Today's Sermon: Long shot

MLB.com has this to say about the Nats:

The Nationals added Soriano, Brian Lawrence and Ramon Ortiz to essentially the same bunch that went 81-81 last season. The pitching staff, led by Livan Hernandez, John Patterson (3.13 ERA last season) and closer Chad Cordero (league-leading 47 saves) has the potential to be good again this season. Having Soriano should help even more, as Washington's weak spot last year was an anemic offense. The Nationals finished last in the league in both batting average and runs.

Projected regular-season finish: Fourth place

Biggest Spring Training challenge: Convincing Soriano to move to left field, which would enable the Nationals to keep a now-healthy Jose Vidro at second, would make Washington stronger offensively and defensively.

Best position battles: The back end of the rotation behind Hernandez and Patterson looks like a dogfight. Four veterans -- Ortiz, Lawrence, Tony Armas Jr. and Ryan Drese -- will battle it out for three spots.

Wild Card: The Nationals stayed in contention longer than most observers gave them a chance to last season. Perhaps adding Soriano and good health from regulars like Vidro, Nick Johnson, Jose Guillen and Brian Schneider, might be enough to boost the Nationals a half-dozen wins or so higher in 2006. If so, that would likely put Washington in contention again.

While it is true that the Mets and Braves are better on paper, the fact is that the Mets had a decent team last year and flopped. The Braves, well? The Braves. I'm sick of the Braves and hate them nearly as much as the Yanks. I don't see the Phils finishing above the Nats unless Washington's injuries take the toll they did last year. I'm liking the Nats prospects this year. It's all about the pitching (and a new powerful bat in the lineup.)

Picture this, a beautiful sunny April day, Livan is getting ready to take the mound. 45K sit in the stands, awaiting the first pitch of the new year, a .500 season of disappointment still lingering in their anxious hearts. A decent April, a better May, a June equal to last year's. First place in the division, the talk of the country. Deja vu. An injury. Soriwhino has the team bickering in the clubhouse. Another injury. Tim Russert stuffing hot dog after hot dog through his fat face. No owner. The heartbreaking sound of another broken bat out, another loss. It can't happen again, can it?

Bowden gives Brandon Larsen a minor league contract, a neverwas who never was hitting? What is this, Cincinnati, 1998? Instead of developing prospects, we're going to have the highest payroll of all minor league organizations, a payroll full of hasbeens and neverweres. Oh, the agony of suffering through a season with Bowden. As a Reds fan, I had to do it for years. Why must he follow me everywhere? And why must Branden Larsen, too?

The heartbreak is starting. Maybe MLB.com is right. Fourth place? A long shot?

Pray that Soriwhino takes the outfield position and keeps his mouth shut.