Clem's Baseball ~ The Washington Nationals Annual History

* This interactive Web page presents detailed year-by-year historical data that were formerly displayed altogether on the Washington Nationals page. That page now only shows detailed data for the current year, as well as historical annual summary data. Click on the years listed below to get the respective annual data.

2015: Injuries + managerial goofs = bitter disappointment

The acquisition of free agent pitcher Max Scherzer in January raised hopes for yet another baseball postseason in Washington, if not a World Series. (Bryce Harper: "Where's my ring?") The departure of Adam LaRoche and the shift of Ryan Zimmerman from third to first base were the most notable changes in the Nats lineup for 2015. The new third baseman Yunel Escobar was acquired from Oakland (in exchange for Tyler Clippard), while Bryce Harper and Jayson Werth switched places between right and left field. But pre-season injuries to Anthony Rendon and Denard Span, as well as surgery to Jayson Werth, seriously depleted the Nationals' lineup in the early weeks of the 2015 season. After a mediocre start, the Nats surged ahead, replacing the New York Mets as division leaders by the latter part of May. Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer both had spectacular success, and both were selected for the All-Star Game. Scherzer pitched no-hitters on June 20 and October 3, and Harper shared the National League home run title (42 total) and was a close second in the NL batting race (.330 average). In November Harper was chosen as National League MVP, the first Washington player to be so honored since 1925. But Ryan Zimmerman, Anthony Rendon, and Jayson Werth suffered injuries that kept them out of the lineup until late July. Meanwhile, Stephen Strasburg was plagued by ailments until late in the season, while the bullpen repeatedly let the team down. August was just awful, as the Nats fell out of first place, replaced by the New York Mets, and were officially eliminated from postseason contention on September 26. One day after the final game (October 4), Matt Williams was fired as manager.

Starting positions, 2015
			CF: Michael Taylor * .229 Denard Span .301
LF: Jayson Werth .221 Tyler Moore .203						RF: Bryce Harper .330

		SS: Ian Desmond .233		2B: Danny Espinosa .240 Anthony Rendon .264

	3B: Yunel Escobar * .314				1B: Ryan Zimmerman .249 Clint Robinson * .272

			C: Wilson Ramos .224 Jose Lobaton .199
Batting average for position players, ERA for pitchers. Manager: Matt Williams				* (asterisk): new player.

New contracts of note

Bryce Harper (MLBPA grievance filed) -- 2 years, $7.5 million (Dec.)

"+" = bonus incentives for salary, or optional extension (mutual or otherwise) for contract length. "D" = part of salary is deferred. "AE" = arbitration eligible. "FA" = free agent signing. Dollar figures are rounded.

Nationals, 2015: best batting and pitching records
Batting average		Home runs		RBIs		ERA		Wins		Strikeouts

Bryce Harper	.330	Bryce Harper	42	Bryce Harper	99	Max Scherzer	2.79	Max Scherzer	14	Max Scherzer	276

Nationals' head-to-head matchups,
2015
Opponent	Wins	Losses
ARI	4	3
ATL	14	5
BAL	2	4
BOS	1	2
CHC	3	4
CHW	0	0
CIN	1	5
CLE	0	0
COL	3	3
DET	0	0
HOU	0	0
KC	0	0
LAA	0	0
LAD	2	4
MIA	10	9
MIL	4	3
MIN	0	0
NYM	8	11
NYY	3	1
OAK	0	0
PHI	12	7
PIT	4	3
SD	5	2
SEA	0	0
SF	3	4
STL	2	4
TB	1	3
TEX	0	0
TOR	1	2
Totals	83	79

2015 memorable moments

Apr. 21 -- Yunel Escobar hits walk-off HR in 10th inning after Cardinals score in the 9th; WSH 2, STL 1
Apr. 28 -- Braves led 9-1 in the 2nd, but lost. Dan Uggla 2-run triple in 7th, & 3-run HR in 9th; WSH 13, ATL 12 @
May 6 -- Bryce Harper hits 3 home runs, Nats hold off Marlins' late rally; WSH 7, MIA 5
May 9 -- Bryce Harper hits 2-run walk-off HR, after Nats blow lead; WSH 7, MIA 5
May 11 -- Nats score 10 runs in first two innings; WSH 11, ARI 1
May 19 -- Ryan Zimmerman hits 2-run walk-off HR in 10th inn., after 3 other Nats homer; WSH 8, NYY 6
June 14 -- Max Scherzer allows one (bloop) hit, one walk, 16 strikeouts; WSH 4, MIL 0 @
June 16 -- Nats get 23 hits, incl. 4 home runs (2 by Wilson Ramos); WSH 16, TB 4
June 20 -- Max Scherzer is nearly perfect (HBP in 9th inn.), gets the no-hitter; WSH 6, PIT 0
June 21 -- Nats score 9 runs in 1st inning (2 home runs); WSH 9, PIT 2
Sept. 7 -- In critical division race game, Nats bullpen gives up 6 runs in 7th inning, 1 in 8th; NYM 8, WSH 7
Sept. 27 -- J. Papelbon attacks Bryce Harper in dugout, then gives up 5 runs (3 unearned) in 9th inning; PHI 12, WSH 5
Oct. 3 -- Max Scherzer is nearly perfect again (E-5 in 6th inn.), gets a 2nd no-hitter with 17 strikeouts!; WSH 2, NYM 0 @

"@" = away game

Nationals, 2015: month-by-month summary
Month	Wins	Losses	NL East place (at end)	Number of home games	Total attendance	Average attendance
April 2015	10	13	4th	10	301,740	30,174
May 2015	18	9	1st	11	377,561	34,324
June 2015	15	12	1st	15	513,937	34,262
July 2015	11	13	1st	11	403,216	36,656
Aug. 2015	12	17	2nd	16	511,768	31,986
* Sept. 2015	17	15	2nd	18	511,621	28,423
2015	83	79	2nd	81	2,619,843	32,344
* Sept. data include four games in October. SOURCE: My unofficial daily tabulations from MLB Gameday stats, Washington Post, and other newspapers.

The Washington Nationals: Annual History *

2015: Injuries + managerial goofs = bitter disappointment

New contracts of note

2015 memorable moments

The
Washington Nationals:
Annual History *