We've Got Heart

New Park Update and other news

2008-02-20T10:17:00.000-08:00

With a little over a month before Opening Day, everybody is growing anxious to see our new summer home. Two new Nationals Park tours are available and worth your time: MLB.com's Ed Randall and WUSA9's Dan Guzman.

In other news, it appears that Luis Ayala will finally be arriving at camp today. Jesus Flores will likely report on Saturday. Jesus Colome and Arnie Munoz are still having Visa problems.

Happy Birthday #4!

2008-02-20T09:37:00.000-08:00

Spring Training News Updates

2008-02-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

Reunited and it feels so good:
Bret Boone joins brother Aaron and father Bob in the Nationals organization. The team offered the second baseman an invitation to the Accelerated Development Program and a non guaranteed minor-league contract. He has appeared in 3 All Star games and has won a pair of AL Silver Slugger Awards, as well as 4 Gold Gloves throughout his career. Boone hasn't played since 2005.

A Lefty Joins the battle for rotation spots:
After a day of rumors, the Nats agree to terms on a minor league contract with Odalis Perez at a reported 800,000.

Position players report:
A fully recovered Ryan Zimmerman, a re-energized Felipe Lopez, a healthy Nick Johnson and a lighter Dmitri Young have all been spotted starting their spring training early.

Here's a great quote from the "face of the franchise" with no long-term contract (yet):

We are tired of losing. We are good enough to win. The way we played the last month of the season -- the last two weeks against teams that were competing for a playoff spot -- we played them tough. So that shows we are not scared. We were scared before, but we know we can win. We have a little quiet confidence about us. That's how it's going to be this year. .. Competing isn't good enough. We want to win and we want to win now." -- Zimmerman

He Speaks

2008-02-17T11:07:00.000-08:00

Paul LoDuca broke his long silence today and released a statement about his steroid use and mention in the Mitchell Report. His statement was pretty much the same kind of thing we have heard from others mentioned.

"In regards to Senator Mitchell's report, I apologize to my family, all my fans and to the entire baseball community for [the] mistakes in judgment I made in the past and for the distractions that resulted. I am fully committed to being the best player and person I can be, on and off the field, for the Washington Nationals and the entire baseball community.

"I recognize the importance of my role in the community as a professional athlete, and I intend to focus my energies on making a positive impact in that regard. So that I can focus on making positive contributions and avoid creating further distractions, I respectfully decline to comment any further on the content of the Mitchell Report."

When asked why he waited so long to make the statement, LoDuca said he wanted to focus on his offseason. He waited until spring training to focus on baseball again. Whatever you say Paul...

It's still unsure if LoDuca will face a suspension, his case is still being reviewed. It's also unclear if LoDuca will be ready to play on opening day. Seems like a lot of stuff to work out in the next six weeks. According to the Times, the team has a scenario in place to deal with a suspension of LoDuca, it involves Jesus Flores starting the season in majors.

Hopefully Jesus gets to spring training soon, apparently some guys on the team had some issues with their visas. Flores, Ayala, Colome, Munoz, and a few others where unable to report to spring training on Saturday. Lets hope they can make it soon!

The Time Has Come, Today

2008-02-15T09:15:00.000-08:00

Pitchers and catchers report today, baseball season is finally here! The optimism for the 2008 season is everywhere. Check out articles in the Washington Post, Times, and the Examiner. The long quiet winter is over and we can really start talking about baseball again.

The Nationals organization enters spring training this year with significantly less unknowns. We have a general idea of what the starting rotation will look like, who will make up the infield, and what kind of power our bench will have. There still are some questions though, like who will be the starting first baseman? Who will be at short and second? Will our new catcher LoDuca* show up to spring training? We look forward to getting answers to these questions in the coming weeks.

Those Nats fans heading down to Viera for games this spring will be greeted with some upgrades to Space Coast Stadium. A new PA system, more food options, and updates to the Carl Barger Complex are just a few things to look forward to.

Can you hear the crack of the bat yet? We are so ready to have baseball back! For us it really does mean, "The end of football. It means the start of spring. And for those yearning for the pop of a glove or the crack of a bat, it means all is right with the world."

Felipe Lopez Loses Arbitration

2008-02-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

Not all that surprisingly, infielder Felipe Lopez lost his arbitration case yesterday. Lopez will make $4.9 million instead of the $5.2 million he desired. The ruling still gives Lopez a $1 million raise over last year's salary despite his subpar season.

His decision to actually go to arbitration was the big surprise. Last season, Lopez hit .245 with nine home runs and 50 RBIs. A lead-off hitter who struck out during almost 20% of his at-bats, his OBP was only .308. Lopez also struggled defensively collecting 20 errors. Only 11 players in Major League Baseball had more last season (though those players include Zimmerman, Wright, and H. Ramirez). Unfortuantely, Nats fans know that many of those errors were momentum changing moments that eventually cost the Nats a few wins and leveled a charge from some that he wasn't trying.

Lopez said of the arbitration process, often known to be a difficult experience, that hearing the team talk about his terrible performance in 2006 just fired him up.

The club has said that Belliard and Guzman will come into spring training with the nod at 2nd and short, but Lopez wants to play hard and earn his starting spot. He said recently:

A lot of people have had bad years -- a lot of good players -- and they bounce back. That what I want to do. I want to bounce back.

We will see. There is little doubt that Lopez has a lot of potential but private personal problems have admittedly affected his on-field focus. A 2005 All-Star, we're hoping Felipe Lopez can put last season behind him and have a big comeback in 2008.

Happy Birthday Tyler!

2008-02-14T06:18:00.000-08:00

A Fresh Start?

2008-02-13T06:51:00.001-08:00

Sure, we've waited all off season for today -- the day pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. The Nats don't report until Friday, but nonetheless, baseball season is here. A clean slate, a lot of fresh faces -- It's a day for celebrating a new season. Congratulations, baseball fan. You surivived 4 1/2 months without baseball.

Unfortunantely, steroids continue to tarnish the game we all love -- even on this day of fresh starts. The topic strikes again today as Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee travel to Capitol Hill to discuss steroid use.

The hearing begins in just a few minutes (10 AM EST). You can watch on tv or online on CSPAN3.

Happy Birthday Matt!

2008-02-13T06:49:00.000-08:00

This Day in History

2008-02-12T12:56:00.000-08:00

On February 12, 1878: The Captain of Harvard's baseball team received a patent for creating a catcher's mask.

Taking his inspiration from the fencing mask, Thayer designed a mask that added a forehead pad and chin rest to help absorb the impact of the ball. He also replaced the fine wire mesh of the fencing mask with a "birdcage" face protector that improved visibility.

Thayer and Tyng experimented with the catcher's mask away from the diamond, before Tyng finally used it in a regular-season game on April 12, 1877.

Originally, it was only worn on a two-strike count but eventually, Tyng kept it on for all pitches. A.G. Spalding and Brothers first sold the mask for $3.

Thanks to Ryan for the tip.

Happy Birthday #17!

2008-02-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday!

2008-02-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

Bang Zoom - News Update

2008-02-06T06:48:00.000-08:00

With just about a week until pitchers and catchers report, the Nationals are still busy finalizing the details for next season. Stan gave a tour of the new stadium recently, and promised that the stadium will be completed by opening day. Hard to believe its only 53 days till the season opener!

We finally have the official word on radio extraordinaire Charlie Slowes. He and the Nationals have agreed to terms, and Charlie will rejoin Dave Jageler for the 2008 season. Hopefully we will hear a lot of Charlie's trademark "bang zoom go the fireworks" next season. This is a step in the right direction.

Also somewhat buried in the news of Charlie's contract, comes the blurb about the Nats signing Asian pitcher Katsuhiko Maekawa to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training. Both Barry and WFY have more info, but it seems he's had some trouble with the law also. Sure looks like he'll feel right at home next to fellow misfits...er oops...I mean teammates.

Lastly, we kicked our baseball withdrawal a bit by following the Caribbean World Series. Both Jesus Colome and Ronnie Belliard had some great performances.

That’s about it for now. Let’s start the countdown...9 days till Spring Training!

ps - Both Babe Ruth and Ronald Reagan were born today in 1895 and 1911.

What if Tom Brady was our catcher?

2008-02-01T06:48:00.000-08:00

Given all the discussion about catchers ---

Thanks to Doug for informing us that two time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady was originally drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1995 as a catcher. Brady instead went to Michigan to pursue his football career.

But it makes you wonder. Love him or hate him, Brady's talent is undeniable. Anyone feel certain he could be throwing out more baserunners than Lo Duca* or Estrada?

Happy Birthday!

2008-02-01T03:46:00.000-08:00

Santana

2008-01-30T12:16:00.000-08:00

Given this...

and this...

this is timely and a little fun.

A few things...

2008-01-30T06:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Nationals agreed to a 1.25 million dollar one year contract with catcher Johnny Estrada. Estrada will be reunited with Stan Kasten and Pat Corrales. Sources insist the move had nothing to do with Lo Duca*'s recent knee injury, though Estrada had the same procedure performed last fall. The switch-hitter brings some balance to the lineup. Chris at Capitol Punishment chronicles Estrada's attitude problems, calling attention to the most important consequences of this move.

Jesus Flores. The young impressive Flores will, according to these sources, be playing AA or AAA ball next season to develop into the backstop of the Nats future. We're big fans and sad to see him go. Alas, what Jim wants, Jim gets.

In other news:

Dmitri Young was honored at the 19th annual BAT awards, along with David Wright.

Elijah Dukes was back in a Tampa court yesterday for a disposition in a misdemeanor domestic violence case against him, stemming from a July 2007 incident.

Ryan Zimmerman will be appearing at a star studded pre-Super Bowl party this weekend. The Stars in the Skye party includes Nick Lachey, Vanessa Millano, Venus and Serena Williams, Ivanka Trump and others.

The Nats are expected to take on the Georgetown Hoyas at an exhibition game on Feb 28 in Viera. The game is free of charge and originally appeared as an off-day for the team.

Happy Birthday #22!

2008-01-30T06:19:00.000-08:00

Fast cars and baseball

2008-01-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

Today's stop on the Nationals 2008 Winter Tour was an autograph signing at the DC Auto Show. Thanks to our friend Rich, we scored tickets and headed to see the slick cars and nab an autograph from Tim Redding. There was a pretty good sized crowd at the show today and some really nice cars! It looked like Tim had a steady group of fans to meet. We were impressed to see Mark Lerner at the event. The Lerners have been out to support many of the events for this tour; it's nice to see. The last stop on the tour is tomorrow at Barcroft Elementary School in Arlington. Then, it's time to focus on spring training and opening day!

News Updates -

The Orioles traded their young left-hander Erik Bedard to the Mariners. A little disappointing as we would have loved to see this starter as a Nat!

According to Lo Duca's* agent, he is having surgery tomorrow to repair a "minor meniscus tear." He's expected to be out for 3-6 weeks. Pitchers and catchers report for spring training on the 15th of February. Wonder if Paul will be there...

Happy Birthday to one of baseball's finest

2008-01-25T13:36:00.000-08:00

Happy 90th Birthday to the wonderful Ernie Harwell. He was so sweet back in July in a presentation at George Washington University. A great career and a wonderful baseball legend...we wish Ernie all the best on this important day.

End of the Week Wrap Up

2008-01-25T08:45:00.000-08:00

After a good attempt to make it to Giffords on time last night (I blame the city's lack of protected left turns), I arrived minutes after the Nationals crew had already departed. Others were there to fill you in on the details. It sure smelled like heaven in there. Sounds like it was a great event for the local business which will be selling products at the new Nationals Park.

The Nats also announced their new Baseball America ranking for prospects. The Nats moved from dead last to #9 by adding the talented Detwiler, Burgess, McGeary and Smoker.

The team also announced their kick-off of the Spring Training season with single game ticket sales and a fan fest for those in the Melbourne/Viera area. Saturday's fest will include Jason Bergmann, Ross Detwiler, Shawn Hill and Alex Escobar and feature batting practice, a pitching clinic, and dugout pictures. There are only 20 days to go until pitchers and catchers report.

We have not said much about Barry Svrluga yet -- we were waiting for his official word. But it does turn out that beloved Post beat writer will be moving to Redskins coverage in the future. Can you think of just one person who might be okay with this change?

Sideline reporter Debbi Taylor has a fun blog post about her recent trip to the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation In the Spirit of the Game Dinner and Auction.

Also the Hampton Roads MLB boys are coming together again. This time they are building a indoor sports facility -- the Seven Cities Sports Complex. The idea belongs to Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer who has dreamed about sponsoring such a place for years. The complex should be ready by early 2009. In general, there will be a fee to attend and train, however they also plan to offer scholarships to help send kids to college. The clinics and programs will shape the area's youth and provide assistance to those that might not be able to afford to use the facility. The group is headed by Cuddyer with support from BJ and Justin Upton, Tim Hummel and Ryan Zimmerman.

Injury update: Nats catcher Paul Lo Duca* seems to have suffered a knee injury recently. It is unknown if it will affect his participation in spring training, but he will have an MRI today. He also has not yet publicly addressed accusations made against him in the Mitchell Report.

The Nats also agreed to terms with 12 players. The only remaining players without contracts are Felipe Lopez (arbitration), Jon Rauch (arbitration) and Ryan Zimmerman (long term contract??).

Back in business?

2008-01-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

After spending a few days with Nick Johnson in Sacramento, Washington Post reporter Barry Syrluga wrote a fantastic piece on Johnson's long road to recovery. It has been 16 months since Nick has played in a baseball game. 16 months since that horrible collision in Shea Stadium. Johnson was expected to be back and ready to go for the 2007 season, however the pain in his leg wouldn't disappear and playing baseball was not an option. Nick's return date went from spring training 07, to June 07, to July 07, and finally to spring training 08. Some seemed to think his career in baseball was over for good.

Thankfully that's not the case. According to Barry, Nick has been dedicated this offseason, losing weight, and getting back into shape. Better yet, he's done it all with no limp or pain in his leg. Nick is poised to compete with Dmitri Young during spring training for the starting role. Manny Acta sounded confident in Johnson's return also. He noted that the Nationals would really benefit from Nick's offense and OBP. So the Nats have two solid first basemen heading into spring training. There's nothing wrong with a little healthy competition. It will be exciting to see how it all plays out and who wins the spot.

We'll be there to see the fight for first base, the depth of the new outfield, and who wins a spot on the starting 5 in less than a month. We purchased our spring training game tickets this morning. Baseball is just around the corner!

Birthday presents

2008-01-23T11:37:00.001-08:00

As if sharing my birthday with Wily Mo wasn't enough--
A baseball stuffed with chocolate covered strawberries and bananas might be! Thanks Rach! Check it out at Edible Arrangements.

That sure is better than receiving one of these American League Nats jackets!

Happy Birthday #26!

2008-01-23T05:40:00.000-08:00

PS-It's nice to share a birthday with our power hitting left fielder :)

These are a few of my favorite things...

2008-01-22T11:42:00.000-08:00

Sure we've all been wrapped up in ticket re-location, parking issues and stadium progress - while March 30 gets closer and closer. It seems like we just left RFK and in a few short weeks we'll be sitting in our new Nationals Park.

Mark Newman of MLB recently interviewed baseball fans about their favorite collectibles and pieces of memorabilia -- those things that help us remember how we first fell in love with the national pastime or that remind us of games and moments that seemed to change everything.

Our friends at Phillies Nation treasure a Phanatic growth chart, while MetsGrrl loves her Shea Stadium Apple Clock. We shared a few of our own favorite things too.

In just 68 days, we'll pack up the baseball memories we've already made and look forward to making decades of new ones in our new home along the Anacostia River.

Redding remains in DC

2008-01-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

One by one the Nationals are avoiding the arbitration process with the players eligible. Yesterday, the Nats and Tim Redding agreed on contract terms. Redding received a one-year $1 million deal with additional bonuses if he pitches more than 180 innings. Tim's performance last year was a pleasant surprise, he really stepped up when so many of our starters fell to injury. He was called up in July and went 3-6 with a 3.64 ERA. We are excited to have him back next year, and are interested to see what Spring Training will bring for the rotation.

As of now, the Nationals still have two players eligible for arbitration, Jon Rauch and Felipe Lopez. It sounds like the Nats had been trying to work with Rauch on a deal but nothing has been agreed on yet. It's all quiet on the Felipe Lopez front, although we've heard he is expected to compete with Guzman for a starting position during Spring Training. We'd love for Felipe to prove himself, and have the kind of amazing season we all know he can have.

Less than a month to go now!

A hockey stop

2008-01-16T06:09:00.000-08:00

We headed to the Washington Capitals game last night to spice things up a bit and attend another of the 2008 Winter Tour events. There seemed to be a good turn out. Manny, John Lannan, Jason Bergmann, and Charlie Slowes were signing autographs and talking with fans. Jason especially was really looking forward to seeing the hockey game.

The Capitals ended up beating the Senators 4-2. It was the first time the Capitals had swept the Senators since the 95-96 season. Exciting game, but don't expect to see us trading in our seats at the new ballpark for seats in the Verizon Center. Tickets were pretty expensive. $35 for a seat in the very last row!

I guess $35 is a popular number, rumor has it that's what it will cost season ticket holders to park at the new stadium next year...a little excessive don't you think? We haven't received our parking package yet, but are interested to see what exactly is being offered.

Check here for some more pics from last nights event.

Spring Training Countdown

2008-01-15T08:08:00.000-08:00

With just about 30 days left before pitchers and catchers report to spring training, baseball fans are getting excited. MLB.com posted a countdown clock on all our team sites yesterday and MLB.com's Mark Newman wrote a fantastic piece on surviving the next 30 days. The Nationals also appear to have some great Spring Training packages available if you still haven't made your travel plans!

Congressional Hearings Begin

2008-01-15T07:17:00.000-08:00

The House Oversight & Govt. Reform Committee's hearing on the use of performance enhancing substances by major league baseball players begins today. Former Sen. George Mitchell (D-ME), MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, and Don Fehr, president, Major League Players Association will meet with the Committee.

You can watch live on CSPAN2.

Happy Birthday #34!

2008-01-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

Manny on Fox5

2008-01-14T07:35:00.001-08:00

Nationals manager Manny Acta recently sat down with Fox5's Dave Feldman for a brief discussion about the upcoming season. Acta talks about last year's team, the future of the organization, Lastings Milledge, Elijah Dukes, Chad Cordero and the Mitchell Report.

While not addressing the Lo Duca* situation directly, Acta said that the players accused "have to be man enough to admit it."

You can see Manny tomorrow night at the Washington Capitals game. He will join Jason Bergmann and John Lannan to sign autographs before the game as part of the continuing winter tour.

"Harvard Boys" -- A Review

2008-01-13T15:39:00.000-08:00

Harvard Boys: A Father and Son's Adventures Playing Minor League Baseball. John Wolff and Rick Wolff. New York, Skyhorse Publishing, 2007.

As father and son, John and Rick Wolff both experienced the highs and lows of minor league baseball. Harvard Boys chronicles John's baseball career from Harvard to Arizona to Bristol to Massachusetts to Kalamazoo through one summer of baseball. John recalls his experiences in diary form while his father, Rick, adds insight from his own baseball experiences along the way.

The story is a fascinating look into the life of minor leaguers and prospects. It begins with spring training in the dry Arizona heat. John invites us into his day-to-day life on and off the field. A Harvard grad who instead wanted to live out his baseball dream, John struggled to prove himself throughout the summer to the White Sox organization. More than just providing game re-caps, the book also describes the competition, emotional obstacles, personal challenges and financial problems that toughen ballplayers in the minor league system.

The book is enjoyable because it is genuine. John watches superstar prospects accelerate much faster than he can. He struggles to prove to his coaches, and to himself that he belongs. At each turning point, John picks up the pieces and moves on to find a new pro ball opportunity.

His determination is refreshing and serves as a wonderful reminder at how great the differences can be between minor and major league ball. While our Washington Nationals are treated to spreads of healthy food and stays in the nicest hotels, John's always looking for a free meal and trying to find cheap sources of air conditioning and transportation.

Along the way, John's father Rick, who played minor league ball in the Tigers organization and worked for the Indians, offers encouragement, insight and memories as he responds to John's experiences. For as much as the game may change from year to year, readers begin to understand that many elements will always stay the same.

I really enjoyed Harvard Boys. I found myself quickly engaged and curious about how his summer would unfold -- even tossing the book aside in anger for a few days after a frustrating turn of events. Well written and insightful, I often found his stories to be humorous. The book is loaded with the superstar prospects that have quickly and quietly made their mark on baseball. Their cameo experiences are entertaining but not the focus. The story's biggest accomplishment is bringing fans into the dugout and onto the team bus for a summer. Overall, a nice father-son story full of the ups and downs of minor league baseball in America.

You can purchase the book at your local bookstore.

A Healthy Dose of the Nationals

2008-01-13T12:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, the Washington Nationals participated in NBC4's 15th Health and Fitness Expo at the DC Convention Center. Radio announcer Charlie Slowes, team president Stan Kasten, RHP Jason Bergmann and infielder Aaron Boone were present. It was Aaron Boone's first appearance as a National. It looks like Boone will be wearing a number 8 on his back this season.

The players demonstrated batting, pitching and fielding for youngsters and took their questions before answering questions from the adult fans in attendance. The kids were eager to learn about the game from Jason and Aaron. Ever the teacher, Jason showed the children different grips for different pitches. Aaron helped them practice a ready stance, fielding and throwing.

After the demonstration, the children asked questions of the players. One child asked what the hardest pitch is to hit. Bergmann explained that while he's a pitcher and doesn't hit often, he hates good sliders. Boone's most concerned about perfect placement. He explained that Freddy Garcia has a lot of deceptive movement.

There were a few questions about how the guys stay healthy. Both players warned the kids to limit junk food and eat lots of small meals throughout the day. Boone explained that he loved to cook which encouraged a youngster to suggest that the team publish a cookbook. Bergmann reminded fans of Patterson and Schneider's decision last season to remove the junkfood from the clubhouse.

Fans and adults also asked a few questions. Stan Kasten explained that Opening Day tickets and single game tickets in general would go on sale at the beginning of March. Season-ticket holders will have an opportunity to purchase before that time. With 75 days left, Stan talked about how busy the club is getting ready to open the new park. "It's the busiest off season of my career," he explained.

Charlie also asked Aaron and Jason about the impact of steroids on the game. "I think they're bad," said Boone. He expressed confidence in MLB's steps toward cleaning up the game. Bergmann agreed with Boone and said there's plenty of ways to improve your game without performance enhancing substances - citing lifting and proper nutritrion as two examples.

After the questions, Kasten, Boone and Bergmann signed autographs for fans. The presidents entertained fans throughout the Expo - even joining an exercise class for a few minutes.

Here's our photos from the event. Miss Chatter has some great ones too.

Turns out bloggers and crazy fans think alike. After the event, we figured we'd make the most of our green line ride by stopping at the new stadium for a quick look. Nats320 was there and also has some great pictures.

It looks like the stadium and the Metro have lots of work ahead, but here's to counting down the days.

The Nats also have this cool new video up of the park construction.

Happy Birthday #56!

2008-01-12T05:14:00.000-08:00

* We sure hope he makes a quick recovery from his recent accident.

Chief stays!

2008-01-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

The Nationals just announced they avoided arbitration with Chad Cordero and signed the closer to a one year $6.2 million deal. This is great news for both the Chief and Nats fans. Chad has said on numerous occasions that he wants to stay in DC and loves playing for the Nationals. As the Nationals are trying to mold a group of young men into a championship team, it makes total sense to keep the talented young closer in Washington. While he keeps our hearts pounding in the 9th inning, Chief usually gets the job done. Congratulations Chad!

From the Press Release:

The 25 year-old Cordero, who has successfully converted over 80 percent of his save opportunities each of his complete three seasons as a closer, ranks second on the franchise’s all-time saves list with 128 (Jeff Reardon, 152). Last season—on June 12 vs. Baltimore at the age of 25 years, 86 days—Cordero became the second-youngest closer in big league history to reach the 100-save plateau (Francisco Rodriguez, 24 years, 246 days). Cordero is 20-14 with 128 saves and a 2.79 ERA in 299 career appearances spanning four-plus seasons with Washington and Montreal.

The Nationals now have three players left who remain arbitration eligible: Felipe Lopez, Jon Rauch, and Tim Redding. It will be interesting to see what happens for them in the next few weeks.

D on dLifeTV

2008-01-11T10:54:00.000-08:00

On February 24, our very own Dmitri Young will be featured in a segment on dLifeTV, a program that offers tips, insights and stories for those that suffer from diabetes.

Dmitri was baseball's feel good story last summer. Young managed to rebound from a near death experience in the ICU to win the Players' Association and MLB's Comeback Player of the Year Award. He hit .320 in 2007 and became an important leader in the Nationals clubhouse.

Young has Type 2 diabetes.

dLifeTV airs every Sunday evening on CNBC at 7:00pm ET.

2008 Winter Tour

2008-01-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

With the opening of the new stadium just months away, its still kind of hard for us to believe that there is not going to be a FanFest or any caravan type events. It seems like the perfect time to get creative and really get fans excited about the upcoming season. Instead, fans are given a handful of autograph sessions over the next two weeks.

There is some good news however, Charlie Slowes seems to be on board for next season as he is moderating some of the events. We couldn't be happier about this and can't wait to hear Charlie and Dave on the radio in 2008!

2008 Winter Tour Events -

Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13
9:00am – 5:00pm
NBC4 Health & Fitness Expo, Washington, DC

Noon – 3:00pm
Players Skills Demonstration, Q&A and Autograph Session (Jason Bergmann, Aaron Boone, and Stan Kasten)

Monday, January 14
9:00am – 11:00am
Food & Friends, Washington, DC
Manny, Jason Bergmann, and John Lannan will help prepare the food for that days delivery.

Tuesday, January 15
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Children’s National Medical Center, Washington, DC
The team (Acta, Bergmann and Lannan) will donate toys to the hospital and visit with patients.

6:00pm – 7:00pm
Autograph Session at Washington Capitals Game, Washington, DC.

Thursday, January 17
6:00pm – 10:00pm
Smart CEO Future 50, Washington, DC
Manny Acta will serve as keynote speaker.

Thursday, January 24
11:00am – 1:30pm
National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD

5:00pm – 7:00pm
Gifford’s Ice Cream and Candy Co. Washington, DC
Players (Mike Bacsik) will serve ice cream to customers.

Friday, January 25
10:00am – 11:30am
William Wirt School Assembly, Riverdale, MD
School assembly and book donation to school library.

Saturday, January 26
11:30am – 2:00pm
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, Prince William County, VA
Youth Clinic

Sunday, January 27
12:00pm – 3:00pm
Autograph Session at Washington Auto Show, Washington DC

Monday, January 28
10:00am – 11:30am
Arlington County Public School Visit
School assembly and book donation to school library.
*There may be no students there!

Happy Birthday #14!

2008-01-11T06:18:00.000-08:00

Bad, Worse and Awful

2008-01-04T13:28:00.000-08:00

Reading Barry Svrluga's Nationals Journal this afternoon is sure to depress any Nationals fan.

Bad: Luis Ayala was recently shot in the left arm on a hunting/fishing trip. He is expected to be ready for Spring Training. *Here's the AP story.

Worse: The winter caravan begins next weekend, but the Nats aren't expected to make an announcement till Wednesday. That's two days to plan for a few events that feature Aaron Boone and Manny Acta (so far). Let's hope they schedule some more stuff and find a few more players. As it stands, it's pretty pathetic.

Awful: No FanFest. A few months ago, it was reportedly going to be held in Bethesda.

Don't feel that robbed? You should!

Here's what the Braves are doing.

Even the miserable Pirates have this fan appreciation thing down pat.

New park, lots of new faces on the team, lots of excitment building around the team -- and no FanFest.

*note* My apology for far too many typos in the initial post. It has since been fixed and marks the last time I rush to get something up before heading out the door.

Dukes has Christmas spirit

2007-12-24T09:42:00.000-08:00

With a lot to prove to Washington, Elijah Dukes has offered us a small glimmer of hope for his turn around this Christmas season. The troubled outfielder recently organized a holiday toy drive in Tampa Bay, joined by our very own recent draft pick, Michael Burgess. Turns out the two are friends and attended the same high school.

Dukes and Burgess purchased over 300 gifts for children in the community ranging from baseball supplies to televisions and bicycles.

While still concernced about this Dukes situation, we wish Jim Bowden's project the best of luck in 2008 (in the spirit of Christmas, afterall).

Happy Birthday #43!

2007-12-22T19:23:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday #6!

2007-12-20T20:27:00.000-08:00

It's On!

2007-12-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

The Nationals sure have had a busy couple of weeks. Seems as though some of the trades the club made at the beginning of the month have come back to haunt them a bit.

We were not happy when the Nationals acquired outfielder Elijah Dukes. His previous actions and run ins with the law had us worried that the change Jim Bowden promised Dukes would make was unlikely. Now, just two weeks after the trade was announced, Dukes finds himself i n hot water again. The situation is actually quite similar. A former flame has accused Dukes of domestic violence and has requested a restraining order. According to Amanda Reese, who says she dated Dukes from August to October, Dukes sent her a number of threatening text messages. Sounds pretty familiar huh? Remember the message he sent his soon to be ex-wife, "you dead dawg." Apparently the Nationals have set up a support system to keep Dukes in-line. He will live with Barry Larkin until Spring Training. Perhaps an easier fix would be to take away his cell phone? Of course the Nats say they didn't know about this situation, that it happened before the trade, and that since he has been with the club, Dukes has been cooperative. Regardless I'm sensing a theme, its pretty obvious that the club is going to have their work cut out for them on this one.

In addition, with the release of the Mitchell Report, the Nats found the name of their new catcher Paul Lo Duca* on the list. President Stan Kasten made a few comments about the report yesterday. He would not specifically name Lo Duca* or Nook Logan, but it was pretty clear that the Nationals didn't know about Lo Duca's* steroid use when they acquired him. Kasten made it clear that talking about steroid use is a personal decision left up to the player. We commend those players like former Nat Gary Bennett and the O's Brian Roberts for being honest about their usage. Wonder when or if Lo Duca* will say anything, my guess is no...

The Nationals have also announced their official 2008 schedule today. Still no word on Spring Training. President Bush has been invited to throw the first pitch at the new stadium. Sadly, there will be no baseball in the nation's capitol on the 4th of July. The 2008 schedule includes an away game in Cincinnati on July 4. What's a Fourth of July celebration in DC without a baseball game? We can't imagine the Nats passing on a sell-out game opportunity in the new stadium.

A Sad Day for Baseball

2007-12-13T20:19:00.000-08:00

LA Times reporter Bill Plaschke said it better than we can.

"Baseball will survive, because as long as there are summer nights and bleacher seats, baseball will always survive...The good part about the report is that it represents an important step toward a clean future. The bad part is that, more than any other sport, baseball is steeped in its past."

Clearly, we haven't had a chance to read the entire 409 page document, but we all understand its basic content. First, for those items that hit close to home.

Nook Logan. A National for some of 2006 and all of 2007, released just days ago by the Club. A surprise? Absolutely. When reached on Thursday, Logan said, "I'm not talking about it. You have to talk to my agent. I just play baseball."

From Page 229:

Rondell White, a Tigers teammate, referred Logan to Radomski. Radomski stated that he sold Logan one kit of human growth hormone just before federal agents searched Radomski’s house in December 2005. Radomski mailed the package to Logan, who paid by money order. Radomski recalled having between six and eight conversations with Logan about the use of performance enhancing substances. In the course of one of these conversations, Logan confirmed that he had received the shipment from Radomski. Radomski still had Logan’s phone number in his cell phone directory at the time of his final interview with me and provided me with the phone number.

Congressman Tom Davis thinks Logan should get his money back. "I mean, Nook Logan? I mean, he ought to get his money back, whatever he paid for...They must have watered his down, man. Put some flour in it or whatever."

Next, the one that should irritate us much more. While the evidence against Logan is minimal and inconclusive, Lo Duca is clearly implicated by the Report. Paul Lo Duca.

New Nationals catcher Lo Duca's name is plastered throughout the entire report, not just in his own section. Lo Duca is cited in Eric Gagné and Matt Herges' reports with a number of accusations about him purchasing and injecting illegal performance enhancing drugs.

Page 209 begins the 37 times Lo Duca's name is mentioned:

Todd Hundley referred Lo Duca to Radomski when Lo Duca played for the Dodgers. Radomski estimated that he engaged in six or more transactions with Lo Duca. In some transactions, Radomski sent the performance enhancing substances by overnight mail to Lo Duca’s home or to the Dodgers clubhouse and Lo Duca sent Radomski a check a week or so later.

Lo Duca’s name, with an address and telephone number, is listed in the address book seized from Radomski’s residence by federal agents. During that search, federal agents also seized a note from Lo Duca to Radomski...

Now there's a great role model for young Jesus Flores. And if suspensions are put in place for Lo Duca, will Flores start on Opening Day?

Commissioner Bud Selig and Don Fehr of the Players Association addressed the matter after Senator Mitchell released the report. Selig was eager to understand and learn from the past and suggested he'd handle the situation on a case by case basis. Fehr defended players who may have been wrongly accused.

There will be a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Tuesday. More hearings scheduled for January as well. Plaschke concludes with this strong statement:

"For baseball to experience a true cleansing, it must first spend time feeling the filth that its fans feel, the grime from a 409-page dirty book that, for now, has torn apart our bleacher seats and blown out the lights on our summer nights."

and we add two more...

2007-12-13T11:32:00.000-08:00

The Nationals just announced the addition of Rob Mackowiak and Willie Harris to the 2008 roster. Both Mackowiak and Harris are left handed free agents which should help to balance out our heavily right handed roster.

Jim Bowden made the announcement and said, " “With the additions of Mackowiak and Harris, I feel we will have one of the deepest and most balanced benches in the National League.”

Mackowiak who plays all outfield positions as well as first, second, and third base, is a career .262 hitter with 63 home runs and 282 RBI in 818 games, and has played with Pittsburgh, the White Sox, and last year with San Diego. While outfielder Harris appeared in 117 games with Atlanta in 2007 and batted .270 with 20 doubles, eight triples, two homers, 32 RBI and 17 stolen bases.

Lots of stuff going on today. Have you all checked out the copy of the Mitchell Report. Both Paul Lo Duca and Nook Logan make appearances. We'll have more on that soon...

The Mitchell Report

2007-12-13T09:08:00.000-08:00

A rumored list is posted at Deadspin:

Update: This list is wrong and implicates players who were not named in the report -- including our own Aaron Boone. More soon.

Brady Anderson, Manny Alexander, Rick Ankiel, Jeff Bagwell, Barry Bonds, Aaron Boone, Rafaeil Bettancourt, Bret Boone, Milton Bradley, David Bell, Dante Bichette, Albert Belle, Paul Byrd, Wil Cordero, Ken Caminiti, Mike Cameron, Ramon Castro, Jose and Ozzie Canseco, Roger Clemens, Paxton Crawford, Wilson Delgado, Lenny Dykstra, Johnny Damon, Carl Everett, Kyle Farnsoworth, Ryan Franklin, Rich Garces, Jason Grimsley, Troy Glaus, Juan Gonzalez, Eric Gagne, Nomar Garciaparra, Jason Giambi, Jeremy Giambi, Jose Guillen, Jay Gibbons, Juan Gonzalez, Clay Hensley, Jerry Hairston, Felix Heredia, Jr., Darren Holmes, Wally Joyner, Darryl Kile, Matt Lawton, Raul Mondesi, Mark McGwire, Guillermo Mota, Robert Machado, Damian Moss, Abraham Nunez, Trot Nixon, Jose Offerman, Andy Pettitte, Mark Prior, Neifi Perez, Rafael Palmiero, Albert Pujols, Brian Roberts, Juan Rincon, John Rocker, Pudge Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Scott Schoenweiis, David Segui, Alex Sanchez, Gary Sheffield, Miguel Tejada, Julian Tavarez,Fernando Tatis, Maurice Vaughn, Jason Varitek, Ismael Valdez, Matt Williams and Kerry Wood.

Two hours until the final list is released.

Three RHPs

2007-12-13T06:46:00.001-08:00

The Nationals have worked out contracts with three of our arbitration eligible players. They also announced the release of Nook Logan and Mike O'Connor.

Luis Ayala had a good comeback from his elbow reconstruction surgery last season with a 3.11 ERA in 44 appearances. The 29 year old will make 1.7 million next year.

John Patterson and Ryan Wagner both missed most of the 2007 season with injuries. Patterson will make 850,000 while Wagner will make 450,000 next season.

Ayala and Patterson were important parts of the 2005 pitching team. Patterson went 9-7 with a 3.13 ERA in 31 games. Ayala went 8-7 with a 2.66 ERA in 71 innings.

Wagner was aquired late in 2006 from the Reds along with Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns. He was 3-3 for the Nats in 26 games in 06.

The Nationals now have five players -- Lopez, Colome, Cordero, Rauch and Redding -- who remain arbitration eligible.

UPDATE - Make that 4 RHPs...

The Nationals have agreed to terms with Jesus Colome. 1.25 million for next season.

Paul Lo Duca...

2007-12-10T12:17:00.000-08:00

is reported to have agreed to terms with the Nationals. According to Barry Lo Duca will get $5 million for one year. Does this move seem to be a scramble to fill a roster void to anyone else? Is Lo Duca any better than Brian Schneider? Really? I still don't understand why we traded him in the first place. Paying millions for a guy who isn't much better than what we had seems like a move only Jimbo would make. What the heck happened to my team over the past week?!

I understand the desire to create a winning team. Believe me, I can't wait to see the Nationals play October baseball. However, it all seems to be coming at a pretty high cost. I am supposed to just accept that we might have a better record next year, and cheer for guys who clearly don't have the same amount of character as those we just gave away? I realize that's probably a very 'girl' thing to say, but does character really count for nothing?

If all of the talk in 2007 about clubhouse unity and positive energy was true, it seems like the Nats will have a lot of work to do in 2008 to ensure that atmosphere doesn't go away. So while we might be better offensively, our starting first baseman's main job is going to be babysitting our potential center fielder, and we extended a contract for veteran infielder just to help bring character to the clubhouse. Now we also have an older catcher who we have given a bunch of money to for only one year, who doesn't really get a long with our other potential center fielder, and has issues all his own. This all seems a bit backwards to me.

Lastly, what happens to our 'catcher of the future' Jesus Flores. Is he going to be sent down to the minors next year to further develop? Keeping in mind that he certainly proved himself last year at the big league level, with a great arm, on point defensive skills, and key clutch hits. He has also been playing winter ball in Venezuela. As I posted before he's not playing everyday, but when he does play he produces -- he hit an RBI double last night. I say why not give this kid a real chance to prove what else he can do?

I am not sure about the 2008 Nationals. Who knows, maybe I am too emotionally attached, but I have a feeling we as fans are in for quite a dramatic season. I'll try my hardest to remain positive, and hopefully I eat my words.

Happy Birthday #77!

2007-12-09T19:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday #5!

2007-12-08T14:20:00.000-08:00

Winter Meetings: Winners and Losers

2007-12-07T06:10:00.000-08:00

Jeff Passan from Yahoo! Sports released his list of winners and losers from this year's winter meetings. Not surprisingly, the Dukes situation was brought up in both columns. Tampa Bay was listed as a winner for getting rid of him, while Jim Bowden received some critiques for acquiring the troubled player.

Here's what Passan had to say:

"Jim Bowden: The most dangerous qualities a baseball player can exhibit simultaneously are ability and disappointment. Because more than anything, people around baseball love to fix things. They love to believe they can fix a flat curveball, and that they can find the hitch in that long swing, and, in Bowden's case, that they can turn a monster into a mite. Elijah Dukes needs a coterie of good doctors, not the Washington Nationals' GM trying to rescue him. If there's an upside, it's that Lastings Milledge will look like a choir boy in comparison."

We sincerely hope that Dukes is given a zero tolerance policy and that the Nationals stick to it. It would be incredible if Dukes can turn his life around, but if he can't, he needs to be shown the door.

Happy Birthday #52!

2007-12-06T20:29:00.001-08:00

3 join and 2 stay

2007-12-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Seems the Nationals picked up two players from the Rule 5 Draft. Infielder Matt Whitney and outfielder Garrett Guzman join the club. It will be interesting to see what kind of help these two can provide.

According to the press release -

Whitney, who was the 33rd overall pick (supplemental round) in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft by Cleveland, led the Indians’ minor league system in 2007 with 32 home runs and 113 RBI in a combined 128 games with Low-A Lake County (South Atlantic League) and High-A Kinston (Carolina League). Whitney was named the 10th-best prospect in the Carolina League following the season by Baseball America after hitting .288 with 11 doubles, 16 homers, 49 RBI and a .549 slugging percentage in 57 games with Kinston.

Guzman was named an Eastern League post-season All-Star in 2007 after batting .312 with 23 doubles, 14 homers and 88 RBI in 125 games with Minnesota’s Double-A New Britain club. In his first full year at the Double-A level, the 24-year-old finished the year tied for fourth in the league in RBI and tied for third in batting. Guzman, a left-handed hitter, batted .333 (35-for-105) with three homers and 22 RBI against left-handed pitchers.

The Nationals have also offered contract extensions to Wily Mo Pena and Ryan Langerhans, avoiding arbitration for both. Pena got a one year deal with a mutual option year, while Langerhans agreed to terms for the 2008 season. Seems as though the outfield is set with five thanks to addition of Guzman. Guess that means we won't be seeing Nook Logan in 2008?

Lastly the Nationals have agreed to terms with free agent infielder Aaron Boone.

Boone, 34, is a career .265 (961-for-3626) hitter with 203 doubles, 120 home runs, 527 RBI and 107 stolen bases in 1038 games spanning 10 big league seasons with Cincinnati (1997-2003), New York-AL (2003), Cleveland (2005-06) and Florida (2007). Although his season was cut short by a left-knee injury, Boone hit .286 with five home runs, 28 RBI and a career-best .388 on-base percentage in 69 games with the Marlins in 2007.

It'd be nice if we could get a catcher next to help Jesus Flores out next year.

Snow!

2007-12-05T09:28:00.001-08:00

Boswell: A Bridge Too Far

2007-12-05T06:44:00.000-08:00

Thomas Boswell has an excellent piece in today's Washington Post concerning the Nationals enormous mistake in aquiring the troubled Elijah Dukes. Boswell asks (emphasis added by us):

"How much of your franchise's soul will you sacrifice for a bite? How much clubhouse chemistry, how much fan repugnance, how many protesters outside your park, will you tolerate for a chance to steal a franchise-changing player..."

"Does Dukes grasp the difference between a second chance, of which he has had many, and a last chance, like this one? Does he understand the public relations grief the Nats and the Lerner family will, and should, absorb for going so far out on the long-shot salvation trail? Or has Dukes been forgiven, counseled, tolerated, recruited and fawned over so long that he doesn't recognize The End of the Road when it is finally staring him in the face?"

"The Nats probably went a bridge too far in trying to save Dukes. But they've crossed it now. Don't bother to wish the team luck. All they have to do to solve any problem with him is say "Goodbye." As for Dukes, wish him luck if your heart is soft. Or better yet, stick with tough love and make him earn every single thing he gets."

The juice just ain't worth the squeeze

2007-12-04T06:08:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Thom Loverro at the Washington Times for his article on the Dukes trade. The article says everything we were thinking, but were struggling to put into words. The jist - Dukes is not worth the trouble. As Nats fans we are now asked to show our loyalty by welcoming this troubled kid with open arms...not a chance.

More Trade News:

The revolving door that has been the Washington Nationals this week continues to spin with the news that Jonathan Albaladejo has been traded to the New York Yankees for right-handed starter, Tyler Clippard. Albaladejo posted a 1.88 ERA in 14.1 innings of work with the Nationals at the end of the season. We are certainly going to miss him, he looked great in his call up. Doug saw him pitch last season in AAA before his September call up, and was excited about him. Albaladejo came almost free from the Pirates so its nice that we get someone of value for him. The 22 year old Clippard had a 3-1 record last year with a 6.33 ERA.

With the recent addition of Milledge and Dukes, the Nats outfield is getting a little crowded. A recent report suggests that Kearns and Lopez could go as a package deal in exchange for more starting pitching. Kearns was touted as a Gold Glove candidate for much of the season by the Nationals front office. Lets hope this rumor isn't true.

Here comes the spin...

2007-12-03T14:12:00.000-08:00

It is Washington afterall. As you might have guessed, the Nationals official release on Dukes leaves a lot out:

The Washington Nationals today acquired 23 year-old outfielder Elijah Dukes from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor-league left-handed pitcher Glenn Gibson. Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Dukes went 35-for-184 (.190) with three doubles, two triples, 10 home runs, 21 RBI in 52 games in 2007 as a true rookie with the Devil Rays. Dukes displayed advanced plate discipline as a rookie, as he averaged 3.9 pitches per plate appearance en route to earning 33 walks. Although he has pro experience at all three outfield slots, 37 of Dukes’ 38 starts with the Devil Rays came in center field.

The 6-foot-2, 220 lbs. Dukes—widely regarded as one of the best athletes in baseball—joined Kansas City slugger Alex Gordon (23) as one of just two American League true rookies to hit 10 or more home runs in 2007.

Originally Tampa Bay’s third-round selection in the 2002 First-Year Draft, Dukes was rated as high as the Devil Rays’ No. 5 prospect, according to Baseball America, entering the 2006 campaign. He entered 2007 ranked by the same publication as the top athlete in Tampa Bay’s system.

In four minor-league seasons, Dukes posted a .370 on-base percentage and averaged nearly 23 stolen bases per year. In Dukes’ Triple-A debut with Durham in 2006, in little more than half a season, he hit .293 with 30 extra-base hits, 10 home runs, 50 RBI and a .401 on-base percentage. Upon being drafted out of Hillsborough (FL) High, Dukes was named the nation’s best two-sport athlete by USA Today.

There were a few statements made regarding Dukes' troubled past:

Stan Kasten:

"The decision to acquire Elijah Dukes was not a simple one. From a purely baseball perspective, all our evaluators agree he has the talent to be a quality major leaguer. From a franchise standpoint, we want to make sure Elijah is determined to be a quality contributor off-the-field as well.

“Let me emphasize that though Elijah’s history may be very different from other players on our team, he will very definitely be held to the same high standards. We believe the Nationals clubhouse, manager, organization, and fans [get real Stan, not a chance] give Elijah Dukes his best chance to succeed and grow.”

Jim Bowden:
“Elijah has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order impact bat who is capable of playing all three outfield positions. We spent many months investigating, researching and studying all the issues on and off the field regarding this transaction [but I was stubborn and got my way.] This decision, however, is more than an educated gamble. The support of our manager, coaches, front office and active players were a major factor in this decision. Our organization is determined to help Elijah turn his life around off the field and continue his development as a player [Yea, we're that naive and cheap].”

Manny Acta:

“I’m looking forward to working with Elijah [looking forward to it? really, Manny, cause it's going to distract your attention from the capable gifted athletes that deserve it]. I recently saw him play in Winter Ball and am convinced he can be a solid addition to our ballclub [Good thing I missed the game where he almost beat up the umpire]. He has assured me he will come to Spring Training ready to play. I’ve already talked to some of my players and know they share my enthusiasm about welcoming him to Washington. He could be real difference-maker.”

Elijah Dukes:
“I am excited about getting a fresh start with an up-and-coming franchise like the Washington Nationals. It’s an important move for my career and gives me the chance to prove myself both on and off-the-field. I appreciate this opportunity and am looking forward to meeting the fans of Washington, DC as we move into a brand new ballpark.”

Too bad the fans don't seem to share the same thoughts.

Angry

2007-12-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

"I think any transaction we make, we want to have good people here with high character in Washington representing our organization," Bowden said. "That's extremely important to us." June, 2007

Fast forward to today....The Nationals have reportedly traded for Elijah Dukes of Tampa Bay.

More to follow, but expect no praise for this terrible decision here, Jim. It is terrible for you to interfere with the great club atmosphere Manny Acta worked hard to build. It is even more frustrating that you expect Dmitri and Manny to take time away from developing this team to teach Elijah how to be a respectable citizen. He's had second chances (count all his children and arrests for starters).

It is cruel to subject fans to this disturbed young man. He's no Dmitri Young. You have really dissapointed us Mr. Bowden.

We summarized our thoughts on this lost cause back in June when rumors first started.

*new* Bill Ladson's story

From the Front Office

2007-11-30T13:16:00.000-08:00

Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden and Coach Manny Acta just held a conference call to announce the big trade of Brian Schneider and Ryan Church to the Mets for Outfielder Lasting Milledge. We were and still are a little shocked by the trade, its kind of like watching two of your good buddies move away. We are very sad to see both of them go, and wish them nothing but the best in NY.

With that said, both Manny and Jim sounded pretty excited about the deal during the conference. Bowden made the announcement and said that Milledge fits right into "the plan" as he is a young (22) player who will likely develop into a middle of the lineup impact hitter. The Nats will control him until 2012, so it bodes well for the future of the team. Jim also said that the Nats paid a steep price for the young player by dealing Church and Schneider. He thanked both of them for their work on and off the field, and made it clear that they will be missed.

Manny said it was a day of mixed emotions, but that the Nats are getting a guy that fits into the plan. He sounded confident in Milledge's abilities to play strong defense, produce runs, and bring a lot of energy to the team. When asked about the controversy surrounding Lastings, Manny defended him wholeheartedly, and said that Milledge is a good kid, who became a big leaguer at a young age, and had to learn a lot quickly. Acta said he has no doubt that Lastings is going to be just fine with the Nats. When asked if Milledge will be the Nats starting center fielder in 2008 Manny said it was still too early to tell. He's waiting till after Spring Training to make that decision.

After the Q&A with Jim and Manny, Lastings himself called in to answer a few questions. He said he is very excited to be with Jim and to play for Manny. Lastings admitted that while he struggled in New York Manny was there for him and showed him the way. Milledge said he would make sure to play hard for Manny. When asked if he thought he could play CF for the Nats, Lastings was confident in his abilities. He was drafted as a CF and feels like its his premier position. He feels comfortable playing in both left and right field as well. Milledge said he welcomes the playing time and that it's a relief to be with a team for a while.

Jim, of course, was asked about losing Schneider's veteran influence and leadership. Jim said that Austin Kearns, Dmitri Young and Ryan Zimmerman could step up to fill that void. He continued to emphasis that the goal was not to fill the 25 man roster perfectly, but to pick up a building block for the future. He cited some concern over losing two left-handed hitters, for example, and about the status of Jesus Flores. Jim did not give a clear answer, but said he is still open to allowing young Rule 5 star Flores to take the position.

Acta and Bowden continued to emphasis their desire to build a team through drafts and trades, using free agency only as a last resort.

We were encouraged by the conference. Milledge seems very excited to be part of a young team and glad to be given the chance to play. Manny couldn't say enough about him and seems to be very confident in his abilities. We are excited to see what Lastings will bring.

Milledge is a career .257 hitter. In 59 games with the Mets last season, he batted .272 with nine doubles, seven homers, 29 RBI and a .341 on-base percentage.

Sure to be lots of reflection and discussion about this over the next few days....leave your thoughts!

A Bowden-Style Big Trade

2007-11-30T10:29:00.000-08:00

We're still reacting to this, but wanted to share the news.

Brian Schneider and Ryan Church have been traded to the New York Mets in exchange for Lastings Milledge.

The Nationals will make an announcement at 3 PM.

More to follow...

*new* ESPN report

Happy Birthday #7!

2007-11-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

Sean Taylor Passes Away

2007-11-27T06:11:00.000-08:00

Sean Taylor, safety for the Washington Redskins, died early this morning from a gunshot wound he suffered early Monday after an intruder broke into his Miami home. Taylor was only 24 years old and was widely acknowledged to be enjoying the best season of his career as well as maturing into a respectable young man according to teammates and coaches. In just his fourth season in the NFL, Taylor already played in the Pro Bowl and led the NFC in interceptions. He will be sadly missed both off and on the field.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sean Taylor's family, friends and the Redskins community.

Sean Taylor pictured with Redskins coach Joe Gibbs.
Photo Credit: AP Photo/Kevin Wolf

Happy Birthday #23!

2007-11-26T04:23:00.001-08:00

Not One but Two!

2007-11-23T05:53:00.000-08:00

There have been a lot of updates about Nationals players involved in the Fall and Winter leagues showing up lately. However, no one seems to be updating us on Jesus Flores' performance in the Venezuela Winter League. You'll recall that Venezuela denied Flores the right to play in the Arizona Fall League with the understanding that he would play everyday in his native country. Flores is playing for the Navegantes del Magallanes, but so far he hasn't played everyday, and thus hasn't seen many at bats. Yet, when Flores does play he produces, hitting singles and doubles.

Last night however, Flores made history. He and teammate Richard Hidalgo both hit two home runs in one game. The last time a feat like this occurred was in 1953. Flores led off the 5th inning with a home run, he followed up in the 7th with another solo shot to center field. A recap of the game can be found here (click on the play by play tab). Also there is a nice write up of the game, but unless you read Spanish you'll need to translate it.

I am pretty sure Venezuela doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving, but it was a holiday in the US and Flores did hit two homers in one game. Maybe he will give our Mr. Holiday Hitter Ryan Zimmerman a run for his money next season!

Hope everyone had a nice Turkey Day.

A Necessary Evil?

2007-11-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

Stan Kasten commented this weekend on Scott Boras, after his tough week. The goliath of sports agents watched his biggest client talk to the Yankees directly. Shortly there after, he lost Kenny Rogers too. Jerry Crasnick's column chronicles all the Boras mistakes over the past few weeks and the essential story of the famous agent.

Given the Nats interest in Jones, Stan's opinion of Boras is interesting:

"I used to think as Scott as a necessary evil, and now I've changed, I no longer think he is necessary. He and I are friendly enough personally, but I think the way he conducts himself is perfectly consistent with the job he's given within the system we have. I think the system could be better, and I've talked about this publicly, for all of sports, for all of fans, and for all of players, if the union took over that job, and we had an agent free universe, I think everything would be better. Boras is what he is, and he's done what he does, and I've signed many contracts with Scott, but it makes it difficult."

He continued...

"I had this conversation with Andruw [Jones] who was a little put off by the whole situation with the Braves and how his departure was handled, and I was thinking to myself, that he needs to realize that his agent makes things difficult from time to time, and there are some teams that don't want to deal with it. It's well known that the last time he [Jones] did a contract with the Braves, he did it without using Scott. We've seen at least twice this week when that's happened, with A-Rod and Kenny Rogers, I don't think it's a trend, Scott's going to continue to be very successful, but there are times when Scott is not a plus, and we see examples of that from time to time."

Nats Done in Fall League

2007-11-16T14:00:00.000-08:00

Justin Maxwell's last player journal is up today. The Peoria Javelinas missed a shot at the Fall League playoffs. Justin compared their last few games to those he played in Philly to finish up the Nats 2007 season. Hopefully, our guys on the Javelinas learned a lot, had some fun, and come to Spring Training ready to compete. We can't wait to see what next season brings.

Seats are up!

2007-11-16T06:25:00.000-08:00

Looks like we'll be spending our 2008 summer nights in Section 226L Row F...between Right Field and 1st base, close to the foul pole.

Where are you? Log on to My Nationals tickets to find out!

Bonds Indicted

2007-11-15T14:43:00.000-08:00

Baseball superstar Barry Bonds was charged Thursday with perjury and obstruction of justice for allegedly lying when he said he did not use performance-enhancing drugs.
Full AP story available here.

He did it his way

2007-11-15T04:55:00.000-08:00

It may have included a lot of fighting -- with other players, with his own players and with mascots, but Tommy Lasorda, one of baseball's living legends always managed the Dodgers with his own unique style. After brief introductions, the night began with a slideshow of Lasorda's finest and funniest moments. As Sinatra's legendary "My Way" brought the snapshots to life, baseball fans in attendance laughed, cried and smiled -- eager to share a night with one of baseball's most colorful figures.

Lasorda packed a crowd into the auditorium at the Department of Interior on Wednesday to share a night of baseball memories. This self-described "ordinary man" answered questions and told stories for over an hour before taking questions from the crowd. Joined by his co-author and LA Times reporter Bill Plaschke, Lasorda, as one could only expect, stole the show -- eliciting a standing ovation entrance and exit, and more than a few moments of the kind of audience-wide laughter that could have made the president wonder what kind of wild party was going on a few blocks away.

Much like I Live for This, the new Plaschke/Lasorda book which strings together anecdotes throughout Lasorda's career, the evening began with a warning from Plaschke that the night would be the most one-sided Q&A in history. He proceeded to prompt Tommy into his classic stories one by one. While most are described in detail in the new book, hearing them right from Lasorda was entertaining and heart-warming.

He began by telling the crowd about his relationship with classic crooner Frank Sinatra. The two became good friends throughout their careers and Sinatra promised to sing the national anthem when Lasorda became the manager of the Dodgers. Sinatra also befriended Lasorda's mother and gave her VIP treatment at his concert in exchange for a home cooked Italian meal at their family home.

Plaschke then asked Lasorda about his managerial style and noted that he was the first manager to ever hug a player. He also brought the post-game buffet into his office. Lasorda promptly informed us that as a young child, he stared at a can of carnation instant milk. The logo said, "Contented cows give better milk." He's maintained the philosophy to this day, believing that happy, comfortable players produce better on the field.

That's not to say, of course, that Lasorda hasn't practiced tough love when necessary. He re-lived a classic Jesse Orosco moment that had the crowd roaring with laughter.

He also told one of the book's best anecdotes, the story of Buster Maynard. Tommy grew up, like most young kids, loving the national pastime and dreaming of a chance to go to a game. When he finally had the chance, he bought a program and asked players for autographs. Maynard pushed Lasorda out of the way. A few years later, as a pitcher, Lasorda heard the PA system announce that Buster Maynard was up to bat. He proceeded to throw at him until a fight broke out. As you might guess, he has a strong opinion about players signing autographs for fans, especially kids.

His proudest moment came as manager of the USA Olympic team in 2000 when his US team battled to beat the always strong Cubans (our very own Jon Rauch among the team's participants) to win the Gold medal. Lasorda, ever the patriot, launched into his heart-felt plea for Americans to support members of the military, whom he called his true heroes.

He took questions from the crowd ranging from inquires about Ted Williams, Don Sutton, sportsmanship, Sandy Koufax, Vin Scully, Dodger Town at Vero Beach, 7th and 8th inning specialists, the Designated Hitter, Joe Torre, the length of the season, his famous diatribe at Paul Olden and the Philly Phanatic and mascots in general. The night's most enjoyable moment came when a young Phillies fan began to tell Lasorda that he broke his heart during a playoff series. Lasorda took charge and asked the fan a number of questions to test his recollection of the game. One by one he described Philly mistake after mistake that led to the Dodger win that night, silencing the fan and bringing the crowd to another bout of wild laughter.

All in all, Lasorda told the crowd how blessed he is to have been given the opportunity to do what he loves all his life. "I am an ordinary man...," he continued to remind those in attendance. But yet, the baseball legend has 2 World Series Championships and a Gold Medal for Team USA in the Olympics. He has dined with presidents, met with corporate leaders, received honorary degrees, spoken to the military academies, and shaped and defined our national pastime. He has lived the dream -- his way.

More Tommy Lasorda Links:

Tommy's World -- His Baseball Blog

Lasorda Wine

Tommy's Official Bio at LA Dodgers.com

Happy Belated Birthday, #37!

2007-11-14T06:43:00.000-08:00

Don't know how we missed this one, but Mike Bacsik's birthday was just a few days ago. Mike was part of baseball history this summer, putting the Nationals in the national spotlight for a few days and representing our team with a lot of class. We battled to go on to win the game after Bonds historic homerun off our lefty starter/reliever.

Mike was always gracious and wonderful with fans and he entertained all of us with his (lack of) vocal talents.

Mike signed as a minor league free agent and will come to spring training to try to earn a spot on the team. We wish him the best!

Happy Birthday #50!

2007-11-13T05:00:00.000-08:00

We'd like to wish a happy birthday to Jason Simontacchi. Like Micah Bowie, he filed for free agency a few weeks ago instead of accepting a minor league deal with Columbus. We really enjoyed watching Jason pitch this season, and continue to wish him the best!

Pope Benedict's National League Appearance

2007-11-12T11:27:00.000-08:00

The Washington Post has reported that Pope Benedict XVI will say mass at the new Nationals stadium on April 17, 2008. He will also celebrate mass at Yankee Stadium the following day.

More information is available here.

Story courtesy of Ballpark and Beyond.

This Year in Baseball

2007-11-12T08:03:00.000-08:00

While neither Austin Kearns nor Ryan Zimmerman won a Golden Glove this year, the Nats are generating quite a bit of support under the 2007 This Year in Baseball Awards blooper category. Both Chico and Zimmerman are nominated. While its hard to choose between the two, Oleanders and Morning Glories offers a great - and pretty funny - comparison. We say when in doubt, vote for both. Also, don't forget to vote for Ronnie's glove flip for best play!

Happy Belated, #59

2007-11-11T16:37:00.000-08:00

Happy one-day-late birthday to Reliever, Micah Bowie. Micah chose to file for free agency a few weeks ago. He bounced around a lot this year from reliever to starter, with a few injuries. He was always wonderful with the fans, signing more than his fair share of autographs and taking lots of pictures. We wish Micah the best! Happy belated birthday!

Jones, Jageler, and Bloopers

2007-11-09T09:54:00.000-08:00

Just a few things to talk about today. There is some more talk about the Nationals interest in Andruw Jones. Jones said that his friendship with Pat Corrales doesn't mean he will play for the Nationals. He also said that even though Nats team president Stan Kasten visited his house recently, they didn't talk about Jones joining the team. The Nats will have to do some tough dealing to get Jones, and after his disappointing 2007 season, many question if Jones is worth it.

Some good news was found at the end of the article. The Nationals have announced that radio play-by-play guy Dave Jageler will be back in the booth for the 2008 season. We couldn't be happier. Seems like the Nats are finally firming up the broadcast team for next year. Hopefully we will hear an announcement for Charlie's return soon.

Lastly, the Nationals are lucky enough (?) to have two season bloopers nominated for the MLB 2007 Baseball Awards. First is Matt Chico's wild pitch into the stands on April 21st. Second, who could forget Zimmerman loosing the ball in his shirt on June 23rd? Go vote and help make sure the Nats get at least one season award!

Bob is Back!

2007-11-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

Finally, after weeks of waiting patiently, MASN has announced that Bob Carpenter will return to his role as play-by-play announcer for the 2008 season. We are very happy to know that Bob will be announcing from the new ballpark. As we have stated before, through his broadcasts, Bob has played a major role in our transformation into baseball fans. As the Nationals try to build and put down some roots, its nice to have some continuity on the field and in the press box. Carpenter credits the fans as one of the main reasons for his return. The Post reported that many fans wrote in to express their support for the announcer, and its paid off. Now if we could get an announcement on the status of Charlie and Dave, we could relax a bit more this offseason.

Happy Belated Birthday #16!

2007-11-08T07:32:00.001-08:00

We've tried hard this season to wish a happy birthday to each player on the team. I guess we were bound to miss one. We'd like to wish a happy belated birthday to Justin Maxwell. He celebrated his 24th on Tuesday. Justin has a new AFL player journal up. In it he talks about celebrating his first birthday away from home, nicknames given to fellow teammates, and the fall league playoff races. Check it out!

More Home Run Derby Pictures

2007-11-08T07:23:00.001-08:00

As promised...

Grassfield High Home Run Derby Album

Zimmerman Wrist Update

2007-11-08T07:15:00.000-08:00

From the Nationals:

Ryan Zimmerman had successful surgery performed by Dr. Richard Barth late Wednesday at Sibley Hospital in Washington, DC. During the procedure, Zimmerman’s fractured hook of the hammate bone was excised from his left hand without difficulty. Ryan was discharged shortly after the procedure. He will be in a splint for approximately one week. Upon removal, he’ll also have sutures removed and almost immediately begin light rehab. He is expected to fully recover in 4-6 weeks.

There is no off-season it seems...

2007-11-07T06:01:00.000-08:00

I don't know why we anticipated a long quiet boring winter. This off-season has been anything but long and boring (so far).

We were so pleased to receive a season-ticket holder invitation/discount to the Tommy Lasorda book promotion at the Smithsonian next week. It couldn't have come at a better time. Lasorda's new book, I live for this, was my first book selection to review in this off-season. So far, it's been a great read, but look for a full review sometime after the event.

Additionally, the Post reports that the Nats are planning a Fan Fest and other activities to promote the team throughout the region before next season. The city, however, is very angry with the team's Maryland-based events.

Dmitri and Lenny Harris are having some fun this off-season, too. They were recently spotted at Dontrelle Willis' charity bowling event.

For Zimmerman, a fun productive off-season is being put on hold. The third baseman injured his wrist this weekend, notably one day after hitting 14 home runs at the Home Run Derby in Chesepeake, VA. He is expected to undergo surgery today at Sibley in DC and recover in a few weeks. It's an injury that is fairly common among golfers and baseball players. His recovery timetable is about 4-6 weeks, so he hopes it won't affect Spring Training or the 2008 season. We wish him a safe and speedy recovery!

But, didn't that headline just make you stop breathing for a moment? He's expected to take the field 162 times a year, produce at the plate, impress us with sparkling defense and stay healthy. It's time to sign him to a long-term contract. He is clearly a center piece in the future of this organization. We can't take him for granted. Zimmerman will also not be able to golf at his own annual event for the ziMS foundation, though Schneiderman and Kearns are expected to be there.

The GMs are busy this off-season too. They voted yesterday to allow some instant replay next season. Our own Bowden was one of 5 leading the charge.

As the GM meetings in Orlando continue, Kasten and Bowden's "talk to everyone" philosophy is becoming clear. Last weekend the Nationals made preliminary contact with the agents of Torii Hunter of the Twins and Aaron Rowand of the Phillies. Hunter had recently expressed interest in playing in Washington. Stan Kasten met with Andruw Jones last week, this meeting was also very preliminary, but the Nats have at least made contact with three top centerfielders. There are now rumors about former Red Cameron as well. The Washington community and the new stadium are both big incentives to play for the Nationals.

Additionally, both Tom Glavine and Livan Hernandez are aparently interested in joining the club. The interest is mutual as the Nationals would like a veteran on the starting rotation to act as a mentor to the young guys like Bergmann, Hill, and Chico. Bill's weekly notes also suggest perhaps the team could let Felipe and Cordero go this off-season. Of course, we'd hate to say goodbye to these guys.

You can now vote for Best Moment in the "This Year in Baseball Awards." While not a Bonds fan, it's tempting to choose it because of the Nats being tied to that moment forever.

Last, but not least, some sad news about former Nat Jose Guillen using steroids. A report surfaced yesterday that former National Jose Guillen purchased over $19,000 worth of steroids and human groth hormone (HGH) from 2002-2005. At least one shipment was placed while Guillen played for the Nats. Guillen will be interviewed by the MLB. Its interesting to note that some of the perscriptions written for Guillen were provided by the same dentist who wrote those for Paul Byrd. HGH was banned in 2005 but players aren't tested for it currently, because the urine tests aren't reliable.

The Battle of Virginia's Best

2007-11-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

We took off for the weekend to head down to the Hampton Roads area for a Home Run Derby competition between some of Major League Baseball's brightest young stars.

The Grassfield High School was conducting the Derby as a fundraiser for the school and for the players' chosen charities.

We arrived early to secure a good seat and stood in line with all the locals. David Wright fans were everywhere. A fan explained to us that of the six stars in today's competition, Wright grew up closest to this high school and has tons of fans. Michael Cuddyer of the Twins also went to one of the Chesepeake High Schools.

The guys took two rounds of practice before beginning the competition. In practice, Mark Reynolds of the Diamonbacks looked amazing. He took some mammoth swings and quickly got everyone's attention.

Zimmerman's off-season swing looked like mid-July, classic Ryan. He launched two home runs in his practice turns.

Round One began with all the guys getting 1o outs (any swing that isn't a home run is an out) to hit as many homers as they can. Justin Upton started things off hitting four home runs out of the park. Mark Reynolds followed, but having shown his best stuff in practice, he connected only twice. BJ Upton followed with 3 of his own.

Next came our guy. Zimmerman's classic comfortable swing launched three out of the park to tie with BJ. Crowd favorite David Wright also nailed three home runs.

Lastly, Michael Cuddyer entered the batters box. The slugger's big swings sent seven balls out of the Grassfield High School field.

Mark Reynolds was eliminated in the first round. The tie between BJ, Ryan, and David would be settled with a "swing-off."

Each star would get 5 outs to get as many home runs as possible. The two with the highest totals would advance to the semi-finals.

Upton failed to secure any home runs during his at bat. Zimmerman sent one to deep center and David Wright had two more. Ryan and David advanced.

Nationals star Zimmerman started Round II because of his lowest total in Round I. He started to find his groove and sent seven balls flying over the fence in center and left field. He had us saying "See you later" a couple of times. David Wright, however, found his groove too. David tied Zimmerman with 7.

Justin Upton took his turn and completed only 4 home runs, securing his own elimination.

Cuddyer again impressed the fans with eight huge home runs to advance to the finals.

Zimmerman and Wright had another "Swing-Off."

This showdown between the NL East rivals had the crowd silent.

In only five outs, Zimmerman took three deep.

David was up and quickly tied Ryan's three. He also had four outs. Everyone was silent - anticipating his next swing. Sure enough, David drove that ball out to center to knock Zimmerman out of the competition.

Wright and Cuddyer advanced to the Final Round. David still looked great, taking four out of the park. Cuddyer again showed the young guys how it's done. He hit 15 balls out of the park to crush Wright for the Championship.

Afterwards, the guys all filtered out but David Wright stopped to sign autographs for a really long time.

It was a beautiful day for baseball and one small way to help us get through the off-season. The Grassfield High School did such a great job planning and executing this wonderful event. This community is so lucky to have a rich baseball tradition and some excellent young men to represent them in baseball stadiums across the country.

Ryan was interviewed during the event and told the media that it is pretty cool to have grown up playing with these guys, and that they are all still friends. They all played golf together yesterday.

Great weekend trip!

Vote for Zimmerman

2007-11-01T19:25:00.000-07:00

ESPN 1310 has a poll up about this weekend's Home Run Derby. Wright is currently crushing all his opponents, but there's still time to change that. Vote for Ryan now!

Also, if you're in the region but not heading down, you can listen to the Derby on tape delay on ESPN 1310 at 4pm. The station recently interviewed Wright about the Derby. He assures fans its going to be very competitive and talks about how many of the stars from southeast Virginia played together growing up.

Odds and Ends

2007-11-01T13:29:00.000-07:00

Just a few updates before we head to the Home Run Derby in Chesapeake this weekend...

Tony Batista and D'Angelo Jimenez have filed for free agency. Tony was great off the bench this year (if you could wait through 20 foul balls, at least 2 of which would look like big hits down the third base line). Jimenez only got hot late in the season.

Schneider-Man recently took the ride of his life according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. He took a demo flight in a Blue Angel at a Sea and Sky Spectacular. Schneider's experience was compared to facing Cy Young winner Randy Johnson, but Brian explained that the Blue Angel experience was much more terrifying than Johnson's fastball. “At least I am conscious for an at bat,” he said. “It was great and I am just happy I was able to stay awake. It was very close. You can feel yourself about to pass out.”

You can vote now for Bob, Charlie and Don for the 2008 Frick Awards. (Like you, we're still patiently waiting to hear that Charlie, Dave and Bob will be back).

Dmitri has collected another comeback award -- this time from the very meaningful, 2007 Players Choice Awards. Congrats D!

The Nats successful 2007 draft was rated as the best in the industry thanks to Jim's great work getting Detwiler, McGeary, Smoker and Burgess this summer.

The NL East is well represented in This Week in Baseball's Hitter Award category, but Dmitri was apparantly overlooked.

There's a fun MLB video up featuring Nats "future stars" Justin Maxwell (believe it) and Kory Casto (not so sure). Maxwell looked great in his call-up and launched a grand slam in his first major league hit. Kory struggled early in the season and never came back up.

Barry writes that ESPN is considering the opening night game. The tentative schedule still has the Nats in Cincy on the 4th of July. He also writes that the sod was scheduled to arrive today and that an official unveling will occur on November 13.

Nats Buzz

2007-10-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Nationals outfielder Justin Maxwell has another Fall League journal out today. In it he talks about his competitive nature - he loves to win, an impressive fireworks display before last weeks game, and what it was like to play against the Chinese National Team. He also recounts a bizarre incident during that game, involving a swarm of bees. Its a good read.

Other news involving the Nats roster...

Robert Fick has opted to become a free agent. It's the fifth time in six seasons Fick has gone through this process. It sounds like Robert wants to stay in DC. "I hope to be back with the Nationals. They are my guys. I like them. I enjoy it there a lot. I'm sure we'll find out the next month or so." We'll see what happens.

Additionally, the Nats have signed lefty Mike Bacsik to a non-guaranteed Minor League contract. Bacsik will head to Spring Training in February, and try to earn a spot on the Major League roster. "I know I'm coming in on a non-guaranteed contract. I have to work hard to fight for a spot. I have to go on my good games and eliminate my bad ones."

We wish them both the best.

Happy Birthday Lenny!

2007-10-27T21:41:00.001-07:00

We just wanted to send out a quick Happy Birthday to the Nats hitting coach Lenny Harris. Thanks Lenny for all your hard work this season, we are excited to have you back next year!

Vote for Ronnie!

2007-10-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

You knew this was coming --

Ronnie Belliard's amazing play in July was nominated for Best Play by This Week in Baseball.

You can vote here.

Happy Birthday #3

2007-10-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks for a great rookie season!

"Nationals Insider" Live from ESPN Zone

2007-10-24T07:24:00.000-07:00

The radio show was broadcast live last night from the ESPN Zone in DC. Both Nationals President Stan Kasten and GM Jim Bowden were there to participate in the radio event. Nats fans were invited to listen to the live broadcast, and to place deposits for season tickets next year. Stan and Jim spent most of their time in the radio booth taking call in questions from fans. Catcher Brian Schneider also called into the show and took a few questions from fans. The Racing Presidents, Clint, and the Nat Pack made appearances as well.

Nats fans were aplenty last night – it was one of the more crowded events. Those late fans that hadn’t reserved their season tickets yet were treated to a gift bag if they put their deposit down last night. Lots of people took advantage of the promotion; it seemed to be a successful event. Clint did his regular trivia questions, some about the inaugural season, and some about the new stadium. We didn’t win anything sadly, but still had a great time!

The restaurant was pretty loud so it was difficult to hear the whole broadcast of the radio show. We especially had difficulty hearing the questions called in and Schneider’s contributions. We did hear a bunch of comments about the parking situation next year. It was a hot topic as the Nats had just announced that every season ticket holder would be able to purchase a parking spot next year. Big news! According to the Nats, those fans who don’t have season tickets next year, and who opt not to take the metro will be able to park at RFK and take a free shuttle to the games. Sounds like an ok deal, however according to the Washington Post, the whole plan hasn’t been totally worked out with the city, and the announcement of the shuttle with RFK parking might have been premature. Goodness it sounds a little messy huh?

Stan and Jim stuck around for a bit after the broadcast and mingled with fans. We were able to chat with Stan for a few minutes, which was pretty nice. We were also informed that there would be plenty more events this winter to keep us busy with baseball, we can’t wait. Great to see so many familiar faces again!

It must have been a busy night for the front office, because they also announced the selection of the contracts for four guys to be added to the 40 man roster. The Nationals selected, Garrett Mock (RHP), Justin Jones (LHP), Josh Whitesell (1B), and Roger Bernadina (OF).

Jack McGeary in the SF Chronicle

2007-10-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

Tom FitzGerald at the San Francisco Chronicle details McGeary's signing by the Nats and the unique deal that allowed McGeary to study at Stanford.

"The Nationals were the only team willing to do this. Most teams want players with them 100 percent of the time," said McGeary of the situation.

"If It Ain't Broke Don't Fix It"

2007-10-23T10:39:00.000-07:00

As news continues to emerge regarding the Nationals' broadcasting team, many of us are left wondering "Why is a change even being considered?" We understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but a majority of people have grown to respect, admire and most importantly, enjoy the Nationals broadcasting team both on TV and the radio.

In today's Washington Examiner, Jim Williams writes that the front office should, "stick to building a winning baseball team and let your broadcasters alone - they are already winners." We couldn't agree with Williams more. Dave and Charlie are an excellent team who clearly have fun with their jobs and with each other. Their enthusiasm for the game is easily conveyed over the airwaves and the fact that they do not have contracts for upcoming seasons yet is disturbing. Whether I am driving in the car, or listening between innings of an away game, I truly enjoy hearing Dave and Charlie's take on the game.

As for the TV side of the broadcasting team, we have always been impressed with Bob Carpenter's work. In a recent Washington Post article supporting the return of Bob, there was confirmation that fans had written into the Nationals and MASN to support Bob. We are certainly hoping that he will be back for many more seasons to come.

Dave, Charlie, Debbi and Bob are all great broadcasters who have done a great job of drawing in the occasional fan (like myself) and turning us into devoted, season-ticket holding fans. While work does need to be done on the field, the broadcasting booths should be left alone.

ESPN Zone Tonight

2007-10-23T06:54:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to come down to ESPN Zone at 7 PM for a night with Stan and Jim. The team is offering a special package for you slackers that haven't put down your deposit for season tickets next year (note: and nothing for those dedicated fans that have).

It's alright. We're still looking forward to hearing about next season from the GM and the Prez (and Brian Schneider via phone). We've got lots of questions (parking...Charlie and Dave...among other things) and hopefully, some answers soon.

Other Stuff:

Bill Ladson's weekly notes have some great stuff this week - including a discussion about the Young/Johnson dilema.

We haven't wrote anything yet about the return of Manny's entire coaching team, but we were very happy with this news. Randy's role in our organization can not be understated. Further, we had the opportunity to interact with all of the coaches at the Baseball 101 Clinic and really enjoyed their lessons.

Where would Jesus Flores be without the patience and guidance of his mentor, Pat Corrales? And, Aponte deserves much credit for maintaining our steadiest component --for some periods of the season, one of the best bullpens in the league. We had some concerns about Tim Tolman after a few bad decisions, but he was gracious and humorous during his lesson at the clinic and we quickly forgave his errors. Continuity is great - great for fans, great for the team. We're looking forward to seeing them all back next year.

Also, J-Max has another article up. Did you know he wanted to be a vet or a dentist?

Discovery Channel heads to new Nats park

2007-10-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Build it Bigger's Danny goes into the Nats dugout at RFK (and plays with Mike Bacsik's helmet and bat) before heading to the new park to learn about construction of our new stadium.

The trip to the new park is the weekly webisode featured in the right-hand corner of their website. Danny helps install seats and cupholders in the featured clip.

The full episode re-airs on Tuesday, October 30 at 10 am.

Thanks for the tip, Ryan.

Off-Season Baseball Roadtrip

2007-10-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that the Hampton Roads area of southern Virginia grooms some of Major League Baseball's finest young players.

One of the local high schools, Grassfield High, is hosting a special MLB Home Run Derby featuring a number of MLB's most talented young stars, including Nationals Third Baseman, Ryan Zimmerman.

The Home Run Derby is set for Saturday, November 3 at 2 PM in Chesapeake, VA. Tickets are $25 and proceeds benefit the Grassfield High's athletic program and a charity of each player's choice.

The event will feature:

David Wright, New York Mets
Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins
B.J. Upton, Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals
Mark Reynolds, Arizona Diamondbacks
Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks

The six players generated 113 homeruns collectively in the 2007 season. They will wear Grassfield High uniforms (with their names and numbers) for the first rounds and their MLB jerseys for the final rounds.

We're heading down -- and we'll be sure to post a thorough recap and lots of photos.

Congrats Dmitri!

2007-10-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

D will take home another great award for his amazing 2007 season. The Sporting News has named Young their Comeback Player of the Year as well.

Congrats to the Rockies on sweeping the Diamondbacks and advancing to their first World Series.

The Indians continue to look good. Lindsey is happy.

Keep voting for This Year in Baseball's awards...so far you can only vote for Starter, Manager, Performance and Closer. Sadly, Manny was overlooked and none of our guys are in the running for the other categories. Still unannounced are nominees for Rookie, Play, Defense, Hitter, Post-Season Moment, and Blooper.

Where everybody knows your name

2007-10-15T18:37:00.000-07:00

I realize this is long overdue. I wanted to save my last weekend at RFK to combine with the end of the season Phillies trip, but I never anticipated I'd wait this long to finally sit down and reflect on such a wonderful summer.

For now, I'm hesitant to be too emotional; it's hard to convey how much this summer meant to me in words. I looked back at our first post – dated April 4. I remember drafting it while casually listening to one of my last lectures as a grad student. I spent March following the spring training games and counting down the days till the exhibition game in Norfolk. Baseball season had finally arrived. I tried in that post to explain what baseball meant to me. Looking back, I had no clue what it would end up meaning to me after just one season of being a serious fan.

250 posts and 80+ games later, I do know what it means and I know why so many of us live and breathe it. As far as rules and stats go, I learned a lot this summer. We didn't always get it right. At times, we all disagreed. That's life and that's baseball. But we did learn and we appreciated the challenges, debates and disagreements.

This summer, we learned about the game, the team, this great organization and this blogging community. We've had the honor and privilege of meeting so many of you this summer. Please know how much we appreciate what is happening here in Washington. Many of you have warmly welcomed us into this big family. Sitting through the final series in Philly and watching the sold-out crowd go crazy with every pitch, it was electrifying. I know we'll have that soon in Washington and I can't wait to be there with you for it.

More importantly, I can assure you, we've all learned a lot about ourselves. Sure, I've watched these other ladies grow in their knowledge and love of the game. But there's something bigger than that at work.

For me, this summer and this game brought about a number of challenges. It's funny that baseball, a way to escape life and relax, can became part of your life in lots of ways. Through a lot of twists and turns, I had two other girls with heart to get me back to that park, night after night to make dozens of new memories. All in all, I must say that I have only gained a deeper respect for the Washington Nationals – and all of their hard work, talent and heart.

Most of my closest friends couldn't join us at the park each night, but they certainly put up with me and, in the process, learned a lot about baseball themselves. Thank you for joining us when you could and for understanding that I'm a better friend (and daughter) in the off-season.

On that note, I can't believe how many wonderful, amazing people I have met this season. I have never felt so much like I had a family away from home until this summer. Doug, Jeanne, Larry, Carlos, Michael, Chuck, Marty, Laura, Joe, Bob, Debbi, Antonio, Cathy, Joe, Jimmy, Coach…and countless others purposely or mistakenly left off this list, you know who you are. You've helped to make this the summer of my life. Thank you.

On that Sunday, I left Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium with a bittersweet feeling. Having been to PNC Park so many times, I am so very excited about the new Nationals park. I know how tough it was for people to say goodbye to Three Rivers Stadium, but PNC is so beautiful. I know I can handle this transition because, unlike some of you, I have no memories of baseball here in Washington as a child. I can appreciate your rich baseball history, but my first trip to RFK was in 2005 to see the Nats.

That's not to say I won't miss that place with all my heart. I was there for so many of the most important plays of this summer and last. Sure, I saw Soriano steal his 40th base last year, but that was nothing compared to Zimmerman's late night Mother's Day walk-off grand slam, Austin's in the park homerun. There are so many memories that will always be part of RFK's charm. So will its people. I was so comfortable there, so at home. I can only hope the new park will be as wonderful, as memorable, and as special as this summer of 2007 at RFK Stadium.

Be glad there's one place in the world
Where everybody knows your name,
And they're always glad you came;
You want to go where people know,
People are all the same;
You want to go where everybody knows your name...

JMax in AZ

2007-10-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

The Nationals 2007 minor league player of the year, Justin Maxwell is playing Fall baseball for the Peoria Javelinas. This fall, one player from each team has agreed to keep a weekly journal documenting their experiences. Lucky for us, Justin is writing the journal for his team.

In Maxwell's first article he recounts his cozy plane ride - he had the middle seat - he's a big guy! He also loves the Arizona dry heat, and is very excited to get to play baseball everyday. The Javelinas are off to a great start going 4 and 1 for the first week of play.

Fans can email JMax with questions at jmaxwellafl@gmail.com and he will try to answer them in upcoming journals. We wish Justin and the rest of the Peoria Javelinas good luck in their Fall season.

Happy Birthday #19

2007-10-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

"When it comes to heart, we are up there." -- Ryan Church

Happy Birthday #21

2007-10-10T19:51:00.001-07:00

Celebrating a great year for our own Dmitri Young! Happy Birthday!

Having Heart

2007-10-08T04:49:00.001-07:00

With the season over for the Nationals, reviews of 2007 are everywhere. The New York Times did a piece on the Nats yesterday. It's an exciting time in Washington, the team that was supposed to lose 130 games in 2007 played .500 from mid May to September. With a young team, its time to look to 2008. I wonder how different media predictions will be prior to 2008 Spring Training. With Manny's optimistic attitude, and a young team that's only on the rise, anything can happen. We love what Manny said yesterday, "Despite our shortcomings, these kids showed a lot of heart."

These boys played every game with a determination to be better than predicted. Manny's positive attitude was reflected on the playing field. The Free Lance-Star, says "The Nats beat the odds, and the predictions and finished the season with their heads held high." We think Ryan Church said it best though, " When it comes to heart, we are up there. It goes to show that it starts with the manager. It shows what kind of team we are. We battle."

Happy Birthday #38!

2007-10-05T19:41:00.000-07:00