BASEBALL: Washington at Baltimore

Today's one to watch is the newest interleague rivalry on baseball's schedule. Baltimore owner Peter Angelos fought to keep the Montreal Expos from being moved to Washington by MLB. Rather than focusing on the potential for a great metro-area rivalry and future sellouts full of rabid fans (see Yankees-Mets, White Sox-Cubs, Angels-Dodgers), Angelos bitched how having a neighbor would diminish attendance in his ballpark. Being that fans from DC and Virginia no longer need make the arduous Beltway commute to watch baseball, he was probably correct to a very limited extent. But why should a pro sports owner actually focus on what's best for the overall state of the game or its fans, right? Bud Selig set that precedent himself. On second thought, Peter, I think your lackluster product since Cal Ripken said goodbye just might be why ticket sales have fallen in once popular Camden Yards.

I don't know if this rivalry will develop much spark anytime soon. I'll defer to DC or Baltimore residents on that one. Both teams are sub-par. The Orioles are a product of poor personnel decisions and not spending money wisely. The Nationals are a product of not having any money to spend. But I don't think I've ever witnessed a better job of managing a baseball team (translation: leadership) than what classy Frank Robinson has done with the Expos/Nats since he took the helm in 2002. Robinson's club-without-a-home has amazingly achieved a .500 or better record in 3 out of his 4 seasons. Now with new ownership by his side, Washington's fortunes should improve. Look for them to unload stud OF/2B Alfonso Soriano to acquire more prospects. I think Lastings Millege or Aaron Heilman would look great in Nationals' red. Be afraid, Mets fans, be very afraid!

Tonight's game matches John Patterson against Orioles' hurler Rodrigo Lopez. Patterson is coming off a 2 month stint on the DL due to a forearm injury. But he's got great stuff and I'm anxious to see if he can turn his disappointing season around. He'll have to do it away from pitcher-friendly RFK Stadium, however. Camden Yards and its 365' power alleys have been known destroy ERA's. Just ask Lopez and his 6.85 ERA or his famed pitching coach Leo Mazzone.

My pick: Baltimore. Camden Yards is no place to make your return from a 2 month injury to facing big league hitters on a hot summer night.

So that's what I'll be watching today - will Washington show their unfriendly neighbors who's top dog in town or will the O's zap the Nats?



Who will you be watching? Baseball? Or will you be looking to see if Anna Benson is at the game? By request, she proves worthy of 2 appearances here in 3 days.

UPDATE: The game is a 2-1 win for Baltimore and features dominant pitching by both Lopez and Patterson. Wow! And the best part is that the game was also a sellout for the O's. Maybe there will be something to the DC interleague rivalry afterall. Good for baseball - maybe it balances out some of the horrible Kansas City/Pittsburgh matchups.