When Trouble Reigns, Nats Hail to the Chief

Frank Robinson patted Chad Cordero on the chest yesterday afternoon and said, "Walk this guy and get the next guy out, right?"

"Yup," Cordero said.

Robinson was delighted. Progress at last! Oh, sure, the bases were loaded with two outs in the ninth and the Nationals had a two-run lead over the Pirates. But what is that compared to getting your star 23-year-old reliever to speak while on the mound?

"A year ago he wouldn't have said anything," Robinson said. "His vocabulary has improved. Now, he might say, 'Yes' or 'No' or 'Okay' or "Fine.' I have to teach him a few more words, like, 'I'm okay.' "

Maybe next year, Frank.

Just two years and three days ago, Cordero signed his first pro contract with the Expos. He was just a kid from Southern California whose dad drove a Wonder Bread truck. Fresh out of Cal State Fullerton, he reported to Shea Stadium so Robinson could watch him work out. He was so scared he bounced every pitch.

"What have we done with our number one pick?" thought Robinson.

Now, it looks as if the Nationals got themselves the hottest relief pitcher, perhaps even the hottest player, in baseball.

After that intentional walk yesterday, Cordero felt right in his element. If the bases aren't loaded and disaster awaiting him on the next pitch, the right-hander, called "Chief" for his one-eighth Native American heritage, can't seem to do his best work.

"Basically, I've gotten used to it. I've done it so many times," Cordero said softly of his thrilling ninth-inning escapes. "I don't know, really. I have no idea how I do it. . . . This is pretty cool. I just want to keep it up."

Cordero kept it up yesterday at RFK Stadium before 37,361 roaring but incredulous fans. Each day the throngs here try to grasp what they are seeing from Cordero and the Nationals team that he's come to symbolize. Yet they can't keep pace with reality. Because, for both Cordero and his team, the astonishing and unexpected deeds -- and the high-wire, odds-shredding manner in which they are accomplished -- pile up so fast that there's barely time to digest them.

With his sawed-off stature, his short-arm catcher's throwing motion and his trademark flat-brimmed cap pulled low over his eyes, Cordero needed only two pitches to get Ryan Doumit to fly out to right field to end the Nats' 7-5 victory over Pittsburgh. Thus, Cordero, who had saved the previous night's rain-delayed game at 12:12 a.m., saved another less than 16 hours later.