Baseball is a universal language. No matter what country you are from or what language you speak, the language of baseball is unifying.  Attending the Venezuela vs. Puerto Rico World Baseball Classic game was one of the most incredible things I’ve ever experienced.  I’m not sure how to even begin to describe the atmosphere in Dolphin Stadium, it was electric upon entering and only got more intense as the game started. Players like Jesus Flores, Johan Santana, Miguel Cabrera and K-Rod are some of my favorites, so I decided to root for Venezuela. I even wore my new Venezuela hat. Kristen decided to cheer for Puerto Rico specifically for Saul Rivera and Felipe Lopez. It was fun to just be there, we wanted each team to do well.

As I walked into the stadium I was engulfed in a cheering mob of Venezuela fans, beating drums, yelling and waving flags. In the first few minutes I was welcomed as a fellow fan and learned my first baseball chant…Ven-ez-uela…WOO!! After watching a few other WBC games I wasn’t expecting the stadium to be as full as it was. People were everywhere, the excitement and anticipation was unbelievable. I really have never experienced anything like it. The game was great baseball, the Venezuelan’s got off to an early lead and Puerto Rico just couldn’t mount the offense for a comeback. Saul Rivera pitched a scoreless inning though and it was really cool to see him there.

After the final out the stadium went nuts, people were cheering, yelling, and chanting. It took a good 30 minutes for us to get from our seats to the parking lot. I was engulfed by numerous Venezuelan fans celebrating along the way. People were literally dancing in the streets after the game. It really was incredible and I think we are both really lucky to have been able to make the game a part of our spring training trip.

Here are some photos from the game. MetsGrrl has a really great post about the same game here.

We apologize for the lack of updates since Thursday. We have been traveling all over Central Florida watching baseball. After our double header on Thursday, we spent Friday morning and afternoon at Disney World. Friday night we caught the Nats/Astro’s game in Kissimmee. I’m a big fan of the Astros spring training stadium, it feels pretty intimate. Scott Olsen started, and allowed two runs over four innings, with two walks and two strikeouts. Brad Eldred hit another solo home run to put the Nats on the board, then Roger Bernadina doubled to lead off the 7th and later scored on an Alex Cintron base hit. The game went into a few extra innings but was called a tie in the end. We stayed to watch the stadium fireworks, which were really spectacular, much better than I’ve even seen at Nats Park.

On Saturday we headed back down to Port St. Lucie to see the Nats take on the Mets. Due to the traffic we encountered on Thursday for Johan Santana’s first start, we allowed plenty of time to get to the stadium. Turns out we didn’t really need that much time, it seems Johan was the sole cause for all of the traffic we had on Thursday. Mike Pelfrey was on the mound for the Mets and threw four scoreless innings. Shairon Martis also pitched four innings and gave up one run. Reliever Terrell Young gave up a run in his inning of work. The score remained 2-0 until the 9th inning, when a late rally put the Nationals up 6-2. Catcher Molina knocked in the go-ahead run and Freddy Bynum hit an RBI triple. Justin Maxwell followed with a two run homer. It was an exciting 9th inning to say the least.

Today we headed over to Space Coast Stadium for our only home game of the trip. We got to watch most of the major-leaguers practice this morning. We noticed right away that the coaches this year don’t tolerate much goofing around. We were pretty lucky and got watching groups of the guys practice bunting. It was a really entertaining drill to watch. The guys broke up into two teams of three and took turns trying to lay down a bunt in an outlined square. The guys were getting pretty competitive, which really entertained those fans watching. We headed into the stadium to watch the Nats take on the Tigers. Collin Balester pitched around trouble a number of times, especially in the third inning when he got one quick out but then walked the next three batters. Despite the walks, Balester ended up throwing three scoreless innings. Anderson Hernandez had two base hits this afternoon. We did take notice of his funny batting stance, it seems to work for him, but it had us cracking up! However, the Nationals couldn’t generate much offense and lost the game 3-0.

After the game we headed to the beach to watch the Space Shuttle Discovery launch. We were bummed before our trip thinking the shuttled would launch on March 11th and that’d we’d miss it by just a day. Lucky for us though, the launch was delayed until this evening and we were able to hang out on the beach and see the whole launch. It was a really amazing site, thousands of spectators lined the beach to get a glimpse. We were so happy to have been able to witness the spectacular feat while on vacation!

Tomorrow we are headed to Jupiter to watch the Marlins and the Nats in the afternoon. Then tomorrow evening we are headed to Miami to watch our first World Baseball Classic game. We’ll keep you updated!!

Here are some photos from the game and the launch today.

Yesterday was sort of a whirlwind.  We arrived in Orlando around 11 am and drove right the Braves vs. Nats game at Disney’s Wide World of Sports.  We had never been before and the complex was beautiful.  We were presently surprised by the starting lineup.  We never thought we would get to see so many starters on an away trip and with so many away trips on our itinerary we had prepared ourselves to watch a lot of prospects.  I know everyone has said it, but Ryan Zimmerman looks great this season, seriously we almost didn’t recognize him at the plate.  His RBI double gave the Nats a lead.  Daniel Cabrera looked pretty sharp, he even had a base hit.  It was pretty entertaining watching him run to first base.  Lastings up to bat after him, had a base hit himself and when Zim hit the double, Cabrera headed for home with Lastings almost passing him on the base path.  Cabrera really looked like he had never run the bases before.  It’s also always fun to watch Atlanta’s Mike Gonzalez’ snake-like delivery.  He looked sharp.

After the Braves game we jumped back in the rental and headed to Port St. Lucie to see the Mets and watch Johan Santana’s first start of the Spring.  Tradition Field looked like a miniature replica of Shea.  Same music, same, colors same food, same fans…it was fun to be there.  The Mets got hammered by the Marlins, Dan Uggla hit two homers.  Johan looked good but he threw more balls than we’d ever seen before and he even hit a batter.  With Tomas Armas Jr. pitching in relief, with Church in right field and Schneider behind the plate, it was almost like we were watching a past Nats game.  It was a perfect night for a Spring baseball game.  We headed back up I-95 to Melbourne and crashed for the night.

We’re  off again this morning, and will have some more updates this afternoon!

Day One Photos

In just 24 hours, we’ll be watching Daniel Cabrera take on the Braves at their Walt Disney complex.  I can’t wait.  I’ve been busy packing and getting ready, so I apologize for being out of touch.  We added Twitter (on the left sidebar), so hopefully that will help to keep you updated while we’re in Florida too.  We’ll post as often as we can here on WGH, but Twitter will be helpful for quick updates.

We’re flying out tomorrow morning; here’s the plan:

Thursday 1 p.m. - Nats @ Braves
Thursday 7 p.m. - Marlins @ Mets (Johan Santana’s first start)
Friday 7 p.m. - Nats @ Astros
Saturday 1 p.m. - Nats @ Mets
Sunday 1 p.m. - Tigers @ Nats
Monday 1 p.m. - Nats @ Marlins
Monday 8 p.m. - World Baseball Classic in Miami
Tueday 7 p.m. - World Baseball Classic in Miami

Two self-made double-headers! This is not going to be a “relaxing” vacation - but there’s no place I’d rather be.

Check over at Nationals Buzz on MASN for updates too.  Tomorrow can’t come soon enough!

Baseball is back!  The Nationals are working out in Viera getting ready to put 2008 behind them, and so are we.  I really enjoy the first week of Spring Training.  There is excitement and optimism in the air for players, coaches and fans. Nats Town is buzzing with the thought that anything is possible in 2009. 

Manny Acta is ready to win.  He seems to think the ‘09 team is the best he has coached in DC. 

“Hey, let’s win,” Acta said. “That is what I am saying. I try to win with what I have. I’m not going in here thinking about 2010. This is a good bunch of guys, and baseball has shown in the last couple of years, do things right and you never know.”

Manny’s enthusiasm seems to be influencing the team already.  Jesus Flores entered camp ready to play and with the desire to improve.  Flores is reunited with his catching mentor Pat Corrales.  While Corrales was fired from his bench coach job after the ‘08 season, he is back with the Nats in an advisory role, and Flores is his most promising pupil.  Jesus really has a chance to improve this season.  The number one spot is his.  Gone is the pressure of waiting to play and wondering if a season in the minors is in store for him.   He earned his spot in the lineup.  The goal now is to get better, and perhaps to even improve enough to make a trip to this year’s All Star Game.   Hey, it’s ok to dream big!

While Manny Acta and Flores are excited and optimistic about the ‘09 season, there is one guy who doesn’t seem to share their enthusiasm.  What’s the deal with Odalis Perez deciding to just not show up to camp?  It will be interesting to see what happens there. We hope something can be worked out. We’d like to see Odalis earn a spot in the rotation this season.

It’s good to have baseball back, and I hope to enjoy that ‘anything is possible’ feeling for as long as I can.

Alright - Lo Duca thinks he’s better.  He played in one game, went 1 for 3 and actually caught Reyes stealing.  Fine and good.  So, we have a catcher to fill in until Jesus Flores is ready.  Manny suggested today that Estrada will start the season on the DL. The backup will be Wil Nieves.  Flores will still likely start in AA Harrisburg.

So two questions:  Why is Lo Duca talking about his long-term future here? (There isn’t one, is there?) And why is Bill Ladson STILL picking fights with Brian Schneider? (It seems personal and it’s getting old)

Between the underage women, gambling, attitude issues, heavy steroid use (and his inability to face up to it until months later) oh and the recent injury - we’re supposed to cheer for this guy, re-think our real long term plan for catcher and forget that Brian Schneider was a good guy.  Yea, Paul, you can bet we’re skeptical, but at least there’s a beat writer on your side.

Take Bill’s great example of clubhouse leadership:

Early this week, for example, an upset Lo Duca didn’t see his name in the starting lineup against the Mets, so he went into manager Manny Acta’s office for an explanation. Lo Duca calmed down after Acta told him the team wanted Lo Duca to be in a “more controlled environment” and make sure that his left knee was OK when he is hitting and catching behind the plate.

That’s leadership?  Demanding an answer when your name isn’t in the line-up?  Storming into Manny Acta’s office for an explanation? That’s respect?

Are we even in the clear for no suspension or is that yet to be determined?

Wow we are shocked about the J Pat news, but admittedly relieved and a little pleased. This isn’t just about the big loss to the Orioles the other day. It’s part of Patterson’s continuing pattern of complaining and blaming poor performance on lingering pain, and every other excuse possible.  Remember this one?

“I was picking up a ball during BP,” said Patterson, “and I turned to throw the ball in the bucket, and as I was set to release the ball, that’s when the other ball hit me in the face. It spun me around and I saw stars for a little while and walked off the field. It has been a crazy month. I have been sick for almost the whole month. I’m finally on medicine to get that cleared up. I get hit in the face with the ball yesterday, and now my arm’s throbbing and sore. How much more stuff can you deal with?”

Recently, days after Patterson blamed a vicious flu on his bad performance against the Orioles, Tim Redding pitched a phenomenal game under the same conditions.

A bad game never seemed to be Patterson’s fault. In 2007 he was limited to just seven starts.  While attending the May 5th game in Chicago last year, we felt like we witnessed a total melt down. John pitched just two innings and gave up four runs on seven hits. He was placed on the 15-day DL the next day due to right elbow soreness. We didn’t know at the time, but that game would be the last time we’d see him pitch in 2007. 

The team was pretty patient after last year’s long drawn out search for new treatments.  It got old fast. He eventually underwent surgery in September, his second in two years.  Throughout his whole major league career, John is just 18-25.  He’s played in 88 games in six seasons. Guess he can nurse his bumps and bruises on somebody else’s DL. Releasing Patterson also creates an opening for a young guy like John Lannan.

Not catching in major league games. Paul Lo Duca played three innings on Saturday in minor league camp. He will play again in a minor league game today. He isn’t scheduled to play a major league game until Thursday against the Astro’s. He says he’s feeling good though. I wonder how good the potential rotation feels about it. It sure doesn’t give the pitchers much time to work with Lo Duca before the season officially starts. Along the same lines, Estrada is still suffering from tendinitis in his elbow, he’s begun a throwing program, but Manny says he won’t be ready for opening day…

 Cue the understudy.  The team still says it won’t be Flores playing backup unless he can play more than 3 games a week.  So his role is dependent on the health of Lo Duca. Flores has had a great Spring and clearly wants to stay in the majors for the ‘08 season.  That leaves Wil Nieves and Humberto Cota to fight for the spot. We’ll cast our vote for Nieves, who acted as a backup last year for the Yankees.

Still lots of questions with Opening Day quickly approaching. Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone. Hopefully the Nats get some luck from the Irish as they take on the Mets this afternoon!

Losing to the Dodgers, I can handle.  Tommy needed his first Grapefruit League win since his managing days.  Perez did get knocked around a bit in his debut (four runs in 4 1-3 innings, five hits and two walks.)  Rivera and Hanrahan combined for a scoreless, hitless 7th, 8th and 9th.  Miss Chatter was there and has some great photos!

But, losing 11-3 to the Orioles today was just brutal.

Patterson looked more 2007 than 2005 today.  He allowed Oriole hit after hit (eight in all) and six earned runs in four innings.  Munoz entered the game, lost a pop up in the sun and gave up a 2 run shot to new Oriole Luke Scott.  Schroder, still battling for a spot in the bullpen, pitched a perfect 6th before turning it over to Charlie Manning.  Manning’s line followed more like Patterson’s.  Three earned runs, three hits, two walks.  Even Jesus Colome struggled getting outs in the 8th — giving up 2 hits and a walk.  All in all, a brutal pitching day for our guys against our beltway rival.

Of course, any offense at all would have helped Patterson out a little.  Felipe Lopez had a hit to start things off but the Nats had no runs until the 6th inning with G. Guzman’s 2 run blast to right field.  Luis Jimenez later scored on a de Caster sacrifice for the final 3rd run.  The only regulars to travel to Fort Lauderdale for today’s game were Belliard, Johnson, Milledge and Lopez.  But still, 11-3?

Tomorrow:  Happy St. Patrick’s Day and Mike O’Connor on the mound?  Very clever, Manny.  It’s our first reunion (if you skip the rain-out) with Church and Schneider, should they make the trip and Lastings first game against the Mets after harsh words about his former team.  Hanrahan, Rauch, Ayala and Cordero are expected to work in relief.

We’re almost there - nearly two weeks away from Opening Night. 

The Post has a cool piece today by Fred Bowen interviewing Jim Chibnall, an architect who helped design the new ballpark.

But the most important thing is to come down and experience the building. I think people will like this building and call it their home away from home for years to come.

Metro has released special plans to accomodate the Papal Mass at new Nationals Park in April including extra trains, shuttles from RFK Stadium, extra staff and a commemorative Metro pass for $9 good for the entire day.

WMP strained his left oblique muscle.  According to Barry, “club officials were preparing for the possibility that Peña could be out as many as six weeks.”

Dmitri looked good in his debut in Grapfruit League action (2 for 3 and a walk).  Austin came alive with a double and Aaron Boone hit in the only Nats run.  Schroder, who now seems to be fighting for a spot in the bullpen with Hanrahan, gave up two inconsequential hits and Saul Rivera collected a rare blown save.  Saul hadn’t given up a home run since last April.  He would have been out of the inning without Kasto’s costly error.

Dave and Charley have the Cleveland game at 1 and the Dodgers game Saturday.  The Nats are on MASN on Sunday, but with the O’s broadcast team.