As expected, Wily Mo Pena was activated off the 15-day DL this morning and immediately inserted into the Nats' lineup. He'll hit fifth and start in left field, though normally he'll probably hit sixth. Today, though, Manny Acta wanted to give Nick Johnson a day off, which combined with tomorrow's team day off gives him plenty of rest before the start of the next series Tuesday. So Austin Kearns hits cleanup today, with Pena fifth.
Somewhat less expected (even though it was expected to happen at some point soon) was the club's decision to option catcher Jesus Flores to Class AAA Columbus. Main reason for the move: Johnny Estrada is ready to catch and back up Paul Lo Duca, so there's no need for a third backstop here. As for why Flores is going to Columbus instead of Class AA Harrisburg, which was the club's original thinking, the organization believes offensively he's at a Class AAA level. More importantly, they want him to catch the guys currently in the Columbus rotation (Collin Balester, Garrett Mock, Tyler Clippard, Mike O'Connor and now Jason Bergmann) because those are the guys who are suppossed to be part of the big-league rotation for years to come, just as Flores is supposed to be the catcher of the future.
OK, today's lineups...
NATS
SS Guzman
CF Milledge
3B Zimmerman
RF Kearns
LF Pena
C Lo Duca
2B Bellliard
1B Boone
P Redding
BRAVES
2B Johnson
SS Escobar
3B Jones
1B Teixeira
C McCann
RF Francoeur
CF Kotsay
LF Diaz
P Glavine
Comments (2)
What is wrong with the park besides the high price for the seats. 1. Everything is expensive. When you have $7.50 for ordinary beer and two hambergers and one fry costs $21 and there are no trays to carry the food. the mustard machine does not work. I touched it and it dumped up onough mustard to coat the hot dog and bun so you could see the hot dog. Had to wipe it off. Then their are no tables to stand at or sit on and eat. you have to take the food to the stands. Access to the upper stands is limited to just a few ways to get there. I could go on, but that is why fans are in the cheap seats. Easy to blow $100 on food for a family of four and $100 or more on the seats. How many people want to spend that kind of money on cheap seats. I think the new park is nice but the implentation stinks.
Posted by Jack | April 14, 2008 12:38 PM
Need to check your credit card receipts/statement. I was charged 27 times for one order of French fries Friday night. Nats repsonse, we have some issues we need to address. Well, yes you do.
Also, why no fries at the Nats Dog stand?
Finally, I gagree either the pressure of the density of the mustard needs to be addressed. I couldn't even scrape it all off.!
Posted by Creg | April 14, 2008 2:52 PM