This has been a good week for the Washington Nationals.  They drafted the stand-out player in the draft for the second straight year and their draft pick from the year before made his major league debut and was lights out.

What did Strasburg’s phenomenal start actually mean for the team?  Sure, it meant that on every 5th day they have a better shot of winning ballgames, then they have ever had in the past.  Their record should show that, though its doubtful they will see any benefit come playoff time.

But what they will see, and what Nationals fans will appreciate, is that now on every 5th day- when Strasburg is scheduled to take the mound- the ballpark will be nearly full and their will be an audible buzz in the crowd.  Expect attendance to go way up on the days he pitches.  Ask Houston what a difference they see in the ballpark on the days Roy Oswalt pitches?  Mets fans, think about the first year of Pedro Martinez’s contract.  There will be excitement in the air, and it will start to make it really fun to go to the ballpark.

And it the Nationals can fill their park 20 more times, that translates to salary they can spend on another free agent next year.  That also translates to an increase in ad rates to their sponsors, which again translates to salary towards a free agent. See the pattern?   Eventually, they will also have to pay Strasburg, but that is another season and a half away.  For now, they can just start to develop what it means to be a winner- and the fans can as well.

It won’t be long before the Nationals aren’t the cellar dwellars- and it all started last night.