My presentation was a comparison of how the 1969 Baltimore Orioles compared to the greatest teams of all-time. If you would like a copy of my data (excel) and presentation (powerpoint), send a comment with your e-mail address.

Pocol Press will also be selling copies of my book, A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators, at the meeting. Of course, I’ll be happy to sign copies there, or you can purchase the book here:

http://pocolpress.com/getBookDetail.php?bookID=000040

Now, here’s the list of the 55 all-time best teams, sorted by winning percentage. I’ve listed the team and winning percentage. Bold denotes a world series winner. The red font denotes teams that did not manage to make the World Series, despite their lofty regular season records.

All told, 31 of these teams won World Series championships, 19 lost in the World Series, two (1902 Pirates, 1904 Giants never had a chance), two finished in 2nd place, and one (2001 Mariners) lost in the ALCS.

Here’s the list:

1906 Chicago Cubs, .763

1902 Pittsburgh Pirates, .741

1909 Pittsburgh Pirates, .724

1954 Cleveland Indians, .721

2001 Seattle Mariners, .716

1927 New York Yankees, .714

1931 Philadelphia Atletics, .704

1907 Chicago Cubs, .704

1998 New York Yankees, .703

1939 New York Yankees, .702

1932 New York Yankees, .695

1995 Cleveland Indians, .694

1929 Philadelphia Athletics, .693

1904 New York Giants, .693

1912 Boston Red Sox, .691

1942 St. Louis Cardinals, .688

1905 New York Giants, .686

1919 Cincinnati Reds, .686

1953 Brooklyn Dodgers, .682

1912 New York Giants, .682

1944 St. Louis Cardinals, .682

1943 St. Louis Cardinals, .682

1910 Philadelphia Athletics, .680

1946 Boston Red Sox, .675

1942 Brooklyn Dodgers, .675

1910 Chicago Cubs, .675

1961 New York Yankees, .673

1969 Baltimore Orioles, .673

1911 Philadelphia Athletics, .669

1942 New York Yankees, .669

1954 New York Yankees, .669

1915 Boston Red Sox, .669

1986 New York Mets, .667

1936 New York Yankees, .667

1970 Baltimore Orioles, .667

1975 Cincinnati Reds, .667

1913 New York Giants, .664

1930 Philadelphia Athletics, .662

1937 New York Yankees, .662

1903 Boston Red Sox, .659

1941 New York Yankees, .658

1953 New York Yankees, .656

1934 Detroit Tigers, .656

1931 St. Louis Cardinals, .656

1928 New York Yankees, .656

1940 Cincinnati Reds, .654

1998 Atlanta Braves, .654

1914 Philadelphia Athletics, .651

1933 Washington Senators, .651

1938 New York Yankees, .651

1918 Chicago Cubs, .651

1903 Pittsburgh Pirates, .650

1941 Brooklyn Dodgers, .649

1917 Chicago White Sox, .649

1935 Chicago Cubs, .649

]]> http://stephenjwalker.com/sabr-bob-davids-chapter-my-presentation-data/feed 1 http://stephenjwalker.com/a-whole-new-ballgame-youtube-segment-of-my-appearance-on-sportstalk-with-glenn-harris http://stephenjwalker.com/a-whole-new-ballgame-youtube-segment-of-my-appearance-on-sportstalk-with-glenn-harris#comments Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:33:53 +0000 Steve http://stephenjwalker.com/?p=77 Awhile back, I appeared with Glenn Harris on NewsChannel 8’s SportsTalk to discuss my book “A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators”. The segment includes footage of Frank Howard at the 1969 All-Star game at RFK, and his upper deck home run.

Here’s the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_Ytcb8eBNs

It’s courtesy of my friend, Mark Doyon, CEO of Wampus Multimedia and my publisher, Pocol Press,  and by the gracious permission of NewsChannel 8.

Since it’s almost that time of year, please consider my book as a unique Christmas gift for anyone who recalls Washington Senators’ baseball or pines for the simpler times before free agency in baseball.

Here’s a link to purchase the book from Pocol Press:

http://pocolpress.com/getBookDetail.php?bookID=000040

Best Improvement in On-Base Percentage from one season to the next:

Name                          Year      Age      Low OBP      High OBP      Increase (*100)
Tris Speaker            1920       32             .395               .483                88.4

Barry Bonds           2004       39            .529                .609                80.3

Joe Medwick         1944        32            .306                .386                80.0

George McQuinn  1947       37            .317               .395                 78.0

Mark McGwire      1998       34            .393               .470                 77.2

Luke Appling        1943       36            .342               .419                  77.1

Barry Bonds         2001       36            .440              .515                   75.2

Ed Yost                  1959        32            .361              .435                   74.6

Ted Simmons      1985        35            .269              .342                   72.5

Eddie Murray     1990        34            .342             .414                    71.9

C. Lansford          1989        32            .327             .398                    71.1

Dixie Walker       1944        33            .363             .434                    71.0

Al Simmons        1936        34            .312             .383                     70.4

Bob Johnson      1944        38            .362            .431                      68.7

Tilly Walker        1921        33            .321            .389                      68.0

Jim Sheckard     1911        32            .366            .434                      67.6

Lu Blue                 1931        34           .363            .430                      67.0

Nap Lajoie          1910        35           .378           .445                      66.7

Barry Bonds      2002        37          .515            .582                     66.6

Frank Howard  1969        32           .338           .402                     63.4

Best Improvement in On-Base Percentage from new best over previous career best (Top 10):

Name                          Year      Age      Old High OBP      New High OBP      Increase (*100)

B. Bonds                    2002     37              .515                         .582                           66.6

B. Bonds                    2001     36              .461                          .515                           54.3

F. Howard                1969      32              .338                         .402                           43.4

D. Walker                 1944      33              .396                         .434                            38.1

C. Lansford             1989      32             .366                          .398                            32.6

B. Bonds                  2004      39            .582                          .609                            27.7

T. Walker                1921       33            .365                          .389                             23.3

T. Speaker              1920       32           .470                         .483                             13.2

J. Sheckard            1911        32           .423                         .434                             11.1

L. Blue                     1931       34            .422                         .430                              7.5

Here’s the link to the issue — the coverage of my book is on page 17:

http://www.catholicepaper.net/eeusers/catholicreview/

Here’s Dave’s review:

I have just completed your book and want to congratulate you on a wonderful remembrance of a memorable season. I suppose that the 1969 season will long live for many of us as a high point of our earlier years. You have done a great job not only recreating that baseball season but setting the context with many memories and anecdotes of that time. I was filled with nostalgia as I turned the pages and sensed the love and commitment on your part in putting so much research together. Thank you for adding to the heritage that we can pass along to those who did not have the privilege and the pleasure that we did to live through such an unforgettable year. May the Lord bless you and may you be able to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

Recap of my appearance on Sports Talk with Glenn Harris, WJLA News Channel 8, on July 3: I enjoyed the privilege of appearing on Glenn’s fine show. He’s a gracious, kind host who put me at ease immediately. Despite being a television show host, he puts on no airs and treated me like his good friend. His producer, Terry Cornwell, found amazing footage of Frank Howard mashing home runs into RFK’s outermost regions. Thanks to all who watched and called the show. I’m hoping to get a DVD of the show soon. Please continue to support Glenn and Sports Talk.

Update: Just a reminder that I will be speaking about “A Whole New Ballgame” this Saturday, July 11, at 9:00 A.M. at the Brighton Gardens, 7110 Minstrel Way, Columbia, MD as part of our local SABR chapter’s “Talkin’ Baseball” monthly series. Please come and bring a friend.

SABR stands for “The Society of American Baseball Research.” The Baltimore-Washington area chapter is called the Bob Davids chapter in honor of one of the organization’s original founders. I highly recommend that you become a SABR member. It is a fabulous, fun organization! Check it out at www.sabr.org.

A huge thank you to all who came to my book signing at the Dugout Zone in Ellicott City on June 20! I enjoyed being able to take some time to talk to each person who was kind enough to purchase my book. After you’ve read it, please drop me a line to tell me what you thought of it (and, if you liked it, please post a review on amazon or with Pocol Press, www.pocolpress.com). The signing marked the start of a great few days of baseball. My son Christian and I saw the Nationals-Blue Jays game on Father’s Day. I enjoyed a better result four days later as the Nationals gave me a great birthday present — a 9-3 win over the Red Sox!

If you liked “A Whole New Ballgame” please tell a friend about it, especially any old Senators’ fans. There’s a lot of us out here!

Also, if you haven’t ordered the book yet and are interested, please see the information below. You can order direct from the publisher (best, fastest way) or via amazon.com (search on “1969 Senators” and look for “A Whole New Ballgame”).

Here’s the press release for my tv appearance:

Editorial Contact:
J. Thomas Hetrick
Pocol Press
6023 Pocol Drive
Clifton, VA 20124-1333
(703) 830-5862
www.pocolpress.com
chrisandtom@erols.com
Distributed by Baker & Taylor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stephen J. Walker to appear on News Channel 8, Friday July 3, 2009 to discuss his book.

A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators
Stephen Walker
ISBN: 978-1-929763-38-2
250 pages
$17.95 USA/$24.95 CAN.

CLIFTON, Virginia. June 28, 2009. Stephen J. Walker will be appearing as a guest on News Channel 8’s “SportsTalk” television program at 8 p.m. on July 3, 2009. “SportsTalk” is hosted by long-time Washington, D.C. sports maven Glenn Harris. “SportsTalk” is the only local sports show that allows viewers to interact with athletes, coaches, and sports media. You can join the discussion by calling 703-387-1020 or emailing SportsTalk@news8.net.

Stephen Walker has extensively and lovingly researched the 1969 Washington Senators for the past 15 years. He interviewed 16 Senators for A Whole New Ballgame including: Frank Howard, Dick Bosman, Darold Knowles, Del Unser, Ed Brinkman, and Ken McMullen, as well as coaches Sid Hudson and Wayne Terwilliger, radio announcer Ron Menchine, bat boy Paul Oppermann, and numerous fans. A member of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Walker’s articles have appeared in national and regional SABR publications and the Washington Baseball Historical Society’s quarterly newsletter. He is a regular speaker at SABR’s annual Baltimore-Washington chapter winter meetings and writes a Washington baseball-focused blog at www.stephenjwalker.com.

Saturday, June 20, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the DugoutZone, 9210 Baltimore Nat’l Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21042. Here’s a link to the announcement: http://dugoutzone.com/frame.html

Saturday, July 11, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m., SABR’s “Talkin’ Baseball” Monthly Get Together at Brighton Gardens, 7110 Minstrel Way, Columbia, MD., 21045.

Here’s the Link: July 11 “Talkin’ Baseball” link

Thursday, July 30 – Sunday, August 2: SABR National Convention at the JW Marriott, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C., 20004, I will be signing books at the Pocol Press table in the vendor area.

On Thursday, July 30 at 1:30, I will also be giving a 30-minute presentation at the SABR Convention entitled, “Frank Howard in 1969: Can an Old Dog Learn New Tricks to Get on Base? Greatest Improvements in Career High On-Base Percentage by Veteran Ballplayers.” You must register for the convention and become a SABR member (which I highly recommend, it is a great organization) to attend the presentation.

I hope you can come out to see me and talk Washington Senators baseball at one or more of these upcoming events.

http://chapters.sabr.org/bobdavids/index.php/component/eventlist/details/12-a-whole-new-ballgame-the-1969-washington-senators

Brighton Gardens of Columbia is located at 7100 Minstrel Way, Columbia, MD, 2045. The center provides a room for us to talk baseball, all morning if we like.

I’ll be sharing some inside stories about the book, my interviews with the players, some pictures and stories that we couldn’t fit into the book and some of the most poignant and heart-warming moments I experienced while doing the interviews, research and writing. Of course, I’ll leave plenty of time for Q&A.

Note that you don’t have to be a SABR member to attend. However, SABR is one of the best bargains of any group and includes some of the brightest, friendliest people you’ll ever meet — and none know more about baseball or love the game more. I highly encourage you to become a SABR member. You’ll get four-fold return on the membership fee!

Here’s the link to the publisher’s site to purchase my book, “A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators:

http://pocolpress.com/getBookDetail.php?bookID=000040

I hope to see you on July 11.

The best place to purchase the book is direct from the publisher, Pocol Press.

The book is also available on-line from Amazon.  Ignore the “temporarily out of stock” note, you can place an order.

I received a box with my book inside on Monday, April 20. It’s difficult to describe the elation I felt holding this book in my hands, my first, the story about my childhood heroes that I’ve dreamed for years to tell. The 1969 Senators remain the best Washington baseball team in the past half century.

The club that thrilled Washington was filled with sensitive, intelligent men who, together, gave the nation’s capital a summer to cherish.

Right now, the book is only available by on-line order or mail from the publisher. The cost is $17.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling. Here is a link to the Pocol Press website to order the book:

http://pocolpress.com/getBookDetail.php?bookID=000040

You can also order by mail. Makes checks payable to Pocol Press and send your order to this address:

Pocol Press
Box 411
Clifton, VA 20124
703-830-5862
www.pocolpress.com

Here is the text from the press release for the book:

Despite a long and uneven history, Major League Baseball’s Washington franchises have hardly been the stuff of
legend. However, in 1969, when new owner Bob Short coaxed batting legend and rookie manager Ted Williams out of
retirement, these annual no-names climbed out of the depths and straight into the hearts of Washington baseball
fans starving for a winner. Led by The Capital Punisher Frank Howard, whose tape-measure home runs sometimes
seemed like optical illusions, the Senators simply won ball games with a determination rarely seen in D.C.
environs. A Whole ew Ballgame showcases the 1969 Senators’ magical season, complete with player bios,
photographs, stats, game action, and stories.

– Great! Now the Nats have to power left-handed bat they sorely needed.

– Drat! The guy has a low batting average, can’t field, and he strikes out way too much.

With a nod to Bill James and his fellow sabrmetrics aficionados, I side with the first reaction.

Why?

First, let me tell you about the term “secondary average.” James coined the name in his 1986 Baseball Abstract. It’s a easy calculation. Take a player’s total bases on extra base hits plus walks plus stolen bases and divide the result by at-bats. So, in 2008, Dunn had 23 doubles, 0 triples and 40 home runs plus 122 walks plus 2 SB’s for a total of 330 ((23*2) + (40*4) + 122 + 2). He had 517 at-bats, so (331/517) = .516.

By the way, this was the BEST secondary average in baseball in 2008. Albert Pujols was 2nd with .508. And, Dunn’s 2008 mark is 63rd best of all time according to BaseballAlmanac.com.

James makes two statements about secondary average in his 1986 book:

“[It] is more important (a better indicator of hitting ability) than is batting average.”

“[It measures] three elements — power, strike zone judgment and speed.”

This is why the Nationals’ signing of Dunn is a good move. He will help the team to score more runs, because of his power and his ability to get on base. And more runs usually mean more wins.

True, he will cost the team runs in the field, but, since he plays a corner position, (LF or 1B), his defense will come into play much less than an up-the-middle position.  Yes, he will kill rallies with his strikeouts, but he will also win games by hitting homers and being on base when other guys in the line-up drive him in.

The Nationals had a weak offense, poor on-base percentage, and abysmal power last year. Dunn improves all these areas.

As anyone who reads this blog knows, I love the 1969 Washington Senators. Quick commercial – you can pre-order my book, “A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators online now at:

http://pocolpress.com/getBookDetail.php?bookID=000040

In Washington back in those days, the one player who thrilled fans was Frank Howard. However, before he met Ted Williams in 1969, Hondo had big power numbers, but poor on-base percentage. His best OBP was .358 in 1965. Williams re-made Howard as a hitter, emphasizing walks as well as power. His value to the team rose tremendously.

Now, we Nats fans have a near Howard clone in Dunn. He’s not quite the hitter Hondo was, but he hits tape measure shots for home runs. If he plays the way he has the past 5 seasons, us fans will get to see some fireworks at Nationals Park in 2009.  Maybe they’ll paint the seats red to mark the blasts!

So, take it from Bill James (and Thomas Boswell) the Nats made a great move today.

A look at Washington’s recent and past baseball history shows this statement is pure folly. People love to bash DC fans for poor attendance, but they always fail to mention that, in almost every case, the team presented to Washington fans was not worthy of their, or any city’s support. No city, save the 1962-68 New York Mets fans, supports poor baseball teams over the long term.

Not even Boston. Get a copy of Total Baseball or go to www.retrosheet.org or www.baseball-reference.com and look up the Red Sox records and attendance from 1961-66, the down years after Ted Williams retired and Yaz led the improbable, amazing “Impossible Dream” club to the brink of a World Series victory. No one enjoys spending their limited disposable income on a product of poor quality. In a retrospective video on the 1967 BoSox, prominent Boston writers said, until 1967, the team had become almost irrelevant in Boston.

Time and again, in sport after sport, Washington fans have proven they will support teams that warrant their attention. Look at this year’s Washington Capitals hockey team. A young, exciting, successful team, they now sell out  every game. In 2005, nearly 2.8 million people flocked to the oldest, no frills baseball stadium other than Fenway and Wrigley to see a .500 team. Why? Because they thrilled fans with first place baseball and a pennant race for all but the last two weeks of the season. Every town loves a winner. Every town will eventually turn its back on a perennial loser.

In 2006, more than 2 million fans went to old RFK to see Alfonso Soriano, but little else. That team’s pitching staff was dreadful and Frank Robinson had to work overtime to wring 71 wins out of a bad team.

In 2008, despite having a new stadium, the club decided against pursuing any impact free agents and presented fans with the worst team in baseball. Nevertheless, 2.4 million fans, in a poor economy, showed up at the ballpark even though the media warned of no parking and few, other than Thomas Boswell, had anything good to say about the stadium. Yes, the 2.4 million is the lowest figure for a new ballpark in years, but it still represents more than 2/3 of its total capacity.

In 1969, the team attracted more than 918,000 fans to see the first winning season in Washington since 1952. Many historians, including Washington baseball expert Phil Wood, believe that figure is deflated by 60-75 thousand. Owner Bob Short had an interest in reporting attendance figures as low as possible to support his ultimately successful plan to move the franchise to Texas. If Wood is correct, the Senators attendance nearly matches that of the 109-win Baltimore Orioles. Even the 918,000 figure was the 6th highest total in the American League that season.

In 1971, Senators’ fans, with a horrible, lame duck team and the highest ticket prices in baseball, outdrew Cleveland in attendance. These fans love baseball, know baseball, and care about their team.

Washington’s fans are passionate about baseball, but they are not fools. When the Nationals leadership gives fans a clear signal that they are committed to winning (read – signs an impact free agent) and the team plays hustling, hard-nosed, .500 or better baseball, the fans in this area will show up at Nationals Park, open their wallets, and give their hearts away.

A Whole New Ballgame:

The 1969 Washington Senators

Stephen Walker

Despite a long and uneven history, Major League Baseball’s Washington franchises have hardly been the stuff of legend. However, in 1969, when new owner Bob Short coaxed batting legend and rookie manager Ted Williams out of retirement, these annual no-names climbed out of the depths and straight into the hearts of Washington baseball fans starving for a winner. Led by The Capitol Punisher Frank Howard, whose tape measure home runs sometimes seemed like optical illusions, the Senators simply won ball games with a determination rarely seen in D.C. environs. A Whole New Ballgame showcases the 1969 Senators’ magical season, complete with player bios, photographs, stats, game action, and stories.

Pre-Order this Spring 2009 release!

A Whole New Ballgame: The 1969 Washington Senators

ISBN: 978-1-929763-38-2

6 x 9 inches

200+ pages

$17.95 USA / $24.95 CAN

Softcover

All rights reserved.

ORDERING INFORMATION
Send check or money order for $17.95 plus $3.00 shipping and

handling to:

Pocol Press

6023 Pocol Drive

Clifton, VA 20124

703-830-5862

www.pocolpress.com

chrisandtom@erols.com

See our website for our other books.

Ground rules:

o Favorite pitcher/hitter = Highest OPS (minimum of 60 plate appearances)

o Feared pitcher/hitter = Lowest OPS (minimum 60 plate appearances)

o Against each other (e.g., Palmer vs. Howard; Bosman vs. Robinson)

o Against their rivals in 1969 (e.g. Palmer vs. 1969 Senators, Bosman vs. 1969 Orioles)

o Against their rivals’ teams in 1969

Here’s a rundown of the results:

Note: The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at “www.retrosheet.org”.

Jim Palmer’s Favorite Batters: (Minimum 60 plate appearances)

o Carlos May: 7-63 (.111), 8 walks, 8 strikeouts, .335 OPS
o Joe Lahoud: 8-59 (.136), 5 walks, 11 strikeouts, .339 OPS
o Bucky Dent: 10-66 (.152 ), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts,.343 OPS (1 HBP, 3 SH)

Honorable Mention:

o Tom Veryzer: 3-40 (.075), 9 strikeouts, .150 OPS
o John Ellis: 2-36 (.056), 4 walks, 10 strikeouts, .206 OPS
o Frank Robinson: 1-14 (.071), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, .276 OPS
o Mickey Mantle, 1-14 (.071), 1 walk, 7 strikeouts, .419 OPS, 1 hit was a HR

Jim Palmer’s Feared Batters:

o George Brett: 25-73 (.342), 5 walks, 3 strikeouts, .906 OPS (2 HRs)
o Aurelio Rodriguez: 26-81 (.321), 2 walks, 9 strikeouts, .893 OPS (11 doubles)
o Willie Horton: 15-59 (.254), 5 walks, 10 strikeouts, .872 OPS (5 HR’s)

Others:

o Boog Powell: 8-27 (.296), 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, .791 OPS (2 doubles, 1 HR)
o Elliott Maddox: 7-22 (.318), 3 walks, 1 strikeout, .809 OPS (2 doubles)
o Rickey Henderson: 10-21 (.476), 9 walks, 1 strikeout, 1.109 OPS
o Graig Nettles hit 9 HR’s off Palmer (35-147, .238, .735 OPS)
o Jim Rice hit 9 HR’s off Palmer (19-87, .218, .819 OPS, but 3 walks and 24 strikeouts)

Against 1969 Senators:

o Tim Cullen: 2-19 (.105), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, .295 OPS
o Ed Stroud: 2-25 (.080), 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, .339 OPS (1 triple)
o Del Unser: 10-55 (.182), 5 walks, 6 strikeouts, .519 OPS (2 doubles, 1 HR)
o Bernie Allen: 7-35 (.200), 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, .520 OPS (2 doubles)
o Paul Casanova: 4-16 (.250), 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 563 OPS (1 double)
o Ed Brinkman: 21-84 (.250), 7 walks, 9 strikeouts, .589 OPS (1 triple)
o Frank Howard: 9-57 (.158), 7 walks, 14 strikeouts, .601 OPS (1 triple, 3 HRs)
o Jim French: 6-18 (.333), 4 walks, 0 strikeouts, .788 OPS
o Dick Billings: 5-14 (.357), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, .867 OPS, 1 double
o Mike Epstein: 8-30 (.267), 6 walks, 7 strikeouts, .989 OPS (2 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR)
o Joe Coleman: 3-7 (.429), 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1.000 OPS (1 double)

Total vs. 1969 Senators:

o 3 G, 2 starts, 2 CG, 1.96 ERA, 2-1 record, 18.1 IP, 0 HRA

Frank Howard’s Favorite Pitchers (Minimum 60 plate appearances):

o Sam McDowell: 25-68 (.368), 25 walks, 13 strikeouts, 1.253 OPS (5 HR’s, 9 IW’s)
o Dave McNally: 37-110 (.336), 13 walks, 18 strikeouts, 1.152 OPS (13 HR’s – by far, most of any pitcher. Next closest, 8 by Bob Hendley )
o Jim Kaat: 36-91, (.396), 17 walks, 15 strikeouts, 1.106 OPS (5 HR’s)

Honorable Mention:

o Larry Sherry: 5-6 (.833), 1 walk, 0 strikeouts, 3.690 OPS (4 HR’s!)
o Clyde Wright: 18-40 (.450), 16 walks, 1 strikeout, 1.507 OPS (6 HR’s)
o Gary Peters: 28-53 (.528), 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1.307 OPS (1 HR)

Frank Howard’s Feared Pitchers:

o Catfish Hunter: 11-63 (.175), 9 walks, 14 strikeouts, .532 OPS (1 HR)
o Jim Palmer: 9-57 (.158), 7 walks, 14 strikeouts, .601 OPS (1 triple, 3 HR’s)
o Mel Stottlemyre: 22-90 (.244), 10 walks, 21 strikeouts, .642 OPS (2 HR’s)

Others:

o Jim Maloney: 4-34 (.118), 0 walks, 17 strikeouts, .236 OPS
o Don Larsen: 2-17 (.118), 0 walks, 10 strikeouts, .236 OPS
o Juan Marichal: 6-43 (.140), 4 walks, 14 strikeouts, .492 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Warren Spahn, 14-52 (.269), 4 walks, 7 strikeouts, .784 OPS (2 triples, 2 HR’s)
o Whitey Ford, 6-12 (.500), 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, 1.571 OPS (2 HR’s)

Against some more 1969 Orioles Pitchers:

o Tom Phoebus: 3-36 (.083), 2 walks, 10 strikeouts, .382 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Jim Hardin: 10-41 (.244), 4 walks, 6 strikeouts, .741 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Eddie Watt, 8-23 (.348), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, .791 OPS
o Mike Cuellar, 18-58 (.310), 9 walks, 6 strikeouts, 1.025 OPS (6 HR’s)

Total vs.1969 Orioles:

o 14-58 (.241), 10 runs, 7 RBI, 11 walks, 10 strikeouts, 4 HR’s, .871 OPS

Dick Bosman’s Favorite Batters: (Minimum 60 plate appearances)

o Sandy Alomar: 9-53 (.170), 8 walks, 7 strikeouts, .449 OPS
o Roy White: 16-63 (.254), 4 walks, 7 strikeouts, .637 OPS (1 HR)
o George Scott: 24-92 (.261), 1 walk, 14 strikeouts, .664 OPS (2HR’s)

Honorable Mention:

o George Brett: 2-14 (.154), 0 walks, 0 strikeouts, .385 OPS (1 double)
o Bobby Murcer: 7-45 (.156), 4 walks, 3 strikeouts, .572 OPS (2 HR’s)

Dick Bosman’s Feared Batters:

o Dave May: 20-55 (.364), 3 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1.015 (3 HR’s)
o Boog Powell: 17-65 (.262), 12 walks, 9 strikeouts, .895 OPS (4 HR’s)
o Paul Blair: 27-84 (.321), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, .882 OPS (4 HR’s)
o (Reggie Jackson and Rico Petrocelli also hit 4 HR’s, tied for most)

Others:

o Carl Yastrzemski: 16-58 (.276), 5 walks, 4 strikeouts, .747 OPS (1 HR)
o Mike Epstein: 4-14 (.286), 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .904 OPS (1 HR)
o Mel Stottlemyre: 3-9 (.333), 0 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1.000 OPS (double, triple)
o Harmon Killebrew: 11-31 (.355), 2 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1.007 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Johnny Oates: 4-6 (.667), 0 walks, 1 strikeout, 1.667 OPS (2 doubles)
o Mickey Mantle: 8-13 (.615), 2 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1.744 OPS (2 HR’s)

Against Other 1969 Orioles:

o Jim Palmer: 0-14 (.000), 10 strikeouts, .000 OPS (1 sacrifice bunt)
o Don Buford: 4-30 (.133), 5 walks, 5 strikeouts, .483 OPS (1 HR)
o Elrod Hendricks: 9-39 (.231), 3 walks, 5 strikeouts, .687 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Brooks Robinson: 19-70 (.271), 1 walk, 6 strikeouts, .688 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Mark Belanger: 21-70 (.300), 4 walks, 7 strikeouts, .713 OPS (2 triples)
o Merv Rettenmund: 10-31 (.323), 5 walks, 4 strikeouts, .745 OPS
o Davey Johnson: 9-38 (.237), 4 walks, 3 strikeouts, .792 OPS, (2 HR’s)
o Frank Robinson: 16-47 (.340), 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, .935 OPS (3 HR’s)

Total vs. 1969 Orioles:

o 5 G, 3 starts, 0 CG, 3.86 ERA, 1-1 record, 21 IP, 2 HRA

Frank Robinson’s Favorite Pitchers (Minimum 60 plate appearances):

o Earl Wilson: 25-57 (.439), 5 walks, 5 strikeouts, 1.334 OPS (7 HR’s)
o Dick Ellsworth: 24-62 (.387), 16 walks, 7 strikeouts, 1.206 OPS (5 HR’s)
o Ruben Gomez: 20-52 (.385), 4 walks, 4 HBP, 10 strikeouts, 1.198 OPS (3 HR’s)

Honorable Mention: (hit most HR’s – 10 – of Larry Jackson)

o George Brunet: 16-44 (.364), 11 walks, 6 strikeouts, 1.232 OPS (4 HR’s)
o Chris Short: 17-49 (.347), 11 walks, 4 HBP, 5 strikeouts, 1.194 OPS (4 HR’s)
o Sonny Siebert: 16-56 (.286), 7 walks, 4 strikeouts, 1.143 OPS (8 HR’s)

Frank Robinson’s Feared Pitchers:

o Catfish Hunter: 15-98 (.153), 10 walks, 17 strikeouts, .496 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Don Drysdale: 17-79 (.215), 6 walks, 14 strikeouts, .670 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Mel Stottlemyre: 16-62 (.258), 12 walks, 6 strikeouts, .721 OPS (0 HR’s)

Others:

o Larry Sherry: 10-21 (.476), 3 walks, 2 HBP, 3 strikeouts, 1.910 OPS (5 HR’s)
o Fergie Jenkins: 6-18 (.333), 2 walks, 3 strikeouts, 1.400 OPS (4 HR’s)
o Mike Cuellar: 8-32 (.250), 7 walks, 8 strikeouts, .994 OPS (3 HR’s)
o Sandy Koufax: 24-103 (.233), 16 walks, 20 strikeouts, .852 OPS (7 HR’s)
o Dave McNally: 5-22 (.227), 2 walks, 0 strikeouts, .792 OPS (1 HR)
o Bob Gibson: 19-83 (.229), 11 walks, 12 strikeouts, .726 OPS (4 HR’s)
o Pete Richert: 4-31 (.129), 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, .432 OPS (1 HR)
o Jim Palmer: 1-14 (.071), 1 walk, 3 strikeouts, .276 OPS

Against 1969 Senators Pitchers:

o Casey Cox: 13-29 (.448), 4 walks, 1 strikeout, 1.274 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Darold Knowles: 3-12 (.250), 2 walks, 1 strikeout, 1.107 OPS (2 HR’s)
o Joe Coleman: 13-40 (.325), 9 walks, 6 strikeouts, 1.071 OPS (3 HR’s)
o Camilo Pascual: 4-10 (.400), 7 walks, 2 strikeouts, 1.067 OPS
o Dick Bosman: 16-47 (.340), 3 walks, 6 strikeouts, .935 OPS (3 HR’s)
o Jim Shellenback: 2-9 (.222), 2 walks, .920 OPS (1 HR)
o Bob Humphreys: 7-26 (.269), 7 walks, 2 strikeouts, .912 OPS (1 HR)
o Barry Moore: 8-26 (.308), 3 walks, 1 strikeout, .772 OPS
o Jim Hannan: 6-26 (.231), 3 walks, 3 strikeouts, .641 OPS
o Dave Baldwin: 2-13 (.154), 1 walk, 1 strikeout, .368 OPS
o Dennis Higgins: 0-10 (.000), 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, .091 OPS

Total vs. 1969 Senators:

o 15-55 (.273), 12 runs, 12 RBI, 8 walks, 5 strikeouts, 6 HR’s, .987 OPS

Amazingly, all the teams named after birds are winning! They’ve left their droppings all over the play-offs. Here’s the rundown, with the “birds’” overall record.

First Round:

Ravens defeat Dolphins (Birds 1-0)
Cardinals defeat Flacons (Birds 2-1, but this one was pre-ordained a Bird win and loss either way, so I’m counting it as 2-0. It helps with the theme).
Eagles defeat Vikings (Birds 3-0).
Chargers defeat Colts (the first round’s only bird neutral match-up).

Second Round (so far):

Ravens defeat Titans (Birds 4-0 and 2-0 against human overlords)
Cardinals defeat Panthers (Bird 5-0 and 2-0 against predatory mammals).

So things bode well for the Eagles against the Giants today. The non-bird Steelers – Chargers match-up is anybody’s guess.

If it’s a Cardinals – Ravens or Eagle – Ravens Super Bowl, does that mean that the birds rule the roost in the NFL?

Alfred Hitchcock would be proud!

Column 1 (from top to bottom on the page):

1. Christian and Daddy at Nationals Park, watching the home nine beat the mighty Chicago Cubs, 2-0.

2. Christian at the new baseball park in D.C. stands beside a picture of his father’s childhood hero, Frank “Hondo” Howard.

3. Tim, with Bishop Fran Malooley and his parents after Tim received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

4. Christian with a Boy Scout friend at the “We Remember” ceremony at the Maryland Veteran’s Cemetery in Catonsville. Steve’s Uncle and godfather John “Kirk” Kirkpatrick, a WW II veteran, died this year, so we went to honor him.

5. Matthew leaves middle school in June, his last day of 8th grade.

6. Tim runs a cross country race for his high school on a beautiful fall day. Tim has lettered three times, twice for x-country, onc for outdoor track.

Column 2 (top to bottom):

1. Tim with Bishop Malooley and Confirmation sponsor Joe F.

2. The Walker family touring Washington, D.C. Here, we’re at the base of the Washington Monument.

3. Christian racing through the water at a swim team meet for the Long Reach Marlins.

4. Tim, on HiLI with Mark P., who has worked in Baltimore Youth Ministry for more than 30 years and friends Rachel C. and Elizabeth C. We’ve been friends with Rachel and Elizabeth’s parents and grandma for many years. The second generation is already living the Gospel in leadership in their parishes and the archdiocese.

5. HiLI Banner. Tim went on HiLI during its 30th year, a special anniversary. We’re thrilled he was able to go.

6. The Walker family on Christmas, 2007.

Column 3:

1. Christian with Ms. Pam last June on his final day a pre-school. He made a quite handsome graduate.

2. Christian cheering on his teammates during a swim team relay race.

3. Christian boards the bus on his first day of Kindergarten while our neighbor’s dog, Sandy, keeps watch.

4. Christian and Daddy carve a pumpkin for Halloween.

5. The Walker family on Easter Sunday, 2008.

Column 4:

1. Matthew showing off the cake Debbie made on Matthew’s 14th birthday.

2. The Walker boys together at Centennial Lake.

3. Tim and Matthew prepare to depart for Homecoming, 2008.

4. Christian in his Pikachu Halloween costume.

5. Tim runs under a clear, blue sky in Harford County Maryland at the Bull Run course, one of the nation’s toughest.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. Watch this space for more posts and information on Steve’s upcoming book.

Allen played in two additional games during his streak. One as a defensive replacement in right field for Frank Howard at Yankee Stadium (April 17, 2nd game of a doubleheader) and a pinch runner for Howard at RFK Stadium (April 20, 2nd game of a doubleheader, a 5-2 victory over Baltimore).

For one month, April 1969, Allen became the Senators’ best hitter and overshadowed his more famous brother, Richie.  In April Hank Allen hit .379, (22-58), often batting clean-up for Ted Williams surprisingly scrappy nine. Soon, his average faded and Allen drifted back to baseball obscurity. He played his final major league game for the Chicago White Sox on September 28, 1973.

Like Guzman’s, Allen’s feat might be soon forgotten, but Allen, an intelligent, dignified man who spent his retirement in nearby Southern Maryland, had one wonderful moment in the baseball spotlight in 1969.

Now, Guzman and Allen are linked in the history of Washington baseball.  While often overlooked, it has its own bevy of heroes, goats, triumphs, defeats, and, above all, stories. Allen gave fans one almost 40 years ago, Guzman now writes a new chapter.

The possibilities for fun with this are infinite. For example, I found out that one of my favorite players, Roberto Celmente hit the most home runs (six each) against Sandy Koufax and Fergie Jenkins, two Hall of Fame pitchers.

Here’s how you get there: Go to www.retrosheet.org  Click on Players on the menu on the left hand side of the screen. Choose the part of the alphabet the player’s last name includes. Once the player’s statistics appear, click on the “Pitcher Matchups” hyperlink. Once there, you can sort by the opposing pitcher’s name or by OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) your favorite batter achieved against each pitcher. It’s quite cool!

Below, you can read who the 1969 Senators loved to face and who struck fear into their hearts when they took the mound or entered the batter’s box. You’ll see some familiar names here if you’re old enough to have followed baseball in the 1960s. Some may surprise you. Look for Denny McLain and Frank Robinson. First the batters:

Bernie Allen:

Favorite: Denny McLain, 12-27, .444 avg., 2 HR’s, 5 walks, 2 strikeouts

Feared: Steve Hamilton, 0-13, .000 avg., 7 strikeouts

Hank Allen:

Favorite: George Brunet, 8-22, .364 avg., 1 HR

Feared: Joe Sparma, 1-10, .100 avg., 5 strikeouts

Brant Alyea:

Favorite: Wilbur Wood, 7-15, .467 avg., 3 HR’s

Feared: Vida Blue, 0-13, .000 avg., 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Ed Brinkman:

Favorite: Dick Donovan, 13-19, .684 avg., 0 HR’s

Feared: Dean Chance, 5-50, .100 avg., 0 HR’s, 12 strikeouts

Paul Casanova:

Favorite: Juan Pizarro, 5-10, .500 avg., 1 HR, 3 walks

Feared: Tom Phoebus, 0-17, .000 avg., 0 HR’s, 3 strikeouts

Tim Cullen:

Favorite: Bill Lee, 7-13, .538 avg., 0 HR’s

Feared: Joe Coleman, 2-18, .111 avg., 0 HR’s, 4 strikeouts

Toby Harrah:

Favorite: John Montague, 6-13, .462 avg., 2 HR’s, 6 walks

Feared: Chuck Rainey, 0-13, .000 avg., 2 strikeouts

 Note: Harrah appeared in eight games for the 1969 Senators in September as a pinch-runner.

Frank Howard:

Favorite: Larry Sherry, 5-6, .833 avg., 4 HR’s, 1 walk

Feared: Jim Maloney, 4-34, .118 avg., 0 HR’s, 17 strikeouts

Most Senators fans believe Howard wore out Cleveland Indians’ flame thrower Sam McDowell. That’s correct.  Howard went 25-68 (.368 avg.) with 5 home runs and 34 walks (9 intentional) against McDowell.

Here’s a few other pitchers Hondo crushed (Walks include intentional BB’s):

Clyde Wright: 18-40, .450, 6 HR’s, 18 walks

Robin Roberts, 9-17, .529, 3 HR’s, 3 walks

Whitey Ford, 6-12, .500, 2 HR’s, 3 walks

Dave McNally, 37-110, .336, 13 HR’s, 15 walks

Mike Epstein:

Favorite: Joe Niekro, 7-10, .700 avg., 4 HR’s, 4 walks

Feared: Mike Cuellar, 4-39, .103 avg, 0 HR, 2 walks, 12 strikeouts

Jim French:

Favorite: Jim Palmer, 6-18, .333 avg, 4 walks, 0 HR’s

Feared: Denny McLain, 1-14, .077 avg, 1 walk, 0 HR’s

Lee Maye:

Favorite: Gary Bell, 9-14, .643 avg., 0 HR’s, 1 walk

Feared: Dick Ellsworth, 1-22, .045 avg., 0 HR’s, 1 walk, 6 strikeouts

Ken McMullen:

Favorite: Paul Linblad, 13-25, .520 avg., 3 HR’s, 3 walks, 3 strikeouts

Feared: Bruce Howard, 2-28, .071 avg., 0 HR’s, 9 strikeouts

Ed Stroud:

Favorite: Joe Horlen, 7-12, .583 avg., 1 HR, 2 walks

Feared: Rickey Clark, 0-12, .000 avg., 0 HR’s, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts

Del Unser:

Favorite: Lynn McGlothen, 20-50, .400 avg., 4 HR’s, 9 walks, 1 strikeout

Feared: Denny McLain, 1-26, .038 avg., 0 HR’s, 3 strikeouts

Here’s the pitchers:

Dave Baldwin:

Favorite: Frank Robinson, 2-13, .154 avg., 0 HR

Feared: Davey Johnson, 6-10, .600 avg., 2 HRs

Dick Bosman:

Favorite: Don Wert, 3-19, .158 avg., 0 HR’s, 3 strikeouts

Feared: Mickey Mantle, 8-13, .615 avg., 2 HR’s, 2 walks, 2 strikeouts

Joe Coleman:

Favorite: Lenny Randle, 5-35, .143 avg., 0 HR’s, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts

Feared: Bobby Murcer, 29-67, .433 avg., 2 HR’s, 12 walks

Casey Cox:

Favorite: Tony Horton, 0-16, .000 avg., 3 strikeouts

Feared: Felipe Alou, 7-14, .500 avg., 2 HR’s, 1 walk

Jim Hannan:

Favorite: Bobby Knoop, 2-21, .095 avg., 0 HR’s, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts

Feared: Duke Sims, 8-15, .533 avg., 4 HR’s, 5 walks, 1 strikeout

Dennis Higgins:

Favorite: Frank Robinson, 0-10, .000 avg., 0 HR’s, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts

Feared: Joe Foy, 6-13, .462 avg., 1 HR, 5 walks

Bob Humphreys:                                                          

Favorite: Tom Tresh, 0-13, .000 avg., 0 HR’s, 1 walk, 7 strikeouts                  

Feared: Jim Northrup, 7-14, .500, 1 HR          

Darold Knowles:

Favorite: Willie Horton, 1-15, .067 avg., 0 HR’s, 7 strikeouts

Feared: Thurman Munson, 8-18, .444 avg., 2 HR’s, 3 walks

Barry Moore:

Favorite: Chico Salmon, 2-19, .105 avg., 0 HR’s, 3 strikeouts

Feared: Reggie Smith, 8-19, .421 avg, 3 HR’s

Jim Shellenback:

Favorite: Mickey Stanley, 0-11, .000 avg, 0 HR’s

Feared: Rico Petrocelli, 10-14, .714 avg., 2 HR’s, 4 walks

Some earned World Series’ rings with virtuoso and clutch performances, others contributed nothing. Two set records with outstanding play, including a mark impossible to break. One former Senator sustained a heartbreaking injury that limited his play to one game and likely cost his team a World Series berth.

Who were these men, the 1969 Senators’ biggest baseball winners?

Darold Knowles – Oakland A’s, 1971 American League Championship Series (ALCS), 1973 World Series, 8 games, 6 2/3 innings pitched, 2 saves, 0.00 ERA.

Knowles appeared in all seven games of the 1972 World Series for the World Champion Oakland A’s, setting a record that a future pitcher may equal, but never break. He pitched brilliantly, retiring the New York Mets’ Wayne Garrett for the series’ final out.

Frank Howard – Los Angeles Dodgers, 1963 World Series, 3 games, .300 batting average, 2 Runs, 1 HR, 1 RBI.

Washington’s beloved Hondo helped the Los Angeles Dodgers sweep the New York Yankees in four games. He gave the Dodgers the lead in Game 4, an eventual 2-1 victory, with a 5^th inning home run off of Whitey Ford.

Joe Coleman – Detroit Tigers, 1972 ALCS, 1 game, 9 innings pitched, 1 win, 14 strikeouts, 0.00 ERA.

With his team, the Detroit Tigers, facing elimination, Coleman pitched a dazzling shutout against the Oakland A’s at Tiger Stadium. He won the game, 3-0. His 14 strikeouts stood as the ALCS record until Baltimore’s Mike Boddicker tied the mark in 1983. Another Oriole, Mike Mussina, broke the record with 15 strikeouts in the 1997 ALCS.

Ed Brinkman – Detroit Tigers, 1972 ALCS, 1 game, .500 batting average, 2 doubles.

Brinkman, in the playoffs for the first time in his career with Billy Martin’s Tigers, hit two doubles and handled two chances flawlessly at shortstop. The A’s won the game 3-2 in 11 innings, on pinch hitter Gonzalo Marquez’s single. Al Kaline’s throwing error on the same play plated two runs and erased Detroit’s 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 11^th inning. Late in the game, Brinkman injured his back and missed the rest of the series. The Tigers missed his glove in Game 5. An error by his replacement, Dick McAuliffe, led to the A’s second run in their 2-1 victory.

Dick Bosman – Oakland A’s, 1975 ALCS, 1 game, 1/3 inning pitched, 0.00 ERA.

Bosman pitched in Game 1 for the Oakland A’s. He retired the only batter he faced, Rico Petrocelli, on a pop out in the 7^th inning. The Red Sox won the game 7-1 and swept the three game series, putting an end to Oakland’s three-year reign as baseball’s best.

Mike Epstein – Oakland A’s, 1971 ACLS, 2 games, .200 batting average; 1972 ALCS, 5 games, .188 batting average, 1 homer run, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base; 1972 World Series, 6 games, .000 batting average, 1 run, 2 errors.

Epstein played post-season baseball for the Oakland A’s in 1971 and 1972. His 13 playoff games are the most of any 1969 Senator. While he performed poorly, never hitting above .200, he earned his 1972 World Series ring by playing a major role in getting the A’s into the playoffs with his fine hitting and play at first base.

Del Unser – Philadelphia Phillies, 1980 National League Championship Series (NLCS), 5 games, .400 average, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 RBI; 1980 World Series, 3 games, .500 average, 2 runs, 2 doubles, 2 RBI.

The Phillies have one World Series title in their history and Del Unser played a crucial role. In Game 5 of the NLCS, with his club four outs from elimination and trailing 5-3, he stroked a pinch-hit, game-tying single. He doubled in the 10^th inning and scored the run that put Philadelphia in the series. In the Fall Classic, Game 2, 8^th inning, he hit an RBI pinch-hit double and scored the tying run to help the Phillies rally from a 4-2 deficit on their way to a 6-4 victory. In the 9^th inning of Game 5, the Kansas City Royals led 3-2. They stood three outs away from a 3-2 lead in the series. Unser, once again in a pinch hitting role, doubled home Mike Schmidt with the game tying run. The former Senator later scored the winning run on Manny Trillo’s infield hit against Royals’ closer Dan Quisenberry. Two days later, the Phillies returned to Philadelphia and won the series.

Ken McMullen – Los Angeles Dodgers, 1973 NLCS, 1 game, .000 batting average (1 at-bat)

McMullen played for the World Champion Dodgers in 1963, but was not on the post-season roster. In 1974, again for the Dodgers, he struck out in a pinch-hitting role in Game 3, a 7-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. McMullen did not appear in the Dodgers’ loss to the A’s in the 1974 Fall Classic.

Camilo Pascual – Minnesota Twins, 1965 World Series, 1 game, 5 innings pitched, 5.40 ERA, 0-1 record.

The 1969 Senators’ opening day pitcher appeared in Game 3 of the series for the Minnesota Twins. Another former Senator, Claude Osteen, pitched a brilliant complete game shutout to beat him. The Dodgers defeated Pascual’s Twins in seven games.

Tim Cullen – Oakland A’s, 1972 ALCS, 2 games, .000 batting average (1 at-bat)

Cullen appeared in Games 3 and 4 of for the Oakland A’s as a defensive replacement at shortstop.

Brant Alyea – Minnesota Twins, 1970 ALCS, 3 games, .000 batting average, 1 run

Alyea appeared in all three games, two as the starting left fielder, for the Minnesota Twins, who lost all three to the eventual World Champion Baltimore Orioles. He went hitless in seven at-bats. Alyea played for the 1972 Oakland A’s, but a September injury ended any chance of making Oakland’s post-season roster.

Zoilo Versalles – Minnesota Twins, 1965 World Series, 7 games, .286 average, 3 runs, 1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 0 errors.

The 1965 American League Most Valuable Player, a late season addition to the 1969 Senators, played valiant baseball in a losing effort, as Versalles’ Twins fell to the Dodgers in seven games. His three-run homer led the Twins to an 8-2 win over Don Drysdale in Game 1. He scored two runs in the Twins’ 5-1 victory in Game 2. He managed a hit against the overpowering Sandy Koufax in Game 7, but Minnesota lost to the Hall of Fame pitcher, 2-0.

See www.Retrosheet.org for complete statistics on these men, the 1969 Senators’ biggest winners.

Information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet. 

Interested parties may contact Retrosheet at "www.retrosheet.org".

The Senators roster included many students of the game, men who loved baseball and studied its fine points. Many went on to coach baseball at various levels from college baseball to winter leagues in Latin America to the minor leagues to the big leagues. In fact, ten still work in baseball. Below are their names and the teams they work for:

Joe Coleman, Pitching Coach, Lakeland Flying Tigers (Detroit’s High A farm club in the Florida State League)

Toby Harrah, Roving Minor League Instructor, Detroit Tigers

Camilo Pascual, Scout – Venezuela, Los Angeles Dodgers

Jim Shellenback, Pitching Coach, Elizabethtown Twins, Rookie ball, Appalachian League (Minnesota Twins)

Frank Howard, Professional Scout, New York Yankees (Aside – Wouldn’t it be great if the Nationals could somehow employ him?)

Del Unser, Professional Scout, Philadelphia Phillies

Dick Bosman, Minor League Coordinator, Pitching, Tampa Bay Rays

Darold Knowles, Pitching Coach, Dunedin Blue Jays (Florida State League, Toronto Blue Jays)

Dick Such, Pitching Coach, Camden Riversharks, Atlantic League (Independent)

Wayne Terwilliger, Coach, Fort Worth Cats, American Association (Independent) [Note -- In 2005, Terwilliger, the '69 Senators third base coach, at age 80, led the Cats to the league championship. To keep a promise to his players, he had his ear pierced!]

One other Senator deserves special mention – Jim Hannan as Chairman of the Board for the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA). He passionately pursues pension rights for former major league players, especially those in financial distress. Our heroes of lore made little money and often have little more than memories of glory days past. Hannan, along with others, including current president Brooks Robinson help put some money in the pockets of men who brought us childhoods filled with joy.

The 1969 Washington Senators countered this trend. Twenty-three men who played for the Senators in 1969 attended college, 11 earned bachelor’s degrees and two catcher Jim French and pitcher Jim Hannan earned Masters of Finance. Despite years of losing, the Senators played intelligent, winning baseball in 1969, finishing the season with an 86-76 mark, good enough to earn a rookie skipper named Ted Williams Manager of the Year honors.

Here’s a list of the 1969 Washington Senators who were college material.

Name                                        Position                                        School                                    Status

Bernie Allen*                         Second Base                                Purdue                                  Attended

Hank Allen                            Outfield                                        Baldwin-Wallace                Graduate

Dave Baldwin+                    Relief Pitcher                              Arizona                                 Graduate

Rich Billings                         Infield                                            Michigan State                  Graduate

Dick Bosman                        Starting Pitcher                         Wisconsin                            Attended

Ed Brinkman                       Shortstop                                    Cincinnati                            Attended

Doug Camilli                       Catcher/Coach                          Stanford                                Attended

Casey Cox                            Starter/Reliever                        L.A. State College                Attended

Tim Cullen                        Utility Infield                               Santa Clara                        Graduate

Jan Dukes                         Starter/Reliever                         Santa Clara                         Graduate

Mike Epstein                    First Baseman                             U. of Calif (Berkeley)        Attended

Jim French                     Catcher                                           Ohio University                Graduate

Jim Hannan                   Starting Pitcher                         Notre Dame                         Graduate

Dennis Higgins             Relief Pitcher                                Lincoln University            Attended

Gary Holman                First Baseman                             Southern Cal                        Attended

Frank Howard               First Base/Outfield                    Ohio State                             Attended

Bob Humphreys           Relief Pitcher                               Hampden-Sydney             Graduate

Darold Knowles            Relief Pitcher                               Missouri                                Attended

Jim Miles                       Starter/Reliever                        Delta State College             Graduate

Barry Moore                Starting Pitcher                         Pfeiffer College                     Attended

Dick Such                    Starting Pitcher                         Elon College                           Attended

Del Unser                    Centerfielder                                Mississippi State                  Graduate

* Bernie Allen was an All-American quarterback for Purdue. He beat Notre Dame three times.

+ After baseball, David Baldwin earned an M.S. in Systems Engineering and Ph.D. in Genetics

So, how does Washington’s bench rate against its NL East competitors?

I rank the Nationals bench first, with the Phillies, who can platoon strong players at third base, catcher, and right field, a close second. The Braves have a good left field platoon, but the rest of their bench is young and unproven. The Mets bench is old and average. The Marlins just aren’t permitted to spend any money on building a good bench, but they have some fine versatile players like Ameziga and Abercrombie.

Here’s the rankings:

1 – Wash.; 2 – Phils; 3 – Atl 4 – NY; 5 – Fla

Here, finally, are the final ratings:

1 – Atlanta Braves – 31 points

2 – Philadelphia Phillies – 32 points

3 – New York Mets – 32 points

4 – Washington Nationals – 36 points

5 – Florida Marlins – 47 points

If this system works, and I have no idea if it does, I just thought it would be fun to do, then we should have a great 3-team race for first in the NL East, with the Nationals not as far behind as many pundits predict. The Marlins would finish in last place, but maybe not as far behind as the prognosticators think.

Even though the Braves win on points here, I’m rating the NL East as a toss-up. I think the 3 teams will beat each other up enough, with the Nationals winning a fair share too, that the wild card will come from another division. Last year’s race went down to the final day. I expect this year’s race to be the same.

Now that Nationals Park is here — and is better than expected — perhaps Washington will join the 3 big dogs soon, maybe even 2008.

Get out to Nationals Park often and enjoy what promises to be a season of memories!

You have no doubt heard all the negative comments about the stadium’s cost, the still-developing neighborhood, the lack of parking — ignore all of it. Take the time to visit, take a tour of the park (see the Nationals’ website www.nationals.com for information) and escape our world’s breakneck pace and take in a game with a friend, your relatives or your family. Baseball affords a time to relax and chat and reconnect with each other. What better setting than the Nation’s Capital, with the Capitol Dome in view nearby and the Washington Monument standing in majestically in the distance and the ships, symbols of our nation’s diligence, at harbor in the Navy Yard.

Let the relaxation and fun of a baseball game, the best game ever devised, wash over you. I’d suggest making a summer’s day of it. Go into Washington and park near the Gallery Place Metro stop or the nearby Verizon Center. There’s plenty of parking garages there and you can hop on the green line at Gallery Place. It’s just a few stops to the ballpark – Navy Yard Station. Take in the museums, the monuments, have dinner at one of DC’s many fine restaurants – all the world’s foods are available – then enjoy the game. Ignore the naysayers and let yourself have a great time in what will soon be one of the city’s most beautiful places.

Now, on to the ratings. Managers — I love Manny Acta, but he’s not at the top yet, though I think he will be one day, hopefully soon. I rate Bobby Cox the best since he has such a winning pedigree. Charlie Manuel second, because his temperament and old-time baseball ways are a perfect fit for his team. A Larry Bowa-Joe Girardi type would have ground the Phils into a sub-500 record last year after their horrible start. Acta squeezed more out of a limited roster than anyone thought possible last season. I loved Willie Randolph as a player and felt he would be a great manager, but he fiddled while the Mets crashed and burned last year. Freddie Gonzalez has little to work with in Florida, but he had much more talent than Acta and still finished two games behind the Nationals.

So, here’s the ratings — 1- Cox/Atl, 2 – Manuel/Phils, 3 – Acta/DC, 4 – Randolph/Mets, 5 – Gonzalez/Fla.

Running scores — Mets – 28; Braves – 28; Phils – 31; Nationals – 35; Marlins – 42.

Now, I gotta run. We’ll finish up with the benches before Opening Night.

Closers – Chad Cordero is the cardiac kid of this group, with Billy Wagner the most reliable. Watching Cordero is akin to seeing a high wire act every night. More often than not, though, he gets the job done. Wagner, when he is healthy and on his game, is a lights out closer, but he does seem to struggle with elite line-ups like the Yankees, Red Sox, and Phillies. He’s more reliable than Cordero, but I look at how he pitches and wonder how his keeps his elbow from exploding. When the Mets come to DC, go watch a game or two. If Wagner comes in (an unpleasant thought) look at how much torque he puts on that elbow! The Phillies may have upgraded their closer with Brad Lidge, but he got off to a bad start with a minor knee injury. His confidence appeared fragile after his last two years in Houston. It will be interesting to see how he handles the bandbox Philly ballpark, though he thrived 2005 and before in an even more biased-toward-hitters park in Houston. The Braves’ Soriano throws heat, but is vulnerable to left-handed batters and wildness. Florida’s Kevin Gregg is solid, if unspectacular.

Overall, I’d rank the closers like this:  1 – Wagner (NY) 2 – Cordero (Was) 3 – Lidge (Phi) 4 – Gregg (Fla) 5 – Soriano (Atl) – though, I will admit, the new ballpark and Cordero’s flyball tendencies could be interesting. I think 2-5 are very close, but Wagner a clear #1.

The Nationals’ strength lies more in the depth of their pen then in Cordero. On the right-hand side they have proven veteran Luis Ayala, Jon Rauch, one of baseball’s best set-up men in 2007 and a possible closer if Cordero falters plus Saul Rivera, who allowed only one HR last year and Jesus Colome, who seemed to recapture his ability last year. No other team has that kind of depth on the right side. Chris Schroeder might be a budding star and Joel Hanrahan could do better in relief, with his 95+ MPH stuff.

On the southpaw side, the Nats might be a little thin. They have Ray King as a lefty specialist, but little else. They might need some help on the left side.

The Marlins are relying on a lot of young pitchers or journeymen in their pen. They got hit hard last year and probably will again.

The Phillies got some unexpected help from J.C. Romero last year and their pen held together for their playoff run, only to implode in the NLDS. You have to wonder how much longer Tom Gordon will last.

If Duaner Sanchez is healthy and returns to form, the Mets might have a much better bullpen, but their relievers fell apart last season at the end.

The Braves upgraded their pen with Will Ohman and Mike Gonzalez, acquired through trades. This might be their secret weapon this season.

So, Steve, how about the grades? Ok, this is always a tough area to judge, but here’s how I see it:

1 – Nationals 2 – Braves 3 – Phillies 4 – Mets 5 – Marlins

So, the total scores now are:

Mets – 24

Braves – 27

Phillies – 30

Nationals – 32

Marlines – 37

Next, the benches, then the managers. Will the Phils and Braves inch closer to New York? Will the Nats climb a bit? We’ll soon see.

I hope, when you read this post, you feel the affection for Washington baseball that I — and thousands of others — feel. Many disparage Washington as a town of soulless transients, with loyalty to nothing but political parties and self-preservation. If it was ever true, it is a dated notion that changed long ago. Now, multiple generations of people have lived and worked — and stayed in the area. They root for their home teams as passionately as any other  town. Until 2005, Washington simply lacked one of two necessary conditions to fall in love with baseball. They had no home team. They still wait for the second, a winning team that, at least, makes the playoffs or a serious, down-to-the-wire run.

No town embraces baseball until that happens. Not even Cubs’ fans. True, they haven’t won a World Series in 99 years, but they’ve made the play-offs many times since 1984. Red Sox’ fans had turned away in droves — until the Impossible Dream of 1967. When the  WBHS held a reunion for the 1969 Senators, the event’s capstone, breakfast with the players, quickly sold out — this from a town devoid of baseball since 1971. In the coming months, I will set about debunking myths about Washington as a baseball — and sports — town. Here’s the article excerpt:

The memories and stirred senses of the joy of baseball in Washington bring more than nostalgia. Pure reminiscing is hopeless, a simple reverie of a time long ago, never to return. It cannot be only, merely that. My memories give me a vision — of a future, quite near, where I experience the feelings and sensory pleasures of baseball again, right here in Washington, D.C. This time, as a parent, with my three sons.

In my vision, we stroll, no, trot toward a new stadium. It’s unquestionably modern, with a classic look and feel that complements the surrounding architecture. Centerfield has a 90 degree bend, a la Griffith Stadium, and there’s a big, black clock with long white hands and Roman numerals, like RFK’s signature Longine’s timepiece.

 
The stadium is open, with a view that takes in the Capitol and the gorgeous D.C. skyline on a clear night. A large American flag flies over center field, boldly symbolizing that this park is where defenders of freedom live and work.

 
Metro stops here, with thousands riding up its (working) escalators, pictures of great Washington baseball players from Walter Johnson to Josh Gibson to Frank Howard lining either side. A carnival atmosphere prevails, with vendors selling shirts, hats, souvenirs and all kinds of food and drink.

 
The grounds outside the stadium are well kept, with clean, green space for picnicking and leisurely talking baseball – or politics. The laughter and anticipation brings the nearby streets and bars alive. The crowd has many colors, languages, and cultures – its diversity reflecting a city full of variety and vitality — and, the make-up of the Washington baseball organization itself.

My boys sprint down the steps, past a distracted usher and down the steps to the right field foul line to crowd in for an autograph from a Washington ballplayer. I sit down in my seat, open my score book, and sigh contentedly. Baseball has returned to Washington, where it belonged all along.

I saw a story on this in today’s Washington Post — http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/02/26/ST2008022602806.html?sid=ST2008022602806

Seriously folks, there’s a museum on all things Stooges in Gwynedd Valley, Pa., near Philadelphia. I spent many a morning in uproarious hilarity watching the stooges beat each other up and bumble their way to fame and fortune. I remember Tony K. at William & Mary going on for hours about the comic genius of Mr. Fine and the Howard brothers.

Believe me, this is a place I’m going to visit. My wife asked, are there any malls nearby? She, like 99.9% of the world’s women, has no idea why the Stooges entertain men so.

If you visit before I do, let me know what you think. I plan to spend at least 3 hours there!

The Nationals have much better talent than last year’s tryout camp and a few young guys in Colin Balester and Ross Detwiler that might make some waves later in the year. Garrett Mock and Tyler Clippard have potential, but it probably needs to be refined. The good news is that both are power pitchers, something the Nats sorely lacked last season. Washington’s problem is that the two best pitchers, John Patterson and Shawn Hill have a track record of despair — lots of injuries and only one semi-full season between them. Also, we’ll get to see if Matt Chico is more Tom Glavine or Mike O’Connor. I think he’s tough enough to withstand the challenge from Odalis Perez and pitch well, but the beauty of baseball is that time will tell.

Enough chatter, let’s get to the ratings:

1 – NY – Santana, Martinez, Maine, Perez, Hernandez/Pelfrey

Comments: By far the best rotation in the division if Martinez, Perez and El Duque stay healthy – but Santana and Maine could both win 20. Santana makes an average, risky group strong and puts the Mets above all rivals.

2 -  Atl – Smoltz, Hudson, Glavine, James, Hampton/others – #1 to #3 are old, but solid and strong. Glavine gives them the good left-hander the team has lacked. The Phillies aren’t far behind, but the Braves’ group gets the nod because of its experience and health. The are pretty weak after he big 3, though.

3 – Phi – Hamels, Myers, Kendrick, Moyer, Eaton/Benson(?), others — Didn’t see Benson on the depth chart, but my Philly source tells me he’s signed. An intriguing group. Hamels is scary good, close to Santana in my book. I’m just not sure Myers is as good as everyone says and Kendrick seemed to overachieve — also, health is an issue as Hamels and Myers have had arm trouble. But, if Kendrick is real, Moyer has one more year left and the top 2 stay healthy, this rotation might be good enough to get Philly into the #2 spot.

4 – Was – Patterson, Hill, Bergmann, Lannan, Chico/Redding – The Nats have excellent depth at the back end of the rotation – Clippard, Redding, Mock, Balester, Detwiler and a few other youngins’ could probably fill those 3-5 slots. Detwiler might be fantastic, but likely not this year. The trouble is there’s no real ace. Patterson and Hill are good, not great even when healthy (though Hill could be a top line NL pitcher with that sinker) – but they’re just NEVER healthy. The new park will also separate the men from the boys in this group. But, if the Nats keep drafting like last year, this rotation could be excellent top to bottom by 2010. There’s potential here, but nothing proven and no ace like Santana, Hamels and Smoltz. That will change soon, but likely not in 2008.

5 – Fla – Olson, Mitre, Miller, Hendrickson, Nolasco/others — A weak group with Willis long gone and Anibal Sanchez injured(?) – Olson and Mitre are good #3/#4 guys, but not really aces. Unless help is coming from the farm, this group is way behind the others.

So, if we add these ranking to the previous ones (remember 1 point for first…5 points for 5th) we stand:

Mets – 20

Braves – 25

Phils – 27

Nationals – 31

Marlins – 32

Next: The bullpens. Do the Nationals really have one of baseball’s best? Stay tuned to find out my opinion.

Let’s take a look at the NL East outfield:

Left field – 1 – Josh Willingham (Fla) 2 – Moises Alou (NY) 3 – Pat Burrell (Phi) 4 – Pena/Dukes (Was) 5 – Matt Diaz (Atl)

Comments: A flawed bunch. Willingham gets the nod due to his talent and youth. He’s a good, solid, young power hitter. I could switch Burrell and Alou, but gave the nod to Alou since he’s a more versatile hitter, a tougher out. Burrell’s feast or famine, with lots of K’s. Neither can field at all. I’d love to rank the Nationals tandem higher since both are young and full of potential, but neither has proven their worth over an entire season. Pena has great power, but strikes out way too often and never walks. Dukes might be great, but he needs to prove he can play well and hold his temper and regulate his behavior for an entire season. Baseball eventually brings out the worst in everyone. It’s long, long season. Nats’ fan saw Jose Guillen hold it together for half a season, then he exploded when Pedro hit him in the back on July 5, 2005, taking the clubhouse and the team down with him. If Dukes and/or Pena blossom, they could surge ahead of the two old guys ahead of them. Atlanta appears to trail the pack here, but they always seem to find a prospect to come in and play well. Diaz is ok, but nothing special from what I’ve seen.

Centerfield 1 – Carlos Beltran (NY) 2 – Cameron Maybin (Fla) 3- Lastings Milledge (Was) 4 – Mark Kotsay (Atl) 5 – Shane Victorino (Phi)

Comments: I know my Phillies fans will question this one, but I’m not sold on Victorino. He can field well, but his hitting seems inflated by the Philly park. Beltran is the best by far of this bunch, but Maybin and Milledge could both break out this year and be very good. Judging from the players on the other end of the trades, it seems Maybin has a higher upside than Milledge, but time will tell. Kotsay is a solid vet to keep the position warm until Jeff Schaeffer, the Braves hot prospect, is ready.

Right Field – 1 – Jeff Francouer (Atl), 2- Jeremy Hermida (Fla) 3 – Austin Keanrs (Was) 4 – Ryan Church (NY) 5 – Geoff Jenkins/Jayson Werth (Phi)

Comments: Francouer has his flaws at bat – lack of patience – but he has power, drives in runs, and is a great fielder. Kearns fields nearly as well, if not better than Francouer, but hasn’t shown he can hit like Hermida can. In today’s baseball, you need some power in your OF. I’d love to see Kearns reach his hitting potential – he has everything else you’d want – fields great, great teammate, plays hard, but he’s not shown he can his consistently — yet. I really liked Chuch – 46 doubles are a testament to his ability, but he does have some holes in his swing and somehow, since 2005, seems hesitant and unsure of himself in the field. The NY media might grind him up — or he could put it all together and pass Kearns. I think Jenkins will hit a lot of home runs in Philly, but strike out way too much and butcher too many fly balls to keep Philliy’s fickle fans happy. Werth is a solid back-up who will have his moments, both good and bad.

So, the Nats have an OF full of potential, but unproven — and completely right-handed. I could see this group being death on left-handed pitching, which would help the Nats in the lefty-heavy NL East. But righties like Myers, Pedro, Smoltz and Hudson could eat these guys alive. It’s one of the most intriguing stories about the 2008 Nationals that will be fun to follow. For instance, Pena could hit 45 home runs and/or strike out 200 times with under 40 walks. He needs to heed the advice Ted Williams gave Frank Howard in 1969 – learn how to take a strike and a walk!

Ok, let’s add up the rankings. Florida, surprisingly, comes in first with 5 points. The Mets are second with 7. The Nats and Braves tie with 10. Philadelphia is 5th with 13 points.

So, how does the NL East look so far, taking infield and outfield together? Below it’s total score (IF score/OF score)

1 – Mets 19 (12/7)

2 – Braves 22 (12/10)

3 – Phillies 25 (12/13)

4 – Nationals 27 (17/10)

4 – Marlins 27 (22/5)

Gulp! The Marlins catch up to the Nats now and we see some separation between the top 3, with the Phillies taking a big hit. I believe they will really miss Rowland, just like the White Sox did.

Next, starting rotations. Who has the best? How will it change the overall rankings?

The AL East has heavyweights Boston and New York, but the other teams in the division just haven’t measured up the past 10 years and, the Baltimore club’s mini-run in 1996 and 1997 aside, have not competed well. The NL East, on the other hand, has the Mets, a mega-market team about to get a new stadium, the Phillies, a playoff or near playoff team each of the past three seasons, the Marlins, the only team besides the Yankees and Red Sox to win two world series the past decade, the Braves, just two years removed from a 14-year run of division titles, and the Nationals, the poor orphans in Montreal, but now, hopefully, a rebuilding club with a new stadium. Tonight, the Marlins got approval for a new stadium on the Orange Bowl site, so they will soon (2011) have better revenues to go with their top-notch scouting department and farm system. Overall, top to bottom, the NL East blows the AL East away.

Now, to the point of this post. The Nationals have been the least successful NL East team the past decade. So, how do they look against their division rivals by comparison? Let’s take a look — I rank the player(s) 1-5 by past performance and my opinion on their future.

Catcher –  1 -McCann (Atl), 2- LoDuca/Estrada/Flores (Was) 3 – Schneider (NY) 4 – Coste/Ruiz (Phi) 5 – Rubelo/Traenor (Fla)

Comments: A clear #1 – McCann is the top catcher by far in the division. I think Florida’s pair is the weakest. The others are essentially tied in my book. Washington and Philly’s pair hit better, Schneider fields and handles pitchers better. The only reason I rank the Nats #2 is that I really like Flores and think he will be the team’s starting catcher by August. The two oldsters they have now will throw out less than 15% of base stealers. With Patterson pitching, a walk to anyone with decent speed will be just like a triple. Flores will change that one day.

First Base: 1 – Howard (Phi) 2 – Texiera (Atl) 3 – Young/Johnson (Was) 4 – Delgado (NY) 5 – Jacobs (Fla)

Comments: The top 2 are better than the rest. Howard is not as far ahead of Texiera as some think. He hits better, as his $10M arbitration win shows, but he fields much worse and strikes out much more often. I rank the Nats pair third because Delgado is old, Jacobs still learning. The Nats could slip if Young regresses and Johnson doesn’t come back from injury, but…if he returns to 2006 form at bat and 2005 form in the field, the Nationals will be much better off than whatever the best Young can give them.

Second Base: 1 – Utley (Phi) 2- Johnson (Atl) 3- Castillo (NY) 4 – Uggla (Fla) 5 – Lopez/Belliard (Was)

Comments: Utley way in front of this pack. I like Johnson over Castillo because he has more power, even though Castillo has a sweet glove. Uggla puts up some HR’s, but the rest of his game is suspect. Unless Lopez returns to 2005 form, the Nats trail the pack here – in fact, even if he does, he’s still barely above Uggla and still doesn’t field like Castillo. Middle infield is the Nats weakest link in the majors and minors.

Shortstop: 1 – Reyes (NY) 2 – Rollins (Phi) 3- Ramirez (Fla) 4- Escobar (Atl) 5 – Guzman (Was)

Comments: #1 to #3 are very close. Reyes has the best all-around game, but some attitude troubles surfaced last year when the Mets melted down. Rollins’ numbers are a little shy of Reyes and Ramirez, but his leadership is better. Ramirez is a star, but has some glove issues to work on. The Braves’ Escobar could join this group of stars soon. Great potental. Guzman, even at his best and healthiest (or Lopez) can’t measure up to this group. See second base comment.

Third Base: 1 – Wright (NY) 2 – Zimmerman (Was) 3- Jones (Atl) 4 – Feliz/Dobbs (Phi) 5 – McPherson, et. al (Fla)

Comments: Wright is just incredibly good. Zim might get there, but hasn’t shown it yet. He needs some better hitting around him and has to stop making the easy errors. I rate him above Jones based on his potential and Jones’ advancing age. If you just look at past track records, you have to put Jones #2, except for the glove work. The Phillies might have a nice platoon and these guys don’t have to carry the offense. Florida, unless McPherson blossoms, has a mess at third.

So, the Nats are #2, sort of, at catcher, #3 at first, assuming health, #5 at 2B and SS, #2 as 3B, if Zim lives up to his potential. Just looking at these five positions, it looks like another 4th place finish. We’ll see. If you add up the points (1 for first, etc.) the Phils, Mets, Braves all tie with 12, the Nats have 17, the Marlins 22. So, if infield is all that matters, we’ll have a tight race among NY, Phi and Atl, with Was in 4th and Fla last.

Next — A look at the NL East’s outfield. How do the Nats new group fare?

I learned to play sports from my friends on Greymont Drive in Centreville, Virginia, especially Craig B.’s older brother, Brent. An aspiring major college quarterback, when you played street touch football with him, you didn’t dare drop one of his passes!

But I learned to appreciate sports — and how to discuss them with dignity and intelligence – from Ken Beatrice. I loved his post-game analysis after Redskins games during the Gibbs glory days. He had a quirky New England accent and some funny catch phrases. Local sports radio guys still like to make fun of him, especially his comments about not having the “sources and resources” to scout high school sports. What they failed to notice in their sometimes mean-spirited jibes is that Beatrice did three things they fail to do:

First, he treated guests on his show and callers with respect. He never cut them off, never joked at their expense, never let people just call up and rant or cheerlead. Lots of young kids, including me, felt comfortable calling him. It was a special thrill to get through in his halcyon days, when his Sports Call earned top ratings for Washington sports call-in shows.

Second, he did his homework. No one knew the intricacies and statistics like Ken, especially in football. He knew numbers before Bill James popularized the concept. He really did know (or had some great notes) the back-up shortstop on the Pirates AA farm club or some esoteric player. He didn’t need to resort to contrived arguments and “guy bar talk” like the guys on Sports Talk 980 do. He knew how to discuss multiple sports, unlike the football only guys on Redskins Radio.

Third, he cared deeply for his work. He used to tell callers in the queue at the end of the show to stay on the line and he’d get back to you. I can attest that he really did. He also answered calls at his office number, which he gave, foolishly I always thought, multiple times on the air.

Finally, Ken Beatrice realized, well before anyone in sports or baseball did, save maybe Ron Menchine and Frank Howard, that Washington would be a good market for baseball. He stressed good, not great, but he felt the area had a passion for the game and that they deserved a team.  He advocated the cause and took baseball to task for ignoring the area. I hope he got to relax and see a game at RFK these past three years. I’d love to hear him analyze the current Nationals club and assess Jim Bowden and Manny Acta’s work so far.

I can guarantee you this — his words would have more depth and more detail than you’ll hear in the next month on what passes for sports radio in Washington today. We are a sports rich town with the Nats, Skins, Wizards, Caps and DC United and all the fine collegiate and high school sports. Our sports radio, though, is poor. Unfortunately, Ken Beatrice’s ways won’t sell in today’s caustic sports market. Perhaps, 3WT (AM 1500) will provide some sanity and intelligent discussion during their upcoming Nationals pre- and post-game shows.

Next, look for my position by position analysis of the 2008 National League East. How do the Nats stack up? And, if this low-tech guy can figure out how to do it, some baseball pictures and sound bites featuring the 1969 Senators. Stay tuned…

Ready? Let’s talk some baseball.