Another step

by Phil Wood

Okay, the Nationals have won their last two series, going 4-2 in those six games against the Dodgers and Cubs.

In their four wins, they totaled 20 hits, an average of 5 per game. In their two losses, they totaled 24 hits, an average of 12 per game.

Is this a great game or what?

You already know that, in the final analysis, it usually comes down to pitching, particularly starting pitching. I doubt many of us foresaw the number of quality starts the club would get at the outset of the season. And after last season's first half relief pitching implosion, the successes of Matt Capps and Tyler Clippard are like night and day. A caller to the inaugural edition of "Nats Talk Live" Opening Day on 1500 bemoaned the club's signing of Capps, saying the club should release him right then and there after his 7.71 spring training ERA.

Funny, that guy hasn't called back since.

Let me reiterate that this club is still a ways from contention, despite how they look after 22 games. I tend to divide the season into thirds of 54 games each. They'll reach the first third the first weekend in June when the Reds arrive in town - which is rumored to be the weekend Mr. Strasburg arrives at Nats Park. If they've won 25 or more games at that point, I think we'd have to admit they'd reached the corner, not quite having turned it.

Speaking of the future, I read today that the Strasburg contract "allows" up to 100 big league innings this year. If that's true - and I can't say for sure this second that it is - it would mean that, based on just 6 innings per start, Stephen would get roughly 16 starts in the majors after he's promoted. With two-thirds of the season to play, a starter in regular rotation should get about 20-21 starts. Keep that in mind as to the date the ballclub actually chooses to bring him up.