The Washington Nationals are once again building the culture of a contender

In baseball, you build a culture before you build a contender. That’s what it felt like in 2011 when the Washington Nationals went from a team of losers to a club fighting to get close to .500 at 80-81. That club provided the internal team accountability – and sense of personal connection – that gave the Nats nearly the best record in baseball for the next eight years.