Wire Taps: Washington Nationals’ Juan Soto getting better is scary; Kurt Suzuki discusses future + more Nats links...

It’s over a week now since the 2020 campaign came to an end for the Nationals. Before the 60th and final game of the season in Washington, manager Davey Martinez discussed what he saw in the clubhouse as things wrapped up.

“There’s boxes everywhere,” Martinez said.

“Everybody is packing. A lot of things, these guys are so good about taking stuff they don’t want or old stuff, we put it together in boxes and we ship them to the Dominican Republic and Venezuela. Guys, players, and kids that need baseball equipment. So they’ll get a lot of that stuff. We try to do our best to remember where we came from and these guys do a great job with that.”

Meals going out of Nationals Park. Equipment going to those who need it. At least there are some good things happening off the field since it didn’t work out on it this season.

Go read your links...

NATS BEAT:

Already among best in game, Soto still seeks to improve - (MASN)
"Soto proved again he is baseball’s most consistent offensive player, with no true weakness in his swing. He hit .346 off righties, .360 off lefties."

NATIONAL(S) BEAT:

Astros will be baseball's villains in the ALDS against the Oakland A's - (WaPost)
“The Astros have dominated baseball headlines for a year. That might not change as baseball's postseason moves into the divisional round.”

Freddie Freeman, Fastballs, and the Hall of Fame - (FanGraphs)
"Big hits? Freeman batted .423/.583/.885 in 72 plate appearances with runners in scoring position..."

Suzuki, family to ponder playing future after most unusual season - (Maui News)
"'I talked to my family a little during the season about maybe next year just with this year being so weird, not wanting to end on such a strange type of season.'"

The Frustration Gauge: Just how upset should fans of each non-playoff team be? – (The Athletic)
"The offense sagged without Rendon. Stephen Strasburg went down with carpal tunnel syndrome. Patrick Corbin gave up more hits than any pitcher in the National League."

NL EAST UPDATES:

Kevin Cooney: With next Phillies GM, John Middleton must avoid the same mistakes he made with Klentak hire - (PhillyVoice)
"Despite what you may hear on your favorite sports talk radio station, John MIddleton does drive with a passion to bring his 'damn trophy back.'"

The case for and the case against Brodie Van Wagenen – (The Athletic)
"Steve Cohen, awaiting league-wide approval, has appointed Sandy Alderson to be a team president overlooking the club’s business and baseball operations."

Atlanta Braves And Miami Marlins Bank On Rookie Starters In NLDS - (Forbes)
"The last time the Braves and Marlins met in a postseason series, it was a best-of-seven match won by the underdog expansion team, four games to two."

NLDS notebook: Braves respect Marlins' young pitchers - (AJC.com)
"The Marlins' starting pitchers for the first three games of the NLDS were all acquired as prospects as part of the return in trades that dealt away veteran players."