The Nationals Will Win the World Series*

Last season, the Rays went from a 96-loss, last place team to 97 wins and one game from making the World Series. It was an incredible turnaround, the likes of which few other teams in history have experienced (‘69 Miracle Mets, ‘91 Braves and Twins, come to mind). But according to Nationals pitcher Collin Balester, Washington is about to experience the baseball miracle to end all miracles: The Nats are going to go from 102 losses to sweeping the World Series.
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↵*If they can sign Mark Teixeira (via D.C. Sports Bog):↵↵⇥“If that happens it’s going to be a dream come true,” Balester said during his monthly satellite radio appearance, ‘Deep Thoughts with Collin Balester,’ on Minors & Majors with Grant Paulsen. “That guy is a great player, and if he comes to the nation’s capital, watch out, we’re going to the World Series and we are winning it all. I’m calling it right now. We’re playing four games in the World Series, sweep, see ya!”↵↵

There are three reasons that I can figure that would cause Balester to say this: 1) He actually believes it, and if so, should be checked into a medical facility immediately -- he is a danger to the public; 2) He was completely joking, obviously, because any fool knows the Nats aren’t even close to being a .500 team, let alone winning anything; 3) He felt safe saying this because he knows that Nats aren’t going to be able to sign Tex.↵↵The possibility of the Nats landing Teixeira, however, seems to be increasing by the day with more teams becoming frustrated with Scott Boras and thus dropping out of the sweepstakes. Last week, it was the Red Sox, and now the Angels say they’re removing their offer from the table. If the Sox and Angels are to be believed, this really only leaves the O’s and Nationals as possible suitors, unless Teixeira is willing to take less money and sign with -- deep sigh -- the Yankees.↵

↵↵As Big League Stew pointed out last week, a line-up with Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Teixeira and Elijah Dukes in the middle of it, is, if nothing else, interesting. But when all you’ve done to bolster the worst rotation in baseball is sign mega-bust Daniel Cabrera, your World Series dreams will have to remain just that. ↵

↵↵(UPDATE: Somehow, I forgot about the addition of Scott Olson to the rotation as well.)↵

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