WASHINGTON--The end of the season came and went yesterday, and the members of manager Frank Robinson's coaching staff will have to wait to find out their fate.
Though Robinson has been fired, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden would not comment on the status of the coaching staff, which includes third-base coach and Fredericksburg native Tony Beasley.
Bowden met with the entire coaching staff separately yesterday, and Beasley called his meeting positive, but no decisions have been made. The contracts for the coaching staff expire Oct. 31.
"It's a gray area. It's a business. I understand it. Now all I can do is wait," Beasley said.
Because it's customary for managers to bring their own coaches, the fate of the entire coaching staff likely depends on who is hired.
A search for Robinson's successor will formally begin today, and Bowden is expected to have a large list of candidates: Marlins manager Joe Girardi and former managers Lou Piniella and Tony Pena, as well as Braves third-base coach Fredi Gonzalez, are believed to be candidates.
Ayala on the mendReliever Luis Ayala missed the entire season after having ligament replacement surgery on his right elbow, but he was confident yesterday that he'd be ready for spring training.
"I feel pretty good," said Ayala, who rehabilitated his arm in Phoenix for most of the season before arriving in Washington in September.
"I've got a new arm," he said
Ayala was the Nationals' most reliable set-up reliever last season, but he tore a ligament in his right elbow pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. He had surgery in March and the Nationals have missed his presence in the bullpen.
He appeared in 68 games last year and recorded a career-low 2.66 ERA.
He's currently playing catch from up to 70 feet, and he said he'll start throwing off a mound in December.
"I missed a lot of baseball," Ayala said. "I missed my teammates. I missed my team, and I missed the people here in Washington."
No voteRookie third baseman Ryan Zimmerman isn't sure if he'll win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, but if he had a vote, he said he wouldn't pick himself.
"I never vote for myself," he said.
Zimmerman finished the season with a .287 batting average, 20 homers and 110 RBIs. He'll face competition from Florida rookies Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Extra basesReliever Jon Rauch made his 85th appearance of the season yesterday to move into second place on the franchise's single-season list. Mike Marshall pitched in 92 games in 1973.
President Teddy Roosevelt remained winless in the final installment of the popular presidents race at RFK Stadium. After 36 straight losses, Roosevelt appeared to win yesterday's race, but was disqualified because he took too much time.
To reach TODD JACOBSON:
Email: tjacobson@freelancestar.com