It's Only Two Games

Sure, two games is a lot of games... in the NFL. Going 0-2 in the National Football League means you had better start getting your act together, buddy... or else your next big thing will be the Draft in April. But in Major League Baseball, going 0-2 is nothing. The Phillies are 0-2... the World Series Champions of last season are 0-2. Nobody in Philadelphia seems to be pulling the plug just yet. The Phillies have also scored only one run in the 2009 campaign.

But when the Washington Media comes up with all kinds of problems with a team that finished with a lousy 59-102 record... that bugs me. Yeah, we knew Scott Olsen would struggle. Sure, nobody expected John Lannan to have that rough Opening Day start... but it's just one start for the both of these guys. Both of these pitchers have the potential to rebound - it's their first time pitching in a real situation - expectations are so high for this team this year because everyone is now under the microscope. Everyone is accountable after last season's terrible finish. Settle these young pitchers down and they have the chance to show their very best.

But boy does the Nationals offense look potent. Nine runs in two games... something that was unheard of in four or five games last season. 19 hits over the same span... and all of the sudden something is wrong. I think things are just fine offensively - most everyone looks to be sharp... plus it's only two games so I think everything will even out. So when you say Ryan Zimmerman is 0-9 and we need to start worrying about his season - that is just stupid.

Give these guys about a week and a half and then see where things have gone from there. There is no way that two games should ever be a litmus test for an entire season. Don't forget that two games into the 2008 campaign, the Nats had yet to lose. And what did people think about the team back then? Sure didn't align to what they finished out with.

So give these guys a chance. I still think that 70-75 wins are not out of reach. We have a long way to go for this season to be over with. As far as I seem to recall, the playoffs start in September.