The Washington Nationals are building the culture of a contender again

In baseball, you build a culture before you build a contender. That’s how it felt in 2011 when the Washington Nationals changed from a team of losers to a club that battled to approach .500 at 80-81. That club established the internal team accountability — and the sense of personal connection — that helped the Nats have nearly the best record in baseball over the next eight years.