For Washington baseball fans old enough to remember or wise enough to study the rich baseball history of the nation’s capital, the 1969 Senators hold a special place. Until the Nationals win their 82nd game in a season (let’s hope it’s in 2008), they remain the last team in Washington to play better than .500 baseball.
Forty years ago, baseball players rarely attended college, fewer earned their degrees, almost none earned advanced degrees. College boys just didn’t make it in baseball at a time when fewer than 50% attended higher education.
A baseball team’s bench, especially in the National League, can help a team win several games. In years past, the Washington Nationals bench has been filled with marginal major league players, has-beens, or never-weres. This year, 2008, is completely different. With a current bench of Willie Harris, Felipe Lopez, Dmitri Young, Jesus Flores, Rob Mackowiak and Aaron Boone, the Nationals have their best bench since they began playing in Washington. Throw in Johnny Estrada, Elijah Dukes and Wily Mo Pena, all now on the DL, and you have unprecedented depth. It’s a feather in Jim Bowden’s cap — and let me make it clear now I’d much prefer Mike Rizzo as the team’s GM, Bowden’s arrogance and lack of emphasis on on-base percentage drive me crazy — that he’s been able to build this strong a bench with almost nothing to trade and little to no free agent money to burn.