Ladson's Secret, One Ingredient Formula for a 13-Win Improvement

In the latest inbox, Ladson writes:

I predict the Nationals are going to win 82 games this year. The defense is improved. With better defense, you'll have improved starting pitching. Although the Nationals were shut out by the Braves on Thursday, I think the offense will hold its own. I'm not worried about it.

I'm due for another post on defense because things are getting downright strange over at nationals.com.  I'm going to hold off a few more days so I won't have to revisit the subject when the 'Defense Can Cure Heart Disease' and 'Defense is the Key to Winning in Afghanistan' articles go up later in the week.  Marginally improved defense apparently has nothing on Bill Brasky:

Getting back on topic, I mainly just want to point out that Nats fans are receiving analysis from someone who believes that a slightly improved defense is going to catapult them to 82-80.  That would be a remarkable result.  Who are these defensive wizards that are going to conjure up 13 extra wins?

The two key additions are:

1. Adam LaRoche: hasn't had a positive defensive wins above replacement (dWAR) value since 2007.
2. Jayson Werth: hasn't had a positive value for Total Zone in runs above average since 2008.  In all fairness, this is due to his poor CF play weighing down his (sub)mediocre RF play.

2007 is an increasingly long time ago.

Couple that with Ankiel for Morgan and Morse for Willingham and there it is.  Pretty anticlimactic.

With all the resources front offices devote to uncovering momentary advantages in baseball understanding, does Ladson actually believe his lazy rantings hold the Secret Formula to transforming a last-place team into a winner?  Adding Average Defenders = Better Pitching = 13-win improvement? My head hurts.  Regardless, I'm looking forward to Defense adding some MPH and late movement to John Lannan's fastball.