"I apologize to the organization and the fans. I'm a better baseball player than I played."
(Paul Lo Duca, via Washington Times, 8/1/2008)
"To get released and leave everybody, it's not good. But I understand the business and everything. They just signed a couple young guys that deserve a chance just like I did when I went up. I don't have nothing bad to say. I wish those guys the best."
(Felipe Lopez, via Washington Post, 8/1/2008)
Apology accepted, Paul. Out with the old, in with the new. Nationals release Paul Lo Duca, Felipe Lopez. Oh, and don't forget Johnny Estrada.
Unfortunately, neither PLoD nor FLop had anything bad to say about the organization in the papers this morning. No inflammatory quotes. Nothing. Actually, both of them came across as (dare we say it?)...classy. Good luck.
Guess we're a little surprised, though, that Lo Duca wasn't kept around for another few weeks in hopes of making a waiver-wire deal with somebody before Aug. 31. But, now, here's a reason to tune in: Emilio Bonifacio, Elijah Dukes and Alberto Gonzalez will be here today.
As a public service to Lo Duca, Lopez, and Estrada, here's a link to a list of current job opportunities with the Nationals. The Nationals are still hiring Elevator Operators and Security Guards.
(AP Photo by Kyle Ericson)
Finally an explanation of John Lannan pitching yesterday like he should be released. He must have gotten early word you were posting this picture.
Posted by: harper | August 01, 2008 at 09:51 AM
His max velocity was 88, and he wasn't getting pitches over the gut that were low in the zone (no one was though).
Keep putting the kid out there, see what we got. We need a larger sample size with him, and we have the opportunity to give it to him.
Posted by: ckstevenson | August 01, 2008 at 10:17 AM