MLB: Washington Nationals Blog, a new breed of baseball

2008-11-26T08:08:00.000-08:00

Tim Redding is scheduled to have toe surgery on Friday, but he's expected to be more than ready for Spring Training. I bet he's thankful (I know I am!) that's it's just the toe, not the foot, or the ankle, or worse! Full story here.

2008-10-30T11:21:00.001-07:00

Get out there and vote next Tuesday, November 4th, Nationals fans!

2008-10-20T08:11:00.001-07:00

From today's mailbag on http://washington.nationals.mlb.com :

Shouldn't Roger Bernadina be considered as an option for center field in 2009?
-- Luis H., San Juan, P.R.

You know, I was thinking about this recently and I agree with you. I saw a different person during the month of September than I did during his first callup. I saw a swagger in Bernadina off the field that I didn't see before. It was clear to me that Bernandina was nervous during his first callup. I hope what I saw in September isn't what Frank Robinson used to call "fool's gold." I hope it's the real thing.

2008-10-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

From today's mailbag on http://washington.nationals.mlb.com :

Shouldn't Roger Bernadina be considered as an option for center field in 2009?
-- Luis H., San Juan, P.R.

Batting Stance Guy

2008-08-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

Anonymous suggested I check out the Batting Stance Guy. Good recommendation. The guy's really funny. My favorite thing is the description at the top of his site..."the least marketable skill in America..." Ha.

Thanks, Anonymous!

Pope Hope!

2008-04-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

I'm not Catholic or even particularly religious, but it seems like a visit from the world's biggest living religious figure can't hurt our team, right? What a way to start a season!

I think they should add a note to Washington Nationals Tickets that says: Endorsed by the Pope! Maybe with a little picture of him wearing one of our jerseys??

Dmitri Young named NL comeback player of the year

2007-10-03T13:36:00.001-07:00

The news isn't all bad for the Washington Nationals - they didn't make it to the playoffs but first basemen Dmitri Young won the NL comeback player of the year award. It's inspiring that someone who had so many problems - divorce, alcoholism, recently diagnosed diabetes - can pull it all together and turn things around. Maybe he'll be an inspiration to the team to make next season a winning one!

Lost vs Marlins

2007-04-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

Throughout Spring Training, Nationals manager Manny Acta stressed the importance of defense and fundamentals. Lack of those two areas was the reason the Nationals were pounded by the Marlins, 9-3, in front of 20,894 fans on Tuesday night.

Hopefully we can do better in game 2 today at 1:00pm EDT

2007-01-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Washington Nationals reached an agreement with outfielder Chris Snelling--a one-year, $450,000 contract. Not bad considering his subpar '06 season!

Not Much Action for the Nationals

2006-12-10T18:40:00.000-08:00

The Washington Nationals have been pretty quiet this offseason from what I can tell. The only report that I have heard is that Alfonso Soriano has moved to the Chicago Cubs with an 8 year contract. The Nationals had a dismal season this last year, and I hope they have something up their sleeve to become better in 2007.

2006-11-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

Didn't have tickets as often as I would have liked last year, but whenever I did, Alfonso Soriano always seemed to give me my money's worth. Now, Washington Nationals fans will only be able to say we knew him when...As in when he got 46 home runs and 41 stolen bases in his one season with us.

After a huge bidding war, Soriano has decided to go with the Chicago Cubs. He claims he likes the "electric atmosphere" of Wrigley Field, and he's very motivated by the challenge of bringing a championship to those perennial losers. Still, I don't think the $136 million for eight years hurt, do you?

News right now is ... basketball

2006-10-31T15:24:00.000-08:00

Everything in the news about the Nationals is who is signing up for free agency and how rich they hope to be. Somehow I have trouble relating.

So I'm looking forward to tomorrow night: eating lots of leftover Halloween candy and watching the Wizards start their regular season with a game against LeBron and the Cavs in Cleveland. Good luck, Washington!

We Have A Winner!

2006-10-20T14:15:00.000-07:00

Got my wish for a seven-game National League Series Championship. And some genuine drama in that final game last night! Did you see that Endy Chavez catch that robbed Scott Rolen of a homerun? If not, as Tony La Russa said, you'll be seeing it replayed forever.

Then payback time when Cardinal's catcher Yadier Molina smacked another one to the same spot, only that one got to keep going past the fence.

So let's see how the Cardinals will do against the Tigers, starting tomorrow. Are those two teams good for seven more games?

Choosing a National League Champ

2006-10-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Of course, it isn't like anybody really chooses the National League Champions. But since my Washington Nationals are home watching the playoffs, I have been trying to make up my mind who I'd like to represent the National League in the World Series. As I write, we're in the fourth game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets, with the Cards up 2 games to 1, but with the Mets ahead in this game 5 to 2...which we all know may or may not last.

St. Louis has looked stronger to me, and they've come so close twice recently--maybe three's the charm for them. I'd say the Mets are more our rivals, because they're in the NL East, except that our young franchise hasn't really reached that level yet. Besides, they're the one team I could actually go see if I got my hands on World Series tickets.

Hm, guess I'll have to quit speculating and just go enjoy the game. Guess what I'll wish for is for both this series and the World Series to go seven games.

Washington Nationals say farewell to Frank Robinson

2006-10-05T07:17:00.000-07:00

On October 31, the Nationals and manager Frank Robinson will go there separate ways. After 51 seasons in baseball, 16 of them as manager, Robinson prepares for what could be his final game. Robinson will manage the final game against the Mets on Sunday and he said he will not seek another managerial job.

Robinson Says Goodbye to Baseball

2006-10-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

The Washington Nationals lost to the New York Mets 6-2, but the real story of the day was Frank Robinson’s last game as the Washington Nationals manager. Frank Robinson managed for 16 seasons and was a part of the game for 51 years. Robinson is in the Hall of Fame for his career as a player and is recognized as one of the greatest to ever be a part of the game. In 1974, Robinson became the first black manager when he took over the Cleveland Indians.

Washington set to march against NL

2006-07-11T10:36:00.000-07:00

While some Washington Nationals fans despair at our position in the NL East, I am here to offer some cheer for the All-Star break. Our last 8 games have yielded 4 victories, and we have another series against the Florida Marlins starting next week. Although we are a little too used to standing at the bottom of the division, I have a good feeling for the upcoming games against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who will be coming off from a defeat themselves.

Nationals have the chance to surge ahead of the competition.

2006-06-12T16:38:00.000-07:00

There have been a lot of rumors lately concerning whether Frank Robinson will keep his job now that Davey Johnson has been brought to consult. Some seem to think Johnson is being groomed for the manager job. Robinson has made some mistakes in his time with the Washington Nationals and I agree he may have caused us to lose our chance at the Playoffs last year. However, I wouldn’t say all the blame for that lies with one man alone. Even Jim Bowden seems to be fouling up here and there. The Jamey Carroll trade is a prime example of his bad decision making but I don’t think that is enough to condemn him or replace him.

This team needs to improve now if they are going to have a chance to succeed this season. We are facing the issue of whether we are properly utilizing Alfonso Soriano or if our efforts to turn him into an outfielder will fail. This four game series against the Colorado Rockies will be our first real chance to pull ahead of the Atlanta Braves as they face bullpen woes and the loss of 11 of their last 14 games.

Nationals Have to Support the Bullpen

2006-05-17T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Washington Nationals had a rough game against the Chicago Cubs and pitcher Carlos Zambrano on Tuesday. The Nationals lost 4-0 but our very own Livan Hernandez gave everything he had and looked good in the first inning, which is where he’s been having the most trouble. Hernandez will definitely be an asset this season but I only wish the team could get it together and back up the pitchers on defense.

More bad press for Barry Bonds.

2006-04-18T18:18:00.000-07:00

There is more news regarding San Francisco Giant Barry Bonds. There are reports that Barry Bonds’ testimony in the BALCO scandal is under investigation by a grand jury. Bud Selig has refused to comment but it is known that he himself has initiated his own investigation into steroid use in baseball. I don’t think this issue will be resolved any time soon and I don’t believe that a real comprehensive investigation can be done without some changes to the leagues drug policy and testing methods.

Hot-Tempered Tavarez Flares Again

2006-03-27T17:59:00.000-08:00

In Florida today Boston Red Sox reliever Julian Tavarez punched Joey Gathright of Tampa Bay, starting a brawl at home plate that got both players ejected from the game. They were fighting over a close play in the eighth inning of the game which Boston won.

What we don’t know won’t hurt us. Right?

2006-02-27T11:30:00.000-08:00

Washington Nationals fans and residents of DC are torn these days. Many of us have doubts about the success of the Iraq war and doubts about the White House’s foreign policy. This United Arab Emirates deal has shaken this city a lot and has turned a lot of supporters against the Bush administration, mainly due to the President’s cavalier attitude about his plan to veto legislation designed to block the port security deal. I think he is really treading on thin ice and needs to do something to renew public faith in his ability to govern fairly.

Carroll Dealt to Rockies for Change

2006-02-12T20:35:00.000-08:00

Washington Nationals management felt that Jamey Carroll was a fine player and appreciated his good attitude about playing time. They were even quoted as saying every team needs a player like him, yet they traded Carroll because they just didn’t have any room for another middle infielder.

Politics Have no Place in Baseball

2006-01-23T15:00:00.000-08:00

The World Baseball Classic will go on without interference from the US Government. Cuba will be allowed to participate, but for a time it was in question due to the US embargo on the country. If we are going to host an event called the World Baseball Classic, I think we should be allowing the world to enter and not whoever we decide has the right politics to participate.

Basketball Battle of the Titans

2006-01-16T13:09:00.000-08:00

In sports news the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets went head to head in a frenzied marathon of a basketball game on January 10, 2006. The triple overtime match was one of the highest scoring games in history. Anthony Henry of the Nuggets scored 43 points including the game winning field goal made with 2.9 seconds left. Both teams played with amazing intensity and never backed down going goal for goal throughout the extra minutes. If you are a basketball fan at all you know that this qualifies as one of the greatest games in history. My hat is off to these two great teams for the fine skill and concentration displayed in their titanic battle.

Players Use Winter Leagues For Conditioning

2006-01-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

Many players in Major League Baseball spend the off-season playing in the winter leagues. Many of those players are pitchers who need to show their teams that they are taking extra time to condition themselves for spring training and regular season play. A few players use the winter leagues to gain visibility because Major League teams watch the winter leagues for veteran players who are improving their game. Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are a few countries that have winter leagues. This fan wishes those games were televised so we could have baseball all year round. That’s what I call Heaven.

Nationals Fill Pitching Spots

2005-12-30T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Washington Nationals added two pitchers to their lineup in the past two weeks. Both players were signed to one year deals. They are Ramon Ortiz and Tony Armas, who was resigned. The two will be competing with starter Ryan Drese for playing time. Livan Hernandez, Brian Lawrence and John Patterson are locked into the other three slots. Armas had a tumultuous 2005 season plagued by a bad shoulder that required surgery in September. The doctors have said he will be healthy enough to pitch and the shoulder should not hurt him at all as long as he doesn’t re-injure it.

Nationals Tender Ayala and More

2005-12-23T17:30:00.000-08:00

It has just been announced that there will be five players offered arbitration on the Washington Nationals team. Luis Ayala, a relief pitcher, is one of them and outfielder Marlon Byrd is another. Nick Johnson, first baseman, infielder Jamie Carroll, and catcher Brian Schneider were given offers. There are some players who ended up on the non-tendered list. They were second baseman Junior Spivey, reliever T.J. Tucker and outfielder Alex Escobar. Ayala is considered to be one of the best pitchers in baseball and is a player we want to keep on our roster for a long time to come. He has great stats and despite an injury last season, will be returning to play in 2006.

Nationals Take on Soriano

2005-12-14T14:41:00.000-08:00

Every team in Major League Baseball made some trades at the Winter Meetings. Now that the meetings are over and the trades finalized we can talk about the deals. We dealt Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge, and Minor League pitcher Armando Galarraga to the Texas Rangers for Alfonso Soriano, the star second baseman. Soriano is a power hitter and has the fire and ambition this team needs to finish better than dead last on offense in the 2006 season. Alfonso Soriano is up for salary arbitration and may make 10 million in 2006, after which he becomes a free agent. The Nationals are hoping cut a long term deal with him before that happens however.

Nationals Doing Good for the Holiday

2005-12-06T18:59:00.000-08:00

The Washington Nationals, like many MLB teams, spend the off season trading, dealing, budgeting and working for the DC community. It is in the off season that the good deeds of a team like the Nationals get more notice. They spend time building their patriotic reputation, raising money for charities and getting involved in the community. All of this is why I would say that baseball is an honorable profession with real role models for children. It is hard with today’s controversies and bad press, but still I believe our faith in baseball’s virtue is not misplaced.

Nationals Do for the DC Community

2005-11-25T16:20:00.000-08:00

The Washington Nationals had an exciting and fun first season of play in Washington DC. Robert F. Kennedy Stadium was always full of fans. The Nationals recognized this support and gave in return, supporting over 30 charities in events throughout the season. They are a team you can be proud of on and off the field. With so many celebrities and professional athletes getting bad press and participating in drug use, it is refreshing to see teams getting involved with the community that supports them. Gary Bennett and Brad Wilkerson appeared at a Children’s Hospital and gave the kids a real treat. Jose Guillen visited veterans at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and decided the next day to play with a shoulder injury because the soldiers inspired him to push himself and not let his pain stop him from soldiering on.

Bowden to GM Red Sox

2005-11-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden is being considered for GM of the Boston Red Sox, a job he consider a dream come true being that he is a Massachusetts native and things with the Nationals are really up in the air right now. If he gets the contract, it looks like player decisions will be made by the president and his staff until new ownership is in place. Many fans are hoping that they will be focusing on some changes to the coaching staff, primarily in the realm of pitching. Can we make improvements in this uncertain time or is the lack of ownership going to delay any progress that could be made to improve the Nationals defense?

A Change of Scenery

2005-06-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a player can never figure out why he doesn’t produce the numbers he knows he is capable of. Sometimes all it takes is a change of scenery for the player. That just might be the case for right – handed – pitcher Ryan Drese. Drese played for the Rangers earlier this season and was inconsistent constantly. Now in his first game as a Nationals, he pitched almost perfect for 8 innings. Drese only allowed a pair of singles and four walks in a 1-0 shut out over the Angels last night.

Division Leading

2005-06-06T11:39:00.000-07:00

Despite how well right-handed-pitcher John Patterson pitches he still has trouble getting wins. In a six inning outing last night he struck out seven batters, gave up 2 walks and one earned run. It was an impressive pitching performance on his behalf, but the win went to Luis Ayala after the Nationals failed to produce runs early on.

Hitting 101

2005-05-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hopes were high for the Nationals young short stop, Cristian Guzman. But recently Guzman has been in a funky slump. Manager Frank Robinson believes Guzman’s problem from the left side of the plate is his inability to stay still at the plate, and his problem from the right side is that he swings for the fence to often. So the plan is for hitting coach Tom McCraw to take time during this Nationals home stand to work with the young switch hitter.

Not Just a Reserve

2005-05-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Center fielder Marlon Byrd is listed in the reserves for his team, the Washington Nationals. But I think Byrd is more than a reserve. To me he has the ability to be a starter in the Majors. Byrd didn’t get to start in last night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, and was brought in during the 5th inning.

Some thought it was just to pinch hit, but he played 9 innings worth of baseball in a 14 inning game. Byrd reached based 4 times with a hit and three walks. Byrd also had a sacrifice fly to help his team.

Field of Dreams

2005-05-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

I once dreamed of being a professional baseball player, but I am sure that dream has many here in America and around Latin American as well as Japan. One thing I forgot to do was apply myself to my goals and set standards for myself, but rookie infielder Tony Blanco has made that dream come true.

In his rookie season Blanco is making the most playing time that he gets. Just like any ball player should be doing, Blanco keeps himself prepared by working hard every day, including hitting in the cage during games. That just shows the sign of a dedicated ball player something that still remains a dream for me.

The 2bag

2005-05-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

from Foxsports.com

B Jose Vidro (ankle) is expected to be out for at least three weeks, so Jamey Carroll will be the everyday second baseman. . . .

The Nationals still are looking for a power hitter who could bat fifth and protect OF Jose Guillen. 2B Alfonso Soriano of the Rangers and CFs Preston Wilson of the Rockies and Vernon Wells of the Blue Jays are rumored targets.

Room for Improvement

2005-05-15T16:35:00.000-07:00

In an effort to improve the bench production, OFs Jeffrey Hammonds and Endy Chavez were recalled. Hammonds was having quality at-bats at Class AAA, is a veteran and provides a good clubhouse presence. Chavez failed to make the club out of spring training because he was struggling to get on base consistently. That still is a concern, but G.M. Jim Bowden says Chavez can be an asset as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch runner.

Now or Never

2005-05-09T15:13:00.000-07:00

from Foxsports.com

By adding veterans such as RF Jose Guillen and 3B Vinny Castilla, the team's mind-set has changed. Manager Frank Robinson say there's an urgency to win now, and he no longer is patient with players, such as Day, who are not producing. Robinson will move the players to lesser roles or send them to the minors.

Bats deliver big win at Shea

2005-04-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

By Bryan Hoch / Special to MLB.com

The Nationals needed a strong pitching performance to get out of town with a victory, and Livan Hernandez was more than happy to oblige.

Hernandez stepped up and gave Washington its best mound outing of the weekend, firing seven strong innings on Sunday. Jose Guillen helped out with three RBIs en route to an 11-4 victory that snapped the Nationals' three-game losing streak.

"We needed it very badly, I think," Nats manager Frank Robinson said. "It wasn't a must-win game, but for our psyches, we needed it very badly. For momentum going home, we needed it very badly. I liked the way the ballclub came out today."

In his last start against the Marlins, Hernandez quibbled with home plate umpire Marvin Hudson's strike zone and appeared to lose his focus. The Nationals' ace had no such problems on Sunday at Shea Stadium, where he allowed three runs, all in the first inning, on nine hits.

"I go outside, and I try to win," said Hernandez, who walked two and struck out three in the effort. "It's very important to me be strong and go do the job."

"He knew we were counting on him today," Robinson said.

With his sinker missing in action until the third inning, Hernandez relied on an array of fastballs and breaking pitches to retire the Mets. He was helped by the Nationals' first big first-inning rally of the season, as Washington put an early three-spot on the board against Mets right-hander Victor Zambrano.

The Nationals were aggressive right out of the gate, with Brad Wilkerson gunned down at home plate for the first out of the game. But Washington, which had scored just three first-inning runs coming into the game, would bring in runs on a Guillen sacrifice fly and a two-run single by catcher Gary Bennett.

"I thought I was in there," said Wilkerson, who attempted to slide around Piazza. "It was huge to get out and get the confidence going with the bats. It seems when you score early, it carries on through the whole game."

Mike Piazza doubled off Hernandez in the first to bring in three runs, but Washington regained the lead for good in the third when Jose Vidro came home on a Terrmel Sledge double play.

"For any pitcher, when the team gets you runs, it makes the game more easy," Hernandez said. "You're out in front. You don't need to put a lot on your mind. I went to the mound more relaxed."

Three Nationals players -- Bennett, Guillen and Wilkerson -- collected multiple RBIs in the contest, with Wilkerson slugging a two-run homer off Zambrano in the fourth.

"That's what he can give us," Robinson said of Wilkerson. "This kid is going to be an outstanding player in the very near future. He does some things -- he can hit home runs, hit it for average, drive it into the gaps. He does a lot of things."

Washington tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a Vidro RBI double and Guillen's second sacrifice fly of the game, chasing Zambrano, who allowed eight runs (seven earned) over 5 1/3 innings.

The Nationals scored three times in the eighth against reliever Mike Matthews, breaking the game open. Guillen stroked a run-scoring double for his third RBI of the afternoon, Sledge popped a sacrifice fly and Castilla doubled in a run.

Gary Majewski allowed a run in the eighth, giving up a sacrifice fly to Chris Woodward.

Hampton shuts down Nationals

2005-04-12T13:31:00.000-07:00

by the Associated Press, From ESPN.com

Washington or Montreal, it really doesn't matter to the Atlanta Braves.

Mike Hampton pitched eight strong innings, Rafael Furcal and Andruw Jones hit two-run homers, and the Braves routed the Washington Nationals 11-2 on Monday night.

This was nothing new for the team formerly known as the Montreal Expos. Last season, the Braves beat Montreal 15 of 19 times and they've won 10 of the last 11 series between the teams, splitting the other.

"They have our number right now," Washington's Jose Vidro said. "For some reason their pitching seems to shut us down. I don't know if experience has a lot to do with it. I'm pretty sure they have a very good scouting report on us."

Hampton (1-0) is on a roll against everyone. He went 12-2 in his last 16 starts a year ago, and he's allowed only two runs in 14 innings this season.

"I feel pretty comfortable out there," Hampton said. "I feel comfortable with my mechanics. I feel comfortable mentally and physically."

Atlanta is well on its way to another series victory over Montreal-turned-Washington, thanks to Hampton's effort and several players finally having breakout games at the plate.

Furcal was hitting .138 when he homered in the fifth after Hampton led off with a single. Jones was just a little better, batting .217 when he hit his first homer of the season later in the inning. That gave the Braves a 7-0 lead and finished off Washington starter Zach Day.

Furcal, Jones and Adam LaRoche all finished with three RBI. The Braves had 15 hits.

"The guys came out swinging the bats," Hampton said. "They needed a game like that."

Day (0-1) should have known he would be in for a long night when LaRoche, mired at .176, hit a two-run double off the center-field wall in the first to get Atlanta rolling.

Raul Mondesi, the Braves' new right fielder, was just 2-for-20 when he lined an RBI double down the third-base line in the fourth for a 3-0 lead.

The Braves scored only 16 runs in their first six games, hitting .216 as a team. But manager Bobby Cox was never concerned.

"We've only played a couple games," he said. "I don't consider this to be a team in a slump."

With the offense finally showing signs of life, Hampton probably could have pitched his first complete game since last May 18, when he was the hard-luck loser in Randy Johnson's perfect game.

But when the Braves piled on four more runs in the eighth, Hampton's night was done. It was a good one on the mound (only seven hits allowed) and at the plate (2-for-4 with two runs scored).

"I felt fine," Hampton said. "Then we had that long inning, and Bobby said he was going to get someone else in. I was fine with that. We're here to win games."

Jose Guillen ended Hampton's shutout bid with one out in the seventh, hitting his third homer of the season.

If the Braves thought they were having trouble offensively, check out the Nationals. They have scored only five runs in their last four games, getting shut out twice.

Day lasted only 4 1/3 innings, giving up nine hits and bumping his ERA to 9.00 in two starts.

Manager Frank Robinson summed it up bluntly: "Out of the strike zone, out of the strike zone, out of the strike zone. His location was terrible."

The Nationals dropped to 3-4 as they closed in on their first regular-season game in Washington. They'll play two more in Atlanta, wrapping up a nine-game road trip that precedes the home opener at RFK Stadium on Thursday.

"This was not a pretty sight," Robinson said.

Close but no Cigar

2005-04-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

The Washington Nationals could really use the full potential of shortstop Cristian Guzman. Guzman has a career .303 on-base percentages, and the Nationals wanted to improve that so he could be there lead off batter going into the 2005 season.

But now it is looking like he will be the number 2 batter. Guzman showed he had very little patience in spring games, swing at 2-0 pitches. In the number 2 spot the team is hoping that they can utilize his speed by steeling bases.

Up and coming...

2005-03-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

In 2004 season for the Expos now turned Washington National, out fielder Brad Wilkerson had 152 K’s. No, he didn’t throw them he took them. The interesting thought behind that is; if Wilkerson did not whiff at those he would have had a .348 batting average.

Manager Frank Robinson has said the outfielder’s problem is that he takes too many pitches. In what seems to be potential for a good ball player, Robinson is trying to groom Wilkerson to lead the top of the line up.

Spring Emphasis

2005-02-28T16:13:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

On paper, the Nationals appear to have their starting rotation set, but Robinson hasn't ruled out Michael Hinckley, John Patterson or John Rauch making the rotation. Of the three, Rauch seems to have the best chance because of his impressive showing after being acquired from the White Sox last July. Although Brad Wilkerson and Jose Guillen are locks to be starting outfielders, eight other players are seeking that third outfield spot. The Nationals would like Endy Chavez to be the starting center fielder, but he has to prove he is capable of drawing walks and stealing bases. If Chavez doesn't do the job, look for Terrmel Sledge to be the starting left fielder and Wilkerson to switch from left to center field.

Leading the Way

2005-02-20T12:03:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

Third baseman Vinny Castilla and reliever Luis Ayala already have started 2005 with a bang by helping to lead their native Mexico to its first Caribbean Series title. Both were named to the Caribbean Series All-Star team, and the Nationals are hoping the duo's exciting offseason will parlay into major league success. The club is counting on Castilla to drive in runs from the middle of the lineup, something last year's squad had trouble with. Ayala, a closer in the Caribbean Series, is expected to get some opportunities to close games this season for Washington. Castilla and Ayala, along with Tijuana native Esteban Loaiza, helped the Nationals land fellow Mexican Antonio Osuna this offseason. The veteran righthander should add depth to the back end of the team's bullpen.

Getting Postioned

2005-02-06T11:41:00.000-08:00

In the month of November in 2004, the Expos added on Jim Bowden as the new general manager. One of his goals before the 2005 season for the Nationals was to acquire a quality short-stop.

Bowden did that when he signed Cristian Guzman to a four-year contract worth $16.8 million dollars.

For those of you out there who don’t know, Guzman was the short-stop for the Twins. Even though he only hit 8 home runes with 48 RBIs, he still maintained a decent .274 batting average.

The most impressive attribute for the 26-year-old, is that he holds a .983 fielding percentage which was second in the AL.

Sosa in D.C. ?

2005-01-27T11:21:00.000-08:00

They has been a lot of speculation that slamming Sammy could be a National in the 2005 season, but that is all it is, speculation. It is really hard to give a definite answer, simply because of two reasons.

Sammy contract with the Cubs calls for a total of $35 million dollars over the next to years, and to be perfectly honest, the Nationals don't have the luxury to pay Sammy.

The other problem would be, trading the younger player(s) for Sosa. The Nationals want to go young and Sammy is a 36-year-old right fielder. So even if the Cubs paid for Sammy, this if the trade happens, the Nationals are still very reluctant to give up their younger players.

The only player on the team over 30 is third baseman Vinny Castilla.

Schneider, club avoid arbitration

2004-12-23T14:40:00.000-08:00

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

Nationals catcher Brian Schneider avoided abitration by agreeing to a one-year, $2 million contract on Tuesday. Schneider, 28, is one of the best defensive catchers in baseball and he feels that his skills behind the plate helped him earn a big raise.

"I've been waiting for this day," Schneider said. "I'm real happy for myself and that I'm able to share this with my family and my wife (Jordan). It gives me some security and it makes you look forward to the season. It's makes you want to work harder."

Last season, Schneider threw out a Major League-leading 47.8 percent of would-be basestealers. Nationals pitchers also had a 3.86 ERA when he was behind the plate. With the bat, Schneider hit .257 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs.

Schneider feels that there is still room for improvement. He wants to become team a leader and have better control of the pitching staff.

"I still think I have a lot to prove. I'll never be satisfied with where I'm at," Schneider said. "Hopefully, I'll continue to get better as I get older. (As a hitter) I have to learn more about pitchers. Last year, it helped being in the lineup on an everyday basis and get into a rhythm or out of a funk."

With Schneider signed, the Nationals have four players -- Tony Armas Jr., Nick Johnson, Tomo Ohka and Brad Wilkerson -- who are eligible for arbitration.

Nationals excited to have a home

2004-12-23T14:37:00.000-08:00

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

After a week of uncertainty, the District of Columbia Council approved ballpark financing legislation on Tuesday, thus assuring the Washington Nationals of playing baseball in the nation's capital.

The news pleased several members of the Nationals, including manager Frank Robinson, who was happy that the team could finally play all its home games in one city again. The past two years, the then-Montreal Expos split their home schedule between Montreal and Puerto Rico.

"I think it's outstanding that the team has a home. They will finally go and play in the same ballpark," Robinson said.

Brian Schneider, the team's union representative, said the Nationals could now concentrate on improving the team. He was pleased to learn that the team signed relievers Joey Eischen and T.J Tucker to one-year deals and tendered contracts to five players, including Schneider, in recent days.

"It looks like (interim general manager) Mr. (Jim) Bowden is committed to winning. Keeping Eischen and Tucker proves the commitment Mr. Bowden has," Schneider said.

Outfielder Ryan Church is going to familiarize himself with the D.C. area by going to a rookie orientation program in January.

"I never played baseball in the D.C. area," Church said. "The closest I've played was in Bowie, Maryland."

Right-hander Zach Day was supposed to model the team's home and road uniforms last Wednesday, but that appearance was cancelled after the Council amended legislation to require private financing for at least half of the costs of building a new stadium. That provision was not contained in an agreement with Major League Baseball in September.

Day said he was happy that the stadium issue was resolved.

"I'm excited about the new franchise," Day said. "It will be an eye-opening experience, especially for the players who played in Montreal. We finally have a home."

Maybe Jamey Carroll said it best when he said, "I was just sitting here and I said, 'We can get excited again. We can exhale.'"

Expos Coach Meets With D-Backs

2004-10-19T16:59:00.000-07:00

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

Expos third-base coach Manny Acta met with the Diamondbacks' front office on Tuesday to interview for their managerial post.

Acta had a meeting with general manager Joe Garagiola Jr., team president Rich Dozer, senior assistant general manager Sandy Johnson and assistant general manager Bob Miller. He said the interview went very well.

"Richard Dozer, Joe Garagiola Jr., Sandy Johnson and Bob Miller made me feel very comfortable and I was able to be myself," Acta said in an e-mail to MLB.com. "I feel honored just to interview with such a franchise -- three division titles and one World Series [championship] in such of short period of time. I had a blast, it was a great experience and my first step toward my next goal in life."

Garagiola came away impressed with Acta.

"He's obviously not a well-known name, but he's had a lot of experience and he's a very impressive person," Garagiola said. "He's very assertive and comes across as pretty sure of who he is and what it takes to be successful. He was very, very impressive."

Acta has spent the last three years as the Expos' third-base and baserunning coach.
He also was an interpreter for such players as Vladimir Guerrero and Orlando Hernandez.

Acta started as coach for Class A Asheville in 1992. He made his managerial debut for Class A Auburn the following season, and led it to the New York-Penn League championship series in 1994. After moving on to Class A Kissimmee, he guided the team to its first Florida State League championship in 1999. Two years later, he moved up the ladder to serve as a coach with Triple-A New Orleans.

Last offseason, Acta managed the Licey Tigers to the regular season championship in the Dominican Winter League. He is planning to skipper the Tigers again this offseason

Effort Never an Issue for Expos

2004-10-09T18:46:00.000-07:00

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

MONTREAL -- While it's true the Expos didn't always play good baseball in 2004, there's one thing an observer can say about this Frank Robinson-led team: Montreal played hard even though it was out of the playoff picture long before the All-Star break.

Take the second half of the season, for example: The Expos produced a respectable 24-31 record against teams that finished over .500 after the break. In fact, Robinson went so far as to say that despite having a disappointing record, this is the first time that every Expos player was on the same page.

"They have made my job easier. This is probably the easiest of the three seasons that I've had managing this ballclub," Robinson said.

What made it easier for Robinson is that players such as Brad Wilkerson and Jose Vidro have held themselves accountable for the disappointing first half, in which the team went 31-56. In Robinson's first two years with the club, that wasn't always the case. When Robinson first came onto the scene, the players weren't used to being questioned on why they made a mistake, or they didn't like the way they were being used in a game.

Expos second baseman Jose Vidro collected his 1,000th career hit against Twins reliever Terry Mulholland in a loss at Olympic Stadium. The magic number came in the fifth inning, when Vidro, 29, was able get an infield hit off the glove of Mulholland.

Revisit the highlights of the 2004 season: Watch full-game archives with MLB.TV and more plays of the game from throughout the year. Video Central >

"[The first two years], the personnel weren't always in agreement with what was being done. It made it tough," Robinson said. "There were some difficult situations in the first two seasons that had to be taken care of. This year, there are none. There was a great atmosphere around this team this year. Even when we were losing, it was a good attitude, upbeat. They went out and gave the effort."

The Expos also found out this season that they have some good players to help the team move forward when they go to Washington, D.C., in 2005.

Wilkerson came into his own, and he became the first member of the Expos to hit 30 home runs, score 100 runs and walk 100 times in the same season. All he needs is a position to call his own. During his three full seasons in the big leagues, he has played all three outfield positions and first base. There's also the question of where to put him in the lineup. He's spent most of this season in the leadoff spot, but Robinson feels Wilkerson is capable of driving in 100 runs.

The Expos also discovered some special players in outfielders Juan Rivera and Terrmel Sledge. Both players didn't see much action during the first half, but after Wilkerson was shifted from the outfield to first base to replace the injured Nick Johnson, and Carl Everett was traded to White Sox before trade deadline, Rivera and Sledge became regulars. The duo showed they were solid run producers. Look for them to be regulars at the start of next season.

The Expos may have a legitimate closer for the first time since the Ugueth Urbina years (1995-2001). Chad Cordero saved 14 games, while posting a 2.94 ERA. The 22-year-old right-hander also struck out 81 batters in 81 innings. Robinson said Cordero will be even better when he develops two more pitches to complement his fastball.

The Expos have a legitimate ace in Livan Hernandez, and Johnson, who was lost for the season when he suffered a fractured cheek bone on Aug. 20, and Vidro, who underwent knee surgery in August, are both expected to recover from their injuries.

But the Expos still need help if they want to be legitimate playoff contenders in their first year in the nation's capital.

The Expos need at least two run producers for next season. Tony Batista was the only Expo to drive in more than 70 runs in 2004. There are no significant run producers ready in the minor league system, so the players will have to come from the current roster or via the free-agent market or trades.

As far as the pitching staff goes, the Expos need starters to complement Hernandez. In fact, Robinson said after Hernandez, the rest of the rotation is up for grabs. For most of the season, all the starters, except for Hernandez, had problems pitching past the fifth inning.

It will be interesting to see if Tony Armas Jr., Zach Day, Scott Downs, Sun-Woo Kim, John Patterson, Tomo Ohka, Jon Rauch and Claudio Vargas can emerge in '05. None of them was in the rotation for a full season in '04 because of injuries or inconsistency.

"I don't think anyone after Livan has proven themselves to the point they have a job, except maybe Ohka," Robinson said. "Then again, with some of these arms, it makes you look forward to next year -- but we still need help."

Not Robinson's Future Unknown

2004-09-27T07:43:00.000-07:00

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

MONTREAL -- Expos manager Frank Robinson said he would talk to general manager Omar Minaya and his staff soon about how the team should be shaped for next season. Robinson, who does not have a contract beyond this season, also said he would have discussions with Commissioner Bud Selig about his future with the club.

"My future will have to be basically talked to with the commissioner of baseball. That's the way I've done it each year that I've been here," Robinson said. "I'm sure he will ask Omar, [team president] Tony Tavares and the people upstairs what their thinking is about me managing the Expos the following year."

However, if an ownership group buys the Expos in the near future, Robinson doesn't know if he will be asked back to manage the club.

"Whenever new ownership comes in, they will have decisions to make, and they will ask people in baseball some questions about the personnel here," Robinson said. "If they feel I'm the right guy to manage the club for them, I would be appreciative of that.

"I don't know if they have kept track of what has been going on here. But this has certainly been a positive run for me. I thought it was going to last for one year when I took the job and it has been three years. It has been enjoyable, and there has been some rough spots."

Entering Sunday's action, Robinson has a 231-248 record with the Expos. He guided them to 83-79 marks in 2002 and '03.

Those Expos!

What The...

2004-09-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

From ESPN.com, The Associated Press

Lawyers for the former limited partners of the Montreal Expos plan to ask a federal judge to block major league baseball from moving the team.

The commissioner's office told the U.S. District Court in Miami on Tuesday that it intends to relocate the Expos for 2005 but did not specify where. Washington and Northern Virginia are the leading contenders, and a decision could be announced this month...

Meanwhile, members of baseball's relocation committee met for 11½ hours with District of Columbia government officials Wednesday, discussing specific details of a possible agreement that would move the franchise to the nation's capital...

-Relocation committee's meeting Wednesday in Washington came one day after the group met with officials from Northern Virginia for about 2½ hours.

-Several cities including Las Vegas; Monterey, Mexico; Norfolk, VA.; and Portland, Ore. have been in contention for the Expos, but the relocation committee has focused on the two Washington-area groups in recent weeks.

Shut Out

2004-09-09T14:05:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com

Expos manager Frank Robinson was brutally honest after Scott Downs' complete-game shutout of the Cubs on Wednesday. Did he think Downs could be that good, as he was in the Expos' 6-0 win in the series finale at wind-blown Wrigley Field?

"No, I did not," Robinson said.

Downs (3-5) allowed five hits and one walk in his first career complete game. He struck out four, didn't allow an extra-base hit and got three double plays. He faced the minimum through seven innings, retiring 15 in a row, as the wind was blowing in at 16 mph at the game's start, stifling the Cubs' power hitters.

In short, Downs outpitched his idol, Greg Maddux, and dealt a blow to the team that drafted him, traded him, traded for him and traded him again. The Cubs (74-62) fell to a half-game behind Houston in the Wild Card race.

Armas to make 100th start

2004-09-01T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Expos are 26-20 since the All-Star break, and they're looking to continue their success against the Cubs after last night's 8-0 victory. It will be a battle on the mound, with Tony Armas Jr. (who has recovered from leg muscle spasms that took him out of last Wednesday's game) facing Kerry Wood of the Cubs. Both pitchers are looking good, but neither has had any success against the opposing team.

Last night, Livan Hernandez pitched 8 solid innings in what began as an early headstart and ended up as a shutout. Contributing to the win was Maicer Izturis, who logged his first major league home run after having recently been brought up from AAA Edmonton.

Patterson starts tonight

2004-08-11T14:40:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

The Expos look to win their fourth consecutive game as they take on the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
John Patterson will start for the Expos. He will face the Diamondbacks for the first time since they traded him to the Expos for Randy Choate on March 25.

Patterson won three Major League games during his time with the Diamondbacks.

In his last start, Patterson pitched five-plus innings and gave up one run on four hits against the Cardinals. He struck out three batters and walked five.

On Tuesday, aces Livan Hernandez and Randy Johnson squared off against each other at Olympic Stadium, and it was Hernandez who won the battle as the Expos shut out the Diamondbacks, 4-0, in front of 8,386 fans.

Expos will play in Houston tonight

2004-08-06T12:36:00.000-07:00

THe Expos are heading to Minute Maid Park in Houston tonight to start a 3-game serie against the Astros. Rocky Biddle is going to pitch tonight, and I hope he's not as terrible as he has been lately (affreux affreux affreux). GOOD LUCK IN HOUSTON, EXPOS!!!

Armas to throw vs. Cards

2004-08-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

The Expos hope to continue their winning ways as they go to St. Louis for a three-game series against the Cardinals. The series kicks off on Tuesday night.
Tony Armas / P
Born: 04/29/78
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 225 lbs
Bats: R / Throws: R

More info:
Player page
Stats | Splits
Team Site

The last time the Expos faced the Cardinals was in a three-game series in early May in Montreal. The Expos won two of the games.

Tony Armas will be the Expos' starter in the series opener on Tuesday. Last Wednesday, Armas was staked to a 3-0 lead after four innings against the Mets, but he had a tough time in the fifth inning and was taken out of the game with two outs in that inning. Armas said he started experiencing mechanical problems on the mound in the third inning.

Armas will face the Cardinals for the first time since the 2001 season.

On Sunday, the game between the Expos and Marlins was postponed. A steady downpour started in the top of the fourth inning and didn't relent. The game has been rescheduled as part of a doubleheader on Sept. 14, beginning at 5:05 p.m. ET.

It's the second time this season an Expos game has been called because of rain. On May 23, the game between the Expos and Giants in Puerto Rico was postponed. That game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Aug. 18 in San Francisco.

Mets tonight

2004-07-28T13:00:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

The Expos are hoping to start a new winning streak when they take on the Mets at Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night.
Tony Armas Jr. will be the Expos' starter. Last Friday, Armas won his first game since June 24 by pitching five solid innings. He gave up one run on three hits and struck out five batters and walked three.
Even more remarkable, Armas managed to throw 82 pitches even though he experienced shoulder tightness throughout the game. He went so far as to say that he could have a deltoid problem, but the shoulder turned out to be fine during a bullpen session on Monday.
On Tuesday, the Mets defeated the Expos, 4-2, in front of 7,147 fans at Olympic Stadium.
The loss snapped the Expos' five-game winning streak.

I hope that the Expos will win tonight! We are winning more games now, so I think we can do it.

GO EXPOS!!!!

Expos beat Pirates

2004-07-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Well so the Expos made good usage of their 7th inning to score 4 runs and keep their lead last night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. We beat them 6-2 with 5 scoreless innings.

Tonight we are going to try to win again to win the serie in Pittsburgh. All-Star Livan Hernandez is going to pitch against Sean Burnett, who is the only Pirate pticher to beat us this season. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!!!

ALLEZ LES EXPOS!!!

NL Loses in the All-Star game

2004-07-15T10:37:00.000-07:00

From MLB.com:

The crowd had barely calmed itself from the buzz created by the appearance of ceremonial first-pitch honoree Muhammad Ali when Clemens put the National League in a quick six-run hole, which led to a 9-4 American League win.

An Ivan Rodriguez RBI triple and two-run homer by Manny Ramirez gave the AL an immediate 3-0 lead. With two outs, Jason Giambi reached on a Jeff Kent error, and after Derek Jeter singled to left, game MVP Alfonso Soriano cleared the bases with a first-pitch homer to left field that gave the AL a six-run advantage.

Livan Hernandez was not even let to play at all :-(. At least our guy didn't screw it up :-P

If you're smart you'll watch the game tonight against Atlanta. It will be so nice to see the Expos begin to win again in the second half!

GO EXPOS!!!

Expos take home series from Puerto Rico

2004-07-13T14:40:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the Expos for their 3-1 series win over the Pirates in Puerto Rico!! I sense a turn for the better. We rest this week until we will travel to Florida on Thursday. There we will have a 4-game serie with the Marlins. I wish you all the luck that you need to win!!!

We have also tonight the All-Star game at Houston, where Livan Hernandez will represent proudly our team! Good luck Livan!!

Ciao for now ;-)

Congratulations for beating Pittsburgh!

2004-07-09T12:27:00.000-07:00

Let's see if the Expos can win two in a row! Now that would be a nice thing. Tonight we play them again for the second game in this serie. Let's do it again, guys!

I am very excited since my boyfriend (salut chou-chou! :-D ) has found for us some tickets for the game aginst the Marlins on Sunday 25 July!!! I hope we will not sit by some drunk fat obnoxious man with breath that stinks of chili dogs. I hate when that occurs. It will be a lot of fun I hope.

Until next time,

JULIA

P.S. ALLEZ MONTREAL!!!

Expos Lover through thick and thin

2004-07-09T12:21:00.000-07:00

hello everyone,

I'm a HUGE Expos fan (actually I'm quite thin, I just like them a lot ;) and I am making this page to honor the efforts of my fav team. I know we aren't doing well right now, but I don't believe in being a fair-weather fan. I am writing in English so more people will be able to read this, but if you like you can comment in French, too :-). That's all for now.

Ciao!

Allez les Expos!!!