2007 Washington Nationals season

2007 Washington Nationals
Major League affiliations
Location
Other information
Owner(s) Lerner Enterprises
General manager(s) Jim Bowden
Manager(s) Manny Acta
Local television MASN
WDCA (My 20)
Bob Carpenter, Ray Knight, Don Sutton, Johnny Holliday
Local radio WTWP/WWWT
Charlie Slowes, Dave Jageler
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The Washington Nationals' 2007 season began with the team trying to win its first NL East title since moving to Washington. During the offseason, the team replaced manager Frank Robinson with former Montreal Expos coach Manny Acta. They lost several players through free agency and trades. The most notable of those are José Guillén, Ramón Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, and José Vidro. The Nationals signed few major league free agents. Their most experienced free agent signing was Dmitri Young. Luis Ayala, Alex Escobar, Cristian Guzmán, Nick Johnson, Michael O'Connor and John Patterson are expected to return from season-ending injuries.

After losing four starters (Liván Hernández, Tony Armas, Ramón Ortiz and Pedro Astacio) from the prior year, the Nationals invited an extraordinary 36 pitchers to spring training.[1][2] By year's end, the team would become the first team in modern baseball (except for strike-shortened seasons) with no pitcher in double figures with wins or losses.[3]

The season was notable for it being the Nationals final year at RFK Stadium and for Dmitri Young winning Major League Baseball Comeback Player of the Year Award, marking the team's first annual award since moving to D.C.

Offseason

On December 18, 2006, the Nationals traded José Vidro and cash to the Seattle Mariners for Emiliano Fruto and Chris Snelling.[4]

Advertising and marketing

The 2007 season saw the Nationals′ first strategic marketing campaign since Lerner Enterprises purchased the team. It emphasized the upcoming opening of Nationals Park planned for 2008. The marketing slogan for the 2007 season was "Pledge Your Allegiance,"[5] a reference to the Pledge of Allegiance of the United States encouraging Nationals fans to show their loyalty to the team.

Spring training

The Nationals held their 2007 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium. They invited Danny Ardoin to spring training, but he did not make the team; they traded him to the Houston Astros for minor-leaguer Wade Robinson on March 26, 2007.[6]

Regular season

April

On Opening Day, the Nationals lost their starting shortstop (Cristian Guzmán, hamstring) and center fielder (Nook Logan) for five weeks. At the end of April, one of their starters, Jerome Williams hurt his ankle while batting and was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

May

Hitting coach Mitchell Page left his post with the team in May due to a relapse of alcoholism.[7]

In the space of just 10 days in May, Shawn Hill, John Patterson, and Jason Bergmann went on the disabled list. Jerome Williams returned, pitched one game, and went back on the DL with a shoulder injury. The Washington Post wrote: "Almost everything that could sink a team's attitude has befallen the Nats. They started the year 1-8, then they lost eight in a row to drop to 9-25."[8]

They pressed journeymen Mike Bacsik, Micah Bowie (a relief pitcher) and Jason Simontacchi, along with rookie reliever Levale Speigner into the starting rotation, amidst predictions that the 2007 Nationals might equal the 1962 Mets' record of futility, 120 losses in one season.[9]

After the team lost 8 straight games to sink to 9-25, the Nats won 11 of 15, mostly with patchwork starting pitching and timely hitting. and the return of Cristian Guzmán, who was hitting .343 by the end of May.

June

In June, the Nationals have been led by key hits by Dmitri Young, Cristian Guzmán and the power hitting of Ryan Zimmerman. But towards the end of the month, Guzman, hitting .329, was injured and lost for the season, and, following the injury, the Nationals lost 9 of their next 11 games.

July

Dmitri Young, hitting .339 (third in the league) and slugging .512, was selected as the lone Nationals' representative in the 2007 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Despite rumors that the Nationals were seeking to trade Ronnie Belliard, Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch and Young, the Nationals did not make any major trades before the non-waiver trade deadline.[10][11]

Season standings

National League East

NL East W L Pct. GB Home Road
Philadelphia Phillies 8973 0.549 — 47–34 42–39
New York Mets 8874 0.543 1 41–40 47–34
Atlanta Braves 8478 0.519 5 44–37 40–41
Washington Nationals 7389 0.451 16 40–41 33–48
Florida Marlins 7191 0.438 18 36–45 35–46

Record vs. opponents

2007 National League Records

Source:
Team ARI ATL CHC CIN COL FLA HOU LAD MIL NYM PHI PIT SD SF STL WSH AL
Arizona—4–24–22–48–106–15–28–102–53–45–15–410–810–84–36–18–7
Atlanta2–4—5–41–64–210–83–34–35–29–99–95–15–24–33–411–74–11
Chicago2–44–5—9–95–20–68–72–59–62–53–48–73–55–211–56–18–4
Cincinnati4–26–19–9—2–44–34–112–48–72–52–49–72–44–36–91–67-11
Colorado 10–82–42–54–2—3–33–412–64–24–24–34–311–810–83–44–310–8
Florida1–68–106–03–43–3—2–34–32–57–119–93–43–41–62–48–109–9
Houston2–53–37–811–44–33-2—4–35–132–53–35–104–32–47–92–59–9
Los Angeles 10–83–45–24–26–123–43–4—3–35–54–25–28–1010–83–35–15–10
Milwaukee5–22–56–97–82–45–213–53–3—2–43–410–62–54–57–84–28–7
New York4–39–95–25–22–411–75–25–54–2—6–124–22–44–25–29–98–7
Philadelphia1-59–94–34–23–49–93–32–44–312–6—4–24–34–46–312–68–7
Pittsburgh4–51–57–87–93–44–310–52–56–102–42–4—1–64–26–124–25–10
San Diego8–102–55–34–28–114–33–410–85–24–23–46–1—14–43–44–26–9
San Francisco8–103–42–53–48–106–14–28–105–42–44–42–44–14—4–13–45–10
St. Louis3–44–35–119–64–34-29–73–38–72–53–612–64–31–4—1–56–9
Washington1–67–111–66–13–410-85–21–52–49–96–122–42–44–35–1—9–9

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
NamePosition
Felipe LópezSecond baseman
Cristian GuzmánShortstop
Ryan ZimmermanThird baseman
Austin KearnsRight fielder
Dmitri YoungFirst baseman
Brian SchneiderCatcher
Ryan ChurchLeft fielder
Nook LoganCenter fielder
John PattersonStarting pitcher

Notable transactions

Draft

The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft took place on June 7 and 8. With their first pick – the sixth pick overall – the Nationals selected pitcher Ross Detwiler. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (second round, 67th overall), left fielder-third baseman Jake Smolinski (second round, 70th overall), third baseman Steven Souza, Jr. (third round, 100th overall), catcher Derek Norris (fourth round, 130th overall), and pitcher Pat McCoy (10th round, 310th overall).[20]

Roster

2007 Washington Nationals
Roster
Pitchers Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

 Manager

Coaches

Attendance

The Nationals drew 1,943,812 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2007, placing them 14th in attendance for the season among the 16 National League teams.[21]

Game log

2007 game log
April (9-17)
May (13-15)
June (10-16)
July (14-12)
August (12-17)
September (15-12)

Player stats

Batting

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases

Complete offensive statistics are available here.

Pos Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI AVG SB
CBrian Schneider1294083396211654.2350
1BDmitri Young136460571473811374.3200
2BRonnie Belliard147511571483511158.2903
SSFelipe López15460370148256950.24524
3BRyan Zimmerman162653991744352491.2664
LFRyan Church144470571284311570.2723
CFNook Logan1183253986184021.26523
RFAustin Kearns161587841563511674.2662
RFRobert Fick118197244661216.2340
CJesus Flores79180214490425.2440
SSChristian Guzmán46174315766214.3282
CFRyan Langerhans103162243262622.1983
LFWily Mo Peña37133243940822.2932
IFD'Angelo Jiménez73102142570210.2452
1BTony Batista80101102630216.2570
LFChris Snelling24496101117.2040
UTKory Casto1654172003.1300
OFMichael Restovich1528041001.1430
OFJustin Maxwell1526570025.2690
SSJosh Wilson1519310000.0530
OFBrandon Watson518251002.2781
PMatt Chico3148180003.1670
PJason Bergmann2237250000.1350
PShawn Hill1626220000.0770
PMike Bacsik2929131001.1030
PTim Redding1528121002.0710
PJason Simontacchi1319110000.0530
PJoel Hanrahan1214342103.2860
PJohn Lannan613121001.1540
PMicah Bowie3011010001.0910
PJohn Patterson710000000.0000
PJerome Williams67010000.1430
PLevale Speigner194000000.0000
PBilly Traber284000000.0000
PJon Rauch883000000.0000
PSaúl Rivera851000000.0000
PWinston Abreu262000000.0000
PChris Schroder372000000.0000
PChad Cordero761000000.0000
PJesús Colomé611000000.0000
PChris Booker30000000–0
PRoss Detwiler10000000–0
PArnie Muñoz130000000–0
PJonathan Albaladejo140000000–0
PRyan Wagner140000000–0
PLuis Ayala440000000–0
PRay King550000000–0
Totals1625520673141530931123646.25669

Pitching

Note: Pos = Position; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts

Complete pitching statistics are available here.

Pos Player W L ERA G GS SV IP R ER BB K
SPMatt Chico794.6331310167.096867494
SPMike Bacsik585.1129200118.073672945
SPJason Bergmann664.4521210115.159574286
SPShawn Hill453.421616097.142372565
SPTim Redding363.641515084.035343847
SPJason Simontacchi676.371313070.253502342
CLChad Cordero333.367603775.031282962
RPSaúl Rivera463.68850393.039384264
RPJon Rauch843.61880487.137352171
RPJesús Colomé513.82610166.030282743
RPRay King114.54550033.217171818
Micah Bowie434.55308057.130292742
Joel Hanrahan536.001211051.035343843
Chris Schroder233.18370045.119161543
Luis Ayala223.19440142.116151228
Levale Speigner238.78196040.039392319
Billy Traber224.76282039.222211327
John Lannan224.1566034.217161710
John Patterson157.4777031.126262215
Winston Abreu015.93260030.12120926
Jerome Williams057.2066030.026241815
Ryan Wagner025.74140015.2111089
Jonathan Albaladejo111.88140014.133212
Arnie Muñoz006.7513005.14473
Chris Booker0118.003001.02211
Ross Detwiler000.001001.00001
Totals73894.58162162461446.2783736580931

Team leaders

Qualifying players only.

Batting

Stat Player Total
Avg.Dmitri Young.320
HRRyan Zimmerman24
RBIRyan Zimmerman110
RRyan Zimmerman91
HRyan Zimmerman174
SBFelipe López24

Pitching

Stat Player Total
WJon Rauch8
LMatt Chico9
ERAMatt Chico4.63
SOMatt Chico94
SVChad Cordero37
IPMatt Chico167.0

Awards and honors

All-Stars

Annual awards

Records and firsts

The 2007 Nationals became the first team in modern baseball (1901–present) to trail 4-0 in each of their first six games.[22] as well as the first to not score during the first three innings of each of their first ten games.[23]

The 2007 Nationals also set the National League record for not scoring a run in the first inning of their first 22 games.[24]

On August 7, 2007, in a game against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park, Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik gave up career home run number 756 to Barry Bonds, who broke a 33-year-old record previously held by Hank Aaron.[25]

Farm system

Level Team League Manager
AAA Columbus Clippers International League John Stearns
AA Harrisburg Senators Eastern League Scott Little
A Potomac Nationals Carolina League Randy Knorr
A Hagerstown Suns South Atlantic League Tom Herr
A-Short Season Vermont Lake Monsters New York–Penn League Darnell Coles
Rookie GCL Nationals Gulf Coast League Bob Henley

References

  • Game Logs:
1st Half: Washington Nationals Game Log on ESPN.com
2nd Half: Washington Nationals Game Log on ESPN.com
  1. ↑ Thomas Boswell (March 7, 2007). "Nats' Starting Pitching Could Be a Real Problem". The Washington Post. p. E03.
  2. ↑ Barry Svrluga (February 26, 2007). "Nats' St. Claire Knows the Task at Hand". Washington Post. p. E01.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Rich (October 1, 2007). "Down Bergmann up in team plans". The Free Lance-Star, p. B7.
  4. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Seattle Mariners
  5. ↑ Anonymous, "Washington Nationals announce White & Partners as 2007 marketing partner," Washington Nationals press release, November 28, 2006, 2:07 p.m EST.
  6. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Houston Astros
  7. ↑ Schudel, Matt (18 March 2011). "Mitchell Page, hitting coach for Nationals and Cardinals, dies at 59". The Washington Post. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  8. ↑ Thomas Boswell (June 4, 2007). "Nationals Are Managing Just Fine With Acta". The Washington Post. p. E01.
  9. ↑ Linton Weeks (May 8, 2007). "Baseball Most Foul: The Nats Reinvent Bad". Washington Post. p. C01.
  10. ↑ Ladson, Bill (July 31, 2007). "Nats let deadline pass without a deal". Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  11. ↑ Ladson, Bill (July 19, 2007). "Cordero, Rauch focus of trade rumors". Retrieved July 31, 2007.
  12. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Philadelphia Phillies
  13. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & San Diego Padres
  14. 1 2 baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Oakland Athletics
  15. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Detroit Tigers
  16. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Minnesota Twins
  17. 1 2 baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Boston Red Sox
  18. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Arizona Diamondbacks
  19. ↑ baseball-reference.com Trades between Washington Nationals & Milwaukee Brewers
  20. ↑ baseball-reference.com 2007 Washington Nationals Picks in the MLB June Amateur Draft
  21. ↑ baseball-reference.com 2007 Washington Nationals
  22. ↑ Jacobson, Todd (April 8, 2007). "D-backs tee off on Patterson". The Free Lance-Star, p. B7.
  23. ↑ Blum, Ronald (April 14, 2007). "Nats flirt with two in a row". The Free Lance-Star, p. B10
  24. ↑ Jacobson, Todd (April 30, 2007). "Finally, Nationals get started early". The Free Lance-Star, p. C1.
  25. ↑ The Official Site of The Washington Nationals: News: Nationals watch record with wonder
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