What a lovely fairytale this major league baseball season has given us from of all places Washington D.C.
Nobody saw this coming and yet maybe they should have after these Nationals pulled themselves up after the 19-31 start to in essence become one of the best teams in the majors this baseball season.
There was the departure of franchise player Bryce Harper. The early season injuries to Trea Turner, Juan Soto… and unassuming super star Anthony Rendon. But most of all this was a franchise known for being an early post season choker. A team which could never get out of its own way and win when the spotlight was brightest.
Even though I’ve never been a Nationals fan…I feel some love for these guys. I was at Coors Field last season to see them play the Rockies on the last day of the season and they were brutal. Max Scherzer was scheduled to pitch, but was a scratch. They were beaten 14-1 and showed no life whatsoever. Nobody circled the Nationals to come back this season and win a pennant.
And yet here they are fresh from beating Milwaukee, Los Angeles, and St. Louis for the right to play either the Astros or Yankees in the World Series.
The Nationals will be a Vegas underdog to both. But I think these guys relish being underdogs. Relish being somewhat discarded and removed from the championship relevant spotlight. Nobody outside of baseball geeks really even know what a stud Anthony Rendon is and even he doesn’t seem to care.
Howie Kendrick won the National League Post Season MVP. It’s fitting for Kendrick who was at one time an LA Dodger himself to turn out to be the ultimate Dodger killer in the twilight of his career.
At one time Kendrick played for the minor league Cedar Rapids Kernals. I found this video of Kendrick being honored as an inductee into the team’s Hall of Fame. It’s fitting of Kendrick and the Nationals. He was pumped to be a Kernal Hall of Famer and here he is on the biggest stage holding the National League post season MVP trophy.
His MVP postgame interview was eloquent and touching. He talked of the journey. Of his love and respect for his teammates. It was old school. It was something you would have heard from a Green Bay Packer back in the days of Lombardi, Jerry Kramer, and Camelot.
Vegas will tell you the Astros are the team to beat, but I wouldn’t bet against these Washington Nationals at this point. They still have one more trophy to win as a team on their season of redemption.