They dumped Michael Morse and really had no clean-up all year. Werth and LaRoche are good but are not bombers, LaRoche had a career year in 2012 not to be repeated this year. Zim didn't get hot till lately, Espinosa was lacking this year, Suzuki is likable but not that good and until Ramos came back that was a hole.
But here is the big reason, they thought they won 2013 in 2012. With thinking like that baseball will humble you. Heads got too big. When they shutdown Strasburg early last year they pretty much said he'll do post season next year, nope that doesn't work, they should have skipped starts and used him in post season. 2012 may be the last time they will get there.
Nats just won both games of the double header against Atlanta. Denardo Spanicus hit in his 28th game in a row, the most since 2011 when Uggla made it to 33.
But the reds are skunking the Astros bad. The reds have six more games with the pirates, hopefully someone will take charge of that. Still a big, big longshot.
Freegards