Amid Headaches, Nationals Offer a Bit of Relief

By George Solomon
Sunday, January 29, 2006

The success enjoyed by the Washington Nationals on and off the field was one of the big stories of the past baseball season. Frank Robinson's team contended for a National League wild-card berth until the final weeks of the season, with attendance reaching 2.7 million and appealing stars like Chad Cordero, Nick Johnson, Livan Hernandez, John Patterson, Jose Guillen, Brian Schneider and Ryan Zimmerman emerging almost weekly.

But hopes of building on those achievements went awry in an endless series of twists and turns involving the D.C. Council wrangling over a stadium lease that has been revised more than the Law of the Sea Treaty. City officials sent another revision on Friday to the council that includes guarantees of a cap against going over the $535 million authorized to build the stadium. Another vote by the council is scheduled for Feb 7. Meanwhile, frustrated ownership groups cool their heels like teenagers waiting for word on college admissions as season ticket renewals sputtered at 80 percent while potential customers generally were ignored.

"There has been a negative pall over the team during the entire offseason because of the stadium lease negotiations," team president Tony Tavares said.

In the hot stove department, starting pitcher Esteban Loaiza left town for Oakland while another fan favorite, Brad Wilkerson, was traded to Texas for slugging second baseman Alfonso Soriano. The only problem with Soriano is that he's a second baseman on a team with an excellent second baseman (Jose Vidro) and Alfonso doesn't want to change positions. So I wouldn't be surprised if Soriano is traded before ever playing a day in Washington.

But enough with the negativity and long faces of so many, including my friend, WRC-4's Tom Sherwood, every time Mayor Anthony A. Williams sends another lease proposal up to Linda Cropp's band of merry council pranksters.

About three weeks from the start of spring training, here's what good about the Nationals:

· The team's infield could be improved with Vidro and Johnson healthier, Zimmerman's continued maturation and the likelihood Cristian Guzman couldn't possibly hit worse than he did last year.

· The pitching staff might get another starter if GM Jim Bowden makes a good deal for Soriano.

· While some purists say Sammy Sosa is done, his addition would be a lift to a team in need of some sizzle. I like Sammy Sosa; he was a great player who had a lousy season in '05 for the Orioles. But what the heck, sign him to a $500,000 contract with incentives, and if it doesn't work he can join the Redskins' coaching staff.

· While the frustrating conflict between the Peter Angelos-owned Mid-Atlantic Sports Network and Comcast SportsNet may not be resolved until, say, 2010, I believe we'll see more Nats games on TV. If not, I'm going to get angry.

· Even with the increase in ticket prices, the Nationals are one of the best bargains in sports, playing in a hopelessly out-of-date stadium I like that's easily accessible by Metro or car.

· The team's main broadcast voice, Charlie Slowes, is very good. I want to hear him from Day One of spring training games. And I can still listen to the departed Ron Darling doing Mets games. Why? I liked him.

· Finally, a memo to the Fenty-Catania Gang: The Yankees and Orioles play in Washington this season. Be menschen for once and I'll take you to a game. We'll bond.

Monk's Candidacy

Making my annual plea in hopes the committee of 39 selectors (mostly writers) elect former Redskin Art Monk on Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Monk is one of 15 finalists, along with former teammate Russ Grimm (now on the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers). Monk played 14 seasons for the Redskins from 1980 to 1993, finishing his career playing one year with the Jets and one with Philadelphia. His 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns don't even measure his true value to those four Redskins Super Bowl teams.

"He has the numbers and the body of work in his career to get in," said retired Redskins quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, a Hall of Famer.

One prominent voter who isn't likely to support Monk -- Peter King of Sports Illustrated -- said last week that when he covered the New York Giants, that team feared Gary Clark, Ricky Sanders and Washington's running game more than Monk. "I see him as a good NFL player" -- maybe "not a Hall of Famer," King said.

Retorted Jurgensen: "Did he [Monk] make those people around him better? I think he did."

Last year, Joe Theismann hyperventilated while discussing Monk's attributes, so I'll leave Joe alone this year, and Monk was too classy to lobby for himself. I'm told there are two locks this year: the late Reggie White and Troy Aikman. There should be a third, if life were fair.

Rebounds

· I really don't know what to make of this season's Wizards, other than Gilbert Arenas is worth the price of admission and should make his second straight all-star team, Antawn Jamison is regaining his shooting touch, Caron Butler is pretty good and while the defense isn't great, at least Kobe Brant didn't go for 81 when he played here.

· Soccer update: Northern Virginia's Bruce Arena, coach of the U.S. World Cup team, sends his guys to play Norway today in Carson, Calif. Last week, the United States played a scoreless tie with Canada, with many of Arena's best players still working in Europe. Our Freddy Adu got a yellow card for taking a dive in his brief appearance. "Freddy is young and needs time," Arena said. "My purpose is to help support the process. He needs to earn a position with D.C. United and be a full-time MLS player. We wanted to have a look at him, but he's not ready for the national team."

· Men's college basketball update: Big win Wednesday night for Maryland at Georgia Tech, two days after losing co-captain Chris McCray because of poor grades, followed by an equally disappointing loss yesterday at Temple. Still can't understand how McCray, after playing for seven semesters, fell through the floor. What was he thinking?

And what a win for Georgetown on Tuesday, after host Notre Dame sent the game to overtime on a four-point play with 1.8 seconds remaining. Meanwhile, George Washington and George Mason keep their flames going. I'll get to the women next week.

· Maryland racing, in need of some good fortune, may get it if the Maryland Jockey Club officials lift the quarantine on horses at Pimlico that has been in place since Jan. 21 because of an outbreak of equine herpesvirus. The quarantine has forced the cutback of some racing days and cards at Laurel because of a lack of horses. Where's Seabiscuit when we need him?

Have a comment or question? Reach me at talkback@washpost.com.