Johnny Holliday

Getting away, keeping in touch, and coming back to a streak

by Johnny Holliday

I'm sure most of you Nats fans can relate to what I went through last week. The family and I...and I mean the entire family, all 18 of us, spent a delightful week at Deep Creek. If you've been there you know what I'm talking about when I say it's a perfect family getaway.

This year for us it was even more special due to the circumstances surrounding one of our grandsons, Jack Rolle, who is undergoing treatment for cancer of the pituitary gland.

I can't thank you enough for keeping this great kid in your thoughts and prayers. Believe me they are working.

I had a chance to play some golf with Jack and some of his cousins, and I'm proud to report that the 11-year-old fifth grader from Mater Dei School soundly defeated his grandfather--and it wasn't even close.

Jack was quick to point out how nice his 85 looked on the card compared to my 92! Jack is a big baseball fan, and naturally, a Nationals fan. But it was difficult to keep up with the ballclub in an area of the state of Maryland that is dominated by O's and Pirates fans.

We did rely on MASNsports.com to keep us up-to-date with the beginning of this terrific winning streak, which as of this writing has reached eight in a row.

And we did manage to get the Nats-Pirates game on the Pittsburgh network, and it made me realize how fortunate we are to have Bob and Rob doing our games and the silver fox in the studio for pre and post game shows. With Bob taking a few days off, Rob and I will try to keep it going for the next two games in Atlanta.

When one tries to analyze a winning streak, there are so many factors that play into the success of winning game after game.

How 'bout we start with the job Jim Riggleman has been doing in getting everyone on the same page, pushing the right buttons at just the right time - Timely hitting, solid performances out of the bullpen, and outstanding defense have all played major roles in letting major league baseball know, the Washington Nationals are no longer to be considered pushovers.

Toss in Mike Rizzo and Stan Kasten having confidence in handing over this ballclub to Riggleman and you've got one of the feel good stories in all of baseball.

It's no secret that when the Nats are winning, everyone is up. Sure beats the alternative right?

Thanks again for your uplifting notes and thoughts and prayers for little Jack. See you soon at Nationals Park.

Go Nats!