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Belliard Is Adjusting to Reserve Role
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Tuesday, August 5, 2008
As it turned out, Ronnie Belliard's status as the Washington Nationals' leading home run hitter couldn't prevent an entirely different status, the one he formally regained this week: bench player.
Washington's decision Thursday to promote second baseman Emilio Bonifacio from the minors signaled not just the arrival of a new everyday starter, but also diminished playing time for Belliard. During the weekend series against Cincinnati, Belliard, who started 19 of the team's 24 games in July, appeared once -- rising from the dugout to hit a pinch-hit home run.
For the time being, Belliard emphasized yesterday, he's fine with his role as a utility player. He envisioned such a job when the year started, after all. "I'm okay with it," he said.
But even though he's under contract for next season -- last July, the Nationals gave Belliard a two-year, $3.5 million extension -- Belliard doesn't believe he'll be on the team in 2009.
"I don't think here," he said. "I probably think somewhere else, but not here. [Especially] if anybody else needs a second baseman."
Making Strides
Several of Washington's middle-of-the-order players are inching closer to a return. The team expects Elijah Dukes (calf) to play today after missing two games. Ryan Zimmerman (bruised right hand) took batting practice yesterday and will probably miss several more games, Acta said. Zimmerman's hand, struck by a pitch in a game Thursday, was still swollen yesterday.
"It's just tight because of the swelling," he said.
Shortstop Cristian Guzmán (left thumb), meanwhile, plans to take practice swings today. He will remain out of action for at least several more games. . . .
According to an ESPN.com report, the FBI investigation looking at fraudulent practices in the signing of players from Latin America could implicate roughly 20 people on "a handful" of teams. The report, citing a source briefed on the investigation's findings, said that the Nationals could be among the teams implicated, along with the Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox.
