By TODD JACOBSON
WASHINGTON--The meeting was mostly symbolic, more a meet-and-greet than anything, but the Washington Nationals finally got acquainted with their new owners.
Theodore Lerner, members of his family and ownership group, and incoming team president Stan Kasten met with Nationals players and coaches in the team's clubhouse for approximately 30 minutes before yesterday's game, promising to build a successful franchise.
Then, they met with members of the Nationals front office, taking another step toward the official transition of the $450 million franchise. Major League Baseball awarded the Nationals to the Lerner group May 3, and Kasten said the group hopes to take over in three or four weeks.
"We have a long-term goal, hopefully not too long, of building a postseason team at minimum and until we get there we are not satisfied so that process is already under way," said Kasten, who reiterated that his top priority would be player development. "But we are going to do our best to kick it into high gear just as soon as we can."
That sounded like good news to the players that got a first look at the new boss.
"They plan on from this day on starting a top-notch organization, a class operation," shortstop Royce Clayton said. "As a player that's all you can ask for. If we had any questions or any concerns they are here to help facilitate those things. From that standpoint, it was good things to hear."
Kasten announced the hiring of four team executives, naming Bob Wolfe, his right-hand man with the Atlanta Braves, the team's executive vice president.
He also announced three senior vice presidents: Al Maldon (external affairs), Mike Shapiro (business affairs), and Tom Ward (marketing).
But Kasten said he has not made any decisions on the status of general manager Jim Bowden, manager Frank Robinson or any of the front office staff, though he said he and his vice presidents would conduct meetings starting today to evaluate and gather suggestions from the franchise's staff.
"I don't have any expectation of coming in here and letting people go," Kasten said. "I am assuming everyone here is competent and worthy of their job. Until I learn otherwise, that's my starting place."
Kasten acknowledged the transition period has created an odd set of circumstances.
Nationals president Tony Tavares will run the team until Kasten takes over, Bowden will continue to make roster moves, and the team will conduct the annual First-Year Player Draft.
Injury updateThe Nationals got good news about right-hander Zach Day's shoulder, but couldn't make it through another nine innings without a few more ailments.
Right fielder Jose Guillen left yesterday's game in the second inning with a scratched cornea in his left eye, and catcher Wiki Gonzalez was removed after three innings after he was hit in the head by Preston Wilson's backswing.
He was diagnosed with a mild concussion and a neck strain.
Day, however, will not need surgery on his right shoulder after being placed on the 15-day disabled list Monday. After Day had a saline-enhanced MRI yesterday, Bowden said the Nationals would treat his shoulder tendinitis with a cortisone shot and a rehabilitation program.
Powered upDamian Jackson's recent home run binge has come as a surprise to his manager, but he hasn't surprised himself.
"I've always known I was strong," Jackson said.
However, he probably couldn't have predicted what took place this week. Jackson, who was signed this winter to add depth to the Nationals' bench, homered in three straight starts.
Jackson had 28 homers in 760 big league games entering this season, and had five all of last year.
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com