WASHINGTON — I’ll begin this story with an apology.
It is difficult to judge a team after one month. I imagine, for instance, that the consensus on Cade Cavalli (back-to-back 10-strikeout games) has changed since you all filled this survey out. Still, I believe it’s important to regularly hear from the fans — in this case, 1,639 of you — and I personally believe we’ve already learned a good deal about the direction of this club, and the way it operates.
The first slate of responses from our first reader survey of the seasons focuses on the past and the present. The second set will mostly focus on the future of the organization. Those come out on Tuesday.
How does your overall confidence in the organization compare to how you felt at this time last year?
Response
%
1 — We’re worse worse off, take me back to the before times
1.9
2
7.1
3
23.7
4
40.4
5 — I remember what it’s like to feel hope
27.0
About two-thirds of readers said they feel more confident in the organization right now than they felt at the same time last year. That feels significant, especially since most of last year’s roster remains intact. New decision-makers have given the organization a new look. For many of you, that’s enough to dream on.
Still, there is a part of me that wonders if there is some revisionist history at play. For the second straight year, the Nationals have started 16-19. Last year’s group was supposed to be on the brink of contention. It was supposed to be the first full year of a James Wood and Dylan Crews-led club. Then, Washington went 38-66 over the final four months and fired GM Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez. I ultimately agree the Nats are trending up. I also can’t help but wonder how opinions could change in the second half.
Which early season trend are you most encouraged by?
The hitting coaches helping this team become a well-rounded offensive force
35.0
The embracing of a new philosophy
34.9
CJ Abrams and James Wood looking like stars again
20.0
The farm system looking like a powerhouse
8.6
Other
1.5
Man, you all really like to look at the bigger picture. It isn’t just that CJ Abrams and Wood have been exceptional, but that their protection in the lineup seems more prepared. It isn’t just that Wood and Abrams have taken to a new philosophy, but that the philosophy could shape the whole organization. From my conversations with people around the game, there has been a dramatic difference in preparation and game-planning at the big-league level and a significant philosophical shift in the minor leagues.
There was also one respondent who offered a sentiment I’m sure many of you share: “Honestly, I’m really enjoying how much the Mets and Phillies are losing.”
How would you grade the job Blake Butera has done since he arrived?
A
28.1
B
61.1
C
10.0
D
0.8
F
0.1
An approval rating near 90 percent feels significant. Exactly one person gave Butera an F.
Managers are not the most popular figures these days, but Butera has so far won over his players and this fan base. The lineups look different. The substitutions are frequent. The operation is transparent. The pitching has struggled, but it’s also steadied over the last couple of weeks.
Ultimately, Butera wants to provide this city with a team and a style of play that they can be proud of. That’s a work in progress as they comfortably lead MLB in errors. The second half should bring a more comprehensive judgment of his leadership — whether they are playing cleaner baseball and still buying into his message.
How would you grade the job Paul Toboni has done since he arrived?
A
25.7
B
52.9
C
17.8
D
3.0
F
0.6
About three-quarters of respondents approve of the job Toboni has done since taking office. The results here are a touch more negative than Butera, but perhaps that’s to be expected given the roster construction. The Nationals signed just three MLB free agents this winter and that included one starter with an ERA under 3.00 (Foster Griffin) and two starters with an ERA over 7.00 (Miles Mikolas and Zack Littell).
Still, this feels like a co-sign of the organization’s new direction and hirings, which took up most of his time this winter. It also signals that you all approve of his decision to deal MacKenzie Gore and Jose A. Ferrer. Speaking of which…
How did you feel about the decision to trade MacKenzie Gore?
Painful, but necessary
49.2
Necessary, not too painful
24.5
Don’t like it
19.8
Hate it
6.5
Of all the queries in Part 1 of the survey, this one was the most stunning. Given what I heard around Nats Park and saw on social media in the immediate aftermath, I figured there would be harder feelings here. Instead, almost three-quarters of you saw it as a necessary stage of the competitive cycle. Half of you felt that it was painful, but necessary.
Which player has most exceeded your expectations this season?
I would have selected Griffin here as well. It’s difficult to project how an arsenal translates from Japan, but it appears the Nats nailed this one. It can be tough to pitch in the majors with a 91 mph fastball, but Griffin has seven pitches and legitimate command over every single one. That is hard to hit in any country.
Abrams also gets a lot of love for his best-in-class start. Most of these results rolled in in the middle of his slump, too, which goes to show you just how hot those first four weeks were.
Which player has fallen furthest short of your expectations this season?
Littell was signed in the middle of spring training to stabilize the rotation. Over the past two seasons, he posted a 3.73 ERA across 343 innings. This season, he’s given up more home runs than anyone else in MLB. He’s also taken it exceptionally hard. After his last start in New York, it stung to let the team down. Sunday’s start — one earned run over 3 2/3 innings — was a step in the right direction.
Given how high expectations were for Cavalli — and that this poll came out before he had the second of back-to-back 10 strikeout games — he slots in at No. 2 here. Which, again, shows how fickle this exercise can be in early May. Mikolas, Keibert Ruiz and Luis García Jr. fill out the rest of the top five.
How many Nationals games do you watch per week?
5
35.0
3-4
30.5
1-2
24.4
I don’t watch the Nationals
10.1
It’s only May, and there’s still optimism, so a lot of you are tapped in. You want to see this team figure it out. You want to see whether this coaching staff can keep this offense rolling, or if it can help a pitching staff find its groove. Candidly, it’s fun to see a team figure it out. In person, though…
Which of the following best describes your feelings about going to a game at Nats Park?
I really like it
15.8
It’s fine but I wish they did more to improve the on-field product
39.6
It’s fine but I wish they did more to improve the stadium experience and cost of attending
23.9
I have no strong opinion
9.2
It’s dead in there
5.2
Other
6.3
The Nationals have the largest year-over-year decline in attendance in MLB. While Nats Park typically sees an attendance boost when school gets out, it’s even brutal compared to the first month last year.
Average attendance over the first 16 home games of 2025: 26,206
Average attendance over the first 16 home games of 2026: 22,094
You all said that this is the cost of losing. It probably doesn’t help that the Nationals are well below .500 at home to start the year. When push comes to shove, more of you would take a better on-field product than a more affordable experience. Still, the gap between these takes is slimmer than I would have guessed.
If you were allowed to put one 2025 free agent (and their contract) on the Nationals, who would you pick?
There is no world where the Nationals got to hand out one of these $100-plus million contracts over the offseason. But if they were, and you all were in Toboni’s seat, you would have chosen pitching.
In a dead heat between Ranger Suarez and Dylan Cease, you all opted for stuff, and for the man who threw a no-hitter against this club two years ago. I thought more of you would want to bring back Kyle Schwarber (5 years, $150 million). But the Nats can hit, and Schwarber’s contract is a lot for a DH.