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BY RICH CAMPBELL
VIERA, Fla.--
The Washington Nationals expect an average of approximately 18,000 season-ticket holders per game at their new downtown ballpark this season, team president Stan Kasten said yesterday.Kasten's projection, the first one he has publicized, means that more than half of the stadium's 41,000 seats are unaccounted for on a nightly basis prior to single-game and walk-up sales.
The team has sold approximately 25,000 season-ticket packages, Kasten said, but, because of partial season-ticket packages, it works out to around 18,000 per night.
The 18,000 "full-season equivalents," as they are called in the industry, rank in the top 10 to 15 out of 30 major-league baseball teams, Kasten said.
With 37 days before the stadium opens with the Nationals' nationally televised season-opener against the Atlanta Braves, only the dugout and club-level sections of the park are sold out.
Single-game tickets, including tickets for the season-opener, will go on sale March 4 at 9 a.m. The team will sell "several thousand" Opening Day tickets to the general public, Kasten said.
"It's a building that was financed by the public," Kasten said. "We thought it was important to still have a public sale."
Kasten addressed concerns that season-ticket holders received fewer Opening Day seats than the number of per-game seats their package includes.
"It's always subject to availability," he said. "Remember, people are still getting the tickets they bought. Opening day tickets for people are now the extras we can make available, as available.
"I'm sure we could sell out this stadium twice or more for Opening Day if people got everything they wanted. There's 41,000 seats, that's it."
Parking continues to be a concern, as well.
"We're still looking for more spaces," Kasten said. "We do not yet have daily cash lots identified. We'd like to, hope to, by Opening Day. It's not definite."
HILL TESTS HIS ARM
Right-hander Shawn Hill threw about 10 curve balls during his workout yesterday, the first time he has thrown curves in three spring training bullpen sessions.
Hill, who had offseason surgery to decompress the ulnar nerve in his right forearm, threw only fastballs and changeups in his first two bullpen sessions. He went 4-5 with a 3.82 ERA in 16 starts last season because of a partially torn left labrum and right arm pain.
"The first couple I was just kind of spinning trying to get the feel," Hill said. "After I got going, it actually wasn't too bad. I was kind of surprised that it was reasonably decent."
Hill has battled arm pain his whole career, but he had the lowest ERA last season among Nationals pitchers who tossed more than 81 innings. He is in contention to start on Opening Day.
"We are just being a little cautious with the guy," manager Manny Acta said.
AYALA RECOVERING
Right-handed reliever Luis Ayala is still experiencing discomfort in his left hand after being shot with a shotgun pellet during a fishing trip in Mexico on Dec. 26.
"I feel a little numb, but I'll be ready for spring training, Opening Day," he said.
Ayala showed off his sense of humor by donning a bright orange hunting cap before talking to a group of reporters about the incident.
Ayala said he and a friend were fishing from a boat in the middle of a lake when a stray shotgun pellet pierced his upper left arm between the elbow and shoulder. The team originally said Ayala was shot in the forearm.
He doesn't know who shot him because he left the scene immediately to seek treatment. Ayala felt pain and numbness in his left fingers for two weeks after the incident because the pellet bruised a nerve. That has improved daily, he said yesterday while squeezing a small rubber therapy ball with his left hand. The pellet remains in his arm.
Ayala threw a bullpen session in the morning after arriving in Florida last night. He was able to participate in every drill.
ACTA PRAISES DUKES
Acta sounded off yesterday on outfielder Elijah Dukes's introductory news conference.
"I think he did a good job, and he sounds sincere to me, but again, we are going to have to see," he said.
While Dukes's introduction was carefully orchestrated by team officials, Acta said that type of delicate handling won't continue.
"We're not going to be able to put Elijah in a bubble," he said. "He's out there like everybody else, and we're just going to offer our support when we can."
GUZMAN THINKS BIG
Shortstop Cristian Guzman has recovered fully from left thumb ligament surgery and plans on picking up where he left off last season, when he batted .328 in 44 games. He is in the final season of a four-year, $16.8 million contract.
"I know this is my free-agent [year], so I'm trying to come here and just play and [help] my team win and be healthy for a whole year," Guzman said.
Waiting for ODALIS
Newly acquired pitcher Odalis Perez is expected to arrive at spring training today.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
