In D.C. Drama Over Baseball, It's Hard to Tell Who's on First

Barry's plan was to keep the stadium alive by pressuring baseball to award the team to his favored bidder -- D.C. entrepreneur Jonathan Ledecky. Ledecky, Barry said, had told him he would pay all stadium cost overruns.

Barry said he even called baseball's Selig directly. "I know Bud from way back," Barry said. "I told him, 'Think about it.' "

He tried to bluff in his dealings with DuPuy, telling him that eight council members were prepared to vote against the lease agreement. If Ledecky were awarded the team, Barry said, he and others would join the five stadium supporters.

Never mind that the council members who Barry said were in his camp now say they had never promised him anything.

"You know how Marion is," Brown said. "He's talking to everybody, or at least he's telling everyone he's talking to everybody."

DuPuy told Barry that there would be no such deal.

Asked about Barry's subsequent statement that Williams was "fumbling and bumbling" the stadium debate, Williams said: "I have treated the former mayor with respect and done nothing to [criticize] him or his behavior. I've been nothing but positive. It's too bad it has not been reciprocal."

The mayor made his comments Thursday as he shopped for Nationals apparel at a Gallery Place sports store, a photo opportunity set up by aides. Williams picked up a blue Nationals cap.

"Maybe I should get one for all the council members whose votes I need," he said with a chuckle. The caps were about all the mayor had left to offer.