Strasburg and Gio may temper our expectations this weekend. O/U on their K's in those 2 games is about 27. Just gotta mix a few bombs in there. Should be fun.

I'm waiting until the Washington series before I really get my expectations up, but this is stil the most excited I've ever been 9 games into the season.

This team is awesome, I love how pumped up they get. The dugout goes crazy when someone hits a HR.

I'm not going to make too much of this Washington series one way or the other. We are going to lose to the elite pitchers most of the time and Strasburg is elite and Gio is pretty close. I'd like to not get swept, just for confidence going forward reasons, but a 3-game series at Washington in early April facing two of their top horses isn't going to get me too worked up about the results.

Yeah I'm not really worried about hitting to be honest. I feel like you kind of know what you are going to get with almost everyone, and it's all going to be good enough (great enough?) to win every step of the way.

The big litmus test for me offensively coming into the year is/was Uggla and Justin Upton's power numbers. If those guys hit at or slightly above their career averages in SLG we will be fine. They both had real bad years in that department last year, but if they are back to normal (it appears Justin obviously is), then we will be a very tough team to get out.

I agree the SP isn't as good as it has been, but there have been some very encouraging moments, namely Tim Hudson's performance on Sunday. His ball was moving really well, and he was able to locate better than he has all Spring in the few starts I was able to watch. Maholm isn't as good as he's been, but he's pretty solid and will continue to be. Minor may actually be as good as he's been as for the past 20 starts or so of his he has been one of the best pitchers in MLB. Medlen, who knows. He could very well be elite, but it's more likely he's a good to very good SP. Hopefully Teheran can show us something against Washington.

Bullpen is elite and will continue to do what it has been doing.

Again, I'm not trying to be a downer here but the hitting has been pretty poor outside of two guys slugging

18th in OBP
11th in OPS
19th in AVG
8th in SLG

3rd in K%
22nd in BB%

not very good

The Gattis situation has about two more weeks to play out then it is time to make some tough decisions.

I'm not saying it's a similar situation that will result in a similar outcome, but the Red Sox DID trade Nomar at the deadline in his contract year in 2004. I think trading Mac could be a possibility.

Good chance we are in the top 5 in K% all season.

Yeah it's been a bit rocky for some guys, but when the guy rated to have your highest OBP is hitting under .100, we aren't going to be at the top of any charts.

Total eye-test, but I feel like our at-bats have been very good outside of most of BJ Uptons and the OBP will definitely come up.

If anything those numbers are encouraging given just how bad Heyward and BJ have been.

Yeah Heyward and BJ Upton will more than make up for Justin Upton coming back down to Earth (and this may not even happen).

We still have a pretty sick lineup if those 2 don't have great years.

Big series this weekend with the Nats.

I hope Teheran pitches awesome tonight!

Gattis starting at 1B tonight. Should be interesting!

goddamnit Teheran seriously

teheran has probs

Meh, the inning went: Grounder, strikeout, homer, groundout, single, single, foul out. I only see one really bad plate appearance there and it was someone who is going to punish a lot of pitchers.

Then he walks Suzuki to lead off the 2nd, I take it all back.

I hate the Natinals.

Evan Gattis does not play like a rookie. His defensive technique and mental awareness are those of a 5 year vet.

I should say techniques considering he's on first tonight.

nice AB there by BJ

f u wind

Let's pull Johnson home.

Nice bunt Pena!

holy **** pena i love you

HORRIBLE CALL BS!!!

Sac bunt so hilariously bad.

At least we have bases loaded and Justin up.

yesyesyesyesyesyes