Dark Qiviut

In 2012, the Nats were 98-64 and made the playoffs for the first time since 1981 as the Expos. General Manager Mike Arizona took a ton of heat for shutting down ace Stephen Strasburg, pitching in his first full year since undergoing Tommy John surgery in late-2010, especially following their NLDS Game 5 collapse. At the time, it looked like Washington blew their best chance to win a championship. Their championship victory last year, with Strasburg right in the thick of things and becoming WS MVP, vindicated Rizzo.