Acta: '08 is history

Today the Nats had their first workout session for the pitchers and catchers who reported friday. All of them showed up except for Daniel Cabrera, who will stay in the Dominican Republic for about another week because he is having his first child, Jorge Sosa, who the Nats signed as a non-roster invitee, and Odalis Perez, who signed a minor league deal with them. Sosa and Perez have until sunday until they are considered late. Early today, before their first workout session, the nats had a team meeting. It was addressed by Acta and Bowdon, and Acta told them to forget about 2008, and he expects them to play .500 baseball. Acta is excited to get the '09 season to a start, and he says this years Nats are the best team he's seen since he joined in 2007 as manager (Getting Dunn means it's going to be the best if your record as manager is 132-191). "This is the first time we have a legitimate cleanup, power guy in our lineup," Acta said referring to Dunn. "This is the best team we have had in the three years I've been here. ... I try to win with what I have. I'm not going in here thinking abut 2010. This is a good bunch of guys. Baseball has shown you the last few years that if you do things right, you never know what might happen."Acta still think one of the Nats only weakness is the bullpen. The nats must get one more really good relief pitcher other than Saul Rivera.

The nats will also add a bullpen member, 26 year old right hander Jason Bergmann. Last year he really stunk as a starter, going 2-11 with a ERA of 5.11. Even though he struggled last year, he showed glimpses of brilliance, and he still has very good movement on his pitches, especially his slider. Today he came up to Manny Acta, and asked him what his job will be during the 2009 season, and Manny said he will be a middle reliever. Bergmann was not available for comment at the time.

Along with the first workout, the nats had their first bullpen sessions, with Randy St. Clare watching each and every pitch carefully, and he was impressed with all of them. "I was pleased with everybody," St Claire said. "Everybody threw the ball very well. The deliveries look very solid out of this first group that threw today. I was impressed with a lot of the guys." Although all of them were pretty good, the one who shined today was 22-year old Jordan Zimmermannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. "I love his arm stroke," St. Claire said. "He has that really quick arm action. It's out of the glove and it's short and it's on top of the ball. He is a strong kid, he has a good body. His lines are very good. His delivery is very solid for a young kid." I wasn't really a fan of Zimmermannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn before, because I thought anyone who hasn't pitched above AA is unproven. Although after hearing about how much everyone has been raving about him, I have big expectations for him.