‘jumping in vain’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Capitals

If you missed Ben’s season wrap-up last week, be sure to check it out. Though the Caps lost a lopsided Game 7 to the Penguins, who’ve gone on to mostly obliterate the Hurricanes (meaning very possibly we could’ve had the Caps in the Stanley Cup finals if they’d shown up for Game 7…) it was a fantastic season where there is much to cheer for.

Nationals
Record: 13-30
Last Two Weeks: 3-11
Place: Last in the NL East, 11.5 games out of first, 6 games back of fourth.

They’re still bad. But it’s getting better. The Nats moved the wildest pitcher in the modern era, Daniel Cabrera, to the bullpen where he won’t do as much harm, or where his harm can be properly directed, and replaced him with Craig Stammen in the starting rotation. If you went, “Wait, who?” you’re not alone. The Nats now have four rookies and a second year in their starting five. Pretty crazy. What they need now is some defense. And some relief pitching. The Nats lead the league in errors with well over 40. That’s the kind of total good ballclubs have in September, or for all season, not in May.

Here’s what’s good, and why you should still pay money to go:

1. Cristian Guzman is still in the top five for batting average, and the guy’s got some hustle
2. Adam Dunn is still doing ridiculous things with the bat. His grand slam on Sunday versus the Orioles was a towering monster shot that brought Nats and O’s fans alike to their feet to watch.
3. Shairon Martis (5-0) is the best of the Nats starters right now. When his control is there, he’s lights out in a sick sort of way. He’s definitely worth the price of admission and a half-smoke all-the-way to boot.

The question has to be asked, though, is it time to send Manny Acta packing? This is a club that lacks fight. Bad defense is just bad focus on the field. The bullpen, though a disaster of departed Bowden’s making, is still something Manny’s been incapable of managing.

‘DCU v Toronto FC’
courtesy of ‘IntangibleArts’

D.C. United
Record: 3-1-7
Last Two Weeks: 0-0-2
Place: 2nd in the East

A pair of Draws for D.C. United in the last two weeks make it hard to write this section this week. The Red & Black couldn’t come up with a single score against Real Salt Lake this past weekend, despite the fact that RSL hadn’t won on the road yet this season or scored a goal. A tie against Chivas USA last weekend was the work of Luciano Emilio and Santino Quaranta, who put together a pair of scores in the final 15 minutes to bring what would’ve been a shutout by Chivas to a 2-2 tie. This Saturday, United head up to New England to face the hated Revolution on their turf, followed by a Thursday night home game against New York on the 3rd. Let’s see if this one’s as lopsided as the last one!