I must say, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find anything positive or even interesting to say about this version of the Washington Nationals. In what was supposed to be a clear step forward season, they are on pace to go 64-98 with a -112 run differential that is only ahead of the playing-in-a-minor-league-bandbox Athletics (-136) and the worst-in-modern-baseball-history Rockies (-253!!!). Their interim manager is cosplaying the recently fired manager, who, apart from the charmed run six years ago, spent the better part of eight seasons appearing very much out of his depth. Of the fourteen players with 100 plate appearances to their name, just four have an OPS+ above league average (two starters, two part-timers). Just one starting pitcher and three relievers that have made at least five appearances for the Nats - one of whom was picked up off the scrap heap a couple of months ago - are carrying an ERA below 4.00. This team is weak at base running, defensively weak everywhere except at third base and in two outfield spots, struggles with situational hitting, has trouble staying focused for nine innings of a game, and is ineffective at picking up their teammates, among other areas. Ownership seems mostly checked out, content to rely on visiting fans for attendance as they set fire to whatever goodwill remains from 2019.

No fight and no energy is coming from the dugout, with the two best everyday players being of the quiet, reserved variety and the most prominent veterans being out of shape, performing poorly, hurt, or some combination of the three (and none of them are here for the long term). This version of the Nats is as depressing to watch as the 2022 version that went 55-107, even if there are a few more legitimately exciting players on this roster than that one.

For the first time in 2025, MacKenzie Gore had a start completely blow up on him as the Padres touched him for five runs in the first inning, highlighted by a Xander Bogaerts grand slam. As they so often do when they fall into an early hole, the bats immediately disappeared, with the Nats going 0-8 with runners in scoring position in meek fashion.

A Riley Adams solo shot in the fifth got the Nats on the board, but that was all. In nine games since Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo were let go, the Nats are 2-7 with a -26 run differential (almost a quarter of their season total). It is what it is. Ownership needs to invest more in its product.

I hope everyone had a chance to read Tom Boswell’s piece calling for the Lerners to sell the team, but if not, you should. I say amen to every word that the 2025 BBWAA Career Excellence Award winner says in it. I do think it was time to move on from Rizzo and Martinez when this fourth rebuild season careened off a cliff last month (if not before), but the problems start with ownership’s refusal to invest in, yes, the little things.

If having an adequate number of instructional coaches and data analysts and nice pitching machines that you can find in local batting cages are all things that can be hand-waved away by an ownership group that has way too many cooks in the kitchen, why should we expect the players on the field to be the best they can be at honing their craft? And if they’re all-in as they claim to be, don’t tell us. Show us.

Yesterday, Interim GM Mike DeBartolo addressed reporters on a range of topics. Here’s a summary:

📌 Evaluating the Trade Market (The Athletic)

📌 Most To Gain At The Deadline (Fangraphs)

📌 Sign Relaying Brouhaha (ESPN)