chris from nyc asks:
Last year my Nats signed Smiley Gonzalez for big money and I got the impression it was supposed to be as much a statement to their commitment to DR, as much as for Gonzalez himself. Is that true? And if so, why don’t I see us linked to any of those guys you mentioned in your report? Thanks a lot, keep up the great work

A: Chris Kline: NYC, Your Nats are defintely committed to the Dominican Republic, though several sources have told me it could only be described as ‘misdirected.’ Gonzalez is interesting, but I’m not sure as the first international signing that was treated to a press release will live up to that kind of billing when it’s all said and done. The Nats have money to spend, and if it’s not this year, I think they will make a major impact next season. From what I know, they have a lot of impact 15-year-olds that will be eligible next year and have shied away from the big money guys this year. If they sign someone, I’m sure they’ll drop a press release on us and you’ll know within moments of it

He had an article today talking about all the big bonus guys and the Nats werent listed for any of them. We shall see…

No more Jacobson!! Probably no more local minor league news of much value.

Good luck Todd in your new venture and you will be missed!

Norris debuted at dh and made quite a first impression, doubling in his first two at bats. He nearly had a third double, a line drive which was snagged by the third baseman.

Smolinski was back in the lineup and continues to hit everything hard, flying out to the warning track in center field and hitting an opposite field double.

Pridmore hit his first professional homerun, a moonshot to straight away center.

Souza looked better at third base today, made a diving stop, got up quickly and gunned the runner out at first, a play he several times failed to come up with yesterday.

Claussen looked superb on the hill today I suspect he’ll be leaving for Potomac.

Jim Bowden said negotiations with Burgess did not seem to be going well. He felt negotation tactics from Burgess’ camp were shall we say “inappropriate”.

Bowden’s stance on Burgess is that Smolinski and Souza have a better chance at the big leagues than Burgess does. The reason they took Burgess before Smolinski or Souza was because Burgess played in Tampa, FL and wouldn’t be on the board by the time the Nats picked in the second round.

Your comments on Burgess surprise me, because I though they said he was in their top 20. So the Nats would get pick number 49A if they don’t sign Burgess. I wonder what overall pick that will end up being. Hopefully, the Nats can use some of the money they may save on McGeary.