Unfortunately, the Washington Nationals' maiden season didn't end as we had all hoped and believed just a few months ago. Today, the Nats ended 2005 with a loss to the Phillies, dropping the team to an even .500 winning percentage, 81 wins and 81 losses. Still, all things considered, I'd say this was a GREAT season for the Nationals. Here are just a few reasons:1) Baseball returned to Washington, DC after a 34-year absence. That's a huge victory in and of itself. Now let's hope it sticks around for a long, loooong time.
2) Season attendance surpassed 2.7 million, up from a pitiful 0.7 million last year in Montreal and the best EVER for the franchise. Why did it take Major League Baseball so long to give Washington DC a team? Oh yeah, Peter Angelos, owner of my (former?) favorite team. Boo, hiss.
3) We had the privilege of watching the classy superstar Frank Robinson again, this time not as a Hall of Fame outfielder for the Orioles, but instead as a whip-smart, tough-as-nails manager for the Nationals. I'll take it!! :)
4) We'll always have that glorious first half of the season. Think back to the first Sunday in July, when the Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs to move 19 games over .500 and solidly into first place by 5 1/2 games. At that point, the Nationals didn't believe they could lose, and the enthusiasm was infectious. In the end, reality intruded, but the fantasy - 59 days in first place - was sure great while it lasted!
5) We got to watch the start of what quite possibly will be a great Major League Baseball career. I'm talking, of course, about former UVA Cavaliers third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who was drafted #4 overall in the Major League Draft just this past July. After just a couple months in the minors, Zimmerman was called up to "The Show," where he slugged a cool .400 in 55 at-bats. Not bad, not bad at all for the kid from Virginia Beach!
Anyway, this was a great season for the Nats, despite the rough second half. And the best thing about baseball is we can always say, "wait 'til next year!" (when Governor Kaine throws out the first pitch at a Nats game?)