Return to story

Boone not playing, wants a job

April 26, 2008 12:16 am

BY RICH CAMPBELL

WASHINGTON

Bret, a three-time all-star, hasn't played for Triple-A Columbus since April 17, and is currently on the temporary inactive list. Bob Boone said Bret left Columbus, returned home and is waiting to see if he can land a spot on a major-league roster.

"He's not going to play in the minor leagues," Bob said. "He's going to play in the big leagues if he can get a job."

Bret, 39, ended a two-year retirement and signed a minor-league contract with the Nationals on Feb. 18. He was promoted to major-league camp five days later, but he returned to minor-league camp on Mar. 21.

After he first signed with Washington, Bret said he would retire if he didn't make a major-league team out of spring training. However, he changed his mind and accepted the assignment to Triple-A, saying that he needed more time to determine whether he could play at the major-league level.

In 13 games for Columbus, Bret hit .261 (12-for-46) with eight RBIs and 11 strikeouts.

"Certainly, to himself, it was successful," Bob said. "He proved to himself that he could play at the major-league level. Now it's whether anybody else believes that or not.

"I'd probably rather have him be playing now, but he's just not going to do that. I don't know. You never can tell. Somebody goes down somewhere and a team has a need, he could possibly get a chance."

Nationals general manager did not respond to an inquiry about Bret's future with the organization. But it appears his minor-league days are over.

Said Bret's brother, Aaron, an infielder for the Nationals: "I just think he wasn't going to play down there forever."

Kearns kept out of starting lineup

Right fielder Austin Kearns was not in the starting lineup yesterday for the first time this season. He began the day hitting .193 with two home runs and 10 RBIs. He singled in a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth and scored on Wil Nieves' walk-off home run.

"I'm not upset or anything," Kearns said. "It's just a little blow, I guess. I don't look into it any more than that."

When manager Manny Acta explained to reporters his decision to start Rob Mackowiak over Kearns, he cited two tumbles that Kearns took while running to first in the two-game series against New York on Wednesday and Thursday.

"He's a little banged up, and it was just good for a day off," Acta said.

When asked if he was banged up, Kearns said no.

Kearns was expected to be one of the biggest benefactors of the Nationals' move away from RFK Stadium, where he hit .242 in 118 games. So far, that hasn't been the case.

He entered last night batting only .138 at Nationals Park. Against left-handed pitchers, Kearns is batting .077 (2-for-26).

He was encouraged, however, by the quality of his contact in both games against New York. On Tuesday, he flew out deep to the warning track in right. On Wednesday, he was robbed of base hits on separate exceptional defensive plays by the Mets.

NEWS AND NOTES

Outfielder Elijah Dukes (strained right hamstring) will begin a rehabilitation assignment with Single-A Potomac today. There is no set number of games he will play in the minors.

Dukes rejoined the Nationals on Thursday after a court hearing in Tampa, during which his 12-month probation was terminated. He was sentenced to probation on Sept. 27, the result of a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge.

According to yesterday's St. Petersburg Times, Dukes spent 25 hours during the past week cleaning cages at a local zoo. Dukes also reportedly passed weekly drug tests for the last six months.

Reliever Chad Cordero (right shoulder tendinitis) played catch from 150 feet yesterday. He will be available for today's game barring any setbacks, but he won't return to the closer's role just yet, Acta said. That will come after Cordero pitches a successful outing.

Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com