Day 158/365 - Assume the Position

This week's self-portrait is a 'MySpace style' shot of me stretched out on the couch listening to the Nationals-Tigers baseball game on the radio. It's currently 0-0 through the fifth. I love baseball on the radio. And couches. It's a twofer. Now I need a beer to complete the trifecta.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)

Day 110/365 - The Winter of Our Discontent

Only one more month to go until the Washington Nationals play their first Spring Training game. Even though it won't count for anything, hopefully they'll win it. Anything they can do to help get the bad taste of last year's 102-loss season out of my mouth would be welcome.

This is my collection of Opening Day baseballs dating to 2005, the Nats first season in DC. Last year's model was pretty drab and ugly, not unlike the season. Despite that fact, it was the hardest to get given that Opening Day 2008 was also the inaugural game at Nationals Park. Hopefully this year they'll go back to the cooler style of commemorative baseball for Opening Day. My other hope is that before this display case is full the Nats will win the NL East.

One of these hopes is more likely to come to fruition than the other.

(Taken with my Nikon Coolpix S200)

Day 29/365 - New Jersey(s)

Today the Washington Nationals baseball club unveiled their new road jersey, alternate home jersey, and special occasion home jersey at a lunchtime ceremony held at the ESPNZone in Downtown DC. I was there along with about 100 other sad loser fanboys. It was a bigger turnout than I'd expected. Usually the autograph sessions they hold at the ESPNZone during the baseball season only draw about 20-30 people. Today though it was standing room only and the place was packed.

Pictured above are Nats centerfielder Lastings Milledge, Manager Manny Acta, and team radio broadcaster Charlie Slowes. I got Lastings to add his signature to an autographed baseball I keep on my desk at work.

I've been a Nats season ticketholder since they first moved to DC from Montreal in 2005. That first year I had a full season ticket but since then I've opted for the half-season plan instead. Eighty-one games is a lot of games to have to attend, especially during 10 game homestands. All you have time to do then is sleep, work, go to the game, sleep, work, go to the game... No time to do laundry, go to the grocery store, or anything else. The half-season plan is much less demanding.

I've really only been a baseball fan since the Nats came to town. Before that I'd largely ignored baseball. The idea of getting in on the groundfloor as a fan of a franchise was appealing though and going to the games gave me something to do, so as a result I've become a great fan of a less-than-great baseball team. There's just something about sitting outside next to a big green field and eating a hotdog and drinking beer and cheering the good plays and groaning at the bad plays that holds a lot of charm for me.

The Nationals may be a lousy team, but they're my lousy team and that counts for something.

(Taken with my Nikon D80)