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3 Reasons to visit Nationals Park this week
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Randy Johnson (AP photo/Ben Margot)
This season has been nothing if not trying for the Nationals. Despite a vastly improved offense that's in the top 5 in the NL, the Nats are on pace for an historically bad season and have lost a whopping 18 of their last 21 games. But that doesn't mean you can't have a good time at Nationals Park, which still has some paint drying. And for the next three days in particular, there will be some great baseball played.
The Giants come to town with a not-great 25-24 record, but have won five of their past six and boast a sterling 3.81 team ERA. Here are three reasons to get to Nationals Park and watch the Giants this week:
Tim Lincecum. The reigning Cy Young Award winner pitches Tuesday against Craig Stammen, and he hasn't lost a step from last year. His stats are eye-popping: an 84/19 K/BB ratio and a staggering 11.57 K/9 IP, third in the majors. And against the free-swinging Nationals, there's a possibility for 12 or more strikeouts from Lincecum. (Not that watching your favorite team strike out a dozen times is awesome, but with Lincecum on the mound you could be in for a special night.) More importantly, actually watching Lincecum in person is the baseball equivalent of a Cirque du Soleil show: all herky-jerky movements, flailing limbs and absurd flexibility, congealing to create something awe-inspiring. If you ever wondered what a real-life version of Rookie of the Year would look like, this is as close as you'll get.
The Big Unit goes for 300. Randy Johnson is nowhere near what he once was, i.e. the most feared pitcher of the last half-century. At 45, he's lost a lot of velocity and movement on his pitches, as his 5.71 ERA suggests. But when he takes the mound Wednesday, he'll be gunning to become just the 24th player in major league history to win 300 games. He might be the last one to do it, too: no one else under 36 years old has more than 153 wins. Johnson is one of the 20 greatest pitchers to ever live, who was more dominant at his peak - check out his 1999-2002 stats and marvel - than almost anyone baseball has seen. On Wednesday, you could see him reach one of the great baseball milestones.
Pablo Sandoval. Clearly a distant third to the above players, but Sandoval deserves your attention simply for the spectacle of watching him. Generously listed at 5 foot 11, Sandoval strikes a distinctly Cecil Fielder-esque shape. If he's only 245 pounds, as listed, I'll eat my hat. But despite his girth, he's hit just three home runs this season, while posting a .308 average, .350 OBP and 14 doubles. He's even stolen two bases. Unfortunately, he's currently nursing an injured hand and may not be at full strength, but he's a curiosity of a player nonetheless.
So there are plenty of reasons to get out there and watch the Nats host the Giants this week. You may see something you've never seen before.
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