To all, It wasn't bad enough to have one of the worst records in the National League? Then to top it off, they were forced to split their home games in two venues, with one of them being outside of the United States. To make things even worse, while the ownership decides to loosen the purse strings, they have idiots manning the asylum.

First of all, you have skipper Frank Robinson at the helm. Here are two of his latest pre-season decisions and some combined analysis from Rotoworld and myself.

Nationals manager Frank Robinson said yesterday that he sees Endy Chavez as his center fielder with Brad Wilkerson in left.

That would make Terrmel Sledge a fourth outfielder. The really discouraging thing about Chavez starting is that he's also the top candidate to bat leadoff. With possible league-worst OBPs at three spots (center, shortstop and third base), the Nationals aren't going to score a lot of runs.

Christ Frankie, at least play Wilkerson at first. Johnson has never had a full season as a major leaguer in his career. Nick is unproven and always injured. Chavez hasn't a clue on how to reach first base. Sledge is bona fide and ready to bloom.

The second bit of insanity is that manager Robinson is considering moving Zach Day to the pen and opening up a rotation spot for Jon Rauch, John Patterson or Michael Hinckley.

What ???

Day has a 4.06 ERA in 42 starts over the last two years, so unless the Nats are convinced he won't be able to stay healthy as a starter, switching him to the pen would make little sense. Since we don't see him as much more of an injury risk than the typical starting pitcher, we don't like the idea.

Now you have to consider the fact that the "Brainless Boy Wonder" Jim Bowden holds the keys to the front office. As I had pointed out in another thread, this is the man who signed the oft injured Junior to a 9 year and $112+ Million dollar contract. Furthermore, since he had money to spend, who did he run out and ink to multi-year contracts? The answer is, the ancient Vinny Castilla and the greatly overrated Cristian Guzman. Geez. Give the man $20,000 to buy a new car and he'd probably go out and purchase two used Ford Escorts instead.

See fellow Cub fans, we don't have it quite so bad. While we haven't won a World Series in close to a century, what are the bragging rights of the new Nationals? The closest they ever came to a Championship season was in 1994. They, then obviously the Expos, were leading the division and the season ended up being canceled due to the player's strike at the All Star break. Talk about tough luck!

While we stumbled in 2003, we stunk up the joint in 2004, and we were hoping for more off season acquisitions in 2005, we do have a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. We may not win this season but we do have hope, for this year and also for the immediate future. What do the new fans of the Washington Nationals have? Sure now they can come out and watch professional baseball. However, how long will it be before the glimmer of the new paint job on the old jalopy wears off? A lemon is a lemon and eventually it will dutifully disappoint.

Watching Major league Baseball can be a wonderful thing. To watch and have your team be the winner is quite another and better still. While I as many others have suffered for so long, it certainly feels good to have hope, unlike the newest franchise in the National League. Best regards, Cle

To all, Since there were no initial responses to this thread, I'm adding this relative article concerning Washington baseball. What two franchises could possibly provide a combined greater propensity for loosing? The Washington Senators and the Montreal Expos together exemplify the eternal hope that spring often promises along with the dismay and torment that only September allows. 2005 brings the ex-Expo club to Washington. Eventually, the two together must make beautiful baseball music, must they not? Best regards, Cle

McCraw a trivia answer and ambassador for Nationals

The USA Today
By Jeff Zillgitt

It's common knowledge, at least among D.C. baseball fans, that Tom McCraw recorded the last base hit for the Washington Senators in the team's final game at RFK Stadium in 1971.

That alone is an interesting baseball factoid. Throw that one out at the bar: Who collected the final base hit for the Washington Senators? But it gets better.

McCraw was caught stealing to end the eighth in that Senators' game against the New York Yankees, making the journeyman big leaguer the Senators' final offensive out.

That morsel adds another layer to an already good trivia question. But it gets better.

McCraw replaced Frank Howard at first base in the top of the ninth. The game ended with two outs when fans charged onto the field. The second out? A Bobby Murcer grounder back to the pitcher who threw it to McCraw for the out.

McCraw had the last base hit, made the last offensive out and made the final defensive putout for the Senators, completing a unique trifecta.

"Holy cow," McCraw said. "I didn't even realize that, but it is correct."

McCraw is proof that baseball is a geometric game. When baseball returns to D.C. for the first time since 1971, McCraw returns, too, as the hitting coach for the Washington Nationals.

If it is not ironic, his presence with this year's Washington club is a delightful coincidence. The Nats need a connection to the Senators, an ambassador to their history. McCraw is it.

"It's great to be returning," McCraw said by phone from the Nationals' spring training facility in Viera, Fla. "It's a nice warm feeling. I have a lot of emotions, I know that. That was such a long time ago, 1971. It's weird to me. You don't know if baseball would come back to D.C. You don't think it will happen. And to be part of the organization to bring baseball back to the city …"

He can't imagine what he will feel when he steps onto the field for the Nationals' home opener against Arizona on April 14. Emotions already engulf him when he puts on a Nats hat and a D.C. baseball jersey.

"A flood of memories come back," McCraw said. "It's just automatic. You think about the time you had there and the teammates you had. You wonder what happened to them. You flashback to memories — playing with Hondo (Frank Howard) and playing under Ted Williams. You think about Curt Flood, Toby Harrah, Paul Lindblad, Don Mincher, Paul Casanova. There were a lot of nice people and a lot of nice things happened in 1971."

McCraw batted just .213 in 207 at-bats that season and was just a career .246 hitter. He never hit better than .294. In '68 with the White Sox, McCraw finished second in the AL in triples with 12 and 10th in stolen bases with 20.

But that one season under hitting legend Ted Williams, who managed the Senators for three seasons, changed McCraw's outlook on hitting.

"Ted taught me the mental side of the game," McCraw said. "That was his greatest influence on me as far as becoming successful at what I do. He opened up the mental side to me. It wasn't something I thought about. Saying the physical side is more important than the mental side is as far from the truth as the north is from the south."

Because of Williams, McCraw has spent much of non-playing career coaching in the minors and majors, most of that time with the Mets, Orioles, Astros, Indians, Giants and Expos. A portion of that time, McCraw has worked as a hitting coach with Nationals manager Frank Robinson — for three seasons when Robinson managed the Orioles in the late '80s, early '90s and for the past three seasons with Robinson managing the Expos.

The two were teammates in Cleveland during the 1974 and '75 seasons. McCraw was a player-coach in '75.

"We get along because we respect each other," McCraw said. "I'm honest with him, and he's honest with me. He's a demanding guy to work for, trust me. If I couldn't make a contribution to improve this ballclub, I wouldn't be working for Frank. I'd still be his friend. He knows I won't sugarcoat anything. Ultimately, he's the final voice and will make the decisions, but when he asks me something, he knows he will get an honest answer."

A challenge confronts Robinson and McCraw this season. The Nationals must combine the mental and physical if they want to compete in the NL East. Last season, the Expos ranked among the league's worst in most of the important hitting categories — 28th in batting average, runs scored and RBI and 29th in on-base percentage.

The addition of Vinny Castilla, Jose Guillen and Cristian Guzman should help offensively. The Nats also expect better numbers from Jose Vidro, Nick Johnson, Brad Wilkerson and Brian Schneider.

McCraw wants his hitters to take the thinking man's approach.

"You can learn to hit without picking up a bat and swinging in the cage," McCraw said. "Hand strength, bat speed, hand-eye coordination, that's all important. But it starts with the mental side. Your head needs to be together.

"We have some good players. (General manager Jim) Bowden did a fine job getting decent players that give us a chance to be successful. We're not too bad. We can use more, but we're better off than last year.

"At least we have a home and are playing with the same deck of cards as the rest of the league."

Even though he spent just a year in D.C., McCraw returns home in a roundabout way, to the place where he's part of another piece of D.C. baseball trivia.

He hit what may be the shortest home run at RFK during that '71 season. Against the Indians on May 17, McCraw sent a pop fly over second base. Three Cleveland players collided trying to catch the ball, allowing McCraw to round the bases for an unusual homer.

"Shortest home run at RFK?" McCraw said of the 200-foot blast. "It might have been the shortest home run in baseball history."

MLB needs to find an owner for the Nationals ASAP. The worst thing that Selig ever did is what he did to the Expos. Opening the season with 22 games away frtom Montreal doomed them from the start. The unfortunate part for us Cubs fans is that in spite of the Nationals currently having little hope, thry will probably win a title before the beloved Cubs.

To all, Once again, Frank Robinson shows why he is the only legitimate contender to Dusty for the worst manager in all of Major League Baseball. The following snipet is from Rotoworld.

Nationals manager Frank Robinson said he plans to use Ryan Church as his starting center field and keep Terrmel Sledge as a fourth outfielder.

And they wonder why we don't like him. Robinson kept saying at the end of last season how Sledge was ready to be a regular, and he pretty much refused to play Church, going with Sledge and Juan Rivera over him during September. Church hasn't played any better than Sledge this spring, so that's not it. Apparently, Robinson is going with Church because he believes he covers more ground in center. He probably does, but he's still not a true center fielder, and the Nationals would still be a little better off with Brad Wilkerson in center. Really, there isn't much difference between Church and Sledge offensively. Both are solid but unspectacular left-handed hitters. Church figures to hit for a little more power and a little less average than Sledge. Since he'll always be in jeopardy of losing playing time, don't spend a lot to get him in NL-only leagues. $6 would be about right.

In my humble opinion, Sledge is much more valuable than Church in any outfield platoon senario. However, Robinson, who is obviously as blind as Dusty Baker, simply does not see it that way. Best regards, Cle

Cle -

Is he blind...or perhaps just dozing off? I can remember watching a few Expos games last year in which camera shots to the dugout showed Frank with eyes closed, arms folded and apparently taking a snooze. :zzz:

I see on ESPN.com that Endy Chavez has been demoted.

Dear SC, Indeed. Washington has a lineup that's simply in disaray. The title of this article could also easily apply to our Cubs, however. Best regards, Cle

Leadoff Man Has the Tools, But Not a Clue

The Washington Post
By Thomas Boswell

VIERA, Fla. -- What the Nationals asked of leadoff man and center fielder Endy Chavez wasn't much.

They just wanted him to get on base 4 percent more often than he did last year. That's all -- 4 percent.

And it would have been so easy. Everybody showed him how. But, for some reason, Chavez couldn't or wouldn't listen. All advice was ignored. No attempt at improvement was made. For weeks the camp has buzzed with befuddled amazement at Chavez's oblivious inability to sense the precariousness of his position. His career was slipping away and everybody knew it.

Except him.

Yesterday, in a stunning move that some hope will finally serve as a wakeup call, the Nats shipped Chavez to the minor leagues even though it meant making an enormous mess of the entire Washington lineup less than a week from Opening Day.

Except for Chavez, the Nationals have no natural center fielder. Except for Chavez, with his 32-steal speed and knack for making contact, the team also lacks any player who has the classic tools of a leadoff man.

Maybe that's what lulled Chavez into thinking he was irreplaceable. Now, he knows differently. But the Nats are in a classic baseball predicament. Who bats leadoff?

"I'll be willing to look at anybody for leadoff, even [catcher Brian] Schneider," said Manager Frank Robinson, who has been as mystified and frustrated by Chavez as anyone.

"I've agonized with him," Robinson said. But to the manager's amazement, when he told Chavez he was being shipped out, the 27-year-old seemed not to understand how everything had gone so wrong. "It was strange," Robinson said, twice.

The Nats also don't know who their center fielder will be. Their minor league player of the year, Ryan Church, will get the first shot. "This is just the opportunity I've never gotten and always wanted. Now I have to seize it," said Church, 26, who nagged his Class AAA manager last year to give him more time in center field, just to increase his chances of cracking the lineup. "I'm ready. I got my feet wet last season. I was jumpy. But now the game is slowing down. This is my chance. I'm ready."

He better be. Because if Church doesn't work out, Brad Wilkerson might have to assume the unnatural center field position, something neither he nor the team prefers.

It should never have come to this because that 4 percent improvement could have come so easily. In baseball stats terms, 4 percent is the difference between Chavez's atrocious .318 on-base percentage last year and a mark near .360 that would be acceptable for a speedy leadoff-hitting center fielder.

Please, Endy, the Nats begged, listen to us. Robinson, hitting coach Tom McCraw, General Manager Jim Bowden and coach Jose Cardenal, as well as several teammates, all made the same point. Endy, we like you. We need your glove in center field. But our offense was the second-worst in baseball last year. We can't afford a .318 leadoff anchor. If you don't improve -- not a lot, but just a little -- you're going to lose your job. Just show us you're trying. Just make progress.

And not much progress. After all, how much is 4 percent? Here's how little it is.

Once in every 100 times at the plate, beat out a bunt. After all, whoever heard of a skinny 154-pound leadoff man who refused to bunt? Yet Chavez almost never laid one down, except in batting practice. There, he bunted like Rod Carew.

Once in every 100 times up, be more patient and draw an extra walk. After all, the average hitter draws a walk 10 percent of the time. Chavez drew only 30 walks in 502 at-bats last year. Some pitchers get more free passes than that. It should be impossible for any leadoff man, if he's making an effort, not to walk 10 to 20 times more than Chavez. Take a few, Endy.

And once in every 100 times up, slap a hit through the left side of the infield instead of lifting your foot, holding the bat down on the knob and trying to pull the ball like a slugger, even though Chavez has only 11 homers in 338 career games.

As he packed his bags in the middle of the Washington locker room, chatting in somber tones with Cardenal, Chavez seemed almost numb. He refused to comment to reporters. But everybody else had plenty to say.

"Potential is great. But you've got to perform. We tried everything we could. I told him, 'Endy, if I had one more 40 home-run bat, I could afford a defensive center fielder who doesn't get on base. But with this team, I can't,' " Bowden said.

"This was our most difficult decision of the spring . . . Maybe it makes a statement in the clubhouse. The players that make the adjustments that we ask them to make to improve themselves are the ones who are going north with us," Bowden said.

When Chavez learned he was being sent down, he told Bowden, "Trade me."

"Other clubs view you the same way we do," Bowden said he told Chavez, meaning he wasn't worth much in a trade. "Instead of complaining, look in the mirror. Go down to the minors and fix the problem. If you took the same approach at 7 o'clock in games that you have at 5 o'clock in batting practice, everything would be okay."

The most perplexed person may be Robinson. "We weren't asking him to do anything he isn't capable of doing," the manager said. "But he had two walks in 37 at-bats this spring. Two. Not walking, not bunting, just swinging. That's not enough to keep a job up here. . . . But he came in here like he wasn't worried about anything."

Sad to say, it's doubtful Chavez can change. This is his 10th professional season. If he were malleable, he'd probably have adapted by now. After all, every team, every coach, has told him the same things: Get on base. Bunt, draw more walks, hit to all fields. Let a pitch hit you. You're a leadoff man. Yet in seven years in the minors, Chavez was hit by one pitch.

So, because Chavez won't change, the Nationals will have to. A lot. And fast. Auditions will be held daily.

Cristian Guzman, whose career on-base percentage is even worse than Chavez's, batted leadoff on Tuesday night. To start the first inning, on a 2-0 pitch -- a take-a-strike situation for leadoff men since roughly 1868 -- Guzman popped up.

Next.

This is baseball, the thing Washington didn't have for so long. Start right at the top. Who is the leadoff man? What makes a good one? Where do you find him? How on earth can a team that finished 29th in runs prosper without a good one? Will Chavez be back from the minors, a changed man, the solution instead of the problem?

For the Nationals, the question is not "Who's On First," but who bats first. And, right now, it's no comedy.

sigh. he's one of my fantasy guys.

Double-sigh. Guzman is on one of my teams and displacement to the minors won't be what keeps him from contributing. :(

Although....have the Cubs thought about trading Hairston for Guzman? 2-0 and a pop-out sounds like classic Dusty leadoff material. <_<

He doesn't strike out nearly enough for Dusty to hit him leadoff. :(

Washington Post Reports From Spring Training

A return engagement

Nick Johnson's first day in the leadoff spot showed Manager Frank Robinson enough to give the first baseman another day at the top of the order when the Nationals host the Devil Rays tomorrow.

Johnson went 0 for 3 with a RBI on a sacrifice fly.

When asked if he that means anything for the foreseeable future, Johnson said flatly: "No."

The Nationals' leadoff men of the past five games (Johnson, Cristian Guzman and Endy Chavez) went a combined 1 for 17 and are hitless in the past four (0 for 13). It's looking more and more like Johnson is the only one who can save left fielder Brad Wilkerson from reprising his leadoff role of last season.

To all, I'm not certain who's a worse manager, Frank or Busty. It could be a coin flip. However, after last season's debacle, I still have to give the edge to the latter. Best regards, Cle

Intuition, Not Numbers, Guides Nats' Robinson

The Washington Post
By Mike Wise

However compelled you feel to help, do not e-mail Frank Robinson a pitch-by-pitch breakdown of Antonio Osuna. He won't read it. He may not even see it.

"Do you run the computer at all?" the manager of the Washington Nationals was asked before Sunday's 8-0 loss against the Florida Marlins.

"No, sir," Robinson said. "I barely know how to turn the computer on."

Robinson knows Osuna, Washington's struggling right-handed reliever, has an ERA that would lead the NBA in scoring (42.43). He saw Osuna give up a tater of a grand slam to Juan Encarnacion against the Marlins in the bottom of the eighth inning to blow a winnable game and series open.

But Robinson does not need to know what pitch was thrown or the count at the time. Clarity, for him, came the instant the ball went over the wall: Encarnacion good, Osuna bad. Jose Guillen's home slugging percentage vs. his road slugging percentage does not matter, either. Or a scouting report on Josh Beckett's curveball. Robinson knows the Florida right-hander was the same guy who five-hit the Yankees to win the decisive Game 6 of the 2003 World Series.

"How often do you use the numbers?" he was asked.

"Me? I don't use them."

"You just manage with your gut?"

"It's not all gut," Robinson said. "Of course, I read them. But numbers-wise, the only time I look at numbers is to see what a guy is hitting against us. I know he's had great success against us. I know [Miguel] Cabrera has had great success against us; I don't need to look at any damn numbers. I know he does. I don't rely on numbers."

Frank Robinson baseball is about feel, faith and knowledge gleaned from 69 years. He does not understand how these young executives with their power ties and their CD-ROMs suddenly took over baseball.

"In the past, experience in this game used to mean something," Robinson said. "It really did. You went after people that had experience, and put them in these jobs. And all of a sudden, the computer age coming in and whatever. . . . The experience didn't count. It was whether you can handle the computer and read the charts, and whether this guy is 15 for 20 against this guy, plus this and that."

The old-school sentimentalist wants to applaud a man who will be a septuagenarian in August. Bless any senior citizen for not giving into modern, corporate convention and computer spreadsheets.

The voice of Internet culture, of course, wants to ask, "Are you nuts? Tony La Russa sleeps with righty-lefty charts. Billy Beane, Oakland's general manager, was the subject of a book titled 'Moneyball.' It detailed how Beane used numbers -- specifically slugging percentage and on-base percentage -- to judge a player's worth, how the Athletics taught players to work counts, take pitches, be selective and patient at the plate. How can anyone discount 'Moneyball?' "

"I didn't read the book, and I won't read it," Robinson said. "I'm not knocking Billy Beane or anything. That's his approach to it. Some players can hit late in the count. Some players cannot hit late in the count. I'm not going to force a player to work the count and make him take pitches early in the count or take strikes, and try to get a walk or get in a more-desired hitters' count if he's not comfortable. Why try to force that on them?"

In some ways, Robinson's approach is refreshing. At a time when baseball's recent history and character are being severely tested by steroid use and internal obfuscation, along comes one of the game's genuine legends, using his heart, mind and gut to determine risk vs. reward. He's not breaking out his homework in the dugout.

In other ways, it's frightening. How a major league manager in 2005 could not use every possible bit of statistical information at his disposal is curious at best.

At some point, Robinson will insert a pinch hitter in a key spot because he sincerely believes that player will get a hit -- even if that pinch hitter is 2 for 49 against Atlanta's Tim Hudson. But Robinson may not even know that the player is 2 for 49 against Hudson. He may not care.

"Numbers don't win you ballgames, I don't care what they say," Robinson said.

"How many at-bats does it take for you to actually feel like a hitter has a very good read on a pitcher? How many at-bats?"

Someone guessed 30. Another reporter guessed 50.

"Fifty and above," Robinson said, answering his own question. "And none of those numbers takes into account balls you hit hard or the plays that the defense makes against you. All it is is hits against at-bats."

Robinson paused for a while, thinking about what he would say next the way aging, thoughtful men do.

He knows the culture clash in the game is trying to push old baseball men like him and Jack McKeon, Florida's 74-year-old manager, off to the side and into retirement.

The spreadsheet, workaholic crowd can say all they want how their purpose is to bring the game into the new millennium. For better or worse, Robinson believes they are essentially robbing baseball of its soul.

"This game to me is done on sight and feel and knowing your personnel and having some idea about the players and the people that you're competing against," the manager of the Nationals said, convincingly.

Yes, yes it is.

I don't quite understand how using statistical information can be considered robbing baseball of it's soul. It's always been a game of numbers - batting average, home runs hit, runs batted in, etc.

Dear It's normally out of fear of the unknown in dealing with it, simple laziness in taking the time, or pure ignorance because of one's ego. I imagine that with Frank it's primarily the first and Busty the latter of the three. Best regards, Cle

Maybe Robinson should compare his teams records with that of....oh lets say the Oakland A's? Of course that would be considered comparing numbers wouldn't it?

Dear Joe, Perhaps Frank prefers Castillo and Guzman to the likes of Chavez and Crosby? Best regards, Cle

Cle,

I'm pretty sure Dusty would too! :blink:

Joe

To all, Thus far, could I have ever been so wrong as I was here? :unsure: Best regards, Cle

Nationals are for real

Roto Times
By Mike Rainey

The time has come to declare that the Washington Nationals are for real. I've been waiting for them to collapse for weeks now, but it's becoming obvious that it isn't going to happen, despite the fact they just lost three of four to the Mets this week (they've earned the right to lose a series). The Nationals have a deep lineup, a terrific bench, a serviceable rotation and a dynamite bullpen led by stud closer Chad Cordero. Let's examine the considerable fantasy value coming out of our Nation's Capital:

# Jose Guillen, OF: Guillen emerged as a true front-line player in 2003 with the Reds before being traded to the A's at the end of July to help aid Oakland's pennant drive. After going .311-31-86 in that breakout '03 campaign, Guillen signed a free agent deal with the Angels before last season and provided them with 27 home runs and 104 RBI before being suspended by the team at the end of the year for his inappropriate actions after he was pulled for a pinch runner. That incident led to a trade to Washington during the offseason, and Guillen has been a model citizen while continuing his elite production with the Nationals, who have already exercised his option for 2006. He's batting .311 with 17 home runs and 48 RBI this season and should have earned a berth on the NL All-Star squad. Guillen has been productive in the second half the past two years and should continue to fuel the Washington offense for the remainder of the season.

# Nick Johnson, 1B: Although he's currently on the disabled list with a bruised heel, Johnson garnered serious All-Star consideration after a breakout first half that saw him hit .320 with eight home runs, 20 doubles, and 42 RBI. Most impressive is his .444 OBP, which is a clear result of his magnificent plate discipline. Johnson is posting the type of numbers the Yankees always thought he would when he put up solid totals for them in less than 400 at-bats in 2002 and 2003. He was facing a watershed season in his career when he reported to spring training, as he had to perform well to earn a starting job. Johnson has come through thus far, and he's set to return to action right after the All-Star break.

# Ryan Church, OF: Like Johnson, Church is currently on the DL but expects to return immediately following the break. After struggling during a late-season trial with the Nationals last August and September (.175-1-6 in 63 at-bats), Church shook off a slow start this season (.190 BA in April) and rewarded the Nationals for their patience and faith in him by hitting .377 in May and .368 in June. He's currently batting .325 with seven home runs and 28 RBI and looks poised for a big second half.

# Brad Wilkerson, OF: Wilkerson has been a solid offensive performer since 2002 and continues to be utilized in the leadoff role, despite probably being better suited to hitting in the middle of the lineup given his power bat. He's posted a .375 OBP this season and is on pace to walk about 100 times. Wilkerson has just five home runs so far this season after slamming 32 a year ago, but he leads the majors with 28 doubles and a nerve problem in his right arm could be sapping his home-run power.

# Livan Hernandez, RHP: Hernandez has been one of the game's most durable workhorses this decade as he is on pace to throw over 200 innings for the sixth season in a row. He's made the All-Star team and is garnering serious consideration to start the game for the National League after going 12-3 with a 3.49 ERA in the first half. Many thought Hernandez would hit a wall after throwing 150 pitches in a start against Florida on June 3, but he followed that up by throwing 127 pitches in his next start and hasn't missed a beat.

# Esteban Loaiza, RHP: After falling just short of winning the AL Cy Young award in 2003 when he posted a shocking 21-win season for the White Sox, Loaiza reverted to his journeyman form last season and nobody knew what to expect from him in 2005. The Nationals took a chance on him by inking him to a one-year deal in January, and he's paid huge dividends. Loaiza's 5-5 record in no way reflects how well he's pitched, as his 3.61 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 7.30 K/9 rate are all solid. With a little more run support in the second half, Loaiza could turn in a 15-win season if he continues to pitch as well as he has thus far.

# Chad Cordero, RHP: Cordero had a slight hiccup on Sunday when he allowed a game-tying two-run home run to Aramis Ramirez in the ninth inning to snap his consecutive saves streak at 26, but he's rapidly developing into the best closer in the National League in the wake of Eric Gagne's season-ending injury. With 30 saves, a 1.04 WHIP and a microscopic 1.19 ERA, Cordero was a cinch for the NL All-Star team. This year's appearance in the midsummer classic will be the first of many for a guy who has all the ability to remain in the game's elite for the next decade.

The Nationals are still doing it with mirrors. My guess is that giving up more runs than they score (which the Nationals have done) will eventually catch up to them. They remind me of the Royals of a couple of years ago. I look for the Braves to take that division which means the Cubs are even further out in the Wild Card race.

To all, 1st dealing for Sosa and now this? It could be even worse Cub fans, despite always wanting to do a deal, Bowden is basically clueless. Best regards, Cle

Soriano mulling over left-field decision
Slugger to announce whether he'll play left on Wednesday

MLB.com
By Bill Ladson

VIERA, Fla. -- The Nationals' traveling list for Wednesday was already posted on the bulletin board in their clubhouse on their off-day Tuesday, and Alfonso Soriano's name is marked in yellow, indicating that he is supposed to go with Washington to Jupiter to play St. Louis.

Soriano told MLB.com on Tuesday that he has not made a decision if he will play on Wednesday.

"I'm going to think about it. I'm going to talk it over with his wife and agent, [Diego Bentz]," Soriano said when reached by phone. "I want to play, but they have [Jose] Vidro at second base. I will make a decision [on Wednesday morning]."

If Soriano doesn't play, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said the club would request Major League Baseball place Soriano on the disqualified list for not rendering his services to the club. It means that Soriano would not earn his $10 million salary and lose service time. Soriano is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2006 season, but Bowden said Soriano would lose his eligibility to look for employment elsewhere after the season.

The standoff between Soriano and the club reached this stage when Soriano refused to play left field on Monday night against the Dodgers. Since being acquired in a December trade with Texas, Soriano has repeatedly said he wants to remain a second baseman and not be shifted to the outfield, as the Nationals had planned.

Soriano now says he thought he was not supposed to start the game, because when he looked at the lineup in the clubhouse, he was not part of the starting nine. He said he didn't know he was supposed to play against the Dodgers until Nick Johnson gave him a call during the game.

According to two baseball sources, bench coach Eddie Rodriguez wrote two lineups on Monday. The one without Soriano's name in the lineup was on the clubhouse bulletin board for most of the afternoon.

"With me, I'm thinking I'm out of the lineup," Soriano said. "Before they made the lineup, I told them if I'm not playing second base, I do not want to be in the lineup. Nick Johnson called me at that time and he told me that they had me in the lineup, but [nobody showed up]. Now I look like the bad guy."

Soriano was acquired from the Rangers on Dec. 7 for outfielders Brad Wilkerson and Terrmel Sledge and right-hander Armando Galarraga. The trade didn't become official until Dec. 13, because Wilkerson was on a trip to the Bahamas.

Texas denied Washington permission to talk to Soriano about a switch from second base to left field until the players took their physicals and the trade was official.

"[The Nationals] didn't tell me about the switch until after the trade," Soriano said. "[The Rangers] didn't want them to talk, because they know what the problem is. The Nationals had to know how unhappy I would be."

Soriano said that he regrets that he didn't talk the media before the Monday's game. Several times, the Washington press tried to get a comment from the four-time All-Star, but he declined.

"I apologize for not talking to you guys. That's not me," he said.

Washington expects the Major League Baseball Players Association to file a grievance on Soriano's behalf and take the case to arbitration should the impasse not be resolved.

"I want this thing to work out," said catcher Brian Schneider. "We need Alfonso in that lineup bad. It would be a huge help. I don't think it has been a huge distraction. I know people were anxious to see what happens when he came back [from the World Baseball Classic]. But I think it could be distracting if it goes on any longer."

I'm torn on this issue. First off I don't feel too sorry for Washington since they traded for Soriano knowing full well he didn't want to move to the outfield. And I don't feel too sorry for Soriano because he's an ass for not wnating to help his team anyway he can. I guess they deserve each other. I would trade them Neifi and Walker for Soriano though if they want to deal him. We aren't going anywhere anyway and Soriano would be an exciting player to watch at Wrigley.

Dear Joe, It is quite the marriage. Bowden is a bonehead and Soriano is an ass. Jimmy makes a deal just to make a deal half of the time. In addition, he tosses money away like it was water on medicore players. Everyone who knew anything about baseball knew that Soriano had been against switching positions and had refused to play the outfield previously. Then Bowden never even broached the issue with him before trading for him?. What a dipstick. :blink:

Soriano. He simply needs to make the switch anyways, player position value or not. The great slugging he does at the plate is highly undermined by his play in the field. He needs to get a grip on reality and fast. Like tomorrow at the very latest? ;) No one but King George will want him if he sits out tomorrow's contest? Best regards, Cle

Didn't Washington give up two halfway decent OF'ers to get Soriano? That must be really frustrating, but like you guys said, they deserve each other.

After all this, you still have people on .com talking about "omg! get soriano! he can play RF for us!!!" Probably the best post I saw was about having Soriano play LF while moving Murton to second. :rolleyes:

I hear Soriano doesn't want to play the outfield. :P

The Baseball Journals
By Maury Brown

Update… Soriano Says He’ll Play Left All Season . By the way… One can still see the need to address the ambiguity in the Uniform Player’s Contract to deal with this issue.

I spent a good part of yesterday going over the Uniform Players Contract in the current CBA trying to see if there was anything that might lead to an opinion on how the impasse between Alfonso Soriano and the Washington Nationals might land. This while Soriano has said today that he will play left against the Cardinals later this afternoon. Whether he continues to play left field as opposed to second base is a matter that may still be up in the air.

After going through the CBA on this issue, the answer is… it may be anybody’s guess.

I have been straining to think of an instance where a player has flat out said that they wouldn’t take a position change with the idea in mind that the position change is deemed to be the main, or for lack of a better word, chosen position that the team has decided upon for a player to play as the primary position.

Players have been docked pay for refusing to play, but in those cases it has been for short durations. This case seems to hinge on a “all or nothing” mindset by Sorianio: Play me at second base, or I won’t play.

Here’s what the Uniform Player’s Contract says under “Player Representations”:

Loyalty
3.(a) The Player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently
and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition and to
obey the Club’s training rules, and pledges himself to the American
public and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct,
fair play and good sportsmanship.

Pretty vague in terms of the situation.

There’s nothing within the provision in the Uniform Player’s Contract that says that he must play a position. Of course, there’s nothing here that says he shouldn’t, as well.

Where the Nationals may have the edge is within the following:

Ability
4.(a) The Player represents and agrees that he has exceptional and unique skill and ability as a baseball player; that his services to be rendered
hereunder are of a special, unusual and extraordinary character which gives them peculiar value which cannot be reasonably or adequately
compensated for in damages at law, and that the Player’s breach of this contract will cause the Club great and irreparable injury and damage. The Player agrees that, in addition to other remedies, the Club shallbe entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief to prevent
a breach of this contract by the Player, including, among others, the right to enjoin the Player from playing baseball for any other person or organization during the term of his contract.

Mulling the situation over…

If I’m hired by contract for a company under the intent of conducting work within my given area of profession… let’s say, law, and I’m asked after signing to take over as the window washer on the high rise, one could say that there’s grounds for me not wanting to take the job.

It gets into a gray area if I’m a mechanic that works on cars, and I’m asked to start working on motorcycles. As an employee, I may not have a clear cut case for refusing to do so.

Soriano is under contract to play for the Nationals. He’s been hired to perform services as a player. Does that mean that Soriano could be made to play the position of catcher? A pitcher? As I said, it’s not a clear cut case. Could he be placed on the disqualified list on other grounds? Being a royal pain? Being insubordinate? That may certainly be an option.

If the Nationals place him on the disqualified list, he’s within his right to a grievance.

Here’s what the Contract says regarding Soriano’s options in terms of filing such a grievance:

(1) (a) “Grievance” shall mean a complaint which involves the
existence or interpretation of, or compliance with, any agreement, or
any provision of any agreement, between the Association and the
Clubs or any of them, or between a Player and a Club, except that
disputes relating to the following agreements between the Association
and the Clubs shall not be subject to the Grievance Procedure
set forth herein:

(i) The Major League Baseball Players Benefit Plan;
(ii) The Agreement Re Major League Baseball Players Benefit
Plan;
(iii) The Agreement regarding dues check-off.

If the Nationals were to go forward, place Soriano on the disqualified list without pay, it seems that the MLBPA would certainly file a grievance. Under the NLRB, Soriano’s case might be heard by a single arbitrator (Shyam Das), or a panel.

A bigger question is whether this case has any implications for Soriano in terms of free agency.

Currently, he has 5 1/2 years of service on his contract. To be a free agent, he needs 6 years of service time. If the Nationals were to win this case, and Soriano were to hold out for more than 6 months, he would not be eligible for free agency. The Nationals could simply hold on to him. This is one more reason why the MLBPA has a vested interest in this case.

This case will have far reaching implications, regardless of the outcome. If someone hasn’t already been working on the verbiage for proposing clarification on this matter for the next CBA to be discussed in the next round of collective bargaining, one would be surprised.

What’s somewhat surprising is that this issue that is occuring with Soriano isn’t covered in a Management Rights provision. The sum total of the Management Rights provision within the current CBA reads:

ARTICLE XXII—Management Rights
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to restrict the rights of
the Clubs to manage and direct their operations in any manner whatsoever
except as specifically limited by the terms of this Agreement.

I’m going to lean in the direction of the Nationals on this matter. Players are routinely asked to play various positions on the field. After all, where did we get the term “utility player”?

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006 at 8:35 am and is filed under Baseball Insight. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

It can't be good when Dead-Eye Dick is on the bump...



No longer allowed to hunt with a gun, the V.P. resorts to beaning his prey.


Cheers, boos as Cheney opens baseball game
Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:46 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A loud mixture of cheers and boos greeted Vice President Dick Cheney on Tuesday as he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the Washington Nationals baseball game.

Cheney, wearing a red Nationals warmup jacket, tossed a pitch that reached Nationals catcher Brian Schneider on one bounce.

The vice president, whose popularity is slumping along with that of President Bush, walked out on the field to cheering and booing from the near-sellout crowd. The boos appeared to be little louder than the cheers at RFK Memorial Stadium.

On the field with him were three U.S. servicemen, two of whom had been wounded in Iraq and a third who was injured in Afghanistan.

Cheney was the eighth vice president to throw out a first pitch for Washington's baseball team on opening day at home. He was the first since 1968 when Hubert Humphrey tossed the first pitch when the team was the Washington Senators.

Before the game, Cheney visited the locker rooms of both the Nationals and the visiting New York Mets. Nationals manager Frank Robinson, who was taking the field for his 51st pro baseball season, escorted Cheney and introduced him to the players.



"I tell you guys, it's tough - tough. I don't get no respect."



The Nationals secure the lousy season foretold by many when manager Frank Robinson becomes snared in Cheney's famed gaze and grip of death.

Dear DC, Mark Kanges and I went to opening day in Cincy. Dumya did the same trick as Dick. He was introduced after 3 others. 2 were veterans, both who were injured in the thw war, one of which had lost a leg in the fighting. The third person introduced was a father who had lost his son in the war. Then the Prez then walked out on the field with the other 3. Obviously it would have been in bad taste to voice displeasure that in any way might be thought as directed towards those who had given of themselves so much.

It's so nice to see the spineless VP take a page out of both Busty's and the P's playbook. ;) Best regards, Cle

Cle - I don't think we'll see those two anywhere unless they're wrapped in a flag and surrounded by those that are making the sacrifice. Some sacrifice for "freedom" (our freedom to continue buying stuff we don 't need, driving our gas guzzlers and making greedy corporate execs ritcher). I'm pretty sure the people dragged along for the photo op know they're not the ones getting booed (and if they don't by now, they're probably not the brightest bulbs anyway).


Delgado opts to stand far from Cheney
BY ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

WASHINGTON - Carlos Delgado's opposition to U.S. military actions in Iraq and Afghanistan are well documented. But the first baseman took a tactful approach when Dick Cheney visited the Mets' clubhouse yesterday, before the VP tossed out the ceremonial first pitch at the Nationals' home opener.
Delgado conveniently got busy with pregame preparations as his teammates posed for a picture with Cheney.

"I was doing my routine," Delgado said with a smile. "I happened to be somewhere else. Go figure."

The Mets' clubhouse recently had been a Republican stronghold, with Al Leiter an aspiring GOP politician and Mike Piazza last year referring to Rush Limbaugh as "American royalty." It's not exactly left-leaning now, but Cliff Floyd identified himself as a Democrat and Xavier Nady said he grew up in a Democratic household.

Nady had the VP sign a bat, but later joked: "I'll probably use it tomorrow. It depends how many I go through." At least, the right fielder presumably was joking.

Cheney was greeted by more jeers than cheers in the nation's capital as he walked onto the field. Standing on the grass in front of the mound, the VP bounced the ceremonial first pitch to Nats catcher Brian Schneider, the baseball veering slightly to the left.

Willie Randolph reminisced about President George W. Bush's emotional first pitch at Yankee Stadium before Game 3 of the 2001 World Series. The President fired a strike to backup catcher Todd Greene after warming up in the Yankees' batting cage. He then shook hands with Rudy Giuliani during a poignant moment.

"I still think the President's throw was the best I've seen," said Randolph, then a Bombers coach. "He threw a strike right down the middle after 9/11. That was awesome. No one is going to be able to top that."

-----------------------

And that throw by Bush was probably the last good, genuine thing he did. <_<

Trust me, he's never done anything honest in his life. It was a spit ball at the least. :lol: