President Bush threw the first pitch during the St. Louis Cardinals’ season opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis in April 2004. White House photo by Eric Draper
by Mark Silva
On the mound Sunday night for the season-opener of the Washington Nationals in their inaugural game in their new home stadium: George W. Bush.
The president, onetime managing partner of the Texas Rangers, will toss the first ceremonial pitch at National Park when the Nationals host the Braves for a night game.
After three years of play at the old Robert F. Kennedy Stadium, the Nationals are moving into the newly erected ball palace near the Navy Yard, a modern stadium of high-definition video boards and high expectations for a still-young team.
The Nationals will stage a demonstration game with the Orioles on Saturday, but for the official season-opener Sunday at 8:10 pm EDT, Bush will break the evening air over home plate.
Bush, some might say, has pitched less than a perfect game as president, but there's nothing like a president to toss the first pitch.
And Pope Benedict XVI will have the run of the field in mid-April, holding a mass at National Park, following a welcoming at the White House, during his visit to the United States.
With all these blessings on their new diamond planned, MLB.com asked Nationals President Stan Kasten if the Nationals can "finish over .500 this year?''
"I never predict wins because it's silly in our business,'' Kasten said. "You don't know about injuries. You don't know about other teams. Let's face it -- at least the top three teams in our division got much better in the offseason, too. All I know is, we have gotten better and the progress we are making has been significant, and we are definitely on the right track.''
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Comments
At least in this picture, as they used to say, he throws like a girl.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | March 28, 2008 7:46 AM
Now this is a presidential tradition I hope we all can enjoy, regardless of party affiliation.
Posted by: Steve34 | March 28, 2008 7:52 AM
At least in this picture, as they used to say, he throws like a girl.
Posted by: John Chuckman, Toronto, Canada | March 28, 2008 7:46 AM
You ever see the pictures of Nixon. Yikes!! Or Bush I "bouncing" one into home plate. Maybe the phrase should be "he throws like a republican".
Posted by: syj | March 28, 2008 8:23 AM
Steve34,
I would hope so too, but the anti-Bush invectives are going to flow today, as we both probably know. He has apparently stolen a lot of cans of beans from folks in the Swamp. The personal Swamp attacks are something Not of This World, many times. I may collect a few, just for having the "audacity" of being from Texas, a free Republic, still.
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | March 28, 2008 9:58 AM
I just love thinking about the fact that if Bush were to walk unprotected through the slums of D.C., or any American city for that matter, he would get torn into pieces like wolves tearing apart a Moose carcass, yet Bill Clinton would be swarmed with well wishers and admirers. This is the Bush Legacy.
Posted by: justsayin | March 28, 2008 10:55 AM
I hope the Boo-o-meter goes up to 11, or else it might blow a fuse and kill the lights, cancelling the game.
Posted by: Bruce Y | March 28, 2008 11:04 AM
It makes me proud that our president can have so much fun after his lies and mismanagement have caused 4000 American deaths in Iraq.
Posted by: Paul | March 28, 2008 11:23 AM
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | March 28, 2008 9:58 AM
I am a fairly liberal democrat, and Obama supporter. But I also dislike the often childish and unecessary bashing that goes on in the swamp. From the left or right. I wish certain bloggers "and you know who you are", could maintain a polite discourse and stick to the issues. But we know that is unlikely for some.
Posted by: Steve34 | March 28, 2008 11:40 AM
I hope the new stadium was worth all the money that the taxpayers of this city have given to build it.
Taxpayer funded stadiums= corporate welfare on steroids.
Posted by: Jones | March 28, 2008 12:09 PM
"...just for having the "audacity" of being from Texas,..."
The work you're looking for is 'stupidity', not 'audacity'.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | March 28, 2008 1:15 PM
Will pResident Doogie Howser be throwing to the Nationals' catcher who has been accused of abusing steroids for years? Maybe after the game they can get together and snort a few lines.
Posted by: BC | March 28, 2008 2:17 PM
Bill Clinton was never able to throw out a first ball because he was afraid of being booed. Oh, and did you see this joke from About.com when Bill and Hill were in the WH? "The umpire walks up to the VIP section and says something. Suddenly Clinton grabs Hillary by the collar and throws her over the wall onto the field. The stunned umpired shouts, "No, Mr. President! I said, 'Throw the first PITCH!'"
Posted by: Georgina | March 28, 2008 2:26 PM
Steve34 @ 12:09 p.m.
Steve, not a problem for me.
Houston is not as cosmopolitan as NY or LA, but it certainly is not that different from a Midwestern city like Chicago, with respect to the way that the people generally view things. (I have lived there). We may be more conservative, but not by much. People always seem to have some very stereotypical attitudes about Texas and any number of other things that are not even remotely accurate. These are the real racists and Haters.
Hillary, or Obama, will likely carry the city of Houston over McCain, Bush, or any Republican. In Austin, Texas' capitol, Hillary, or Obama, would win 3 to 1 (and that's without stealing any precincts or miscounting any votes). Nothing is going to change that (Austin). Austin = San Francisco, in many ways.
Don't expect that it will ever happen but it probably would be a nice development if people could back down on the visceral hatred that always seems to be directed at the American president, whoever it may be, and I certainly recognize that president no. 44 could be Hillary or Obama. Steve, I appreciate your sense of civility.
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | March 28, 2008 2:45 PM
"...just for having the "audacity" of being from Texas,..."
The work you're looking for is 'stupidity', not 'audacity'.
Posted by: weinerdog43 | March 28, 2008 1:15 PM
Mr. weinerdog43,
I think that you meant "word", not "work". I would change "'audacity'" to "great joy". There are some Very Lovely Latinas waiting to roll with me, RIGHT NOW. Hold your withering fire for another day. Viva Mexico! I Love this Country! Cialo!
Posted by: Scott - Houston, Tx | March 28, 2008 5:24 PM