I'm proud to have been a daily reader since it was only supposed to be a spring training exercise for you. I love the insight and access.

I peed in this corner a long time ago.
;)

Amazing post Barry, thanks. What's Dmitri's take on the future trade? Is he disappointed at leaving, excited to be going to a contender, understanding that that is his parting gift to the team? Obviously, he's not going to say anything, but what's your sense?

On Nats Journal:

- Can you get a link off the Post main site? A ton of other (inferior) sports blogs are there, but not yours

- How about a profile of the "Journal staff". I'm willing to give you credit for the spark of genius (if only to flatter you into writing more great entries), but who else does the elbow work to put together this great publication?

NatsNut: eeeewwww!!!

I've been spreading the Barry (I'd like to buy a vowelâ„¢) Svrluga blog gospel.

The play at the plate last night, safe or out? I was at the game and did not see it.

"The reality is that Young will almost certainly be traded before July 31 ..."

"It's a cruel world."

... about this blog, I agree with the others when I say it's a God-send. For me personally, it has provided a great way to ease from Montreal to Washington, while allowing (and expecting) me to stay active as a current rather than former fan. I'm happy and enthused to be able to provide a link from my part of the Expo world.

Nice column Barry.

Natsnut: P ewwww. (Natsnut1a - how'd you miss that?)

I agree with Section 506 (After moving), let's get it on the first page.

Really gonna miss Dimitri when he goes.

ChrisC - I seriously thought Schneider tagged him out.

Hey Barry,
I think its time the Nook Logan experiment ended. Endy Chavez was better than Brandon Watson, and Brandon Watson is better than Nook Logan. Where does Marlon Byrd fit in there? I have no idea...but I cant wait until this team gets a solid centerfielder (even Elijah Dukes!)

Condolences to Fick. He has been an excellent part of this team.

Young has been great (anyone care to expound how he acquired his nickname?). I hope JB get someone really worthwhile in the trade that is coming.

Escobar, wow! I thoought the guy was finished for this year. If he can just stay healthy, he could help the NATS win a few more games toward .500.

Nook is gone sooner or later.

I love the Journal because one minute you're tearing up over the background stories that make up baseball and the next someone's peeing in a corner. Thanks Barry.

The Nats seem to have such a great clubhouse going now - it's going to be a shame to see Dmitri go. If the Logan experiment is over, we can live with Langerhans. I'm interested to see what O'Connor and Escobar are going to do when they get back. I hope good things.

Dancer13: What can I say? I'm off my game today. Just didn't have my stuff going into the blog, so I'm trying to make adjustments.

I'm gonna miss Young, too, but I'd be happy for him if he got to play in a World Series later this year with a contending team. (I know, I know, the Nats will get there but I'm thinkin' that maybe this isn't the year)...

Natsnut: P ewwww. (Natsnut1a - how'd you miss that?)

I agree with Section 506 (After moving), let's get it on the first page.

Really gonna miss Dimitri when he goes.

Posted by: Dancer13 | June 19, 2007 12:32 PM

Speaking of great clubhouses and of Fick, one of the OP blogs has a great item on a recent Fick prank (ok, it's the F-Burg Star. Sorry, Barry, but it's just too funny not to share!). I've read much coverage about how Fick helps to keep the team loose and I think it's great that he continues to do so despite his mother's situation. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to have a mother who is going through a prolonged illness and is so far away.

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The Nats seem to have such a great clubhouse going now - it's going to be a shame to see Dmitri go. If the Logan experiment is over, we can live with Langerhans. I'm interested to see what O'Connor and Escobar are going to do when they get back. I hope good things.

Posted by: Patty | June 19, 2007 12:48 PM

To Natsnut & DottDC: Thanx for the laughs, I REALLY needed that.

Truly amazing how this team wins games at all, what with the plug n' play style they've had to adopt due to massive amounts of DL time. A month from now the line-up will probably look quite a bit different than it does today. Does the trading of DY depend on the return of NJ? If so, and NJ doesn't get back this season, might DY stay? I'd say probably not. I'll miss him also, but as other posts have noted, good for him if he goes to a contender. It may give us someone to root for when the playoffs begin.

I think i may have asked this before, but still looking for an explanation.....why is Dmitri, "almost certainly" going to be traded? I ask because from what i hear, there is nothing that is "almost certain" about Nick Johnson's return? And who would play 1st if there is no Nick and no Dmitri?

Maybe i have missed the story, but I am still not hearing anyone predicting any kind of timetable on Nick's return. It would be really be a bad blow if NJ's injury was a career ender, but I am starting to wonder if that might be the case....and if so....I would be wanting to hold on to Dmitri...

Why I love Robert Fick:

Last year at the final game I had acquired tickets 5 rows off the corner of the visiting dugout at RFK (Them: Would you like... Me: YES!!). It was an amazingly emotional game (awful loss to the Mets, but the fans cheered as if we had won the World Series, Manny Acta, sitting in the New York dugout, must have taken note). At the end of the game the Nats came back out of their dugout for a curtain call (for them and Frank) and started throwing their hats into the stands behind their dugout.

Fick was one of the first Nats out and last to leave. He threw out his hat. Then his batting gloves that were still in his pocket. Then he ducked back into the dugout and pulled out his bag. He tossed another hat, then another set of gloves. Then he pulled out a ball and threw that. Then another ball, then another, on up to six or seven balls. Then he looked in the bag, saw it was empty, and chucked the entire bag up into the stands.

To Section 506 (After moving) :
You could almost title that "Why I love Baseball". I was commenting to someone the other day about how often you see things like that in baseball and the stands, but rarely in other sports. Something about baseball seems to bring out the best in people. (I know, sometimes it also brings out the worst but being a lifetime Pirates (now Nats) fan, I do tend to spend a great deal of time in Egypt.)

Shout out to Section 502, if you're there. Thanks for the book recco! My (Amazon) copy arrived earlier this week and I've put it into my starting rotation (No. 1).

---

And to complete today's lesson I quote the late, great Bill Veeck:

"The knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats."

(If you're a baseball fan but you've never read Veeck's marvelous autobiography "Veeck as in Wreck", hie thee to Amazon.com RIGHT THIS INSTANT!)

Did you get anything of Fick's?

Just back from lunch and a chance to read Bosewell's column on the O's. I noted that one of Boz's main take aways was the absolute importance of having a top quality executive with a plan. He also noted the Nat's team spirit, and the importance of a bullpen and a manager who can motivate his players. So here we are in the third year of existence, and the Nats can already be held up as an example of the right way to run a ball club -- pretty cool. Maybe I'm inferring more than Boz meant, but it is true that we have a top level/proven executive, a manager who seems to get his players ready to play, and a bullpen that has matched or exceeded preseason expectations, and for that matter a starting rotation that has vastly exceeded expectations.

One other note in continuance of the previous journal entry and associated comments: If Escobar can stay healthy and Nook goes down, does LangerLogan become Langerbar?

Speaking of Boz, planz, etc., I did manage to locate his podcast with Kasten the other day. Very interesting and encouraging. I loved the bit about bringing in blooming cherry trees for our *first* World Series.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nationals/natsindex.html

PK, Dmitri is going to be traded, was always going to be traded, because if he hit (and he has), a contending team, most likely AL but you never know, will need him more than the Nationals do, and would give up someone (or two) the Nats need more than him (in 2009). Is that a good idea? Depends on who they get. The logic is, they aren't going to win this year, no matter what they do, and apparently they don't care much about how you and I feel about it. We'll love them when they win, is the thinking.

Re: Fick's stuff. I was on the wrong side of the field. Why are the Nats home team dugouts on the third baseline? Was my Little League experience handled by redneck idiots who also didn't know which the right side of the field for the home team was? Hendo, I expect a book citation to answer this.

Re: Langerhans and Escobar. I think Escohans is better than Langerbar.

NatsBiscuit, now thats a bar you could belly up to...the Langerbar. I love it. And Natsfan1a...those had better be silk cherry blossoms. But cool, just the same.

cevans

NatBisquit

I am all for LangerBar.

dugout answer...the 3rd base dugout is a bit larger than the first base dugout at RFK. Note the new park will remedy this situation...thank goodness.

Nah, greenhouse-forced live trees. We don't need no stinkin' silk flowers ;)

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And Natsfan1a...those had better be silk cherry blossoms. But cool, just the same.

Posted by: SC Nats Fan | June 19, 2007 01:39 PM

Did you mean on the book recco? If so, sorry I muffed the kudo(s).

---

cevans

Posted by: that was me | June 19, 2007 01:39 PM

Home dugouts are typically on the first base side, but some teams (LA, Cubs, some others besides DC) prefer the shady side.
Rule 1.08
The home club shall furnish players' benches, one each for the home and visiting teams. Such benches shall not be less than 25 feet from the base lines. They shall be roofed and shall be enclosed at the back and ends.

In case anyone is interested, USAToday has a story on our Dimitri. Pretty good as a followup to Barry's story.

sorry, natsfan1a, I meant the Don't Get Too Attached To Dmitri that I forgot to sign before the phone rang and I hit Submit.

and "kudos" is singular, like chorus and cosmos. Means a laurel wreath, in Greek.

I put the "s" in parens on purpose as an homage to a previous thread...

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and "kudos" is singular, like chorus and cosmos. Means a laurel wreath, in Greek.

Posted by: CEvansJr | June 19, 2007 01:48 PM

Barry,

This Nats Journal thing keeps getting gooder and gooder. Keep it up, and don't worry if yer numbers stay below Goff's. Us old guard will stick around.

So, SC Nats fan, the 3rd base dugout and locker room is (relatively) bigger *because* it's the home team's, not the other way around.

Okay, thanks. One less synapse lapse to worry about on my part...

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sorry, natsfan1a, I meant the Don't Get Too Attached To Dmitri that I forgot to sign before the phone rang and I hit Submit.

Posted by: cevans | June 19, 2007 01:47 PM

Ah. Over my head. No kudos for me.

I put the "s" in parens on purpose as an homage to a previous thread...
---

PK,

Not trading a guy of Dmitri's worth doesn't seem to make sense to a team that is trying to rebuild. Given that he only has a one-year contract, you have to get something back for him. Trade when the stock is high.

Who's going to play first when Young is gone and Nick is still out? Fick has been the defensive replacement for Young in the late innings, and Barry has pointed out in the chat that - because of his low average and despite his versatility - he is untradable right now.

Kasto took some practice at first in Spring Training, and I think the Nats wouldn't mind giving Broadway a chance when the rosters expand, even though he is struggling severely right now. There are options out there if Nick isn't healthy and Fick, for one reason or another, isn't considered an every day guy.

As I recall when they were readying RFK for baseball, the discussion about which dugout to choose centered around which had more space and it was determined the 3rd base side did. I think 1st base dugout is preferred by most, the reason I'd think is that when you make an out at 1st, it's a shorter trip back to dugout and that the manager has a better look at calls at 1st base.

I like Nook as a guy who can manufacture offense with his speed. A few weeks ago - and I can't remember the specific game - he beats out the throw for an infield hit, steals second, and then steals third.

Problem is, he doesn't get on base often enough to use that speed.

As far as I'm concerned, he's got the rest of the year to show Manny he can produce more consistently. I don't see this happening, unfortunately, but I don't see any reason to give up on him now, in what is essentially a throw-away season. With whom do we replace him? Brandon Watson?

Who *would be* on first -- good question, if Fick does get traded (unlikely now, I know). Broadway is hitting .178 in AAA Columbus now. If Nick is < 100%, do you risk getting him hurt again? I wouldn't.

Re; 1st base, I think I've heard that Ryan Langerhans played first when he was younger and he throws left which improves his reach on infield throws.

LANGERWAY! (Langerfick?)

no no no, I got it -- CastoWay

I think, if we were to chart this, it would go (if available):

Nick - Fick - Broadway - Kasto - Screech

I'd throw Belliard in there, but he'd be traded before Fick.

The team wanted more power out of Broadway, and he certainly has struggled just to get on base after coming back from injury. Still, he's good defensively, and he'll be out of options next year. I think they'd wait for the rosters to expand to call him up, but it would really be his last chance with the Nats.

The organization had a lot of hopes for this guy, and I think if Nick isn't up to speed, we might see him as the summer winds down. It's not like it'd get in the way of a pennant run.

Screech, on the other hand, is not much of a defensive first baseman, but he provides a lot of power from the right side.

CastoWay is good but brings on visions of errors.

"Dmitri Young" is good, but brings on visions of errors.

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CastoWay is good but brings on visions of errors.

Posted by: Dancer13 | June 19, 2007 02:20 PM

Speaking of Belliard, I LOVE that guy. At first he looked a little "meaty" and maybe like a jaded veteran (read: slow and a little complacent). But boy was I wrong. Dude can move. And hit. Goes where he's needed, not perfect but looks sharp and plays hard. Never complains. Had some awesome clutch hits. Kinda like Fick, I guess.

thanks to john in mpls for the answer,,,but it still makes no sense to me (except the part about Dmitri's one year contract)...I understand the part about trading when the stock price is high, and about getting prospects, but from what i heard the plan was to envision maybe being a contender next year, and i cant see that happening with Fick or Broadway or Casto as our regular 1st baseman. You have to be getting some offense at that position. Whats the point of planning to acquire a big bat in the outfield if you are just going to give up a big bat that you already have? again..this whole question is predicated on the what happens with Nick.

thanks to john in mpls for the answer,,,but it still makes no sense to me (except the part about Dmitri's one year contract)...I understand the part about trading when the stock price is high, and about getting prospects, but from what i heard the plan was to envision maybe being a contender next year, and i cant see that happening with Fick or Broadway or Casto as our regular 1st baseman. You have to be getting some offense at that position. Whats the point of planning to acquire a big bat in the outfield if you are just going to give up a big bat that you already have? again..this whole question is predicated on the what happens with Nick.

... I just watched Boz' interview with Stan the Man of the Plan Kasten. It was posted yesterday but it seems to have been around for a while. At any rate I have the following reflections about it, and Stan's comments.
- Stan mentioned fan development of one of his three basic current goals. I would like to know how the Nats and indeed any other pro sports franchise, views those fans who do not live in close enough proximity to be able to buy tickets. Are they (we) a forgotten fact of life, or do we figure somewhere in the "Plan"?
- speaking of the Plan, I wonder just how long the brain trust expects to go with it before the team can be called a thing of the present instead of the future?
- I believe the interview was done near the end of May; it was certainly conducted before the draft. Even so, it seems to me that there must be some unspoken, hidden worry on the part of Kasten and the owners if he is still harping on the Plan and how we all have to buy into it. If it was all that clear and acceptable, it seems to me he wouldn't have to keep selling it this far into the season.
- Stan stated in no uncertain terms (aided and abetted by Boz) that he expects the new stadium to have an impact on the fans. As I mentioned above, remote fans like me will not be swayed very much in that regard. What will matter to me will be an improvement in the team's performance. I suspect we all feel that way, so I hope Stan isn't putting too many of his future eggs in a cherry blossom-lined basket.
- I noticed a few intriguing words and comments on the board behind his desk, yet most of them went undiscussed. I would have liked to hear what he had to say about the Pacific Rim, and why it was significant that "Ward Walks".
- finally I can only hope that Stan, who is enamored of Sam Walton, will avoid buying into the WalMart "Plan" as much as he avoids the "quick-fix" solution.

sorry about that...

"I put the "s" in parens on purpose as an homage to a previous thread... "

... I believe I earned that dubious distinction. I got it wrong a few weeks ago, and was summarily upbraided for it.

... not that I minded, mind you. Anyone who knows me knows that I regularly fire off correctives in hastily contrived emails which I send to offenders, far and wide, be they media or corporate giants (or should that be gnats?). At any rate, what goes around comes around, I earned my come-uppance fair and square.

Hi John in Mpls,

"I think the Nats wouldn't mind giving Broadway a chance when the rosters expand"

... I'd like to think you're right John, but I fear our good man Larry has seen the last of the curly "W". He couldn't hit enough to stay at the end of spring, and it doesn't appear that has changed much. Hendo, have you any up-dating from the farm on this?

I was also intrigued by the words and comments on the board, particularly "Majewski" in Red. Perhaps that had to do with the Reds' plans to file a grievance (depending on when it was filmed). There were also some vertigo-inducing camera angles at times. We may need to do a frame-by-frame analysis of the podcast to decipher the board's clues (heh heh).

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- I noticed a few intriguing words and comments on the board behind his desk, yet most of them went undiscussed. I would have liked to hear what he had to say about the Pacific Rim, and why it was significant that "Ward Walks".

Posted by: natscan reduxit | June 19, 2007 02:46 PM

I've always used the plural form, too. I was being a bit of a naughty poster and stirring the pot a bit...

---

"I put the "s" in parens on purpose as an homage to a previous thread... "

... I believe I earned that dubious distinction. I got it wrong a few weeks ago, and was summarily upbraided for it.

... not that I minded, mind you. Anyone who knows me knows that I regularly fire off correctives in hastily contrived emails which I send to offenders, far and wide, be they media or corporate giants (or should that be gnats?). At any rate, what goes around comes around, I earned my come-uppance fair and square.

Posted by: natscan reduxit | June 19, 2007 03:02 PM

Are we going to keep talking grammar when the rookie bloggers come in?

regarding who's on first if/when Dmitri is traded. You all are forgetting the obvious choice ... Tony Batista!

Sorry, I needed a good laugh to wake me up this afternoon.

"Are we going to keep talking grammar when the rookie bloggers come in?"

... absolutely. Grammars are to grandkids what coaches are to rookies. Rookies need indoctrination like just everybody else ... like everybody else ... like everybody else ... like everybody else ... like everybo

I think it was in Sheinin's chat last week (Tuesday 6/12, if it's in the archives), where he said Johnson coming back this season was at best 50-50.

Gee, I hope not. We all speak the language of baseball, and can agree that we love/care about the Nats, right?

Confidential to Dancer13: Sorry, I couldn't come up with any good puns there. Must be the weather. However, natscan reduxit *is* on his game in that regard.

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Are we going to keep talking grammar when the rookie bloggers come in?

Posted by: Old Guard | June 19, 2007 03:11 PM

To natsfan1a; That's okay, NatsNut gave me a good laugh for today. But I'm keepin' an eye on you.

Not that baseball has anything to do with grammar. "Flied out"

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Are we going to keep talking grammar when the rookie bloggers come in?

Posted by: Old Guard | June 19, 2007 03:11 PM

Natscan, I actually agree with you that Broadway's basically done here. I think Barry is right, a change of scenery might be good for him. But in the proposed scenario where Nick isn't healthy and Fick and Young are traded, I think he's your first viable option.

I'd love to see him get the call and tear it up in the bigs to end the season. Not likely, though.

And yes, e, I did forget Batista - or, as my friend calls him, "Slammin' Tony." He'll probably be sent back down when Escobar is healthy, but he could be up to cover first in the above-mentioned scenario. I still think he comes in after Screech, though.

Can you even buy a Batista jersey at the park?

Assuming Escobar doesn't get hurt coming out of the dugout, Manny might want to platoon a combination of Church, Langerhans and Escobar for a while to see who can do what.

I agree with previous posters, Nook is not the answer.

Supposed to thunderstorm this evening through 9pm.

Any bets on how long the rain delay lasts (if there is one)?

"Assuming Escobar doesn't get hurt coming out of the dugout"

Vandy, that's cold.

(I wish I had said that.)

It's great that we forum members can pick each other up that way. Thanks, NatsNut, you had my back.

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To natsfan1a; That's okay, NatsNut gave me a good laugh for today. But I'm keepin' an eye on you.

Posted by: Dancer13 | June 19, 2007 03:44 PM

"We may need to do a frame-by-frame analysis of the podcast to decipher the board's clues (heh heh)."

This calls for SUPER-SLO MO!!!

I also found some of the notes on the board intriguing too, like Majewski (in red), and RADIO in huge letters. There are a couple of other things too (like the list that said Acta, Sutton, Caravan, Ads).

All in all I really enjoyed it though. From my experience with Kasten, hes a great guy

AZS

natsfan1a, you're welcome. That book is a wonderful read for anyone who loves baseball.

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Shout out to Section 502, if you're there. Thanks for the book recco! My (Amazon) copy arrived earlier this week and I've put it into my starting rotation (No. 1).

---

And to complete today's lesson I quote the late, great Bill Veeck:

"The knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats."

(If you're a baseball fan but you've never read Veeck's marvelous autobiography "Veeck as in Wreck", hie thee to Amazon.com RIGHT THIS INSTANT!)

Posted by: natsfan1a | June 19, 2007 01:23 PM
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But wait until you get to the part where Veeck describes how he lobbied to get the expansion Senators sold to ... Edward Bennett Williams.

If EBW had owned that club instead of Bob Short, I believe it's likely that the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex would be the ones who got a relocated Expos team in 2005 and DC would not have gone three decades without baseball.

Oh boy, if only EBW had bought the Senators, if only, if only,if, if, if. A miserable 33 years of waiting could/should have been avoided. But alas...GO NATS...STAY HOT.