NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
After Rainout, Chico to Take Regular Turn
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Monday, April 16, 2007
NEW YORK, April 15 -- Even though rookie left-hander Matt Chico has failed to complete five innings in each of his first two major league starts, Washington Nationals Manager Manny Acta said he didn't consider skipping Chico when his scheduled start against the New York Mets was rained out Sunday.
"That's not a thought that crosses our minds at all," Acta said. "We're going to see every one of these guys pitch, especially early in the season."
That means, for the second straight week, Washington's starters will each get an extra day's rest. Acta and his staff did not skip anyone's turn in the rotation after the club's first off day April 9.
The club plays a pair of two-game series at RFK Stadium this week -- Monday and Tuesday against Atlanta and Wednesday and Thursday against Philadelphia. Chico will be followed by Jerome Williams, Jason Bergmann and John Patterson to round out the homestand.
Delayed Plans
Shea Stadium is the closest existing major league park to the site of Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, where Jackie Robinson made his debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers. With Sunday's rainout, MLB and Mets officials are working on how to best honor Robinson -- even as the rest of the majors celebrated Jackie Robinson Day -- in New York.
One thing is clear, though: Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young and Mets Manager Willie Randolph -- both scheduled to wear special No. 42 jerseys to honor Robinson on Sunday -- won't lose that chance. MLB spokesman Pat Courtney said both men -- as well as players scheduled to wear 42 in the other rained-out games -- could pick another game in which to wear the number.
Schneider Shows Improvement
After Friday's 3-2 loss to the Mets, catcher Brian Schneider had just four hits all year, had hit into a double play with the bases loaded and nobody out, and carried an average of .125. But after that game, he still said he felt comfortable at the plate.
"That's the thing that's the most frustrating now, is I still feel good," Schneider said.
Schneider, though, went 3 for 4 in Saturday's victory, raising his average 69 points.
