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Washington Nationals new players, catcher Paul Lo Duca left, and outfielder Lasting Milledge, pose with their new uniforms during a press conference, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, in Washington. Milledge was acquired from the New York Mets in a three-player trade on Nov. 30 and Lo Duca joined the Nationals after signing a $5 million one-year deal.
New Nationals Paul Lo Duca (left) and Lastings Milledge |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
WASHINGTON--Paul Lo Duca and Lastings Milledge made their first public appearances as members of the Washington Nationals yesterday, and general manager Jim Bowden used the occasion to profess, for the first time, his belief that the Nationals are equipped to become a winning team next season.
"We're ready to start winning," Bowden said. "We're opening a new ballpark, and it's time to win."
Bowden made his proclamation at a downtown news conference at which Lo Duca and Milledge were introduced. Earlier in the day, Lo Duca finalized a one-year, $5 million contract to be the Nationals' starting catcher.
Lo Duca and Milledge, who were teammates with the New York Mets during the last two seasons, flanked Bowden as the cameras flashed. Together, they symbolized Washington's reasons for hope after three straight losing seasons since baseball returned here.
In Lo Duca, the Nationals have a four-time all-star whose veteran presence will be counted on to instill a culture of winning, Bowden said. In Milledge, Washington has a young, talented outfielder who could be an impact player into the next decade.
"It's time for our young players to develop, and it's time for them to know how to play the game," Bowden said. "It's important that when you have a young club that's building, you surround them with veteran players that have won, that know how to win, that are all about winning."
The theme of the day was winning, something the Nationals have not become accustomed to. Following last-place finishes in 2005 and 2006, they finished 73-89 and in fourth place last season. Management considered that a success after widespread preseason predictions for a historically bad season.
The upcoming season is particularly critical for the Nationals, as they begin play in their $611 million downtown ballpark. Fans hope that the stadium will increase team revenue, which would in turn impel management to increase payroll and improve the quality of players on the team. Fielding a winning team in 2008 would be considered a huge step.
Lo Duca hasn't been on a losing team since his second year in the majors, when he played 36 games for a Los Angeles Dodgers team that finished eight games below .500 in 1999.
"There's going to be a lot of fans here coming to the new ballpark, and they pay good money to watch us play," Lo Duca said. "We're entertainment. We've got to go out and win. The more we win, the more fans come, and it's better for the ballclub."
Lo Duca believes that winning results not only come from the players on the field, but also the atmosphere inside the clubhouse. With four all-star nominations on his resume--more than any player in the Nationals' brief history--he knows what it takes to be successful in the major leagues.
He said he will defer any vocal leadership roles to players such as Ryan Zimmerman and Dmitri Young, but he wants to lead by example.
"I don't care if you have one year in the big leagues or 20, if I'm out of line I want somebody to put me in my place because I'm going to put you in your place in just the same way," Lo Duca said. "I don't play that game of 'I've got more years than another guy.' That's not the way a good clubhouse gets along. No matter what kind of players you have on the field, if you don't get along in the clubhouse, you're not going to win ballgames."
With Lo Duca entrenched as the starting catcher, the Nationals will wait until spring training to decide on Jesus Flores' role, manager Manny Acta said.
Flores, 23, whom the team considers its catcher of the future, could back Lo Duca up in a role similar to the one he played last year behind Brian Schneider. He could also play every day in the minor leagues.
"He's very talented, and he's got a great future, too," said Lo Duca, who got to know Flores in the Mets' organization. "If you sit down and ask questions, I'm going to answer them. Same thing, I might learn stuff from him. You learn stuff every day, especially in the catching position."
Milledge did not always thrive inside the New York clubhouse, but he said that he and Lo Duca got along, especially after Milledge got more comfortable reaching out to veterans last season.
Milledge also said that he hasn't been assured of a starting outfield spot. Bowden and Acta both believe that Milledge will flourish in a full-time role, something he did not earn with the Mets.
But three days after the Nationals traded for Milledge, they traded for Tampa Bay outfielder Elijah Dukes and created some uncertainty regarding the amount of Milledge's playing time.
Milledge, however, believes he will be satisfied by how much he plays.
"We're trying to win," Milledge said. "It doesn't matter."
After the news conference, Acta beamed at the prospect of adding Lo Duca and Milledge--two players he knew when he was the Mets' third-base coach in 2006--to Washington's clubhouse.
The atmosphere last season was a big reason the Nationals overachieved, Acta said. He believes Lo Duca and Milledge are positive additions who will seamlessly fit in, not players who will negatively change the clubhouse dynamics.
It is one reason why the Nationals already have higher expectations for 2008.
"I can't wait for the day I come in here with the expectation of having a team that can win 110 games," Acta said. "That's what it's all about. It's not about coming over here and trying to exceed low expectations. I'm dying to have the pressure that, say, a guy like [Detroit manager] Jim Leyland has right now. Winning or bust, basically."
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
