Nats Enquirer

Inexplicable: Nationals Sign Nick Johnson To 3-year, $16.5 Million Deal

Ok, we need someone to explain this one to us, because we're at a total loss. Unless Jim Bowden got the green light during his little conversation in the stands with Mark Lerner the other day in Viera (just a few days before Jim signed an extension of his own ), this makes no (as in zero, zippy, nil) sense.  And even if the Lerner group pulled the strings on this one, it's still iffy at best. Why are Bowden and Tavares making long-term decisions about this team? Why, oh why, are they throwing $16.5 million at Nick Johnson, locking him up through 2009?(Sorry Nick, we like you and all, but you've gotta admit that it doesn't add up.)

"It's not a secret that I've been injured six years in a row." (Nick Johnson, via Nationals dot com, 3/11/2006)

"When a player has a history of injuries, they're going to be labeled as fragile...He's been unable to play a lot. The only way you can 'un-label' it is for the good Lord to give you some health, have three or four healthy years in a row. And if that happens, I think people will see the real Nick Johnson." (Jim Bowden, via Washington Post, 3/11/2006)

Larry who? "Broadway needs a year in Triple-A anyway...By next year, he could be ready. I also believe in depth. If Nick goes down, I want to have Broadway. I've been criticized for having too many infielders and too many outfielders. That's fine, because when I have an injury, I can still play and compete." (Jim Bowden, also via Nationals dot com, 3/11/2006)

On an unrelated note: Congratulations to Nick for cracking Fox Sports dot com's list of All Time Classic Sports Mustaches. Maybe this explains the new contract. Just to be mentioned on the same list as Rollie Fingers is quite an honor:

When Jason Giambi came to New York in 2002, Nick Johnson became expendable. Since moving to Montreal and now Washington, his facial hair situation has had more ups and downs than that poor girl who played Stephanie Tanner on Full House. Was this particular mustache a way to stick it to his former mates? A rebellious answer to Big George's stodgy rules? One can only wonder.

Just a terrible idea. Perhaps Nick Johnson had an overdeveloped sense of irony or lost a bar bet, but his tickler looked woefully out of place. It made him look like someone who'd be terribly excited about one day becoming a member of the Elk's Lodge. (via Fox Sports dot com, 3/11/2006)

$$$ Nats Extend Bowden

MLB approves contract extension for Jim Bowden through the end of the season. Tony Tavares thinks the new owner (Smulyan) should keep Jim around for a while so that his disappointment in him has time to flourish, or age, like a fine wine:

"I've seen managers replaced during the middle of a season...I've seen GMs replaced during the middle of a season. But usually, it's because of a built-up kind of disappointment on the part of an owner. If you're just getting to know people, to get disappointed that quick, there would clearly be something wrong with the new owner." (Tony Tavares, via Washington Post, 3/10/2006)

So They Didn't Screw It Up After All

Council reaffirms support for the lease and approves construction contract for Cost Cap Stadium by a vote of 9-4. No date announced for sale of team by MLB .

"This is a huge step forward...It's a huge victory for the city. After months and months of debate we now can move forward, and this will be the beginning of some very important times." (Mark Tuohey, chairman D.C. Sports and Entertainment Commission, via Washington Times, 3/08/2006)

Frank looking forward to a new owner, mostly because he's hoping that will mean the end of Bowden in Washington:

"We're anxious to get ownership named and get a new ballpark, so we can feel what I call 'whole' as a franchise." (Frank Robinson, via Washington Post, 3/08/2006)

Ramon Gets Roasted

2 innings. 9 hits. 7 runs.

Nats stink it up (22-12) against FLA.

"No matter who's out there, you expect them to at least catch the ball, throw the ball and make good decisions fundamentally and execute fundamentally...We didn't do that. We didn't catch the ball in the wind. We didn't make good decisions on plays. We didn't execute fundamentally on the field. We played a bad ballgame today." (Frank Robinson, via Washington Post, 3/08/2006)

(Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)

Time To Move Forward?

Williams and Tuohey sign the lease, and Gandhi gives it his blessing: Now all that stands in the way of kicking everyone out of the stadium footprint, breaking ground, and naming an owner is today's vote by the city council. Washington Post seems to make this out to be a mere formality, but any time you get the DC Council in the same room, anything can happen, so don't be surprised if something gets screwed up.

No additional council action is needed to seal the lease agreement. The council is scheduled to vote today on legislation to reaffirm the spending cap as well as a separate contract with Clark Construction to build the stadium for a maximum guaranteed price. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp (D) predicted that both bills would easily win a seven-vote majority. (via Washington Post, 3/07/2006)

"Cost Cap Stadium" Design Unveiled

A first look at the proposed features of Cost Cap Stadium (seating, dugouts, playing field, restrooms).

Done Deal! (Hopefully)

Finally, mercifully, MLB has signed the stadium lease. Barring a cruel twist, baseball fans in Washington can finally exhale, and baseball's bastard sons can finally move forward - but the Council needs to agree to a number of provisions first, and the sale of bonds to cover construction costs must begin. So it's almost time to begin counting down the days until Smulyan's arrival...

"We have worked very hard to accommodate the requests from the mayor and the Council that changed the terms of the agreement that brought the Expos to Washington...Because we believe in the future of baseball in the nation's capital, we have signed a lease that honors the 2004 agreement, while conforming to the emergency legislation that the Council passed last month." (Bob DuPuy, via AP, 3/05/2006)

False Alarm: No Surgery For Guillen

Guillen gets second and third opinion on his injured left wrist, turns out he won't need surgery after all. Could be ready in time for Opening Day.

"This is very good news...That's why you want more than one opinion." (Frank Robinson, via Washington Post, 3/05/2006)

"When I got the description of exactly what was going on with him, it just didn't add up. It didn't seem right...If you know the baseball player, his lead arm, the way he grips a bat coming off shoulder surgery, it made more sense that this was an overuse injury and this was not a surgical problem. So I got the MRI, we looked at the MRI, and that was indeed the case. There was no structural damage. All his tendons and ligaments were normal." (Dr. Tim Kremchick, via Washington Times, 3/05/2006)

(Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari/AP)

Guillen Out With Wrist Injury

Well, it sure is a good thing we tested out the Panic Button earlier this morning, because now we really need to break it out.  Jose Guillen will miss significant time (MLB.com reports it could be at least three months) because of a damaged tendon in his left wrist.

Guillen will seek a second opinion and claims that he will not miss as much time as reported:

"I don't know what was said, because I feel fine...I'm a little sore. To tell you the truth, I'm not counting myself out for three months until I get my second opinion. I know myself and the type of person that I am. I work hard to be where I am. I'm not going to consider surgery until I have the second opinion...Losing three months would be like missing the whole year...I don't think I could handle that. I would go a little crazy." (Jose Guillen, via Nationals dot com, 3/03/2006)

Frank Robinson, on how the team plans to deal with the setback:

"Plans? Right now? Nothing. He's going to get a second opinion, and we'll wait and see what happens then" (Frank Robinson, via AP/Yahoo Sports, 3/03/2006)

So now what?

Season Spiraling Out Of Control: Nationals Drop Grapefruit League Opener 9-1

We'll take this opportunity to break out the official Nationals Enquirer Panic Button for the first time this spring. This is only a test. We aren't worried about yesterday's 9-1 loss to the Pirates, but just like a test of the Emergency Broadcast System, we feel that it is good to be prepared in the event of an emergency. This is only a test.

It's pointless to say anything about Spring Training performances, especially one game in (or two if you count the Kia game), so we won't mention anything about Ramon Ortiz's so-so first start or that leadoff-hitter-in-the-making Brandon Watson went 2-2, walked once, and stole a base (Brad who?), or that Mike DeFelice should be given the backup catcher job, effective immediately. What we're trying to say is that we're not saying anything right now.

We also wish to take back what was said yesterday about being sick of Spring Training already.  It was it refreshing to listen to yesterday's game on the radio, so we're probably actually about a week away from being sick of Spring Training now. And after one game, we're ready to officially give a vote of confidence to new Nats radio guy Dave Jageler, despite what was just said about it being too early in the spring to make conclusions about anything.

>Someone stole Tom Boswell's Happy Pills.

>Washington Times' Nats Report (in the Buzz section): "AVAILABLE ARMS: Two games in and they're already calling up minor leaguers for help."  Guys, it's Spring Training.