But what's today's soundtrack???

But what's today's soundtrack???

Welcome Dave. Speaking of alma maters: if there are any loyal NJ'ers who have their's playing in the tourney then share with us. Fun to get an idea of who all is on here.

Mine lost out in the semi's of the ODAC tournament, couldn't even make the D-3 dance this year.....nice title defense Hampden-Sydney.

The Commodores? Of lionel ritchie fame? Will they be playing "three times a lady"

Yay! I wasn't sure we were going to hear from you.

If everyone there thinks it's enough time, that's fine. LoDuca won't be Schneider with the pitchers, but they'll be okay. They're professionals and the team sounds like it's gelling anyway.

I really, really hope Lannan makes the rotation, but obviously not at the expense of anyone like Hill or anything. I love Chico, but Lannan is really my favorite.

I WOULD GIVE MY LEFT ARM to see Lannan be the starting pitcher at the Philly's opening game!!

So is anyone concerned about the Chief's performance last night?

Not me.

me either.

Good Morning Dave,

Does it really matter what Acta and the like say? A serious question really....I think those who did not know already found out that questions like yours (is this enough time to get to know the pitchers?) do not get an honest answer if it looks bad for the Nats (see Barry's stories all ST about Patterson and his progress).

No a week is not enough time to get a starting catcher in tune with a whole staff on a new team. There I said it, what do you think Dave?

Oh and while we are the subject of what is said verses what is fact, what did Lopez error look like to you last night. He said he has been playing "great", was it, defense but he comes in off the bench in and makes an error right away. We would all benefit from a fresh pair of eyes on the Lopez issue and some filtering of the Acta speak on how his .200 and great defense look to you.

you ever sit down and watch commodores games with buster olney, dave?

UMBC
Go BIG DAWGS!!!

Hi Dave,

... I'm happy you were on board when the biggest story of this spring's Nationals unfolded. It seems fitting and like sweet justice, remembering the good work you did earlier this year.

... and by the way, Stephanie Myles of Montreal says hello.

... as for Johnnie Pat, there's only so many miracles Randy the Saint Clair can pull off. This one was a no-go from the get-go.

Just curious - Any comments yet from other Nats on JP's release?

Go(play golf)Terps! Ah hope Lefty's son can at least RECRUIT!

Back to the Nats... typical Chief. Send 'em somewhere for a bag o' balls. You'll then have room for Ray(Dinner Bell)King.

Dave can you confirm that PLD has already been catching bullpens for the pitchers?

I'm with you, Dave, on the 'Dores. Vandy Class of 1971. Runner up for the Grantland Rice scholarship, which you probably won your year. Go Vandy!!

Duke and Vandy grads going on to be SPORTSWRITERS???? Do they let you join the alumni clubs??

Dave, thanks for the work on the Nats beat - I'm disappointed that your plan for occasional reports in NJ from other spring training sites didn't come to pass.

"My gosh, #4-a downside to the Milledge trade? Schnieder couldn't hit very well no matter which side he bats from, and Church is a good 30 year old utility outfielder, that's all.

Milledge is 23, and a potential star.
The Chief is back to his old form? Which form is that, the one where he's had great success until last year when he was dealing with personal issues. Oh, maybe, it was his 0.00 era this spring up until last night."

Posted by: Jeeves | March 21, 2008 07:23 AM

__________________________________________

Jeeves:

Totally agree on Cordero. The people who want a 100% save percentage are the same ones who want a 1.000 batting average with runners in scoring position in the late innings. Baseball's a hard game. People fail sometimes.

As for the Milledge trade, if you go back to my original post, I prefaced it by saying, "As much as I like the Milledge trade ..." I agree with your basic premise. My point is that on average right handed hitters hit about 20 points lower v. right handed pitching than their overall averages. A mostly right handed line up will therefore be less productive than one would think against right handed pitching. Since that's what the Nats will see 75% of the time, that concerns me.

This line up needs another LH bat in it. I'm just not sure where that comes from. I guess the two likeliest places are 2B and RF. Trading Lopez, Belliard, or Kearns for a LH hitter would be a good move. At all the other positions, the Nats have either a LH hitter, a recently acquired player, or a franchise player.

I wonder also what Bret Boone acceptance of his demotion means. Perhaps it's exactly as he said in the paper this morning. I'm also wondering whether JimBo told him that Lopez or Belliard will be moved in the next few weeks, and he'll be brought up. I guess it would have to be Belliard because any trade involving Lopez would reqire a middle infielder in return who could play SS.

OK... I'm officially D-O-N-E with FLop. If the Nats can release JP for his sub-par spring in favor of younger players with more impressive spring performances then the same math should be applied at 2B. If there's no trading partner to be had, cut bait. He's gone after this season anyway. Follow the same logic to the same conclusion. Why cost us an entire year of Belly's contract for a sub-par headcase in a walk year.

OK, Dave, here's hoping Vanderbilt isn't looking past the first round, or they'll be Sienna second-round game on TV.

that's SIENA - one N

Surprising Boone took the minor league assignment after saying he would not do as much. Maybe the Nats have told him to be a little patient and that he would surely be the first one called in when someone goes down/traded etc...

LET'S GOOOO! MOUNTAINEERS!

MKevin, the logic is very different. The Nats have actually got a bit of a jam at SP, with maybe a dozen guys who aren't great, but aren't bad, at DC and at Columbus, and working on it in AA. They have no such issues at ss/2b.
That's a big difference.

Dave /Barry (but not Dave Barry) - Hill pitches in a minor league game Monday? Is it no admission fee for minor league Spring games? If yes, Hill can pitch Monday and pitch Saturday vs. the Os (another no charge event) and still be placed on the DL with a backdate to whenever the last time he appeared in a paid admission game. That way, he could come off the DL for the 4/6 start when we need a 5th starter.

Have this weekend's starters been named? My guess is Lannan gets inserted Saturday, Redding Sunday, Bergmann Monday, Perez Tuesday, then Chico and Lannan the last two Florida games. REdding can throw after Hill on Saturday v the Os. That lines up Bergmann for OD, Perez for Philly on 3/31.

Tournament, what tournament?

Hail to the Buff. Hail to the Blue. Touchdown for GWU, Rah, Rah, Rah!

Not to worry about the Chief. Virtually every closer will blow up for a game or a week, but most (and Chad did this) find a way to get back on track. It's a weird way to make a living.

to expand on CE's comment, we have *NO* backup SS beyond flop. none. nada. zilch. you can't just frame him as one of the many 2B options because he and guzzie are our only SSs above the A level.

For your sake, Dave, I hope the Commodores won't be singing "Brick House" today.

Not immensely worried about Cordero's performance last night. He came into the game having only allowed one hit, no runs, and only a .050 average for opposing hitters.

It still stinks, though. Spring Training or not, I go to bed happier when the Nats win.

PTBNL:

I'm pretty sure that once you're on the DL, you may not participate in any game that's considered "major league" whether there's admission charged or not. I don't think Hill can pitch against the O's. As you probably know, he was put on the DL yesterday. He'd be eligible to come off on April 5th if my math is correct.

"OK... I'm officially D-O-N-E with FLop. If the Nats can release JP for his sub-par spring in favor of younger players with more impressive spring performances then the same math should be applied at 2B."

The only problem with this is that you have to extend the Lopez math to shortstop, where as bad as he is he's the only plausible backup to Guzman. That's why they can't just dump Lopez like they dumped Patterson.

CE - I don't think it's all that different. If you believe all the local beat writers and bloggers, Manny and the FO are actually entertaining the idea of starting FLop at 2B solely because the "don't want to lose him for the year" mentally. Every report details how Belly has outperformed FLop this entire spring and were this a competition based solely on merit it would be long over with a clear winner.

Assume the following:

1) - The Nats have gaping holes at SS and 2B after the 2008 season.
2) - Neither Guzman nor Lopez factor into the team's plans after the 2008 season.

Based on those assumptions:

A) - The Nats needs at SS and 2B for the 2008 season are strictly short term.
B) - They have two positions and three potential starters (Guzman, Lopez, Belliard).
C) - They have two players who have earned starting positions with good-to-great performances in ST (Guzman and Belliard).
D) - They have one player who has come out and said he won't accept a bench role who just happens to be the same player who has done nothing from an offensive or defensive standpoint in ST games (none of us here can speak to how he practices) to earn a starting spot.

It may not be the exact same scenario but it certainly leads to a similar conclusion. You've got an unhappy, under performing player who is potentially going to steal playing time from a clubhouse favorite who is hitting the cover off the ball in ST. Makes no sense to me.

If he doesn't factor into the long term plans, if he won't accept a bench role, if you can't find a willing trade partner, cut him. They proved yesterday they were willing to do just that.

It was a little weird to be reading all hell breaking loose on the Journal and to look over and see Barry sitting at center court without a care in the world. How can there be other things going on?

so... mkevin, who's the backup SS if they cut lopez? you ignored that part of everyone's comments.

MKevin, that's not at issue. You're begging (i.e., avoiding) the question of who plays SS when Guzman gets hurt or tired or (longshot, I know) traded.

Cordero is what he is. Some will look at his appearances, saves, and lifetime ERA and say don't worry. Some will say look at his WHIP, low and declining K/9, his flyball tendencies, and make a remark about his cardiac tendencies and project he'll be a train wreck if the ballpark plays neutrally. At this point, we'll have posters saying "I told you so" either way his season goes.

I would have loved to have seen him dealt to a big ballpark (San Fran would have been a good place) for something in the offseason, but that did not happen. His saves remind me of Heathcliff Slocumb, who fell quickly off the Earth after a couple of successful years. But I'm going to hold back judgment until the games count.

Enough with the "all hell breaking loose" silliness, awreddy, please?

Yeah, but Heathcliff Slocumb is my All-Time All-Name Team closer to this day.

"If he doesn't factor into the long term plans, if he won't accept a bench role, if you can't find a willing trade partner, cut him."

Okay, say they do that. Who's the backup shortstop then?

It's unfortunate that they'll have to pay so much for an underperforming backup SS/2B this year, but unless they're able to come up with someone else to fill the role, it looks like that's what they'll be doing. You can talk all you want about the upcoming gaping hole at SS/2B in 2009, but there's plenty of time yet to solve that problem. Creating a gaping hole at SS in 2008 is not a step toward that solution, though.

The other question I have on the issue of cutting Felipe is this: do they owe him all his money ($4.9 million, I think)if they cut him now? I'm pretty sure they do. That's another difference between him and Patterson.

something about cutting a player outright rubs me the wrong way. thats a dangerous slope that leads directly to the nfl model of business.

terps had a tough one last night, but i dont mind. i dont expect perfection. which is counter to most of the sentiment in sports these days: fan entitlement.

Not ignoring... and I do see your points and I'm fine with keeping Lopez around IF he accepts a bench role. If he continues to insist he's the starter or nothing then get rid of him. In situations where a backup SS is required then promote someone from AAA/AA. At that point it doesn't matter who it is as long as he can field the position. He's certainly not going to do any worse than Lopez and may be better. Hell if he can hit over .200 he'd be more effective offensively.

Teams accept players with "baggage" as long as they're producing on the field. He's done nothing to earn that right.

The Nats are caught in an apparent no-win situation with Lopez. On one hand if you start him over Belliard he's an offensive hole and a game changing error waiting to happen. On the other hand if you bench him in favor of the more productive player he's going to pout and cause problems in the clubhouse and be ineffective off the bench. Your 3rd option is to cut him. It may be the only way the Nats come out ahead as an organization in this scenario.

I think we will see all three play a lot filling SS/2B. Do anyone really think that any of Guzman, Belliard and Lopez are head and shoulders better then the others. Maybe they can all start 4 games a week. With double switches and the like, they'd probably see action most every game.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox on potential trades of our middle infielders:

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7937722/Loretta-could-be-answer-to-Dodgers'-problems-?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49

Who are the starting SS's at AAA and AA? Are they that bad that they couldn't be a back-up and play once a week (or less, assuming no long-term injuries)?

"something about cutting a player outright rubs me the wrong way. thats a dangerous slope that leads directly to the nfl model of business."

Look at it this way. Once the decision was made that Patterson had to go, there were two options for doing it. One would have been to put him on waivers, which would have forced a quick decision on the part of the other 29 teams as to whether or not they wanted him. Likely all 29 teams would have passed on him. Why? Because if they wanted to take a flyer on him, they would have had to pick up his $850,000 salary. They would put themselves in the same position as the Nationals were in, i.e. having about 10 days to decide if he was worth putting on their major league roster to pitch every fifth day while he tried to find his velocity again, which BTW is not guaranteed to ever happen. If any other team really wanted to do that, they would already have offered the Nationals a bag of balls in trade for him.

So if Patterson had been waived, it would almost certainly have been instant rejection for him. But by cutting him outright, the Nationals have actually done Patterson a favor, because he can now approach other teams as a free agent. Perhaps there will be a team that would be willing to sign him to a minor league contract so he can try to regain his game out of the spotlight this year and maybe make a contribution for them down the line. (Remember, if a team claimed him on waivers they couldn't send him to the minors for the same reason the Nats couldn't - he's out of options.) Actually, I think if the Nationals wanted to they could probably sign him to a minor league contract themselves as long as no other teams want him. (Not quite sure about the rules on that, though.) Hell, if this was some other team dumping Patterson like this, he'd pretty much be the kind of no-risk reclamation project that Jim Bowden specializes in.

As for cutting Patterson outright, I don't think there was another choice. You could assign him to the minors, but he'd have to clear waivers. By cutting him now, they save some on his salary, which they will now give to Odalis Perez. I think the most telling part was that John wasn't ready to "cut it loose" on the mound - says to me that his arm still hurts, or that he's not confident in the health of the arm.

As for a backup SS without FLOP - who I think we should keep, he's more talented and has more upside than RBelli - you could use Mackowiak and Harris as needed.

Thanks for the link, Half St. Here's the crux for those who don't feel like cutting and pasting:

"The Nationals, trying to trade shortstop Felipe Lopez, are scouting the Royals' Angel Berroa as a possible replacement. The Orioles are believed to have interest in Lopez, who is guaranteed $4.9 million this season.

"Lopez, 27, also has played 82 games at third base and 55 at second in his career, and his ability to fit in at multiple positions could increase the number of teams that are interested in him."

There's also a note that Belliard could be an option for the Dodgers, as has already been discussed here.

"Who are the starting SS's at AAA and AA? Are they that bad that they couldn't be a back-up and play once a week (or less, assuming no long-term injuries)?"

Bret Boone is the likely starting 2B with Pete Orr at SS. Other names are at Triple-A are Antonio Perez, William Bergolla and Ed Rogers.

As for Double-A, Ofilio Castro should be the starting 2B, Ian Desmond at SS

Wow.

This is what happens when one lapses in one's faithful NJ monitoring for four effing hours...

As exasperated as I've been with JP, I saw the headline in today's print edition and thought either it was a typo or a smudge on my eyeglasses.

Besta luck to him (although if he does rediscover his stuff somewhere else, I may have to stick a pin into a JimBow doll).

Go Hoyas! Please don't take it to the wire like Barry's Dukies did!

mackowiak at SS? you mean that position he's never played? and harris has played all of 5 games at SS in his career. that's not really an option, other than an emergency late inning situation, maybe.

"Who are the starting SS's at AAA and AA? Are they that bad that they couldn't be a back-up and play once a week (or less, assuming no long-term injuries)?"

I think the answer to that question is Ed Rogers and Ian Desmond respectively. Rogers being one turned ankle away from taking over as the everyday SS would worry me. Desmond does not need to sit on the bench in the big leagues. He needs 500 ABs. Neither is a viable option.

What does the roster look like now how many players do we still need to cut?

419 and 114, i agree. its a smart move for both parties. and at least they are on the hook for paying him some of his salary. at the same time, i cant help but compare the way the nfl and mlb handle their veterans. and i just dont want mlb to morph into cost cutting mode when there isnt a salary cap. the cap is justification for cutthroat business.

just a feeling, thats all. nothing more, nothing less.

What does the roster look like now how many players do we still need to cut?

Brian:

Have you read somewhere that Orr would play SS at Columbus? He's always been more of a 2B/3B type. Perez and Bergolla are listed as 3B too.

The new Nationals Smartrip card is available for sale now. Two versions.

www.wmata.com/nationals

According to Charlie last night, the door is now open for Patterson to sign a minor league contract with the Nationals.

I believe he also confirmed Bowden would be open to such an option. If Patterson doesn't catch on elsewhere, you could see him in Columbus (a prospect that could impact Mike O'Connor, I would think).

For what it's worth, Patterson is married to Miss DC 2005 and was one of only a handful of players who knew the Redskins were the "burgandy and gold."

-----

Actually, I think if the Nationals wanted to they could probably sign him to a minor league contract themselves as long as no other teams want him. (Not quite sure about the rules on that, though.)

Junkbucket-

We need to cut 9 more. Here is a good study of it:

http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/03/21/34-left-in-major-league-camp/

From Barry Svrluga's story:
"Fifty-nine minutes of possibility put the Bruins on the edge of history, because just four 15 seeds have won games in the tournament. But in that last minute, Duke's Gerald Henderson grabbed a rebound, dribbled the length of the court, laid the ball in, and the Blue Devils somehow withstood two more last-gasp Belmont attempts -- but barely. "
==========

Last I heard, college games are 40 mins, so that paragraph should start with "Thirty-nine minutes of possibility..."

From Barry Svrluga's story:
"Fifty-nine minutes of possibility put the Bruins on the edge of history, because just four 15 seeds have won games in the tournament. But in that last minute, Duke's Gerald Henderson grabbed a rebound, dribbled the length of the court, laid the ball in, and the Blue Devils somehow withstood two more last-gasp Belmont attempts -- but barely. "
==========

Last I heard, college games are 40 mins and NBA's are 48, not even close to 60 mins, so that paragraph should start with "Thirty-nine minutes of possibility..."

He included warmups.

Ladson also reported that Bowden would welcome JP for a minor league contract.

(Then again, Ladson also spelled Jordan Zimmermann with one 'n'. Twice. I guess SOMEBODY has to feed the grammar police)

Anyway, minor league was my first thought when JP was released just for the rehab time.

Pete Orr, huh?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...

"The Nationals, trying to trade shortstop Felipe Lopez, are scouting the Royals' Angel Berroa as a possible replacement."

Now, *that* would be An-hell breaking loose.

Fifty-nine minutes could ostensibly include the twenty-minute halftime... and thus be correct.

Not sure if Barry meant that, but it's an out if he wants to use it, I suppose.

Don't make the mistake of overemphasizing spring training games. Belliard is having a great spring, no doubt, but this is baseball, and the law of averages says he'll trend back to his career avg. Same with Guz and FL. And then we'll all realize that we have 1 lousy SS, a mediocre utility-like 2B, and a talented 2B/SS (FL). Jimbo won't be able to get anyone for Guz or RB.

Whoever characterized the Nats as having a "log-jam" of starting pitching doesn't understand the nature of the game and the abilities of the staff. Tim Redding doesn't suddenly have things figured out and Chico's new delivery won't propell him into super-stardom. Perez won't magically become anyone other that a 5.00+ ERA guy.

nice try, but then you have to go by real time, and not the forty minutes of clock time plus.
Too bad. Nice piece otherwise.
******************
Fifty-nine minutes could ostensibly include the twenty-minute halftime... and thus be correct.
Not sure if Barry meant that, but it's an out if he wants to use it, I suppose.
Posted by: faNATic | March 21, 2008 11:27 AM

The ultimate symbol of this erosion is the disrespectful screaming of "O" during the National Anthem. What was annoying and mildly humorous, became, after 9-11-2001, offensive to the nation, both players' teams and the city of Baltimore.

Posted by: natswriter | March 20, 2008 06:40 PM
-----------------------------------------

How come I don't see you knocking:

* Atlanta Braves fans who yell out "Braves" or "Home of the Atlanta Braves" during the National Anthem?

* Kansas City Chiefs fans who yell out "Home of the Chiefs" instead of "Home of the Braves"?

* U of Cal fans who yell out "rockets Blue glare" or "Home of the Bears"?

* Steven Tyler singing at the Indy 500 ending it by saying "Home of the Indianapolis 500"?

* U of North Dakota fans yelling out "Home of the Souix"?

* U of Oklahoma fans yelling out "Home of the Sooners"?

* NC State fans yelling out "Red Glare" and "Home of the Wolfpack"?

* Houston Rockets fans yelling out "Rockets red glare"?

*Duke fans yelling out "O" during the anthem?

The list goes on and on. So why are you just cherry-picking the Orioles?

Also go watch George Carlin's latest HBO special "Because It's Bad For Ya," he has an interesting and honest take on the anthem.

Please, next time before posting your Bill O'Reilly/Sean Hannity/Fox News style rant, do some research.

Also would you than have to say that it's just as disrespectful when people eat, drink beer, scratch themselves, don't take off their hat, don't put their hand over their heart, etc. during the anthem?

STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE natswriter

Infielders: True enough, Mendoza, but don't make the mistake of slavish devotion to statistics. Groups will revert to the mean; individuals will revert over long enough periods. But any given player might play "over his head" for a while, even a whole year. And you underestimate Belliard's value to a contender in the second half, esp. at the price. Trading Guzman is not likely at this point, but if, as I suspect, you are wrong about his being lousy (based almost exclusively on the guy having one bad year when he was playing hurt, but let's not start that again), who knows, come July or August?

Pitching: Not sure what your point is. They have a bunch of guys who could be back-end starters, and none who look like 1 or 2 starters for 30+ starts a year. That's the "logjam." You're saying they should have kept JP in the rotation, when they have more than five guys pitching better than he can?

***************
Don't make the mistake of overemphasizing spring training games. Belliard is having a great spring, no doubt, but this is baseball, and the law of averages says he'll trend back to his career avg. Same with Guz and FL. And then we'll all realize that we have 1 lousy SS, a mediocre utility-like 2B, and a talented 2B/SS (FL). Jimbo won't be able to get anyone for Guz or RB.

Whoever characterized the Nats as having a "log-jam" of starting pitching doesn't understand the nature of the game and the abilities of the staff. Tim Redding doesn't suddenly have things figured out and Chico's new delivery won't propell him into super-stardom. Perez won't magically become anyone other that a 5.00+ ERA guy.

Posted by: the Mendoza Line | March 21, 2008 11:32 AM

I'm glad Boone decided to accept the assignment to AAA. Barry wrote in the chat that he felt like Bret may have been in camp just to prove to himself that he could do it again. Maybe.

I think Bret came to camp to get the chance to do something he didn't get to do when he left baseball the first time, and that's leave on his own terms. He admitted that alcohol was a factor in his decision to retire three years ago. A season in the bigs could be a great way to exorcise those demons and address a great disservice he had done himself.

But I think something happened on the way back to redemption - he remembered how great it felt to play. He doesn't mind the assignment to AAA because 1) he gets to play baseball again, and 2) he feels like, with a little fine tuning, he could make a go of it in the majors.

I, for one, really hope he does.

Now that the Nationals shocked us once with Patterson, will they now trade Cordero ($6.2M contract, arbitration raise next year and free agency after 2009 season) for ???? (fill in the ????). Bowden is good friends with Cashman of the Yankees.

I took the liberty (HA!) of responding on NatsWriter's behalf.
Now don't you have homework to do?
************
STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE natswriter
Posted by: Freedom-Lover | March 21, 2008 11:44 AM

Newpost, and justintimetoo

I actually considered that carefully before posting. However, this ST certainly had more significance than most for Lopez, Belliard, and Guzman. All 3 of them knew that going in. 2 of them have responded, one hasn't. Therefore you have 2 starters and one guy off the bench. Seems like a simply enough formula to me except for Lopez's refusal to accept a bench role. That more than anything else is what's chapping me. Offense is cyclical. Players are streaky. Just because a guy hits well in ST doesn't mean it carries into the year and vice-versa. I honestly wouldn't have such a problem with him if he'd just field his position well and show a willingness to help the team by accepting the role he's best suited to play coming out of ST, which at this point is a utility middle-infielder off the bench.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Don't make the mistake of overemphasizing spring training games.

Posted by: the Mendoza Line | March 21, 2008 11:32 AM

Post nouveau.

The Nationals, trying to trade shortstop Felipe Lopez, are scouting the Royals' Angel Berroa as a possible replacement. The Orioles are believed to have interest in Lopez, who is guaranteed $4.9 million this season.
Lopez, 27, also has played 82 games at third base and 55 at second in his career, and his ability to fit in at multiple positions could increase the number of teams that are interested in him.

The Giants need all the help they can get, and the Twins and White Sox remain unsettled at second base. The Cardinals also could view Lopez as an upgrade over their new shortstop, Cesar Izturis.

Berroa, the 2003 American League Rookie of the Year, is in camp with the Royals as a non-roster player. He appeared in only nine major-league games last season, but is guaranteed $4.75 million in '08 as well as a $500,000 buyout.

If trading Lopez to Baltimore is a serious item, please Nats due it quickly before Andy McPhail thinks it over......

Angel Berroa I believe is in the last year of his 4yr-$11M contract and could get $4.75M for 2008 for the Royals. Even if the Nats unload Lopez, would they pick up all or part of Berroa contract and will the Royals pick up part of his salary...

Freedom-lover....

OK, so, there are other fans that sing other things during the National Anthem in North Dakota, Houston, California, etc....

The reason no one around here has a problem with that is because those fans don't come to Dc and do it in large enough number for anyone to notice it. If someone "Home of the Sooners" at a Nats game, I'd probably think to myself, "what did he yell?

So, you are obviously an O's fan that's feeling a little persecuted and jealous. It's OK. We're here to help. Just denounce Peter Angelos and get yourself a Curly W cap, and you can join us here.