|
2007 Washington Nationals Season
The Washington Nationals' 2007 season began with the team trying to win its first NL East title since moving to Washington. During the offseason, the team replaced manager Frank Robinson with former Montreal Expos coach Manny Acta. They lost several players through free agency and trades. The most notable of those are José Guillén, Ramón Ortiz, Alfonso Soriano, and José Vidro. The Nationals signed few major league free agents. Their most experienced free agent signing was Dmitri Young. Luis Ayala, Alex Escobar, Cristian Guzmán, Nick Johnson, Michael O'Connor and John Patterson were expected to return from season-ending injuries. After losing four starters (Liván Hernández, Tony Armas, Ramón Ortiz and Pedro Astacio) from the prior year, the Nationals invited an extraordinary 36 pitchers to spring training. By year's end, the team would become the first team in modern baseball (except for strike-shortened seasons) with no pitcher in double figures with wins or losse ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
National League East
The National League East is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. Along with the American League Central it is one of two divisions to have every member win at least one World Series title. The division was created when the National League (along with the American League) added two expansion teams and divided into two divisions, East and West effective for the 1969 season. The National League's geographical alignment was rather peculiar as its partitioning was really more north and south instead of east and west. Two teams in the Eastern Time Zone, the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds, were in the same division as teams on the Pacific coast. This was due to the demands of the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, who refused to support expansion unless they were promised they would be kept together in the newly created East division. During the two-division era, from 1969 to 1993, the Phillies–Pirates rivalry, Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates toget ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager (commonly referred to as the manager) is the equivalent of a head coach who is responsible for overseeing and making final decisions on all aspects of on-field team strategy, lineup selection, training and instruction. Managers are typically assisted by a staff of assistant coaches whose responsibilities are specialized. Field managers are typically not involved in off-field personnel decisions or long-term club planning, responsibilities that are instead held by a team's general manager. Duties The manager chooses the batting order and starting pitcher before each game, and makes substitutions throughout the game – among the most significant being those decisions regarding when to bring in a relief pitcher. How much control a manager takes in a game's strategy varies from manager to manager and from game to game. Some managers control pitch selection, defensive positioning, decisions to bunt, steal, pitch out, etc., while others d ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Patterson (pitcher)
John Hollis Patterson (born January 30, 1978) is an American former professional starting pitcher. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals of the Major League Baseball (MLB). Career A ''USA Today'' prep All-American in his senior year at West Orange-Stark (Texas) High School, Patterson was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the first round (5th overall pick) of the 1996 MLB draft. Montreal lost the draft rights to Patterson on a legal technicality: they sent him a contract offer that was not printed on official team letterhead, and he signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for $6.075 million. After a solid rookie season where he had a 3.22 earned run average (ERA), he had a disappointing season with the Diamondbacks. Patterson was traded back to the Expos prior to the season in exchange for Randy Choate, a left-handed relief pitcher. Always filled with immense potential – he featured a fastball in the mid-90s (miles per hour) along w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Michael O'Connor (baseball)
Michael Patrick O'Connor (born August 17, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He had a successful high school career at Mount Saint Joseph High School and then went to George Washington University. Playing career Washington Nationals O'Connor's Major League Baseball debut was April 27, , for the Washington Nationals against the St. Louis Cardinals, in which he earned a loss. He went five innings, gave up 3 runs on three hits, struck out two and walked four. He was called up from Triple-A New Orleans replacing the injured John Patterson. On July 6, he was optioned back to Triple-A New Orleans. On July 17, he was recalled in place of Patterson, who had been put back on to the disabled list. San Diego Padres On June 17, 2009, O'Connor was traded to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later. He was released on August 10. Kansas City Royals On August 18, O'Connor signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals, where he finished the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nick Johnson (baseball)
Nicholas Robert Johnson (born September 19, 1978) is an American former professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter. During his career Johnson played for the New York Yankees (2001–2003; 2010), Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals (2004–2009), Florida Marlins (2009), and Baltimore Orioles (2012). Johnson was known for his patience and discipline at the plate, which led to him having a career on-base percentage of .399. Lifetime, with the bases loaded he had a .370 batting average, a .444 on-base percentage, 72 runs batted in, and 2 grand slams in 73 at-bats. Johnson was also the last remaining player on the Nationals' roster to relocate with the team from Montreal, before being traded to the Marlins at the 2009 non-waiver trade deadline. Personal He is the nephew of Larry Bowa. Johnson and his wife, Liz, had their first child, Brianna, on January 31, 2006. He graduated from C. K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento where he was teammates with future Major Leagu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cristian Guzmán
Cristian Antonio Guzmán (born March 21, 1978) is a Dominican former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals, and Texas Rangers. Professional career Minnesota Twins Guzmán was acquired by the Minnesota Twins in from the New York Yankees organization as part of the Chuck Knoblauch trade. In , Guzmán was named to the AL All-Star team and posted career bests with 10 home runs and a .302 batting average. He was a key part of the Twins teams that won three consecutive American League Central titles from –. While a Twin, he led the American League in triples in (20), 2001 (14) and (14). His total of 20 in 2000 was only the tenth time a player had reached that number in the last 70 years. Washington Nationals After becoming a free agent, Guzmán signed a $16.8 million, four-year contract with the Washington Nationals for the season but then proceeded to have the worst year of his career. As the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alex Escobar
Alexander José Escobar ss-COE-bar(born September 6, 1978) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Career Escobar was signed by the Mets as a non-draft amateur free agent in and made his debut in . At the end of the season, he was traded to the Indians as part of an eight-player deal that sent Roberto Alomar to the Mets. Escobar missed the entire season after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Spring Training. In , he recovered from a slow start at Triple-A Buffalo Bisons collecting 24 home runs and 78 runs batted in and looked strong for the Tribe in September and played in 28 games. In the minors, Escobar was an All-Star in the 'AAA' International, 'AA' Eastern and 'AA' South Atlantic leagues, and he also was selected by Baseball America in the 1998 All-Stars team. Escobar was demoted by the Nationals during Spring Training after hitting just .103 (3-for-29) with two RBIs. He said he was not getting enough playing time in spring traini ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luis Ayala (baseball)
Luis Ignacio Ayala Hernández (born January 12, 1978) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Florida Marlins, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and Atlanta Braves. He is and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed. Career Saraperos de Saltillo In , as a 19-year-old, Ayala started playing in the Mexican Baseball League as a relief pitcher. He spent five years with the Saraperos de Saltillo, where he was 10–3 with a 2.92 earned run average (ERA). in 65 games. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Colorado Rockies in 1999 and spent time with their A ball team before the Rockies sold him back to Saltillo in 2001.. Montreal Expos / Washington Nationals In 2002, he was purchased from Saltillo by the Montreal Expos. He played with the AAA Ottawa Lynx in 2002. At the end of the season, he was signed by the Arizona Diamondbacks, but tw ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Dmitri Young
Dmitri Dell Young (born October 11, 1973) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a left fielder, first baseman, and designated hitter, for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Detroit Tigers, and Washington Nationals from 1996 through 2008. He is a two-time All-Star and winner of the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award. His younger brother, Delmon Young, also played in MLB. High school career Young attended Rio Mesa High School in Oxnard, California. He never hit below a .400 batting average while playing in high school and earned USA Today High School All-American honors in his senior season. Young initially committed to play college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes. Minor leagues The St. Louis Cardinals selected Young in the first round, with the fourth overall selection, in the 1991 Major League Baseball draft. Early in his professional career, Young's weight raised con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
José Vidro
José Angel Vidro (born August 27, 1974) is a Puerto Rican born former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals and Seattle Mariners. Professional career Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals Vidro was drafted in the sixth round of the 1992 amateur draft by the Montreal Expos from Blanca Malaret High School in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. He spent four seasons in the minor leagues before making his major league debut on June 8, 1997. He was primarily a reserve infielder for the Expos in 1997 and 1998. Vidro is the first of three players, including Robinson Cancel (New York Mets) and Jonathan Sánchez (San Francisco Giants), from Sabana Grande to make it to the major leagues. In 1999, Vidro became a full-time player as the Expos starting second baseman. He hit .304 with 12 home runs and 59 RBI and was second in the National League with 45 doubles. In 2000, Vidro was named an All-Star for the first time in his career. His care ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Alfonso Soriano
Alfonso Guilleard Soriano (born January 7, 1976) is a Dominican former professional baseball left fielder and second baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs, and in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp. Soriano began his professional career with Hiroshima in 1996, but signed with the Yankees as a free agent in 1998 and was assigned to play in minor league baseball. The next year, he was the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the All-Star Futures Game, and made his MLB debut for the Yankees, with whom he would win two American League championships. The Yankees traded Soriano to the Rangers after the 2003 season, and the Rangers traded Soriano to the Nationals after the 2005 season. He signed a contract as a free agent with the Cubs before the 2007 season. The Cubs traded Soriano to the Yankees in 2013, and the Yankees released him in 2014. Soriano was a seven-time MLB All ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ramón Ortiz
Ramón Diógenes Ortiz (born May 23, 1973) is a Dominican former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Anaheim Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals, Minnesota Twins, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Toronto Blue Jays. Ortiz also played for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). Professional career 1999–2005 Ortiz was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Anaheim Angels in 1995. He made his Major League debut on August 19, 1999, when he started for the Angels against the Chicago White Sox. He pitched eight innings, allowing four hits and one run to pick up the victory. His best season was 2002, when he went 15–9 with a 3.77 earned run average (ERA) for the Angels. He earned the win in Game 3 of the 2002 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. In 2003, he set a career high with 16 victories. Ramon Ortiz earned an estimated of $20.5 million, signing six contra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
