Greetings, everyone, from Space Coast Stadium in sunny Viera, Fla. Sorry it took so long to post my first spring training update -- I spent most of the morning interviewing and catching up with players and other team folks and lost track of the time. There will be plenty to discuss as we move forward, but here are a couple highlights from reporting day for pitchers and catchers...
-- There should be no doubt Jim Bowden has high expectations for this team. "I think that we're ready to win more games than we lose," the GM told several of us during a long interview session in his office this morning. "Of course, that takes a lot of young players to step up to do, but I think they're capable of doing that." Plenty more from Bowden on the state of this team in tomorrow's paper.
-- Nick Johnson is here and feeling healthy. He's lost about 25 pounds, has been doing just about every baseball activity (other than sliding) and expects to be in the Opening Day lineup. "I should be ready," he said, quickly adding: "I WILL be ready, let's put it that way."
-- John Patterson, likewise, is here and feels strong. Same for Shawn Hill. Both expect to be full-steam ahead with no limitations when official workouts begin Sunday.
-- Paul Lo Duca has checked in (his old Mets catching gear bag is sitting atop his locker) but he was not at the ballpark today. It appears he'll be speaking publicly tomorrow for the first time since the Mitchell Report came out two months ago, though it's not clear yet whether he'll be taking questions or just issuing a statement.
That's all for now. More to come later. And be sure to check out Nats Home Plate for full spring training coverage from yours truly and Thom Loverro. Just as we did last year, we'll have the blog, Q&A's with players and video segments. And to that package, we're also adding some new items, including a regular look at some of the organization's top prospects and audio links to Manny Acta's daily press conferences. Look for those items to begin showing up on the site tomorrow and over the rest of the weekend.
Comments (9)
Nice coverage. Lo Duca had better make it better for himself and everyone around him to just fess up. Tell the world and DC that he made a mistake. Tell us he's sorry. Tell us that he'll put it behind him and he hopes we can forgive him. yakety yakety yak. But, if he doesn't do that he will be run out on a rail.
Posted by 6th and D | February 15, 2008 2:29 PM
Mark- Glad to have you guys down there. It would be good if you could spend just a little time telling us about a non-roster invitee or two. This is the only time for these guys to shine, since they will probably all be waived or signed to a minor-league deal.
The only ones that will make it are obvious ones, like Ray King, and quite possibly Pete Orr, who has that Atlanta connection Kasten would like. I am rooting for the Rule 5 guys over Langerhans, myself.
Posted by Positively Half St. | February 15, 2008 6:07 PM
Thanks for the video, too. I will be a regular reader and watcher.
Posted by Positively Half St. | February 15, 2008 6:15 PM
Mark -- can you try to get down to the bottom of the Zimmerman contract situation? (I'd do it myself, but niether Bowden nor Kasten will return my calls.) What's taking so long? I don't get it.
Posted by The Nationals Enquirer | February 15, 2008 9:07 PM
Welcome back!
Posted by misschatter | February 16, 2008 4:25 AM
Thank you Wtimes for putting some effort into covering the team. Changing the blog functionality to be more like the industry standards we use everyday would be a high priority if you want more feedback from the fans.
Last year the Times also at least made some effort to look at the business and customer service aspect of the organization. Nobody has yet been able to say how much the Lerners have put into the scouting and player development area's and where the profit from last years massive pay cuts specifically went.
This year it would be nice if someone could look at the season ticket process and tell us specifically what if anything they are doing to get the tickets in our hands before March 27 or so.
On the baseball side is Lopez their after losing his case. Just what was the much talked about by the media and never explained "personal problems" from last year? What do his teammates think of his lazy play in one run games last year. While I know on the record they say nothing, off the record, as a former player of the game they must see what we can see from the upper deck when he slides 25 feet in front of second base in an rally killing double play or jogs down the line to first in getting doubled up by a step when the SS was not even going to through the ball until he looks to see Lopez taking his time. There are many more examples from my personal memory of 2007 but what is the real story please?
Thanks again, I may even spend to subscribe to a newspaper again (cancelled on another paper when they ran a Philly game when they send a replacement reporter who must not have known who the home team was????
Anyway thanks for your hard work.
Posted by JayB | February 16, 2008 7:50 AM
The Poplar Point story was encouraging. My first reaction to Fenty and crowd talking about using funds from the taxes for baseball to pay for a soccer stadium instead of paying off the debt on Nats Park was one of severe annoyance. However, thinking that the soccer stadium could provide parking within walking distance of the park makes it better. Even still, if excess taxes help pay off the baseball stadium more quickly, while Half St. blooms, then arguments against the city's involvement in the finances would be severely blunted.
Posted by Positively Half St. | February 16, 2008 8:45 AM
I agree with JayB's points, you guys have been doing the best job covering the business side of the Nats and the blog functions could be improved.
Thanks for the updates from Viera, keep them coming. Go Nats!
Posted by PowerBoater69 | February 16, 2008 11:58 AM
GREAT JOB MARK!
Posted by Ntsfanarlington | February 16, 2008 2:25 PM