The Nationals took their loss in stride.

Closer Drew Storen, who five times threw a pitch while one strike from a victory but each was called a ball: “It’s the best job when you’re good at it. It’s the worst job when you fail. Just got to learn from it.”

The team came very far. It’s a young team, however, so this should just be the start of the process. The should be able to keep the core of this team together for four or five years, and with luck make a run at a World Championship in that time frame.

I’d also like to note something about shutting down Stephen Strasburg. Some have noted that the Cardinals didn’t try to limit Adam Wainwright much. Adam was older and more experienced. Wainwright, on August 21, 2012, reached 160 1/3 innings, throwing a shutout that day. He owned a 3.65 ERA at that point. Over his final seven games of the regular season, he posted a 5.17 ERA as his strikeout rate dropped and his walk rate rose. He pitched one good game and one poor game in the post-season. Maybe it’s the case that 160 innings was a good limit for Strasburg. Now, one could argue that holding him back, giving him the month of July off, for example, or limiting his early innings with bullpen work, would have saved him for the post season. The Nationals, however, might not get to the post season without Stephen pitching in those starts.

Next season this team will have a more experience Bryce Harper and an unlimited Stephen Strasburg for the whole season. I can’t wait to see what happens.