Nationals increase attendance, wins

WASHINGTON -- Toward the end of the Washington Nationals' first month in their new home, where they've been winning more than losing, someone took a black marker to the white board outside their RFK Stadium clubhouse and scribbled this:

"We might not have it all together right now guys but together we can have it all. Let's do it."

Inspirational? Perhaps. Sappy? Sure. Indicative of fresh expectations for a team that not long ago was the last-place Montreal Expos? Very much so.

One calendar page into their debut season, the Washington Nationals are 15-13, averaging better than 30,000 fans and taking pleasure in the little things -- such as packing a tiny overnight bag for short road trips.

And there's no lack of confidence.

"We've just got to fight back and not let ourselves get down because we lost two in a row or whatever. This club is more mature and doesn't let that bother it," said second baseman Jose Vidro, whose Montreal tenure was the longest among current players.

"This team is capable of winning one-run games, 1-0 games. This team is capable of anything."

Such as taking two of three games at the NL West-leading Dodgers, a feat capped Wednesday with Livan Hernandez's complete game in a 5-2 victory.

A win at San Francisco today would be No. 16. The Expos didn't have that many until May 30 last season, by which point they had lost 33 en route to going 67-95.

"If you want to look at last year, it's making tremendous progress," manager Frank Robinson said. "But I don't look at last year. I look at this year, and how the team is playing. I like the way we've played."

Yet asked what the most pleasant surprise of 2005 has been, the Hall of Famer didn't refer to John Patterson's 1.60 ERA or Washington's 7-4 record in games decided by one or two runs; the 2004 Expos were 16-30 in one-run games.

Instead, he pointed to support at home.

Last year's Expos averaged 9,356 spectators in Montreal and San Juan. Through 13 games, the Nationals are averaging 30,672 -- 12th in the majors. And that's without any marketing to speak of: The first campaign, "Let Yourself Go," starts next week.

In Baltimore, the Orioles are drawing 29,354, a drop of nearly 15 percent from last season's average. Only 15,641, the smallest crowd in Camden Yards' 14 years, showed up Monday for the team leading the AL East.

And it's not just the numbers that excite Robinson and his players.

It's the jeers when opposing pitchers throw to first base to hold a runner. It's the standing ovation for Vinny Castilla when he went to bat needing a single to complete a cycle. It's the bouncing that makes the stands shake. It's the "Gooooz" calls when Cristian Guzman comes to the plate.

"I figured we'd draw well," Robinson said, "but I didn't know if they'd be this enthusiastic."

There have been problems with RFK: The mound is being rebuilt this week, and co-tenant D.C. United complained that its soccer field was lopsided. But the Nationals are learning the park's quirks -- balls carry down the lines and die in center, for example.

There are other adjustments, of course. Robinson gets to and from the stadium with the help of a car and driver, because the D.C. streets are tough to navigate. Outfielder Brad Wilkerson was checking out real estate ads in front of his locker last weekend.

Now, if they could just get a new owner, the Nationals would finally feel like any major league team. The other 29 clubs own the Nationals.

"I'd still like to see an owner get in here and take control of this ballclub," Wilkerson said. "It would make a huge difference."

It'll be several weeks before the bidding process gets started; nine groups have placed $100,000 deposits. Once that's settled, the $50 million player payroll could increase.

"There are several young players, including Jose, including Brad Wilkerson, Brian Schneider and others that I think it would be advantageous for the club to sign multiyear," general manager Jim Bowden said, "and when a new owner's in place, I'm going to recommend that."

Ask Bowden what he'd do with a much bigger budget, and he'll list a No. 1 starter, an experienced closer, and a 40-homer slugger. A classic leadoff hitter wouldn't hurt, either. Still, heading into Thursday, the Nationals were tied for fourth in the NL in batting average (.273) and ninth in team ERA (4.21).

Through Wednesday, Castilla ranked ninth in the NL in batting at .341. Fellow offseason addition Jose Guillen was in the top 10 in five major categories, including homers (seven).

Washington arrived in Los Angeles at 6 a.m. Monday, about 13 hours before the night's first pitch. That's where the Expos' crazy itineraries might help. They went from June 25 to July 22 without playing at Montreal, going to Toronto, Philadelphia, Puerto Rico, Atlanta, Pittsburgh and New York.

"Moving here has made them all happy to be playing again," said Mets outfielder Cliff Floyd, who played for the Expos from 1993-96 and 2002. "Moving around so much really takes away from enjoying the game. I think (being in Washington is) actually going to help them out a lot."