I figure I can post things here without getting the deluge of extreme emotional negativity on the main Caps boards and get some more rational takes. Things have definitely been a bit rough for this team in the second half of the season. The injuries to the d corps didn't help, and I think this is a case where the lack of talent and depth have finally caught up with the team.

At the beginning of the season, I didn't expect this team to make the playoffs. If they did, then it would be a bonus. If not, then so be it. I realize that their pretty good first half of the season raised a LOT of people's expectations, and now that they've come back down to earth so many are yelling doom and gloom. I know some people don't want to hear this, but this is the agony of rebuilding. You've got a roster of young players who are trying to learn how to win in this league.

I'll be curious to see what McPhee does at the trade deadline. The Jurcina deal has turned out pretty decent so far. I also would like to see some moves during the offseason. Maybe replace some of the parts. Depending on where they pick in the draft, maybe see some wheeling and dealing, and maybe during the summer make some semi-major signings. I know it's not my money, but Ted's going to have to loosen the purse strings just a little because people are not going to come to see the same exact product next season.

I realize living in a frontrunning town where people expect immediate results, and not just in sports, the rebuilding is a bitter pill to swallow. But we've seen how all of Dan Snyder's money has yielded only one playoff appearance (and I don't count '99 when he bought the team), and some fans are already turning on the Lerners just because they haven't spent their entire life savings on players for the Nats.

OK, off my soapbox and time to sleep!