice team....
— Professor1982 - Also doesn't hurt that Gio Gonzalez has been taking steriods. — Stephen45
- I guess you have to say SOMETHING these days to put butts into seats. Nats were 14th in the league in attendance, and that's with a brand new park. ECHO echo echo echo.......— sobjoe24
- He ought a Lerner to let is teams play on the field do the talking!— Iggle25
- Let the players put up or shut up, thats what I say. Just ask the 2007/2008 Mets. Teams on paper rarely win it all. With that said, the Nationals have an outstanding roster with lots of reason to try to walk the walk. However, Werth's wrist will NOT be 100% until next season (thats year 4 of the $126 million albatross contract). Strasburgh should be dominant and we all know that injuries NEVER recur (ask Kyle Drabek). LaRouche had a career year, and we all know that at 33, the numbers only go up. Let the players get on the field and see how the games are played.— drhoffman
- turd lerner— 1stamendment
- Lerner is going to learn a lesson in that bulletion board talk is stupid.— rockinrob
- rockinrob is right: Thank you, Mr. Lerner. Of course, the Nats will win the World Series! I mean, they did win one straight NL East title, right? Let's just forget the 2013 season and give them the trophy now. You know, Strasburg won't have to really test his arm that way. Werth won't have to come close to earning his paycheck. Etc.
When he became an owner, last Century, Peter Angelos was sure he would win 10 World Series titles by now. Magic Johnson: No doubt, LA is building dynasty -- if Carl Crawford finds the Fountain of Youth and plays again. Miami Marlins: I must have dreamt that they didn't win it all last year, 'cause that was in the bag. And so it goes.
Lerner = Amateur owner. Amateur owner = amateur franchise. Thank you.
— eman - That was last year!— joberzut
- But it was OK when JRoll said it, right, guys? Relax.— Dave14
- Nats will be tough, no doubt. But a lot of those pitchers logged a lot of innings last year. Let's see how they come back this year. Werth isn't worth the time.— PhillyfaninMD
- @Dave, I'm not bothered by this, but still. "Team to beat" is not quite the same as "Going to win the World Series."— cloudkitt
