WASHINGTON -- By avoiding any major roster overhauls before Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline passed, the Nationals believed they were sending a vote of confidence to their talented yet underachieving roster, even though not much about their performance on the field during the season's first four months inspired such. Instead, they drew that confidence from their track records and bet that after winning the National League East the past two seasons, they were talented enough to rally and capture a third straight division title.
The Nats responded to that confidence with a historic performance, as they handed the Mets a 25-4 shellacking on Tuesday night at Nationals Park.