Let Teddy Win T-Shirts
Tonight was blogger night at Nationals Park, in which several Washington Nationals bloggers were invited to meet with Nats players and executives, visit the field for batting practice, then report on tonight’s game vs. the Toronto Blue Jays from the Nationals Park press box.
Racing president Teddy Roosevelt joined Stan Kasten for a lively Q&A before heading down to warm up for the evening’s presidents race. Kasten has historically expressed confidence in Teddy, but admitted tonight that the “sprinting may simply not be his event.”
Tonight’s presidents race featured a new twist: Blue Jays fans Tim Williams and Joe Ferrell, who wear Major
League Baseball Umpire uniforms and mock the home plate umpire throughout Toronto home games, sat in the first row behind the Nationals Park home plate throughout tonight’s game except for the 4th-inning race, when they took over for usual judge Screech at the presidents race finish line.
Coming out of the gate, Abe Lincoln got off to an uncharacteristically slow start, running just behind Teddy as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson sprinted ahead. The two presidents appeared headed for a photo finish, but George collapsed just before the finish line. George then appeared to accuse Jefferson of foul play, and was summarily ejected by the “umpires” for arguing.
As for blogger night, it was a great treat to cover tonight’s game and file this report from the press box, and to meet other members of the “Natosphere” (I sat next to Brian Markham from Nationals Review throughout the game). The Nationals blogger community is robust and growing. Kudos to Kasten and the Nats for embracing the team’s most outspoken fans.
Filed under: Presidents Race | Tagged: ejected, George Washington, Natosphere, Screech, Toronto Blue Jays, Toronto BlueJays, umpires | Leave a Comment »
The hot-hitting Washington Nationals return to Nationals Park tomorrow to kick off an 11-game homestand that should feature plenty of fireworks, starting with the world champion Philadelphia Phillies and ending Memorial Day weekend with the “Battle of the Beltways” against the Baltimore Orioles. 
With the Washington Capitals on the road for their playoff series against the New York Rangers, their mascot Slapshot made a guest appearance at Nationals Park tonight, filling in for the Nationals’ own eagle mascot Screech as referee for the 4th-inning presidents race.
Here’s more detail from Dan Steinberg’s 
Today, Screech gets leaner, but unfortunately not meaner. The svelt new Screech will make his official debut this afternoon at ESPN Zone in DC, but he gave a sneak preview appearance on 
The Washington Nationals will unveil a “new look” for their mascot Screech this coming Monday, March 2, at ESPN Zone in Washington, DC. In-game host Clint Kouhry and members of the Nat Pack will be on hand for the unveiling. 
With the crowd getting restless under the threatening skies, Teddy Roosevelt tried to single-handedly inject a little lightning of his own.
Of course, he barely had time to blink before that sourpuss Screech put an end to the celebration, disqualifying Teddy for cheating while the other presidents were still just rounding the warning track. Teddy bent over in shame, but you’d think he would have learned this lesson by now. 
Accompanied by team mascot Screech, the presidents taunted the Orioles Bird at the Inner Harbor, carrying signs that included “Old Bay Stinks!” (Tom), “Honestly, The Nats Will Sweep Baltimore Hun!” (Abe), “I Can Not Tell A Lie–The Nats Will Win!” (George), and of course “I’ll Race the Orioles Bird and Beat Him!” (Teddy) . 
