Say what you will about the Phillies fans – the ones who were obnoxious, the ones who were quite lovely, and the ones who were in between – but you have to acknowledge their ability to cheer for their team (I’m not going to comment on the booing skills shown by some of them).  And honestly, when we scored that 1 run, our fans also showed some mad cheering skills that were louder than the visitors. But then what?

Sometimes the voice of NatsTown seems so quiet that you could hear a moth flutter his wings in the 400s lights.   One sure way to make the visitors’ cheers a little less effective is to out-cheer them.  So what happened to the cheering from NatsTown on Monday?  Hold on before you jump all over me and say that there was nothing to cheer about.  You didn’t know that there was going to be nothing to cheer about before a ball was pitched, before the batter stepped up to the plate.  So why not cheer when the team took the field each inning?  Why not cheer when each batter’s name was called? You didn’t know what was going to happen, and if you say you assumed what would happen, well then get your Negative Nelly attitude an adjustment and come back around when you’re cured. 

I heard cheers when our team was announced.  I heard cheers when Zim drove in our run.  I heard end of inning cheers when a few went without a Phillies run.  But aside from that, I didn’t hear the voice of NatsTown, and I hardly ever do.  How are you going to overcome a mass of opposing team fans if you don’t speak out?

What I have noticed in many games throughout the past few seasons is that DC baseball fans seem to be the quietest ones I’ve ever heard.  When we’re winning, sure, we’re loud.  But even when the game is not going so badly or there is no score, it’s like pulling teeth to get a “Let’s Go Nationals” going (or a “Let’s Go Nats” if you must – but please not when the Mets are in town, OK?).  Everyone seems to join a dreaded wave, but no one seems to have a voice?    

I realize that if you are even reading this post, chances are you do cheer throughout the game.  I hear you on that one, and I thank you.  I admit that you may not be my target for this post – and that my target may never read this post.  But since you are reading this, I’m going to guess that even you can do better.  So tonight, I charge you (and me)  to do – and recruit others to join us in doing – the following:

• Stand up when the fireworks burst and the team takes the field
• Cheer for the entire lineup whether or not you think a player may deserve it
• Clap for him each time a player steps up to the plate throughout the game, no matter how he is playing today, even if his last name is not Zimmerman
• Respond to the Let’s Go Nats! chants
• Stomp your feet & make some noise
• Encourage the players to do well even when they are doing poorly
• Bring some energy to the park & let the Nationals know that you are there

You know that saying, “If you can’t beat them, join them”?  When it comes to drowning out the cheers of visiting fans, you can’t beat them unless you join them!

Returning for a moment to the story about the pile of manure, the little boy, and the pony.  Boy-oh-boy, the shit is on fire isn’t it!  I expect that nearly everyone has seen the comments on what Stan and the Nationals may or may not have done to facilitate (even encourage?) the invasion by Phillies fans.  Read about it everywhere: from a source that tends to be a little snarky, in the Washington Post, in a fan blog, and in a virtual therapy session (130 comments and counting) over at Mark Zuckerman’s Nats Insider.

Yesterday, I decided to focus on the pony, but I’d be lying if I said all the rage didn’t resonate with me.  So why do I feel so angry?

This might sound like a chick comment, but I think it’s about feelings.  Nationals fans love their team, often despite the baseball.  A lot of us spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on tickets, while feeling like the organization doesn’t care, or probably more accurately, doesn’t care enough about us.  It’s a little bit like a bad relationship where she’s totally obsessed, and he’s just not that into her.

If this fangirl’s instinct is to look for a pony, the organization’s instinct should be to look for shovels.  Some of the shovels are about scouting and development and everything else, including spending, to improve the baseball.

But there’s another shovel out there, just waiting for someone to pick it up.  This shovel deals with feelings and requires the Nationals organization to reach out to fans to say, “Yikes! We didn’t want that to happen.  Beginning today, we’ll work harder to show you how much we care about Nationals fans and how we’re working to build a bigger fan base.” The Nationals organization could be all wrong, or it could be more complicated than it appears, but it doesn’t really matter.  What matters is what every smart husband or boyfriend or significant other knows, the path to reconciliation starts not with being defensive, but rather with saying, “I’m sorry.”

During yesterday’s opening ceremonies you may have noticed the second player announced has not been in the press much, in fact many Phillies fans sitting near me had no idea Chris Coste was on the Nationals. While this signing is no blockbuster event, it is still noteworthy to mention it.

Coste, 37, was put on waivers by the Mets late in spring training; last year he appeared in 88 games last season for the Phillies and Astros, hitting .224. Coste, a talented catcher, is also an author. Last year I read his entire book in a couple of days and it was probably one of the best I have read.

The 33 Year Old Rookie is Chris’ story of making it to the big leagues, from childhood to his breakout season with the Phillies in 2006. If I remember the book correctly, Chris can play all 9 positions but the position that would give him the greatest chance of making a career out of baseball was catcher. He learned baseball from his grandfather, but there was always a strong female presence in his childhood, living with a single mother and his two aunts. This book is a must read story about perseverance and what it takes to make it to the major leagues if you are not Stephen Strasburg.

Coste was put on the 15-day disabled list prior to Opening Day but I hope to see him play at some point this year.

I don’t want to give all of the funny, sad, and heartwarming stories away, so you will have to read the book yourself.

Buy Chris Coste’s book here.

You all know that I am a baseball fan (Go Nats!), but what you may not know is that the other not really interesting fact about me is that I am a runner, too.  I’m not a good one, not by far, but I’ve put in enough miles to have earned the right to call myself a runner.  Now, the Nationals have that little thing down there in Viera, FL that they call Spring Training.  Sure, Spring Training is a time for players to try out for the team and a chance to choose the best players for the season, but it is also a time for players to come out of winter hibernation and ready themselves for the upcoming season.  To get themselves back into playing condition.  As a runner, I have my own Spring Training. 

I begin my next round of marathon training on May 1 (insert shout out to Arlington Road Runners Club here!), so for the next few weeks I have my own chance to ready myself for the Spring/Summer running season.  I can stock up on Gatorade and Gu, replace a water bottle or two, re-examine the life expectancy of my shoes, clear my memory of my disappointing winter races, and prepare to get up early several times per week to run – a lot.  I wouldn’t just hop into my season, I’d prepare for it. 

So let’s get back to that first fact about me – Baseball Fan.  For 3 seasons before this one, I had spent at least a few days in Viera watching the Nats, getting excited, and soaking up the joy.  But for a certain little reason that I share with millions of other Americans right now, I was not able to go down to FL this year.  It was disappointing, and of course I was sad about it, but I really didn’t give it much thought.  I mean, big deal, so what if I don’t get to go to Spring Training?  But then this weekend came and something occurred to me.  I realized that my Spring Training trips weren’t just about going to FL to watch the Nats; they were also about conditioning myself – the baseball fan, the blogger, the 25+ game attendee – for the season.  I realized this almost immediately on Saturday at the season ticket holder event and then into Monday for Opening Day.

First off, I had no summer clothes ready.  I had stacked my Nats fleece, sweatshirt, coat, scarf, and gloves next to my baseball bag.  I mean, I’ve been to Opening Day before.  I’ve frozen my butt off on those days.  But this year was summerlike, and I wasn’t prepared for short sleeves and shorts.  I had to pull out a Curly W tech shirt out of my running stash.  Now you may say that this year’s weather in FL would not have prepared me for short sleeves anyway, but you don’t know me well – I would have packed for summer and ended up buying more Nats fleeces, sweatshirts, coats, etc. down there, so yeah, a trip to FL would have meant at least taking the summer baseball clothes out of storage. 

Then, I detected the odor of sunscreen wafting off of the others sitting in the sun.  What was that odor?  I barely recognized it let alone remembered to put it on.  Had I planned my annual trip to FL, I would have reintroduced myself to SPF30 and the sun’s rays.  (yes, I now have a farmer’s tan)

Next was the triple threat combo of sun, fresh air, and beer.  I don’t understand it, and I never have, but the combo of fresh air and sun – and sitting it in specifically – makes me more tired than anything else.  And if you throw in a beer and huge Five Guys burger, it’s even worse.  But I was not prepared for this.  I was at Nats Park for 8 hours on Saturday and 6 on Monday.  That’s a lot of fresh air and sun.  I woke up today completely exhausted wishing Emma knew how to put on her leash and walk herself.  Maybe had I spent a few lazy days in the sun and fresh air of Viera or the other MLB camps I would have been better conditioned to handle it this weekend.

Lastly, it was a boring game.  I’m sorry boys, I love you, but Saturday and Monday were very dull.  If I had closed my eyes, I would have fallen asleep.  I know that they are just losing now so that when they begin their season-long winning streak on Wednesday we will be able to appreciate it more, but wow, it was painful.  Perhaps if I had gone to Viera, I could have prepared for that as well.

So what it boils down to is that as a baseball fan, I’m officially out of shape.  I am not conditioned for sitting in the sun, breathing in the fresh air, watching my team, while sipping on a beer and eating some unhealthy food.  I didn’t realize how much I needed my own Spring Training to get ready for 2010, and if I don’t condition myself soon, my days are going to include a lot of naps. 

I guess there are worse things.

You know the anecdote, about the optimistic little boy and the pile of manure.  This post is mostly about the pony, but my goodness, it would  be easy to go on and on about the manure.  Poor John Lannan, the fourth was painful.  And nine walks by the pitching staff?  Yikes!  Finally, can I just say that I hate Phillies fans.

But on to the pony:

• It’s just one loss and we’re only one game back.
• Presidential first pitch-that’s pretty cool.
• Nice day!
• How about Pudge (”I’m not old”) Rodriguez? Three for 4 with 2 doubles and a pair of defensive plays that brought me to my feet. His day makes me happy because I love catchers and I’m thinking he’s going to be easy to love.
• A tip of my Curly W cap to Mike Morse for his single and heads-up base running. I was rooting for him to make the team and am glad he did well today.
• And last but not least, I was thrilled for Jesse English.  With zeroes across the board in 1.1 innings pitched, I’m sure today was his dream coming true.

Let’s get ‘em on Wednesday!

I hope that you, like me, are more than ready for another year of Nationals baseball.

I’m ready to cheer on a team that will be better than last year.  Maybe we’ll surprise everyone and win the NL East.  (I know, I know, but a girl can hope.)

If our boys don’t outplay the Phillies, Marlins, Braves, and Mets, I’ll celebrate the smaller victories, like Justin Maxwell’s walk-off home run in the last home game of 2009, and John Lannan’s complete game shutout of the Mets–my favorite win last year.  And I’ll mark our progress with the arrival of Drew Storen and that Strasburg guy.

On Saturday, I noticed the pennants at the Red Loft Bar, ordered to reflect the final 2009 standings in the NL East.  With no breeze to assist me, it’s hard to tell the pennants’ order from the photo, but who really wants to see it anyway.  I’m ready to see the order change throughout the season, with our pennant at least a little higher, and the Phillies pennant lower, please.  Maybe the photo will look better a few short hours from now, with the Nationals’ flag atop the pole, and the other guys’ on the bottom.

I’m looking forward to fewer and shorter rain delays, my excellent new seats behind the Nationals’ dugout (quick shout-out to my ticket reps for the upgrade), and a lot of hours spent at the ballpark with friends.

And of course, I’m looking forward to joining the ladies of We’ve Got Heart, where I’ll chat with you about our team.

All together now:  Let’s go Nats!

Great news, Nats fans!  We’ve Got Heart is alive and well…resurrected a bit, if you will.  Perfect for Easter.

Even better, the renewed effort is also perfectly in time for Opening Day.

We’ve recruited a strong team of passionate Nats fans to carry WGH through this promising season.   Carolyn, Cassi, Danielle, Jenn and Rachel are a diverse mix of intelligent Nationals fans who really want to make this blog great again.  I am so excited to see where they take it.

I’ll be here behind the scenes — answering questions and making sure things go smoothly, but I have every confidence in the world that these lovely ladies will do a great job.   You can read my stuff over at Nats Buzz on MASNsports.com if you’re so inclined.

Please give our new gals a warm welcome and come back often!

Happy Opening Day!

Well, I can’t make Spring Training come any faster, but John Lannan and Craig Stammen will be among the attendees at the Bethesda Big Train Auction. Come support The Big Train, who were ranked #9 among colligate summer league teams and improve the quality of baseball and softball fields in Montgomerty County and the District of Columbia.

In addition to being able to see two of the Nationals most promising young pitchers, ESPN baseball anaylist, Tim Kurkjian will also be at the event. There are also some great Nationals Auction items, like a Ryan Zimmerman autographed baseball and a 2009 team signed ball.

The Auction is this Sunday, November 8th from 5:30 to 8:30 at the Pooks Hill Marriot. You can find out more about The Big Train and order tickets at their website (www.bigtrain.org) or buy tickets at the door for $50 (adults) or $25 (kids 5-12, under 5 is free).
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Check out the pumpkin carving patterns the Nationals have posted and make your jack-o-lanterns, Nationals fans. Or for the creative Nationals fan, design your own pumpkin pattern and enter it in the contest to win a 2009 game used jersey. For full instructions click here.

Here are our pumpkins from last year!

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As part of We’ve Got Heart’s support of the Baseball Blogger Alliance Awards, we wanted to post the ballots submitted by the Washington Chapter.   Nats News Network and History’s Perspective at Nationals Pride submitted ballots this season.

History’s Perspective:
Manager of the Year: Monday, October 12
Jim Tracy – Colorado Rockies
Bruce Bochy – San Francisco Giants
Joe Torre – Los Angeles Dodgers

Rookie of the Year: Thursday, October 15
Chris Coglan – Florida Marlin
J.A. Happ – Philadelphia Phillies
Tommy Hanson – Atlanta Braves

Cy Young Award: Monday, October 19
Tim Lincecum – San Francisco Giants
Chris Carpenter – St. Louis Cardinals
Adam Wainwright – St. Louis Cardinals

Most Valuable Player: Monday, October 26
Albert Pujols – St. Louis Cardinals
Prince Fielder – Milwaukee Brewers
Hanley Ramirez – Florida Marlins
Ryan Braun – Milwaukee Brewers
Ryan Howard – Philadelphia Phillies
Derrick Lee – Chicago Cubs
Ryan Zimmerman – Washington Nationals
Troy Tulowitzki – Colorado Rockies
Pablo Sandoval – San Francisco Giants
Adrian Gonzalez – San Diego Padres

Nats News Network:
N.L. MANAGER OF THE YEAR
3. Joe Torre, LAD
2. Bruce Bochy, SF
1. Jim Tracy, COL

N.L. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
3. Chris Coghlan, FL (.321/.390/.460, 9 HR–47 RBI–8 SB)
2. J.A. Happ, PHI (12-4, 2.93, 119 K in 166.0 IP)
1. Tommy Hanson, ATL (11-4, 2.89 ERA, 116 K in 127.2 IP)

N.L. CY YOUNG
3. Chris Carpenter, STL (17-4, 2.24 ERA, 144 K in 192.2 IP)
2. Adam Wainwright, STL (19-8, 2.63 ERA, 212 K in 233.0 IP)
1. Tim Lincecum, SF (15-7, 2.48 ERA, 261 K in 225.1 IP)

N.L. MVP (AVE/OBP/SLG, HR/RBI/RUNS/SB)
10. Andre Ethier, LAD (.272/.361/.508, 31/106/92/6)
9. Ryan Zimmerman, WAS (.292/.364/.525, 33/106/110/2)
8. Pablo Sandoval, SF (.330/.387/.556, 25/90/79/5)
7. Derrick Lee, CHC (.306/.393/.579, 35/111/91/1)
6. Ryan Braun, MIL (.320/.386/.551, 32/114/113/20)
5. Prince Fielder, MIL (.299/.412/.602, 46/141/103/2)
4. Ryan Howard, PHI (.279/.360/.571, 45/141/105/8)
3. Troy Tulowitzki, COL (.297/.377/.552, 32/92/101/20)
2. Hanley Ramirez, FL (.342/.410/.543, 24/106/101/27)
1. Albert Pujols, STL (.327/.443/.658, 47/135/124/16)