Washington Nationals—The Destination for Sox and Yanks “Rejects”

Those poor Washington Nationals. 

Is it safe to say that everyone should feel sorry for them?

Buried in the midst of the National League East, the Nationals sit in last place not only in their division, but the entire league with a 20-48 record.

Skimming up and down the 25-ma roster, there are a lot of familiar faces, if you’re a Boston Red Sox or a New York Yankees fan.

For starters for Red Sox Nation, there’s relief pitcher Julian Tavarez. He was valuable in 2007, thrown in as a fifth starter (7-11, 5.15 ERA), but he was no Brad Penny. He spent two and a quarter seasons in Boston compiling a 12-16 record in 29 starts.

Next on the list is familiar friend, catcher Josh Bard. In 2006, Bard failed miserably trying to catch knuckleballer Tim Wakefield and was shipped back out to San Diego so the Sox could re-acquire Doug Mirabelli. No one will ever forget that state police escort from the airport to make it to Fenway on time for Wakefield’s start.

One not so familiar face is Willie Harris who also served a short stint in Beantown in 2006. Harris was a utility outfielder and played in 47 games, but only got 45 at bats. He hit a measly .156, struck out 11 times, had seven hits (two for extra bases), and knocked in a run. There’s no doubt fans miss him.

For Yankees fans, remember first baseman Nick Johnson? Of course you do, but maybe not anymore because of that new $22.5 million man by the name of Mark Teixeira. Johnson was suppose to be the next big thing, but it never turned out that way.

He spent three seasons in the Bronx from 2001-2003 and got dished out to the Montreal Expos, part of a three-player deal for pitcher Javier Vazquez. Then the Expos moved down to DC in 2005 and he’s been with the club ever since.

And last, but not least there’s relief pitcher Ron Villone. Red Sox fans love this guy only because the Sox have always rocked him and he is winless against them (0-3).

Villone has played on 12 different teams in his 15 year career and he spent two of them with the Yankees from 2006-2007. And Villone never really had the right stuff to be a Yankee as he went 3-3 with a 5.04 ERA in ’06 and 0-0 with a 4.25 ERA in ’07.

So there it is. Those poor Washington Nationals. 

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