We are only one month into the 2019 MLB season and the Washington Nationals, in many people's eyes, were expected to be a very dominant team with free agent acquisitions, players returning and whatnot. Even with the loss of Bryce Harper, they were expected to compete.
Let's just say it has pretty much been the complete opposite of that. Injuries have plagued the Nats. Star shortstop Trea Turner has already been out for a month with a broken index finger, Anthony Rendon with elbow issues, face of the franchise Ryan Zimmerman with nagging foot issues and now to add it all, lost two key players, Matt Adams and Michael A. Taylor last night, and now Taylor is the latest Nat to go on the injured list.
It gets even worse for Washington. They were expected to be more competitive with their star pitchers, Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and newcomer Patrick Corbin and of course, some really key bullpen pieces. To say their bullpen has been a dumpster fire has been an understatement to say the least. They have cost the Nationals a pretty good amount of wins so far this season and with all the pitching issues, it also cost the Nats' pitching coach their job earlier this week.
We will see if there are other changes on the horizon, but I'm sure if the struggles continue, we will definitely see more changes in the Washington Nationals organization.
Sunday, May 5, 2019
More Shockers
After winning the best-of-7 series against the defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals, the Carolina Hurricanes advanced to play the New York Islanders in the Stanley Cup Semifinals. The Islanders, led by former Capitals Stanley Cup winning head coach Barry Trotz, many were to say the Islanders would give the Canes trouble because of their coach and veteran leadership.
It was all but that. The first two games were relatively competitive. The Islanders had home-ice advantage for the entire series, but both home games were stolen by Carolina. Game was was scoreless throughout regulation, then Carolina goes on and scores the lone goal in that game, winning 1-0 in overtime. In Game 2, the game was tied for a good chunk of the way, until Carolina scores in the third period winning 2-1.
Games 3 and 4 shifted down to Raleigh, NC. If the Caps struggled because of PNC Arena's loud atmosphere, how would the Islanders take it? The answer: not so well. It honestly looked like another version of the Capitals playing down there, with loud arena fueling the players. Ironically, games 3 and 4 both ended in 5-2 victories for Carolina, which was also the same scored in Game 6 in the Capitals series.
Nevertheless, Carolina advances, sweeping the series against the Islanders 4-0 and will take on the winner of the Boston Bruins/Columbus Blue Jackets series, where the winner will be declared the Eastern Conference champion and will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
It was all but that. The first two games were relatively competitive. The Islanders had home-ice advantage for the entire series, but both home games were stolen by Carolina. Game was was scoreless throughout regulation, then Carolina goes on and scores the lone goal in that game, winning 1-0 in overtime. In Game 2, the game was tied for a good chunk of the way, until Carolina scores in the third period winning 2-1.
Games 3 and 4 shifted down to Raleigh, NC. If the Caps struggled because of PNC Arena's loud atmosphere, how would the Islanders take it? The answer: not so well. It honestly looked like another version of the Capitals playing down there, with loud arena fueling the players. Ironically, games 3 and 4 both ended in 5-2 victories for Carolina, which was also the same scored in Game 6 in the Capitals series.
Nevertheless, Carolina advances, sweeping the series against the Islanders 4-0 and will take on the winner of the Boston Bruins/Columbus Blue Jackets series, where the winner will be declared the Eastern Conference champion and will advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.
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