Home is Where the Heart Is For The Nationals: The Team Checks Out Its New Digs (From the DC Sports Box)

Home is Where the Heart Is For The Nationals: The Team Checks Out Its New Digs (From the DC Sports Box)

Okay, this is an Oriole blog, but I am a fan of baseball in general. Here's a story I did for the DC Sports Box, as I got to attend the event at Nationals Park where the players got to see the completed ballpark last night.

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With one the biggest days ever in Washington sports history ready to be ushered with the new ballpark opening on the Anacostia waterfront, the spotlight of the baseball world will be on the area Sunday night against the Atlanta Braves.

On Thursday night, the Nationals’ players along with manager Manny Acta and his staff finally got to see their new digs at the ballpark.

For many, it was the first time.

It was like Christmas for many, and for the players – all of whom are obviously grown men, acted like kids who had gotten a present that they ever-so-wished for.

They came immediately on two chartered buses from Dulles Airport en route to Nationals Park, where they rolled into their new home.

The team, flanked by Mark Lerner, principal owner, and Stan Kasten, team president, immediately walked to the playing field, and needless to say they were in awe.

Everyone’s attention immediately went to the super huge high-definition scoreboard which everyone gazed at, pointed and commented about to no end.

Players split up into packs, and just walked on the crisp, flowing, perfectly manicured green grass and just gazed in amazement seemingly forever.

General Manager Jim Bowden commented briefly when asked about the ballpark, “Amazing – 10 out 10, and you could not have asked for anything better.”

Upon leaving the field, the players went directly to the large oval-shaped clubhouse and for many, it was like stepping into a newly purchased house --- alas, only with the finest amenities and somewhere you can be at peace and as All-Star Dmitri Young simply quipped, “wow”.

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