Many Washingtonians are unfamiliar with what to expect from the return of baseball to the District in 48 days, but the team is already preparing itself to make a splash in the Potomac despite an unknown team and a terrible record from last year.
The first test for the new team will be drawing fans to see a team noticeably devoid of big names and a deep bench.
On April 14, when the Nationals will play the first of 12 home contests that month, there will be many students on hand to watch the action as it unfolds. The best part is that the games will all be accessible via Metro because RFK Stadium is on the Orange Line.
The Nationals are currently a who's who of minor leaguers. What people forget is that they are the old Montreal Expos, the team that finished 67-95 and 29 games out of first place last year in the National League East division.
The good news is that with new management, the team's losing streak will be deemed unacceptable by owners desperate to see their new investment succeed. That, as well as one of the worst records in baseball last year, should assure them some measure of success.
The good news is that with new management, the [Expos] losing streak will be deemed unacceptable by owners desperate to see their new investment succeed. That, as well as one of the worst records in baseball last year, should assure them some measure of success.The fact that the team is now located in D.C. is sure to attract top names of better players who were unwilling to play in Montreal. These changes are great not only for baseball but for the city. Mayor Anthony Williams has said many times that the team will bring far more than expected to the District.
Baseball in D.C. during the school year is certain to excite many students. Nationals management is aware of this and will offer student discounts, even as information on special deals is unclear at this time.
This past week, the Nationals began offering pre-registered fans a chance to purchase mini-season 20-game plans, and soon enough, the general public will be able to purchase tickets with reckless abandon.
There were a few online ordering issues regarding ticket-package sales, but Ticketmaster has since resolved them.
The city, especially the southeast riverfront portion, will be much better off once the new stadium is complete.
With fewer than two months before the first pitch is thrown at RFK, baseball fans throughout the D.C. area are digging out their raggedy gloves and old baseballs. Students all over campus are wearing the Red (home) and Blue (road) caps with the soon-to-be well-known "W" gracing the front.
The Nationals still have a lot of work to be done but nonetheless it's safe to say that baseball will be played and there will be many fans in the stands.
Baseball has returned to the nation's capital, and this time it's here to stay.
