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I just read on a big-time sports periodical Web site that Bryce Harper won't make the majors this year. Be still, my heart. C'mon, the idea that the Nationals would rush Harper to the bigs at 18, having never played a full professional season, has never really been on the table. Sure, he's a precocious talent. A once-every-generation-or-so player. But there's no reason to have
John Kelly "Buddy" Lewis Jr., who attained All-Star status at two positions for the original Washington Nationals, died of cancer Feb. 8 at his home in Gastonia, N.C. He was 94. With young Bryce Harper on the horizon for the current Nationals, it's worth noting that Lewis broke in with Washington in September 1935 at 18. At 19, he was the everyday third baseman and
It's funny what a difference a couple of years can make. When first baseman Mark Teixiera was a free agent, the Nationals offered him more money than he eventually signed for with the Yankees. The reaction? "Oh, that was just for show," said many cynics. "Washington knew he wouldn't take their money regardless of how much they offered." This past offseason, it was no secret
From the time the major leagues integrated in 1947, through the 1953 season, not a single black player appeared in a Washington uniform. They Senators employed lots of Cuban players, but not one who could be considered black. That would all change during spring training 1954. The Nationals were very high on an outfielder named Angel Scull. Scull was a speedy outfielder who batted and
I spent Sunday afternoon at the Loudoun Hounds inaugural FanFest at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn, Va. The Hounds don't actually begin play until 2012 in the independent Atlantic League, but they wanted to get a head start on immersing Loudoun County in some professional baseball. They had a terrific lineup of autograph guests: Frank Howard, Boog Powell, Cecil Fielder, Scott McGregor, Otis Nixon,
It's a sad day when someone you've known and conversed with for 30-plus years passes away, so it was distressing to hear that longtime Orioles umpires attendant Ernie Tyler had left us at age 86. Ernie was one of those guys whose personality and temperament were too good to be true. He always had a kind word, a smile and time to chat. He was
Any way you slice it, $300 million is a lot of money. But then, Albert Pujols isn't just any ballplayer. Pujols is entering his walk year with the Cardinals, and he and his representatives made it known last fall that the deadline on negotiating a new contract was the start of spring training. So, the Redbirds have less than a week to come up with
A couple of seasons ago, a pro scout was sitting in the stands with Tommy Lasorda watching the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts play. A Lookout player hit a double, capping it off with a great slide. One of the fans sitting nearby came over to Tommy and was applauding the play, especially the hustle of the Lookout player. Tommy turned to the fan and said emphatically,
I'm not really into the NFL anymore - the team I grew up rooting for bears no resemblance to the one representing my hometown these days - and, truthfully, football was never more than something to fill in the weeks and months between the World Series and when pitchers and catchers reported. That said, I do try to watch the Super Bowl, and did get
The Nationals signed veteran Laynce Nix to a minor league contract today with an invite to spring training. Nix is a pretty good complementary player, all things considered. At 30, he's never been a regular, but as a bench player he's gotten the job done. In 483 big league games with Texas, Milwaukee and Cincinnati he's hit ..243, with 48 home runs and 182 RBIs.
"I'd like to buy a vowel. Is there an A?" "Yes, there's one A." "I'd like to solve the puzzle, Pat. Cla Meredith." That's Cla - no "y" - Meredith, signed by the Nationals to a minor league contract today. Meredith, whose real middle name is Claiborne, has appeared in six big league seasons, mostly with the San Diego Padres, but with the Orioles the
I can't get too worked up over the Nationals not signing right-hander Justin Duchscherer. He's another project-type pitcher, and while his career stats are fairly impressive, I'm not sure his 2010 big league sample - five starts, 28 innings - is enough to offer any more than he got from the Baltimore Orioles. To be honest, I seriously doubt the Nats made much of an
