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Should we really be surprised that the Nationals lost three consecutive one-run games to the Orioles? Well, okay, the answer is yes, because they're the Orioles.
But three one-run losses? That shouldn't be too surprising. The fact of the matter is, over the long run, no team can consistently win close games. No matter how good your bullpen is, no matter how composed your team is, things happen in one-run games that swing the outcome. The best teams don't rely on winning close games; they will sprinkle in close wins with blowout wins to make life easier on themselves.
Even when they were winning, the Nats weren't doing that. To a certain extent, they were getting some breaks to get those wins. Now, those breaks aren't there, and the Nationals are losing. They're regressing back to the mean, and their record is suffering because of it.
Here are this weekend's must-reads around the SB Nation network:
- Bullets Forever's two reactions to the Wizards' draft can be found here and here.
- What should the Nationals do with Adam Dunn? Federal Baseball discusses the question here.
- Why do D.C. sports fans have more confidence in D.C. United than any other team? Black and Red United has a theory.
- SB Nation's Pistons blog Detroit Bad Boys writes about how Pistons fans can realistically hope Greg Monroe will play for their team.
- Testudo Times critiques one Maryland football preview.