NATIONALS NOTEBOOK
Belliard Brings 'Spark' Back From Minors
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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
PITTSBURGH, June 10 -- Twenty-four hours before he helped the Washington Nationals regain a semblance of offensive aptitude, infielder Ronnie Belliard was playing in the minor leagues, where he finished off an 0-for-15 stint. Monday night, in the final at-bat of a rehab start that did nothing to rehabilitate his confidence, Belliard made yet another out against a 26-year-old Winston-Salem Warthog named Matthew Zaleski.
A day later, Belliard proved that a promotion can also help elevate one's play. In Washington's 7-6 victory against Pittsburgh, Belliard went 3 for 4, hitting two home runs. It was his first multi-home run game since Sept. 26, 2006.
"I was just seeing the ball good," Belliard said.
Manager Manny Acta called Belliard a "spark."
The last time Belliard played for the Nationals, before a left calf injury resulted in a trip to the disabled list, he didn't play much at all. He had lost his starting second baseman's job to Felipe López. He was batting .194, or .079 points below his career average.
The opportunity greeting Belliard's return to the active roster indicates the desperation of the team he rejoined Tuesday. Because of López's month-long slump, and because of an injury to third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, Belliard will be given a shot at frequent playing time -- maybe even an everyday position. Indeed, the Nationals are so depleted that players can gain potential starting jobs while injured.
"Well, he's going to play more now, obviously, without Zimmerman in our lineup," Acta said before the game. "But also we need to get him involved. He lost a lot of time, and our offense is struggling. He was a big part of it last year, and we want to get him back out there."
Though Belliard played last season as the team's regular second baseman -- he batted .290 with 11 home runs -- Belliard will also get a chance at third. Acta has seen Belliard play the position during winter ball, and said Tuesday, not intending it as faint praise, that "he is one of the best third basemen in the big leagues that is not playing third base."
