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December 19 Merry Christmas Fellow Nats FansHere's wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my readers and fellow Nationals fans! Contrary to the looks of things, and the occassional tumbleweed you might have seen blowing through, I am still here keeping the torch burning during the off season. Even though the care of my son had indeed monopolized all of my time starting at the mid-season of last year, I never for a minute stopped following my beloved teams in Washington and Woodbridge. I even managed to get myself out to Pfitzner Stadium the night the P-Nats won the Carolina League Championship and hoisted the coveted Mills Cup on September 13th. I can't wait to enjoy another season at the Pfitz.
 On the other hand, The Washington Nationals really broke my heart. Through and through, I found myself both depressed and angry at Nationals Park last year. Depressed because of so much disappointment from a club that was supposed to highlight a team's coming of age at the league's newest venue. Angry because I felt that the owners showed no passion for wanting to improve things once they went south.
To add insult to injury, I started reading the stories about how the ownership was apparently ruling with an iron fist to keep things inexpensive. I read the disgust of many employees about how things were apparently going throughout the organization from top to bottom. How everyone "wanted out" because they felt they were being subjected to "a hostile work environment". Heck, there was even stories that team president Stan Kasten wanted to leave because he was being prevented by the money hoarders from doing what he wanted.
I suppose these kind of stories are typical when a team implodes like the Nats did in 08, and I really try to take it with a grain of salt...but I must say the rumors at the end of a dismal season demoralized me as a Washington baseball fan. A fan that spent all his life hoping to have a major league club here only to find us in a state of misery. I tried to take solace in the fact that the Potomac Nationals won the Carolina League Championship, which showed me that there may still yet be a bright future ahead if the players there stay within the Nationals system.
 But then a couple of weeks ago I read about how the Nationals put in a serious bid for free agent Mark Teixeira. And not just a token bid, but a real $160 million deal over eight years. Now look, I'm of no delusion that he will probably sign with a more competitive team, or he might sign with Baltimore because of his Annapolis roots...but this has done wonders to my morale as a fan. It shows a before unseen willingness by ownership to try and improve the team with the checkbook if opportunities present themselves.
Before this, I like many of my friends thought we might have a cheapskate owner on our hands...and nothing would spell disaster for a baseball team in Washington more than that (read my historical blog for examples). But the Teixeira offer dispels that idea and brings respect from the entire league that the Nationals are not content with the current state of affairs and are indeed serious about improving things. A light flickers at the end of the tunnel.
The Washington Nationals have announced that they will resume holding their annual winter caravan this year starting January 22nd through the 24th...with stops in Annapolis, MD, Martinsburg, WV and Richmond, VA. A first ever "NatsFest" will be held at Nationals Park on the 25th with a $10 admission for adults and $5 for children under the age of 12. The Potomac Nationals will hold their annual banquet and silent auction on Sunday, January 18th at 5:30pm. Admission is $35 for adults and $18 per child and must be reserved in advance by contacting Doug McConnell at (703) 590-2311 X215. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend any of the winter events because I will be out of the country between Jan 15 through the first week of March. Look for my next entry around Spring Training. In the meantime, happy holidays everyone!
June 12 NatsNation on a Leave of AbsenceI honestly thought I would be able to do this - it's why I decided to gear my blog on the P-Nats instead of the big club in Washington, but it looks like I'm going to have to hang-up the keyboard for at least the near future.
Baseball is my passion - it's the incurable virus in my bloodstream that excites me and brings back memories of my childhood. It reminds me of the summer days I spent sitting in the stands with my Pop. It also brings me back to the mid 1980s when I played the game myself in little league on a public school diamond with the red letters, "Virginia Concrete" printed along the front of my chest.
But I can't be a kid right now. Once again it's time for me to step up to the plate but this time in a different sense: as a responsible father and husband. Anyone will tell you that parenting is a full time job all in itself...and I can whole-heartedly agree with that sentiment. This is my second child and there is a rather large difference in this one contrary to my first.
In this second marriage of mine, my wife is a hard-working career woman who (bless her heart) often goes overboard in worrying too much about the routine stresses in life. With the arrival of our son three weeks ago, her anxiety level has taken on a whole new magnitude that even I couldn't have anticipated.
 Through these past couple of weeks, I've made the observation that she will require both my undivided attention and dedicated full-time support. With that in mind, I intend to do my best to help her in any way that I can both physically and emotionally. It would be selfish and irresponsible of me to continue going to ballgames and spending hours of my free time processing photos and writing entries for "fun stuff" while my wife is left to take care of the dirty diapers, baby crying and countless feedings. As a result of these conclusions, I've come to the decision on what the priorities should be in my life and hereby announce that Nationals Nation will be downgraded to include only occasional editorial content and announcements. Most of the posts will now be photographic in nature and reduced to a handful of contributions per month.
I will still be here - just not in the sense of a true Nats blogger. As things at home slow down and the little guy needs less attention, I hope to one day return to form and reopen the turnstiles at my own little ballpark in the Natosphere. Thanks to all my loyal readers and I will see all of you at Nationals Park and The Pfitz throughout the season.
May 22 Washington Fires Nats: Gives Uniforms To HomelessLet me tell you something, I'm one happy camper that I chose Tuesday to go to Nationals Park and not last night (photos from the game are in the blog album in the upper right corner). What a catastrophe this team looks like right now. When is it all going to end? Where I wonder is the light at the end of the tunnel? Is someone in the front office going to grow a pair and make some hard decisions or not?! They didn't seem to have any problem dropping the axe on John Patterson before the season started, what's the deal now?
An obvious move has already been discussed and is a very hot topic in the media and especially on the internet: should hitting coach Lenny Harris stay or go? Harris joined the Nationals mid-season 2007 after taking over for Mitchell Page and remained in the position for the 2008 season. Jim Bowden in an open press interview with the media yesterday immediately voiced his confidence in Mr. Harris regardless of the current team hitting situation.
 Lenny Harris in 2004 with a very young Juan Pierre
Of course, when players struggle offensively, we shouldn't place the blame strictly on the hitting instructor. There can be many factors that can cause players to go into a funk. Sometimes these slumps can seem to go on too long and when fans demand results the media starts looking for a skapegoat - sometimes unfairly.
Case in point: when Cristian Guzman first started with the Nationals, he couldn't hit a ball to save his life. Nobody could figure out how a man that went from being an all-star slugger in Minnesota batting .302 with 10 home runs to redefining the Mendoza line and hitting .192 at the end of August 2005 with Washington. All that changed when it was discovered that Guzman's vision was impaired and he opted for corrective surgery during the off season. This year he has been the most productive hitter on the roster.
 Cristian Guzman Has Improved Immensely Since Having Lasik Surgery
Guzman's story however was an example of an individual player having a specific problem, and not the entire team as a whole. By contrast, when evaluating a coach's performance the employer evaluates all the players under his care as a unit.
The GM in charge needs to first establish a goal for his hitting coach based on offensive expectations. He then determines which players are having problems and require help to get to or remain at a productive level. Afterwards he evaluates whether the players that are having issues are improving under the instructor's tutiledge and whether the lineup as a whole is reaching the minimum goals set forth by the club.
Now let's look at the most basic of numbers currently facing Jimbo and the Lerners - batting average:
Well at least we've won something. These pathetic digits give us the coveted honor of being last in the major leagues in team batting averages with a whopping .234. Sigh.
Man, this is just not acceptable at the major league level no matter what stage you claim to be in "the rebuilding process". And the offensive woes are not just specific to a few players having problems here and there, but a conglomeration of the entire Nationals lineup. If there's anything consistant about this team, it would be that they are consistantly failing to be productive.
In addition to the anemic averages is the frustration of not being able to do anything once you get guys on base. Washington has only a 20% success rate on bringing in runners from third base...not scoring position - but third base!
 Owner Mark Lerner and GM Jim Bowden
So what's the solution? GM Jim Bowden chimed in yesterday with these pearls of wisdom from a press meeting at Nationals Park:
"I've been surprised, but we're 15-12 in our last 27 games. We are playing good baseball. We are catching the ball. Our starting pitching has been really good, so that's encouraging. We have to get the bats going. We have a lot of young hitters in the outfield that are learning and developing in the Major League level. It's going to take patience."
"Lenny is a part of the solution. We may not have the results, but we are making progress. They look better. You haven't seen it in the game yet, but we are seeing it outside of the game. It's coming. You may see it by the end of this weekend."
Great. So now it looks like Jimbo's reverted to sounding like Baghdad Bob right before the tanks rolled across the Tigris. We are making progress? Progress from where, opening day when all the stats were zero?! Playing good baseball?! What team are you watching?!
It's now time for reality to set in. Real ownership on real teams make changes when the team is a walking disaster. If Manny Acta was managing his old team in New York I'm sure he would be feeling the hairs on the back of his neck these days - which coincidentally is exactly what's been happening to Willie Randolph by the way.
 Team President Stan Kasten At Nationals Park May 20th
As a manager, sometimes it's your fault and sometimes it's not - but when your team sucks and you're the skipper, it's your head on the block. Usually an assistant coach, (i.e. Lenny Harris) is the first to get their walking papers to serve notice from ownership that things are not hunky dorey. Then if things still don't improve it's usually time to clean house with a new manager. GASP! Did I say that?!
This is just the way things are done at the top level of professional baseball and every major league manager knows it - unless you work for the Washington Nationals apparently. Nope, sorry Stan... No regurgitated Nationals kool-aid on this blog. May 18 Potomac Nationals: Showing How It's DoneWhile the well paid, big bats in Washington remain all but silent these days, the P-Nat offense appears to be firing on all cylinders. This weekend the Potomac Nationals took on the Houston Astros affiliate Salem Avalanche and continued their relentless assault that started midweek against the Pelicans.
Witnessed by a combined attendance of 9,021 fans through two games at Lewis Gale Medical Center Field in Salem, the P-Nats put on quite the display as they netted 21 runs on 29 hits (only one of which was a home run).
The Junior Nats set the bases ablaze with 13 doubles and 20 RBIs beating the Avalanche 11-5 and 10-1 on two nights that must have been pretty miserable for the home crowd. Amazing as those numbers stand by themselves, it's almost frightening when you realize that Potomac still left 19 men on base when the smoke finally cleared Saturday night. Game three scheduled for Sunday was postponed due to rain.
 Potomac Starter Adrian Alaniz Has A Perfect 5-0 Record
Featured in game one was the 6'2" right-hander Adrian Alaniz who is now tied for the Carolina League lead in wins with an unblemished 5-0 record. Alaniz struggled a bit in the first inning giving up 3 walks and 3 earned runs, but the P-Nats had already put six runs on the board before he had even set foot on the mound. Alaniz now has a 2.57 ERA and the team's most strikeouts at 42.
Carlos Martinez was called in the sixth with an 8-3 cushion and allowed a couple of runs to score, but the Avalanche never really threatened. Josh Wilkie finished the game by pitching the last inning with a walk, a hit and no runs. He lowered his already low ERA to an even lower 1.50.
 Edgardo Baez Went 3-5 with 3 Doubles and 6 RBIs Saturday
Saturday night had California native Joey Norrito complete his first start for Potomac since arriving from triple-A Columbus. Norrito had an almost perfect night with only two hits through 5 scoreless innings and struck out three. The player of the game though had to be Edgardo Baez who whacked three doubles and collected 6 RBIs in 5 plate appearances. Baez is now tied with shortstop Seth Bynum in team RBIs with 25.
The P-Nats continue on the road this week for three games in Wilmington before returning to Woodbridge for a non-stop 10 game homestand against Salem, Lynchburg and Kinston. Current standings: Potomac remains first in the CL North with 2 games over Frederick. The Meek Shall Not Inherit The Post SeasonHere's a shout-out to Mr. Lerner, Ted or Mark (I don't care which) just please, somebody do something! A brand new state-of-the-art stadium doesn't mean jack if watching the team is as painful as staring straight into the face of the sun.
Somebody needs to open up the checkbook, trade, negotiate, blackmail... assasinate somebody... something ...ANYTHING! Just please get us at least one dependable pitching ace and some real offensive power on this team, I beg of you!
The Washington Nationals have the weakest, non-clutch hitting, peter-out, spit and sputtering offense I have ever witnessed in my life. On top of this, they continually make goofy defensive mistakes and hit weak rally-killing grounders at the worst of times.
As I mentioned in an earlier post, all of this misery shatters team confidence and frustrates the already in-over-their-heads pitching staff. These unfortunate souls are not only trying to pull rabbits out of their <cough> hats, but most of them are overworked and the rest are just plain unhealthy.
   Hmmm, Seems Like There Might Be A Pattern Emerging Here...
Mr. Lerner, it's time to stop keeping the new car in the garage under canvas. It's time to actually drop some cash for some gasoline and drive it around town. Washington is a major metropolitan area with an avid and loyal fanbase that until 2005 had to wait 34 years to finally reclaim a team of it's own. So you must excuse us for being a little frustrated for having our collective rears handed to us this weekend by the Asbestos King, the very same schmuck that kept us from having a team for so many years.
Hey, I've heard the mantra. I know that owning a major league baseball team is no easy task and that it is indeed ultimately a business. I also acknowledge that in their final years, the Montreal Expos under the care of MLB owners became a sort of halfway house for homeless athletes - the farm system depleted and the infrastructure delapidated. But all the same 'ol stories and lamentations begin to fall on deaf ears when progress appears to be going in the wrong direction. It's now time to stop making excuses and start getting serious.
I don't know about you, but it's frustrating for us fans when nobody seems to gives a rat's derrier. Manny Acta has his same monotone and meaningless press conferences loss after loss. MASN relentlessly continues vomiting the same propagandic kool-aid that makes even the most avid National fan nauseous and Kasten and Bowden keep talking about "being patient". All the while ownership says nothing at all.
We are not a no-name town in North Dakota, we are the nation's capital. As a population hub and economic engine, Washington deserves a team to be proud of -
a serious contender, with star players who won't dread being assigned here, but instead will hunger to play for DC and would wear the curly-W with pride.
Nationals fans don't want Nationals Park to be a place where people go to catch the Mets, Phillies, Braves and Cubs while they are in town. On the contrary, we want fans from other teams to feel intimidated enough to keep their pieholes shut at our house.
I'm sure there are many who want to pat me on the head and tell me that I'm too naive and just don't understand the inner workings of today's free agency, the economics of modern baseball and complications of legal contracts between ownership and players. This may indeed be true, but be that as it may I think I certainly understand the inner workings of my own wallet...
And in that vein, I find myself having a problem with spending $80 for a tank of gasoline, wading through the country's second worst traffic to a stadium with no decent parking, eating outrageously overpriced food and watching a team stocked with walking wounded and mostly second to third tier major leaguers.
End Rant. I don't feel any better. Still depressed. May 16 P-Nats Split Series, Offense Running Hot and ColdGame one of the Myrtle Beach series started Monday with a rain-out that was postponed until the next evening. The two-game double header on Tuesday night ended up as a couple of heartbreakers for P-Nat starters Jhonny Nuñez and Terrence Engles.
Despite another well fought appearance pitching four innings with four strikeouts and no runs, Nuñez still awaits his first victory. Carlos Martinez came to the mound in the sixth inning of that game and gave up three runs followed by Adam Carr with another three. Potomac was soundly defeated 6-1.
 The second game was almost a repeat of the first but this time it was Terrence Engles left out to dry on a day in which the Potomac bats were just unable get any runners home once they were in scoring position. Engles pitched 6 innings with 2 walks, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts and one earned run. The P-Nats left 10 men on base with 7 hits but were unable to score a single run. Game two final: 0-1 Pelicans.
I was able to get to game three myself and it seemed like a totally different team. Potomac lit up the night sky with three solo homers by Michael Martinez, Seth Bynum and Matt Rogelstad. Starter Ross Detwiler remains a little shaky (3 walks, 5 hits, 3 runs) but appears to be steadily improving as he pitched 5 innings with 6 strikeouts and was able to secure his third win of the season. He is now 3-2, with a 4.58 ERA.
 Matt Rogelstad Has Connected Twice With the Long Ball In The Last Two Evenings
Last night's series ender closed as the series opened - with another system of heavy rain blanketing the area. Fortunately, the weather did not cool-off Potomac's bats as the rain of home run balls continued over Pfitzner stadium. Edgardo Baez and Brian Peacock laced a couple in the 5th and 7th innings respectively. Matt Rogelstad sent his second dinger over the wall in two nights which proved to be the game winner in their 4-3 victory. Thursday's victory keeps the Potomac Nationals in first place in the CL North with a two game lead over Frederick. May 11 Potomac To Take On Red Hot PelicansThe Potomac Nationals arrive home in Woodbridge tomorrow after a seven game road trip to the Carolinas against Myrtle Beach and Kinston. Potomac tallied three victories and four losses when they fell to the Pelicans two games to one and split with the K-Tribe two and two. The Nationals remain 2 games in front of Frederick with a record of 22-13.
Potomac righty Craig Stammen opened the series with Myrtle Beach in his first game as a starter with the P-Nats on May 5th and pitched a brilliant game going 5 innings with only 3 hits, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. Potomac was unable to hold on though as the Pelicans overcame the 2 run Nationals lead when the P-Nat relievers allowed three runs to score during the remaining three frames.
 Craig Stammen Has Been Excellant In His First Two Starts With Potomac in '08
Game two placed Nationals Adrian Alaniz against Myrtle Beach right-hander Deunte Heath. Despite seven strikeouts, Alaniz struggled in five innings allowing 5 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, and a homer. He outlasted Heath however who was immediately in trouble from the start when leadoff batter Jemel Spearman hit an infield single and third baseman Leonard Davis reached on an error in the first. After Spearman stole a base and with two men on, Marvin Lowrance smacked a two run dinger over the center field wall and gave the P-Nats an early lead of 3-0.
Regardless of the three runs off of Alaniz, the Pelicans were never able to gain the lead as Davis drove in Spearman in the third inning which scored the fourth run for Potomac. It was all they would need because relievers Yunior Novoa and Carlos Martinez effectively shut the door with seven strikeouts out of 12 hitters - allowing only one to reach base: a fruitless walk in the 8th. P-Nats win 4-3.
 The rubber match saw team strikeout master but winless starter Jhonny Nuñez have yet another rough night. The Myrtle Beach bats exploded and scored a season high eight runs in one inning. It all unraveled for Nuñez in the fifth when he allowed a walk to the leadoff batter, immediately followed by a single and then a base-clearing double.
Randy Knorr brought in Clint Everts to try and stop the bleeding, but the misery continued for Potomac as the Pelicans continued pouring it on with a single, double, a hit batsmen, a sacrifice fly and then another double - putting Myrtle firmly in the win column with an 11-5 victory. One of the only bright spots of the evening for Potomac was a two run homer by first baseman Chris Marrero in the eighth off of Pelicans reliever Brett Butts.
The P-Nats started the Kinston series on May 9th with Terrence Engles' second start for Potomac since being promoted from single-A Hagerstown. Terrence continued his struggles Thursday as he allowed 5 hits, 5 walks and 4 earned runs - the last being a free one after giving up a walk with the bases loaded. Potomac lost by a final of 6-4.
On Friday Nationals prospect Ross Detwiler finally had his day with a commanding performance against the Indians defeating them 5-1 at Grainger Stadium. Detwiler allowed only 1 run on two hits in 6 innings of work with 6 Ks.
Seth Bynum also had a great night with both an RBI double and a home run in the game - the latter coming after Bynum was given a spare chance at the plate due to umpire Anthony Johnson calling a balk instead of strike three. Reliever Yunior Novoa got his second save of the season that night when he retired nine out of the 10 batters he faced striking out four and lowering his ERA to 1.29.
 Marvin Lowrance Has Tagged Three Homers In The Last Six Games
Saturday featured Craig Stammen returning to the mound versus newly promoted Kinston right-hander Carlton Smith. Stammen pitched another gem but again suffered minimal run support resulting in another loss as the Nationals fell to the Kinston 3-1. Craig's numbers for the night were 6 innings, 4 hits, 1 run with 3 strikeouts. The only Potomac run was in the last inning when Marvin Lowrance punched an RBI double down the left field line scoring Matt Rogelstad from second base.
The Potomac offense came back with a vengeance in the final game this afternoon scoring 8 runs on 13 hits. The P-Nats were relentless in their assault on Indians pitching scoring in every inning except three. Designated hitter Marvin Lowrance struck yet again today with a 2-run bomb in the third over the right field wall. Edgar Baez also scored a two run homer of his own early in the second.
Nationals starter Adrian Alaniz cruised to his fourth consecutive decision with only 2 hits, 3 walks and 6 strikeouts. Relievers Jack Spradlin and newcomer Chris Lugo pitched the remaining three innings to end the game 8-2 P-Nats.
 Potomac will have their hands full tomorrow as the Myrtle Beach Pelicans come back to Pfitzner after just completing their eighth consecutive series victory, first series sweep of the season and the best record in the Carolina League.P-Nat fans might want to keep an eye on Pelican first baseman Ernesto Mejia as he attempts to extend his current 13 game hitting streak. Meanwhile, shortstop Brandon Hicks continues to be the biggest long ball threat from the club with a team high 5 homers so far this season.
Game 1 is scheduled at 7:05pm tomorrow night and it's a "Washington Post Dollar Night" - meaning all grandstand tickets and hot dogs will cost you only a buck. Pitching probables should be Deunte Heath (4-1 2.14) vs. Jhonny Nuñez (0-4 6.16). May 09 DC Nats Still Have A Long Way To GoSince Potomac is currently on a long road trip against Myrtle Beach and Kinston, I'm going to take this opportunity to express my frustration with the parent club in Washington. This posting is a summary of my thoughts on our major league team a month after the season opener:
Tonight, as I watch the triple-A Marlins circulate the air at Nationals Park with their baserunners trotting over the plate seven times - it reminds me of how far we really have to go as a major league ball club.
I was honestly hoping to watch some really exciting baseball this year - especially in offense, but that offense certainly hasn't materialized with the addition of Willy Mo Peña or Lastings Milledge yet, and only time will tell if Elijah Dukes will produce any fireworks since he has just returned to the active roster. In fact, offensively the Nats haven't changed much: they've scored three runs or less in more than half of their 34 contests.
 Even with his youth and enthusiasm, the guy that took Ryan Church's spot (Milledge) is currently 7 for 38 with a .184 batting average since April 26. Meanwhile Church is 12-39, .328 with 4 home runs in the same time frame (six this season). Has Ryan Church really changed so much in a year? I can picture catcher Brian Schneider and Churchie sharing a beer together in the video room at Shea clinking bottles while watching opponents steal base after base from us. Despite how this might sound, I think the catcher situation will improve now that LoDuca and Estrada are back on the DL...I personally prefer Nieves and Flores rather than Estrada and LoDuca. Nieves is a well-liked, experienced guy who's been around (he used to play for the Yankees) and Jesus Flores is a talented kid who's certainly going to be our backstop of the future.
 Pitching is still a catastrophe regardless of the MASN kool-aid you might be hearing on television. We have an aceless rotation with no dependable starter. The guys you see starting are a hodge-podge of fill-ins and mediocracy. The only decent horse is Shawn Hill - if he's healthy. I only really like Ayala and Rauch in the bullpen and I think Cordero is done.
You know, when I watch the Nationals these days they remind me of the second version of the Washington Senators. The expansion club that was created in 1961 to replace the original Senators and later moved to Dallas (this team became what is known today as the Texas Rangers).
While in Washington the Senators II had a history of having one or two great names on it such as Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams (manager) or 4-time all star slugger Frank Howard. But despite the fanfare and the most modern stadium of the era (which was then District of Columbia Stadium: now RFK), the team never reached a level of competitiveness let alone the post season.
It is my worst nightmare that we might find ourselves repeating that history and end-up becoming the National League version of the Kansas City Royals - a team that constantly finds itself not battling for post season play, but struggling each year just to end the season without being in the cellar.
 Catcher Paul LoDuca Returned to the DL After Suffering a Right Hand Injury May 8
Look, most of our players have talent buried somewhere deep in their DNA that seems to wink into view from time to time. Talent that shows through in brief moments, just long enough to give hope to the faithful. But time and time again, as if by some curse it seems like this team always finds some way to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Baseball seems to me to be a game that relies on three key aspects for success: teamwork, talent and poise. In my opinion, we appear to have a great deal of teamwork, a limited amount of talent and a complete lack of poise.
How much talent you have on a team is dictated by the draft, trade moves, player development and payroll - factors that often times are beyond immediate control. Teamwork is controlled by personalities, relationships between players and shared experiences on the playing field. Poise is the mental aspect of the game (a key part that I think is often overlooked by both players and the fans). Poise is influenced by the advice given by the veterans on the team, practice regimen, work ethic and coaching.
Washington doesn't have many problems in the teamwork category. Manny Acta seems to epitomize the definition of a "players manager" and all of the players appear to respect and admire him as a skipper. You can see the comraderie between the Nats when you watch them in the dugout and hear them horse around, or when they are "miked up" by the various networks on television. You can also see it when the players show joy when one of their team-mates succeeds such as when they huddled Wil Nieves after he belted his first career home run - a walkoff on April 25th against the Chicago Cubs. I have no doubt these players have a true bond and affection for one another.
 Washington Nationals Manager Manny Acta
The talent aspect of the game however is not something that can be acquired, it's something players are born with - they either have it or they don't. The Washington Nationals are not devoid of talent...there are players on this team that have the potential to be all-stars and break it big one day. But unfortunately for us, it's exactly that - only a handful, the rest are just good players. A team full of "just good players" doesn't get you to the post-season...it gives you series wins against bad teams (the Pirates) and one out of three games against good ones (The Astros). We beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3 games to 1 not because we "all the sudden" got our act together...but because we were the better team.
Which brings me to the final aspect of success and the major gripe I have with this team: poise. From what I have witnessed so far this season and especially during the first two games of the Houston series, the Nats have at times shown a lack of professionalism or appear to be giving off an image of being lackadaisical and uncaring.
Fly balls going over the heads of outfielders, pitchers turning to throw to empty bases, pitchers not running to cover first, opponents stealing bases at will, dropped balls, passed balls, players not running hard to first and even fielders giving up on live balls before the game is over! All of these things are just inexcusable for men that claim to be major leaguers. Whether it is his fault or not, repeated errors in fundamentals and lazy play falls on the shoulders of the manager and I think Manny probably sat out Lastings Milledge and Willie Mo Peña on Thursday for that reason.
 Chad Cordero Remains a Large Question Mark and is Expected Out 4-6 Weeks with a Shoulder Tear
It is my opinion that a lot of these mistakes are a result of a lack of confidence. Good teams find a way to win when the chips are down...bad teams always seem to get bad breaks. If you expect to commit and error - you will commit one, if you think you are going to strike out because you are slumping, then you find yourself doing so. During bad streaks frustrated fans can often be heard muttering that "we must be the most cursed team in baseball". But it's usually not bad luck that's the culprit, it's more often because of giving up a walk here or a bad defensive play there - it's the little mistakes like these that create opportunities for your opponents to capitalize on and they always end-up affecting your team mentally on the field.
The Nationals need to start playing with some arrogance and pride. Not to say they should start being jerks, but they need to start acting like professionals - giving off a cockiness that comes with an expectation to win. It seems to me that from top to bottom the Nationals organization is content with just being above Florida in the standings this year. When asked, Kasten & Co. will admit that they are not totally where they need to be yet and that the team is still a work in progress. I agree, indeed it is...unfortunately the players appear to be playing exactly to that standard. May 06 Zimmerman Named Pitcher of the Week & Sent To AA HarrisburgOne of the coolest things about watching minor league ball is that you get to see bright-eyed, talented athletes up close and personal. Often they come from towns most people never even heard of such as Versailles, Ohio. Or they might be trying to make it big after immigrating from another part of the world such as Las Matas de Farfan in the Dominican Republic or Barran Quilla, Colombia. But no matter where they come from, all these young men share the same dream that looms larger than life: to one day be a major league baseball player.
As exciting as it is to watch these guys at the birth of their careers, in order to enjoy the minor leagues you have to adjust to a new way of watching the game. Unlike in the majors, players in the minor leagues hope to do well in order to get OFF the team, not stay on it. That being said, when one of your favorite players advance you are really happy for him and can't wait to see him one day suit-up in a major league uniform. But at the same time you can't help missing the sight of him in your minor league ballpark during a clutch moment on a given night when the chips are down.
 Pitcher of the Week Jordan Zimmerman was promoted to Double-A Harrisburg May 5th
This first month of the 2008 season has seen a great deal of success at Potomac, especially in the pitching department and yet another P-Nat starter was rewarded for that success. Jordan Zimmerman was named Carolina League pitcher of the week for April 28th through May 4th and was promoted yesterday to join his teammates Cory VanAllen and Zech Zinicola in double-A Harrisburg.
I was always excited to see Jordan play at Pfitzner and will hate not being able to watch him pitch on a regular basis, but I certainly wish him a speedy climb to the majors. Joining the P-Nats from triple-A Columbus yesterday was pitcher Giuseppe "Joey" Norrito who was immediately pressed into service and pitched in relief last night against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. In his first appearance for Potomac he unfortunately didn't fare well as he ended up blowing a save, giving up two walks, two doubles and a couple of runs. Norrito played in two games with Columbus this season and his only big mistake of note was giving up a two run homer to Louisville Bats outfielder Jay Bruce on April 27th. He was originally acquired by the Dodger organization as a 48th round pick in the 2004 MLB draft.
Plasencia was scouted and first brought into the minor leagues as an undrafted free agent back in 2000 by the Milwaukee Brewers. He was released by the Brewers in 2003 and then signed by the Montreal Expos on December 14, 2004. He has seen time in Savannah, Vermont, Hagerstown and Potomac. Managers have always been excited about his potential because of his impressive size, speed and power behind the plate. The weekend series with second place Frederick ended with the P-Nats splitting the four game set and with both teams losing their respective games last night, the result was no change in the standings. The Potomac Nationals remain in first place in the Carolina League North by two and a half games. May 03 Pitching Shuffle: VanAllen & Zinicola To Harrisburg Cory VanAllen
The Potomac Nationals FO announced that pitchers Cory VanAllen and Zech Zinicola have been promoted to Double-A Harrisburg. Craig Stammen will return to the P-Nats after appearing in one game with Triple-A Columbus. Indications are Stammen will be rejoining the team in a starting role along with promoted right-hander Terrence Engles from single-A Hagerstown. Congratulations and good luck to Cory and Zech!
Terrence Engles (3-0, 1.89 ERA in Hagerstown) will make his Potomac debut at Pfitzner Stadium tonight against Keys righty Pedro Beato (3-1, 3.38 ERA). Potomac has so far taken both games at home versus Frederick and now has a 4.5 game lead in front of them for first place in the Carolina League North.
  Zech Zinicola Craig Stammen
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Current as of May 7, 2008
40-Man Roster
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Arriving from single-A Hagerstown is Venezuelan 23 year-old outfielder 
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