WASHINGTON - For the second time in three years, the Washington Nationals won the most games in the NL — and then quickly exited from the playoffs. Dani Carvajal Spain Jersey . Now comes an off-season of questions about manager Matt Williams decisions and a handful of key roster choices, including what to do about Ryan Zimmerman, whether to sign Jordan Zimmermann and Ian Desmond to long-term deals, and how to upgrade an offence that fell flat in October. The window is not closed, Desmond said after the Nationals season ended Tuesday night with a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants in Game 4 of their NL Division Series, but it is closing. At 96-66 under rookie skipper Williams, Washington finished first in the NL East by 17 games and had the best record in the league. Its pitching staff led the majors with a 3.03 ERA, as Zimmermann, who threw a no-hitter in the regular-season finale, teamed with Stephen Strasburg, Doug Fister, Gio Gonzalez and Tanner Roark to form as formidable rotation. The lineup lacked superstar numbers, but it managed to finish third in the NL in runs. Then came the post-season. Just like in 2012, when it won 98 games, a top-seeded Nationals club lost to a wild-card opponent in the NLDS. The pitching was fine — Washington and San Francisco each scored nine runs in the series — although Williams use of his relievers will provide fodder for months worth of talk-radio segments. Should he have lifted Zimmermann with two outs in the ninth in Game 2? Should he have gone through Game 4 without ever using Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen, Craig Stammen or an available Strasburg? Should he have picked one of those pitchers for the pivotal seventh inning, when the Giants took the lead for good, instead of Matt Thornton and rookie Aaron Barrett, whose wild pitch let the go-ahead run score? Those are our seventh-inning guys, Williams said. Thats how we set this up. The biggest problem of all in the playoffs, though, was the lack of runs. The only batters who produced against the Giants were left fielder Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon, who replaced Zimmerman as the teams third baseman in 2014. Rendon batted .400 in the NLDS. Harper hit .368 with three homers and four RBIs, which might raise an additional second-guess: Why was he batting sixth? The No. 3-4 hitters, right fielder Jayson Werth and 34-year-old first baseman Adam LaRoche, were particularly off. They went a combined 2 for 35 (a .057 average) with a pair of singles and nine strikeouts. They were hardly alone, though. The No. 1, 5 and 7 hitters — centre fielder Denard Span, shortstop Desmond and catcher Wilson Ramos — were 7 for 54 (.130) with 15 strikeouts, zero extra-base hits and zero RBIs. Its just frustrating to get to this point and not play to our capabilities, Span said. This will stick with me the whole off-season. When the Nationals eventually gather in Florida for spring training in February, the focus will be squarely on why a club so successful in the regular season hasnt been able to follow that up in the post-season. LaRoche might be gone, perhaps replaced at first base by Zimmerman. Second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera, a trade-deadline pickup, can become a free agent, and deposed closer Rafael Soriano could be gone, too. As things stand now, the Nationals have a contract option to keep Span for next season, while Zimmermann and Desmond can become free agents after the 2015 season. Were a good team and we had a goal in mind, reliever Jerry Blevins said. This wasnt it. ___ Freelance writer Rick Eymer in San Francisco contributed to this report. Sergio Busquets Spain Jersey . -- Coyotes coach Dave Tippett thinks of one thing when he watches Eastern Conference teams struggle against Western opponents before they get to Phoenix: His team must keep pace. Saul Niguez Spain Jersey .A. Happ? Happs seven wins are second on the staff to Mark Buehrles 10. Win-loss record is an antiquated stat, sure, but win total is generally an indication of a pitchers ability to work deep into games, enough to be personally affected by the result. http://www.soccerspainauthority.com/ .com) - The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings are ready to put all the talk and hype surrounding their meeting at Dodger Stadium behind them.Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez hopes Saturdays victory over Swansea will be the catalyst for Premier League survival. The 3-0 win was Benitezs first since taking charge at St James Park and boosts the Magpies chances of avoiding the drop.They are now three points behind 17th-placed Norwich, who lost to Sunderland earlier in the day, and have a game in hand on the Canaries. The three points are massive for us, Benitez told Sky Sports. I have to say congratulations to our players and fans for sticking together. With the players working as hard as they did today and the fans getting behind the team we are stronger.We have three home games left and if we can play at the same level and with the same intensity then the fans will appreciate that and stay with the team and we will have more chance to win more points. Phil Thompson gives his thoughts on Newcastles victory Benitez made five changes to the starting line-up after defeat at Southampton the previous weekend, including dropping Jonjo Shelvey and Aleksandar Mitrovic to the bench. Isco Spain Jersey. The decision was justified by the result and Benitez said afterwards: You have to give credit to the XI that started because they worked so well, but the subs helped a lot.(Papiss) Cisse did a fantastic job up front and Mitrovic did the same, that is what you are expect when you bring players from the bench. We need everyone and if everyone can help it will be much better for the team and the fans. Moussa Sissoko celebrates scoring Newcastles second goal Benitez was also pleased with the reaction from his side after their loss at Southampton, when they were criticised for their below-par display.We were disappointed (with the Southampton performance) and you expect a reaction, said Benitez. The reaction was amazing, the fans recognised the effort so it is positive for everyone and hopefully it can be the first win of many.We knew we had to win. The main thing was to play well, to win and give our fans the belief that we will fight until the end.Watch Newcastle take on Manchester City in a Football Special on Tuesday, April 19 from 7pm on Sky Sports 1. Also See: Newcastle 3-0 Swansea As it happened Newcastle fixtures Get a ￡10 free bet! Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys ' ' '