Simple Goals.

 

(AP Photo. Never in the Lerner Family's wildest dreams did they think they'd be contending for the #1 pick two years in a row.)

Off days, especially late in a long lost season, are good for two things: dreaming of offseason acquisitions, and making lists. We'll focus on list-making for the next few minutes, specifically with an eye on setting goals with 19 meaningless games left on the schedule. As we see it, the Nats have five simple goals worth striving for in the remaining games against the Phillies, Braves, Mets, and Dodgers. In order:

1. Sweep the final three games against the Phillies. Just reading crap like this about setting up the Phils postseason rotation makes us pray for an historic collapse down the stretch for Stan Kasten's favorite NL East City not named Atlanta. Let's do our part.

2. Don't get anybody killed or dismembered.

3. Win the damn Bryce Harper Sweepstakes. Thanks to Strasburg, Ted Lerner is now perfectly comfortable with writing big, fat paychecks to Scott Boras clients.

4. Outscore the Redskins in each of the three remaining Sunday games. Shouldn't be too hard.

5. Play Ian Desmond. A lot. Try to figure out if he's a viable option for the future.

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