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López Begins His Climb From Last Year's Depths
"I just want to put last year behind me, and I already did," Felipe Lopez said.
(Toni L. Sandys - The Washington Post)
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López knows this story, beginning Wednesday night, could go one of two ways. It could be the kind of trite tale that so often marks spring training. His words of focus could float away and end up being meaningless. Or he could return to the form that made him an all-star in 2005, a form that would earn him millions more as a free agent.
To do that, he will have to win back his old starting job. And for a moment, sitting in front of his locker -- his eyes full of intensity, sweat still on his brow -- it seemed possible.
"I've always had competition in front of me," he said. "It's all about now worrying about the competition and just going out there and doing your job. I didn't do that last year. This year, I have to leave everything on the field."
Nationals Notes: Lefty Matt Chico will start the Nationals' first game of the Grapefruit League schedule Wednesday night, quite a difference from last season, when Chico was in his first major league camp.
"It's just going and getting out there earlier than everybody else," Chico said. "It's just earlier that I get to work on things."
Chico's goals throughout the spring and into the season: cut down on walks and throw more first-pitch strikes. Last year, he threw 59 percent first-pitch strikes; pitching coach Randy St. Claire has a goal of 62 percent.
Right-hander Garrett Mock will follow Chico on Wednesday. Thursday, right-hander Jason Bergmann will face Georgetown, with newly acquired Tyler Clippard scheduled to pitch Friday against Florida in Viera and right-hander John Patterson set for Saturday against Baltimore. . . .
Acta said first baseman Nick Johnson, in his first action since breaking his right leg in September 2006, will play three innings in the field against Florida, hopefully getting two at-bats. Dmitri Young, who is currently listed ahead of Johnson on the depth chart, will not make the trip. . . .
The Nationals had their annual preseason meeting with representatives of the players' union. Patterson returns as Washington's player representative, with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman the second-in-command. Veteran reliever Ray King sits on the executive committee of the players' association.
Staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.
