Edwin Jackson turned down three-year offer from Pirates

When you have the chance to play with Ian Desmond and Roger Bernardina…

Last week when Edwin Jackson agreed to a one-year, $11 million deal with the Nationals there were several reports that he turned down multi-year offers elsewhere.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com now has at least one of those offers pegged, reporting that Jackson said no to a three-year proposal from the Pirates believed to be worth around $30 million.

Lake and Seguira:SI:Under Siege: the Kidnapping and Rescue of Wilson Ramos

...When Wilson Ramos emerged from the jungle barely 48 hours after he was taken, the government’s account of his rescue failed to convince everyone. In one private conversation after another, well-known members of Venezuela’s baseball community cast doubt on the official version of events. The story described federal agents going bravely into the wilderness to rescue Ramos in a hail of bullets that apparently hit no one. The skeptics considered this a play by the Chávez regime to remix the truth for its own benefit—to show the world that Venezuela wouldn’t let the malandros snatch a baseball player and get away with it.

Well, something happened to bring Ramos home. The skeptics had their theories. And in a country where real life can imitate an overwrought spy novel, nothing was too strange to consider.

A follow-up story on the Ramos kidnapping and aftermath.

Madden - Gary Carter attends Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball game

In his continuing battle against brain cancer, Gary Carter made a rare public appearance Thursday, visiting the Palm Beach Atlantic college baseball team he coaches near his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Carter, 57, has spent nearly his entire time confined to his house in recent days as his condition has worsened.

However, according to family sources, he was determined to make it to Palm Beach Atlantic’s opening game of the season and was driven to the game by family members — whereupon he arrived at the field riding in the back of a golf cart shortly before the playing of the national anthem.

“He wanted to be here for his guys, here for opening day,” Carter’s daughter, Kimmy Bloemers, was quoted as saying by the Palm Beach Post.

Carter spent only a few minutes with the team, shaking hands with the players and grinning broadly, while repeating: “Let’s get a win tonight.”

He then spent about three innings watching the game from a private booth in the press box, accompanied by former Montreal Expo teammates Tommy Hutton and Jeff Reardon, both of whom live in the Palm Beach Gardens area.

On Jan. 21, Carter was honored with the Milton and Arthur Richman “Ya Gotta Have Heart” award at the New York Baseball Writers dinner but was too ill to attend. Instead, the award was accepted by his son, D.J., and his two daughters, Kimmy and Christy, who asked the audience to pray for their dad.

Since then, family sources said doctors elected to cease a lot of the medication — chemotherapy and radiation — Carter was receiving as it was no longer containing the tumors and making him feel worse.

He was said to be spending most of his time at home in a weakened state, and the family website has not had an entry since Jan. 19, when Bloemers reported, “This past week has been one of the hardest weeks for my dad. Every day is exhausting and every move takes great effort.”

Thursday, at least, was a better day, as Carter fulfilled his vow to his players to be there for them on their opening day of the season.

Nats ask fans to ‘Take Back the Park’ vs. Phils

You can’t spell effen Phillies without Feffer!

When it comes to the Phillies, chief operating officer Andy Feffer wants Nationals fans to fill up Nationals Park—and for a good reason.

In the last few seasons, whenever the Nationals played their National League East rival in D.C., almost nothing but Phillies fans flocked to the stadium.

...“For several years now, our fans, everybody, have been screaming about the number of Phillies fans that invade our park when we have a series here at Nationals Park,” Feffer said. “Frankly, I’m tired of seeing the Phillies fans in our ballpark in Washington more than anything. We sat down as a group and we said, ‘You know what? It’s time to take our park back in Washington and get our fans in this park.’

“We have a great team this year—one of the best pitching staffs in the National League, if not the best with the addition of Edwin Jackson and Gonzalez. You have [Stephen] Strasburg and Zimmerman healthy. We sat down and said, ‘Let’s do something we’ve never done before. Let’s go out prior to single-game tickets going on sale in March and open it up early starting Friday.

...“Someone asked me, ‘What do you think of Philly and Phillies fans and the series?’” said Feffer. “I couldn’t be more direct. I said, ‘Forget you, Philly. It’s our fans, our time, our park and we are going to fill it with Nationals fans.’ We are going to do everything we can to ensure our fans here in Washington that first opportunity to make that happen.”

CBS Sports: Edwin Jackson agrees to sign with Nationals

According to - who else - Jon Heyman on twitter, the deal is one year, 8-12M.

Edwin Jackson is entering his 10th major-league season, and he’ll do so with his seventh team. He is an agreement with the Washington Nationals, CBSSports.com insider Jon Heyman has learned. The deal is pending a physical.
...
Jackson has been unable to find a permanent home in his career, but he’s always been a productive pitcher. He doesn’t profile as a frontline starter, but Washington doesn’t need him to be one.

MASN: Positionally, Werth is the center of attention

TARGET WERTH!

About the biggest uncertainty revolves around Jayson Werth - will he play center field or right field, and if it’s center, who’s in right?

Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson insist Werth is capable of manning center. They think he’s got sufficient speed to cover the gaps and there’s no doubt that he’s the kind of take-charge outfielder to can play traffic cop (in other words, none of that silliness where the center fielder allows himself to be called off a catchable ball, which has happened occasionally in the past). In his brief trial in center at the end of last season, Werth acquitted himself well, making good reads and taking good routes to the ball. He’s no stranger to center, having played the position in each of his nine major league seasons, but his 31 games and 233 1/3 innings at the position with the Phillies in 2008 were his career highs at the spot.

RLYW: Too-Early Marcel 2012 Season Forecast

Crikey, such excitement in the NL West!

This is current through Francisco Cordero signing with Toronto, and assumes Prince Fielder at 1B and Miguel Cabrera playing a terrible version of 3B for Detroit in 70% of their games, and DHing in 25% of them.

Alex Cora announces retirement

Former Nationals utility infielder Alex Cora played winter ball and was the Captain of the Caguas Criollos of Puerto Rico. After the Criollos final game of the season tonight, he announced his retirement from baseball.

Alex Cora, 36, was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third round of the 1996 draft. Cora has played all over the infield for seven MLB teams: Dodgers, Blue Jays, Indians, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers and Nationals Maybe he’ll follow in his big brother Joey’s footsteps and coach.

...(Translated by Bing):
MESSAGE from our captain ALEX CORA announcing his retirement: thank you all for the support they gave me for 16 seasons. We enjoy and we suffer, we won and we lost but heart I can tell you that being Creole is the best there is. Now close a chapter in my career and in the bottom of my heart I say that I do with the high front because I am and always will be pure strain Creole! Thank you all.

(confuded) Maybe the Red Sox still have a shot at him!

Kevin Goldstein: Washington Nationals Top 11 Prospects

System In 20 Words Or Less: Thinned out by the Gio Gonzalez deal, but a strong 2011 draft has the potential to make up for it.

Five-Star Prospects
1. Bryce Harper, OF
2. Anthony Rendon, 3B
Four-Star Prospects
3. Matt Purke, LHP
Three-Star Prospects
4. Brian Goodwin, OF
5. Alex Meyer, RHP
6. Destin Hood, OF
7. Michael Taylor, OF
8. Steve Lombardozzi, 2B
9. Robbie Ray, LHP
10. Sammy Solis, LHP
Two-Star Prospects
11. Tyler Moore, 1B

Nine More:
12. Chris Marrero, 1B: Former first-rounder has put up solid numbers, but not enough for a first-base only player.
13. Eury Perez, OF: Speedster with line drive bat, but little in the way of secondary skills.
14. Zach Walters, SS: Good bat for a shortstop, but profiles better as a second baseman.
15. Taylor Jordan, RHP: Groundballer who throws strikes, but there are questions about ability to miss bats as he moves up.
16. Josh Smoker, LHP: Returned from bust status by touching 95 mph out of the bullpen; could move up with more strikes.
17. Jason Martinson, SS: Intriguing power/speed combination, but defense is lacking and might not ever hit for average.
18. Matt Skole, 3B: 2011 Fifth-round pick has plus bat and power potential; could move up after first full-season.
19. Sandy Leon, C: Will get to the big leagues on defensive chops alone, but bat screams backup.
20. David Freitas, C: Interesting catcher to watch due to on-base skills and developing power; defense lags behind.

Beasley: Bryce Harper “can handle” starting season with Nationals

Beasley: Bryceslist: Killer job.

New Triple-A Syracuse manager Tony Beasley believes Harper could use some more seasoning but has also demonstrated hints of the complete package
.
“I would hate to see him come all the way through the system quickly, skip levels and then get the major league level and really skid,” Beasley said. “The thing he has that is special, and I have talked to him about it, is his mindset - the way he believes and the level of confidence he has and his ability to play the game of baseball. I don’t think you want to shake that, especially at this age. I don’t think you want to take the chance of shaking that.”

...But all you can go on is what you have seen and Beasley believes in what Harper has produced in one season. He believes it is a very positive sign for what lies ahead for the Nationals and their top prospect.

“I think so far he has done outstanding. That is the tough call for general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Davey Johnson (to make). All we can do as a minor league field staff is to prepare him as best we can for on and off field situations. I think so far he is way, way ahead of his years and he gets it. I think (Harper) really understands it,” Beasley said.

So, is Harper ready?

“If he gets the call out of spring training this year,” Beasley said, “I have a feeling that he can handle it.”

Kilgore: The Nationals look like Prince Fielder favorites

Prince busters…going one step beyond?

And if the Rangers aren’t going to sign Fielder, the Nationals have to be considered the frontrunner now. Who else is there? Any team planning to make a stealth run at him probably would not have risked waiting until late January to make its move. The Brewers and Mariners have been on the periphery, but not as involved as the Nationals. You never know, but it looks like the Fielder sweepstakes is the Nationals’ to lose.

The process has been fascinating, and it looks for now as if the Nationals have played it perfectly. They held firm at their price for Fielder, and with the apparent (and stunning) relative lack of interest in one of baseball’s great sluggers, the market has come to them. They let agent Scott Boras dictate the terms of the Jayson Werth negotiations last winter. The Lerners struck back this time. Or at least that’s the appearance right now.

In the background of their discussions with Fielder lies the Nationals’ under-construction television deal with MASN. Like the Rangers, the Nationals could soon be expecting more cash from their rights fees. The details are few, but the stakes are explained in the story from today’s paper, with help from Chuck Greenberg, an architect of the Rangers’ massive TV deal.

The Nationals, experts say, can expect enough new revenue from their renegotiated rights fees to pay for Fielder’s potential contract – and then some. Andrew Zimbalist, an economics professor and sports business expert, said signing Fielder could enhance the Nationals’ argument for higher rights fees from MASN.

“I think it would,” Zimbalist said. “Somebody like Fielder offers the possibility of not only the team being more competitive, but generating excitement in his own right.”

MLB Trade Rumors: Bartolo Colon Agrees to Sign With Unknown Team

Bartolo Colon has agreed to a deal with an unknown club reports Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter). The right-hander wouldn’t divulge the team because he has not yet passed his physical.

Pretty sure it’s either the All-Stars or the Champs.

Bob Carpenter to return to MASN as voice of Nats

and Face Palm Santangelo to return as the facepalm of Nats.

Late last year, it appeared Carpenter would not return to the booth after the Nats didn’t pick up his option last August, but both sides managed to come to terms recently. Calls to Carpenter were not returned.

It will mark Carpenter’s seventh season in the broadcast booth for MASN. He is known for the catch phrase, “See you later,” whenever a Nationals player hits a home run.

F.P. Santangelo will continue to be Carpenter’s broadcast partner. Santangelo is the fifth TV partner for Carpenter, who has worked with Tom Paciorek, Don Sutton, Rob Dibble and Ray Knight.

Former Major Leaguer Howie Koplitz passes away at 73

What is there to say…

WTOP.com | Nationals signs Mark DeRosa to a 1-year contract

The Washington Nationals have signed free-agent utility player Mark DeRosa to a one-year contact.

Mark DeRosa

Report: Gio Gonzalez traded to the Nats for four top prospects

here were multiple reports in the past hour or so that the Athletics were moving close to trading Gio Gonzalez, with most suggesting the Nationals as the most likely destination and some random Red Sox speculation.  Now Keith Law reports that a deal has been struck:  Gonzalez to the Nationals for four prospects: A.J. Cole, Brad Peacock, Derek Norris, and Tom Milone.

This is a huge haul for Gonzalez, it seems to me. According to John Sickels, these guys rank as the Nationals’ third, fourth, sixth and ninth best prospects.  And given how good the Nationals’ number one and number two prospects are — Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon — you could easily move all of those numbers up if they had come from other organizations.

Thanks to Chet.

Grantland (Rany J): The MLB Prospect Bubble

In 21st-century baseball, when teams do overpay in prospects, it’s usually for stars. Most famously, in 2007 the Braves gave up Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia (who started to find himself this season after a trade to Boston) — but at least they traded for Mark Teixeira, an acknowledged superstar.

The blowback from the Teixeira trade seems to have made teams even more conservative about trading prospects, even for elite major league talent. As a result, for perhaps the first time in baseball history, minor league prospects seem to be overvalued by MLB front offices. ...

To put this in terms that Billy Beane can understand: We’ve reached a point where trading away prospects is the new market inefficiency. ...

For that reason, an ambitious team with a deep farm system — the Royals, for instance, or the Nationals — should take advantage of MLB general managers’ prospect fetish to cash in some of their lottery tickets for established players who might help them win in 2012.

Rany makes some excellent points here. Prospects can serve two purposes for an organization - building blocks on the parent club or trade chits for the pieces that will get you over the hump - and teams seem to be more inclined these days to use them for the first purpose without giving enough thought to using them for the second purpose.

Steinberg: Jim Riggleman intends to manage in the big leagues again

Illusions in a twisted mind to save from self-destruction…hmm, it’s the Riggle room. (Hey Porter)

But Riggleman would not agree. In fact, he told Jim Bowden and Casey Stern of SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio that his explicit goal is another crack at an MLB job.

...“I don’t look at it as I HAVE to go back there, I look at it as it’s a pleasure to go back there. You know, you don’t want to get stagnant, you don’t want to say this is where I’m at, this is where I’m gonna be. I have every intention of managing in the big leagues again, and if general managers are afraid of me, then they have to look at that list of people who have also resigned. And I’m not gonna name names, but there are some pretty good Major League managers — a couple of them are going to go to the Hall of Fame — who have resigned during their time in baseball.”

Of course, most of the interview was focused on that decision Riggleman made to resign, and he seemed willing to admit that probably it wasn’t the most career-savvy thing to do.

“The way I’ve explained it to people, I think I did the right thing, probably not the smart thing,” Riggleman said. “You know, sometimes there is a difference. And I think for my own situation I did do the right thing, but certainly it’s not a smart thing to do to give up a Major League managing job….

“Because people are not gonna have all the information. And I certainly am moving on and am not really gonna disclose information, because I have great respect for the Nationals and what they have achieved and what they will continue to achieve. But when all the information isn’t out there, there’s gonna be a lot of people who think how dare you do that! And believe me, I would probably be one of those people who would be thinking that way.”

Rosenthal: Nats working hard to land Gio Gonzalez

Ibanez GIO! Oh, wait…that’s Philly.

The Nationals, continuing their quest to add a left-handed starting pitcher, are pushing hard to land the Athletics’ Gio Gonzalez, according to major-league sources.

...To acquire Gonzalez, who is under club control for four more years, the Nats likely would need to part with at least one of their young starting pitchers, perhaps right-hander Brad Peacock or lefty Ross Detwiler. The team also is deep at catcher.

The Athletics earlier this month traded right-hander Trevor Cahill and lefty reliever Craig Breslow for three young players — right-hander Jarrod Parker, outfielder Colin Cowgill and reliever Ryan Cook.

The team is entertaining offers for closer Andrew Bailey as well as Bailey, trying to collect as much young talent as possible as it prepares for a possible move to a new ballpark in San Jose.

Boston Red Sox - Red Sox have more competition than ever - The Boston Globe

This week’s Boston Globe Sunday baseball column.

Nationals do not bid on Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish

The identity of the team that won the right to negotiate with Yu Darvish has yet to be revealed, but it was not the Nationals. Washington did not submit a posting bid, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation, opting to stay on the sideline of a sweepstakes that will cost whomever lands the Japanese superstar upward of $100?million.

Damn it.

By the way, there’s another wonderful WaPo headline for Andy. Time to go back to grammar school.

Nationals Insider: Nats still rely on pro scouts

The Altria Group, Inc. gets needed stock bump!

That’s in stark contrast to what’s going on right now in Baltimore, where new Orioles GM Dan Duquette revealed Friday he’s dismantling nearly his entire pro scouting unit and relying almost exclusively on video and stats to evaluate players from other major-league and minor-league organizations.

The anti-scout movement has become a bit of a trend in baseball in recent years, but the Nationals continue to operate the old-fashioned way ... for the most part. The club did eliminate its advance scouting position last year, choosing to prepare for upcoming opponents off video scouting rather than having a human scout filing reports from the road the entire season.

But that’s the only area in which Rizzo has gone with video over human eyes. He still employs several pro scouts, led by director Bill Singer and bolstered by a group of special assistants to the GM that includes time-tested scouts like Kasey McKeon, Bob Schaefer, Jay Robertson and Ron Rizzi.

Hey, when you spent most of your adult life scouting ballplayers in person, you’ve gotta continue to believe in the old-fashioned method of player evaluation.

Yahoo Sports: Passan: Darvish bidding process is a cloak and dagger affair

The deadline for bids on Darvish is today at 5 pm (eastern time).  Passan makes the whole process sound like executives have spent several years in Australia bulding up an immunity to iocane powder just for this moment.

The Texas Rangers, for example, have told rivals they’re cash-poor this offseason. A TV deal that will net them $80 million annually doesn’t kick in until 2015. The purchase price of the team for the ownership group – jacked up in an auction by Mark Cuban – wound up tens of millions of dollars higher than expected and sucked up the $90 million signing bonus Fox Sports delivered. And the TV contract itself wasn’t nearly as lucrative as Chuck Greenberg, the club’s deposed CEO, purported it to be.

To which one GM said: “Yeah, right.”

And another executive said: “They’re sandbagging.”

CSNwashington: Vinny Castilla admits entry into HOF will be ‘difficult’

Former National Vinny Castilla is one of 27 players on this year’s Hall of Fame ballot, but in a recent interview, the Mexican third baseman admitted it is unlikely he’ll earn a permanent spot in Cooperstown.

“It will be very difficult [for me] to get elected,” Castilla said in a Spanish-language interview earlier this month.  “But it is an honor just to be noticed, to be on the ballot.  I am very proud of being an option for those who vote, that is an accomplishment for me.”

But then CSNwashington follows up with…“Hall of an argument”.

No, we’re not going to argue that Vinny Castilla should be a Hall of Famer. But the previous post does bring to mind how baseball stats can be deceiving.

Castilla’s career batting numbers of .276 average, 320 homers and 1,105 RBIs aren’t that different from those of newly elected Hall of Famer Ron Santo: .277, 342, 1,331. And Santo achieved his totals in about 400 more games.

Again, we’re not arguing for Castilla to get into the Hall. Different eras, different kinds of players.

Just sayin’.

Interpreting Scott Boras’ Comments On Prince Fielder: MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com

The big concern for anyone signing Prince is that he will age like his father.

There has been some talk of Boras trying to get Fielder signed to a three or four year contract, so that Prince gets another bite at the free agency apple. That strategy, I would think, would work best for teams and Prince’s long-term earnings. Of course, who knows what silly offer could already be on the table? I am just glad the Red Sox already have Adrian Gonzalez.

Tigers, Nationals swap hard-throwing relievers [Perry for Balester]

A trade between three unelected and frankly unaccountable teams.

the Tigers and Nationals pulled off an exchange of right-handed relievers Ryan Perry and Collin Balester on Friday….

Perry… ended the year with a 5.35 ERA and a 24/21 K/BB ratio in 37 innings. Overall, he has a 4.07 ERA and a 129/82 K/BB ratio in 161 1/3 innings as a major leaguer.

Balester is viewed more of a flop than Perry, but he also has the better raw stuff; while both tend to throw in the 93-95 mph range, Balester’s curveball is a superior offering to Perry’s slider. It shows in the strikeout numbers, as Balester has fanned 62 in 56 2/3 innings of relief over the last two years.

Balester, though, has more of a wild streak than Perry. He’s also out of options, whereas Perry still has an option year left.

Rule V Results

1.Astros take Rhiner Cruz from Mets.
2.Twins take Terry Doyle from White Sox.
3.Mariners take Lucas Luetge from Brewers.
4.Orioles take Ryan Flaherty from Cubs.
5.Royals take Cesar Cabral from Red Sox; traded to Yankees for cash.
6.Cubs take Lendy Castillo from Phillies.
8.Pirates take Gustavo Nunez from Tigers.
  21.Braves take Robert Fish from Angels.
22.Cardinals take Erik Komatsu from Nationals.
23.Red Sox take Marwin Gonzalez from Cubs.
  25.Diamondbacks take Brett Lorin from Pirates.
  29.Yankees take Brad Meyers from Nationals.

Strubel: Trust and Loyalty no guarantee

I hate when I confuse Wally Sandberg with Ryne Backman.

Wally Backman trusts his former manager Davey Johnson when he told him he felt “strongly that I’m going to manage (the Mets) someday.” Add to that advice Backman’s loyalty to the Wilpon’s for giving him an opportunity when no other team would and Backman was sold on staying with the Mets organization, hoping these personal qualities will one day pay dividends.

From the outside, Backman’s decision to trust Johnson and remain loyal to Fred and Jeff Wilpon appear more like poor judgment.  Make no mistake, Backman’s will to manage a major league team — specifically, the New York Mets — is honorable, in fact, it stirs a nice, warm fuzzy feeling on the inside, doesn’t it? Wally Backman, a ’86 World Series hero, the man who recently said his heart “never left New York,” is waiting in the wings to save his beloved team from chaos and embarrassment.

“I want to be part of making things better with the Mets,” Backman said in an interview with the Bergen Record. “I want them to be the team they once were and should be today.”

...Will his trust and loyalty payoff for Backman? No telling. With the current state of the Mets, all bets are off. There are no guarantees. No one knows how much longer the Wilpon’s plan to remain majority owners; or how long Alderson will stay at the controls; or whether Collins will last through 2013. Somewhere in there Backman is hopeful opportunity will present itself, the stars will align and he will one day manage the New York Mets …  just not these Mets.

MASN: Johnson wants Rizzo to keep open mind on Bryce Harper

Nineteen, nineteen, nineteen, nineteen and he likes it!

Like general manager Mike Rizzo, Nationals skipper Davey Johnson wants to give Bryce Harper a chance to compete for a spot on the team’s 25-man roster out of spring training. But there are obstacles stacked against the organization’s future centerpiece, not the least of which are the facts that he’s only 19 and has never played above Double-A.

So in speaking to reporters at the Winter Meetings on Monday afternoon, Johnson had this message for his GM: Please keep an open mind.

“You guys asked me, ‘When do you think Harper’s going to get there,’ and I said I think he’s going to have some quality at-bats in the big leagues when he’s 19,” Johnson said with a smile. “So he’s 19.”

...“I told Rizz, I had to fight for a young pitcher who was 19 years old in New York,” Johnson recalled. “I said to Frank Cashen, ‘You keep an open mind, just keep an open mind. See what he does in the spring and evaluate whether he makes the club or not.’ After many conversations, I finally got (Cashen) to agree to that and the rest is history. I think (Harper is) pretty mature. I don’t look at him age-wise like you probably should. I think he’s definitely going to make this spring very interesting.”

...“Is he the best candidate out there? Is he going to make our club stronger? I’d like another left-handed bat in the lineup. ... I’m open to him competing for a spot,” Johnson said.

MASN: Wood: Looking back at Don Lock

Don Lock always looked as if he had proudly volunteered to walk point at the Second Battle of Quang Tri.

After a strong start at Triple-A Richmond in 1962, the Yankees traded Lock to the second-year Senators for veteran first baseman/pinch hitter Dale Long on July 11. (I thought it was cool at the time that they’d traded two players with the same initials.) Long had been drafted from the Yankees in the December 1960 expansion draft, and they wanted him back for his bat off the bench. Lock made his debut on July 17 against the White Sox in Chicago. He struck out his first two times up, but homered leading off the seventh. Final score that day: Washington 1, Chicago 0, as Dave Stenhouse pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout. Lock ended up with 12 major league homers that year - he’d hit 13 in Triple-A ball - and an OPS of .794.

Over the next four seasons, Lock was the everyday center fielder for Washington. For every 162 games he spent in a Senators uniform he hit 25 home runs and drove in 71, with a .240 batting average. Not great, but on a chronic second division club like the expansion Senators, extremely notable.

I own a Lock uniform, but it’s one he was issued for spring training with the 1961-62 Yankees. He signed the tail of it “On roster, never played” above his name. I’d trade it in a heartbeat for one of his Washington shirts.