WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: Jayson Werth #28 of the Washington Nationals takes a swing during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on June 21, 2014 at Natioanls Park in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 3-0. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) Jayson Werth #28 of the Washington Nationals takes a swing during a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves on June 21, 2014 at Natioanls Park in Washington, DC. The Nationals won 3-0. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (CBSDC) — MLB Network host Greg Amsinger had some sharp words for the Washington Nationals, who he believes are lacking that intangible “it factor” that the Baltimore Orioles seem to possess.

Amsinger, appearing with Chad Dukes on 106.7 The Fan on Wednesday, called the Nationals an “enigma,” and says the currently-in-first-place club should be “by far” the best team in the NL East division, but for “some reason” they’re not.

“I just think the Washington Nationals are an enigma,” Amsinger said. “No one knows what in the world is going on with this club. They should be, by far, the best in their division, but for some reason they’re not.” “You look at the rotation, you like it better than any other rotation in that division,” he said. “You look at the lineup, it’s so good, they’re gonna have to start playing musical chairs to get everybody playing time. So that is a good problem to have, yet they just don’t have it. Whatever it is.”

In case you’re wondering exactly what it is, he explained.

“People that love sabermetrics, they don’t want to talk about it, but it’s the human element. Chemistry does matter. It really does. It’s a baseball season that is a non-stop grind, and if this club isn’t having a lot of fun, if Bryce Harper isn’t accepted with open arms when he walks into the clubhouse, if he doesn’t have a lot of buddies, if he doesn’t feel comfortable, then you will see a young man go from hitting three home runs in a rehab game, to looking clueless when he comes back to the big leagues. You know, comfort factor happens to human beings. They’re not robots, as much as we wish they were for our fantasy baseball teams. That’s not the case. “So, for some reason, this club doesn’t gel, and that’s the difference. The Baltimore Orioles? They are gelling. They like each other; they get along. I’m not saying the Nats are twenty-five different caps — I’m not saying that — but there’s just, the it factor, it’s in Baltimore; it’s not in D.C.”

It gets better. Amsinger would then point to a lack of leadership from the team’s “alpha male,” Jayson Werth, to prove the club isn’t a “cohesive unit.”

“I would say Jayson Werth is the most powerful voice of that club,” Amsinger said. “He doesn’t talk to the media, though, Greg,” Dukes interjected. “We can’t ever get him on the horn!” “Right. Exactly,” Amsinger said. “So the most dominant alpha male in the clubhouse is a guy that has a different approach then we’re all used to seeing and hearing. I’m not saying it’s all Jayson Werth’s fault, but I believe, if you’re looking at the alpha male for the Washington Nationals, it’s Jayson Werth.” “And the leader of the club is the guy that’s gonna have to say, ‘We gotta get it now. We gotta get Ian Desmond wagging his tail while he’s out there playing shortstop so he can throw the ball to first base. We gotta get Bryce Harper feeling like he is the biggest stud on this earth, and he deserves all the commercials that he’s getting, he deserves all the hype, he deserves everything that comes his way; if he’s smiling, we’re winning.’ He’s gotta make everyone feel like they are important, and again, leaders matter.”

It was at this point in the interview, Amsinger would spotlight two of his current MLB Network co-workers, Kevin Millar and Mark DeRosa, as having previously served the elder statesman role on one of their respective former clubs — Millar, who he says helped put the 2004 championship Red Sox over the top, and DeRosa, who he believes helped guide the 2012 Nationals club to the organization’s first playoff berth.

“I’ve been around these guys, these baseball players for a long time, and what Kevin Millar brought to the Boston Red Sox was more than drawing walks so they could make thrilling comebacks against Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees,” Amsinger said. “He was able to take Manny Ramirez and the Latin players, and gel those guys with all the American players – the Jason Variteks — they became one cohesive unit, because he was one of those glue chemistry guys. “Mark DeRosa was a valuable piece to the Washington Nationals,” he added. “You may look at the box score and go, ‘Ah, he didn’t really bring that much to the club.’ But his personality was very important, and every guy that’s in that clubhouse for the Washington Nationals knows what I’m talking about. Mark DeRosa works with us now; he can attest to this. There is a role with a guy that knows how to lead men, and I don’t know who that guy is right now.” “I’m gonna say it’s Jayson Werth, just cause we’re having this conversation, Chad. He’s got to do a better job. He’s gonna have to do a better job, because this club is not a cohesive unit right now.”

The Baltimore Orioles are 49-40 and at the top of their division. The Washington Nationals are 48-40 and at the top of their division.

That “it factor,” according to Amsinger, makes all the difference.

Maybe if Jayson Werth did some more phone interviews, the Nationals would have won the first of a four-game series against the it-factory Orioles.

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