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In Baseball Now, More Teams Pray Before They Play
Jon Moeller leads the Nationals' Baseball Chapel.
(By Preston Keres -- The Washington Post)
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As Church played, Moeller was spreading the word, up and down the ramps of RFK, distributing 120 chapel leaflets to groundskeepers, to ticketing agents and to security guards, with a slap on the back and a "Hey, man, did you make it to Mass today?" In the radio booth, the announcer shook his head, lamenting on air, "the lack of run-production from this team. . . ."
"We're still five for five," offered Moeller, "in God's eyes."
Three Sundays later, the team gathered for chapel. Outside, batboys were rubbing up the game balls with mud. Forklifts were rumbling boxes of hot dog buns.
Inside the video room, Moeller was giving a sermon condemning steroid use. He peered out from dugout-deep green eyes: "It's not about the season; it's about eternity."
The usual guys were there. They took turns reading out loud from the Bible. Jamey Carroll gave the closing prayer: "Lord, we ask that You be in our clubhouse. It is a frustrating and trying time for our team. . . ."
Nick Johnson blew his nose in a Gatorade towel.
". . . as we go out to play and be who You want us to be . . ."
Ryan Church looked pleased. His slump was over.
". . . and to help us to play as if it's our last day . . ."
The only one missing was Matt Cepicky. After the Padres game, Cepicky was dropped. He was sent down to the AAA team in New Orleans. Moeller contacted the New Orleans' chapel leader. It would be okay.
"It's all about surrender," Moeller said. Trust in the Lord.
