By Dave Sheinin
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, February 25, 2006

VIERA, Fla., Feb. 24 -- Washington Nationals right-hander Tony Armas Jr. said Friday that he will pitch for the Venezuelan team at next month's World Baseball Classic, bringing to seven the number of Nationals who potentially will participate in the inaugural tournament.

"It's going to be a good opportunity to represent my country," Armas said.

Armas's inclusion, which he said became official when he accepted the Venezuelan team's invitation Thursday night, came as a surprise to Nationals Manager Frank Robinson, who was not aware that Armas was on Venezuela's roster. Robinson has said he would not stand in the way of a player who wanted to participate in the tournament.

Armas, 26, had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in September, but pitched extensively during the Venezuelan winter league and said he is 100 percent healthy. Nationals pitching coach Randy St. Claire has raved about the way Armas has looked in early workouts this spring.

In addition to Armas, the Nationals will be represented in the tournament by closer Chad Cordero and catcher Brian Schneider (U.S.) and second baseman Alfonso Soriano (Dominican Republic), plus non-roster catchers Alberto Castillo (Dominican Republic) and Mike DiFelice (Italy).

Reliever Luis Ayala is weighing whether to accept an invitation to pitch for the Mexican team. He said Friday he is still undecided and may wait until next Tuesday's deadline to decide. Ayala missed a bullpen session this week because of tenderness in his elbow, although St. Claire said he expected him to pitch again on Saturday.

Additionally, the Globe and Mail in Toronto reported Friday that the Canadian team has requested it be allowed to use Nationals minor leaguer Shawn Hill, who last pitched competitively in the 2004 Olympics and then had ligament-replacement surgery in his elbow.

Cordero, who has been treated for asthma since he was 5 years old, is unable to use an inhaler to treat his condition this spring because the steroid it contains, albuterol, is considered a banned substance under the Olympic-style drug testing program being used in the WBC.

"He wouldn't pass the test if he used it," Robinson said.

Robinson said the team gave no serious thought to moving in the fences at RFK Stadium this season, despite complaints from Nationals hitters that the stadium's extra-large dimensions cost them home runs and hurt the team's ability to score runs.

"The fences are going to stay where they are, end of discussion," Robinson said. "Shorter fences would hurt the ballclub."

The Nationals hit only 46 homers at home last season, last in the majors and only 30 percent as many as the Texas Rangers (153 homers) hit at Ameriquest Field.

Let the Music Play Robinson said he would lift the ban on clubhouse music he imposed in the second half of last season. "I'll be a little more reasonable with it," he said. "I just feel there's a certain time when you have to start preparing yourself for the ballgame."