Nats Insider: Zuckerman: New clubhouse dynamic

I remember when Googie’s Go-Go bar pulled their karaoke machine and lost a ton of biz (plus Nipples Nagurski taking her speculumbago act to NYC didn’t help).

Perhaps less noticeable—though not less notable—were the departures of two well-respected veterans: Mark DeRosa and Michael Gonzalez.

DeRosa may not have appeared on the field much last season while batting various injuries, but the 37-year-old utilityman held considerable influence within the clubhouse. Serving almost as an extra coach before, during and after games, DeRosa took several teammates under his wing, kept things loose with his karaoke machine and sharp wit and even helped inspire the Nationals to victory in Game 4 of the NLDS after reading a passage from Teddy Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” speech.

Gonzalez may not have held as much sway across the clubhouse, but he did hold a significant position within the Nationals bullpen, a seasoned lefty who helped set an example for others and was always available for advice and counseling.