Quicksand

If the Nats were losing every game 8-3, it would be easy to point out their shortcomings. But with the array of 2-1 and 4-2 losses to go along with the shootouts, it can be difficult to point at a single flaw. It does seem that the Nats compound mistakes very quickly. A botched double play always seems to lead to a hung curve ball. 2 out walks always find their way home via a dying quail down the line. As much as some teams make luck for themselves, the Nats produce plenty of opportunities for bad luck to overwhelm.

They are not the first Washington franchise to suffer from this problem, and maybe Keanu is the guy to come give a pep talk. Manny certainly isn't about rallying the troops. But I still think that Anderson Hernandez is worried about spiders at second base.