The Nationals Pastime

By Sean Gregory

How can it be that our nation's capital has a baseball team in first place so late in the season? The last time that happened was in 1933, so long ago that the Democrats were in charge. Indeed, the last time Washington even had a baseball team was 1971, when the old Senators left town, a few years before Nixon did.

It may be that the new, division-leading Washington Nationals are enjoying a change of scenery. Before moving south this year, the team had spent 36 mostly futile years as the Montreal Expos and for the past decade had played before home crowds so sparse, the catchers could hear individual fans ask for peanuts. Or maybe it's the pitching staff, one of the toughest in the league to score against. Or it might be manager Frank Robinson, a gutsy ex-outfielder who almost decked a much younger--and bigger--guy last week as he tore after Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia, who had cursed him during a confrontation over a rules violation.

Call "Robby"--a Hall of Famer who slugged 586 home runs during his playing days--crazy for the near brawl. But also call him manager of the year. In 2004, his Expos finished dead last and slunk out of Canada forlorn and for sale. (There were no takers.) This year, the Nationals are the toast of the capital and contenders in the National League East. Potential buyers are lining up like K Street lobbyists looking for a legislative handout. And the team is winning, despite lacking a true star and having a $47 million payroll, the lowest in the division.

Robinson is an appealing throwback. In an age in which sports stars tend to spout safely meaningless cliches ("We gave 110%"), Robby speaks his mind. Whereas other managers coddle players, Robinson demands respect. Pitcher Tomo Okha turned his back on the skipper when he lifted Okha from a game. Days later, a trade exiled Okha to Milwaukee. "You've always got to play hard for Frank," says Washington outfielder Jose Guillen, who arrived this season with a hothead reputation but leads the team with 11 homers, sans trouble. "You don't come prepared for the ballpark, you got a problem."

Robinson has no use for modern strategy either. In a sport that touts the trendy Moneyball style of play, in which esoteric statistics guide decisions, Robinson doesn't know OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging, Moneyball's sacred stat) from UPS. "I don't like the computer," he says. "I go with instincts and gut feelings and heart." Entering last weekend, the Nats had won an NL-high 17 one-run games, in which a manager's chess moves have the most impact.

The Nationals' run has the Beltway gushing. "I am impressed," says Vice President Dick Cheney. "Ten in a row and first place in the division. I might even have to reconsider my Cub loyalties." Easy, Mr. Veep. Robinson's 913-1004 record over his previous 14 years as a manager isn't stellar, and he has never led a team to a pennant. But who can blame baseball-starved D.C. fans for overreacting? The Nats are averaging more than 32,000 fans a home game, and bigwigs are all posturing for prime seats. At games, says season-ticket holder (and pundit) Paul Begala, "no one talks politics. It's all baseball." The crowd shook rusty R.F.K. Stadium last week as the Nats won their 10th straight. "When we leave the park and walk into a restaurant and everybody is, 'Happy to have you. You guys are doing a great job,' that makes you feel good," says Robinson. "It makes you feel like you're part of the community."

Postseason play in the capital is no sure thing. The Atlanta Braves haven't lost an NL East title since Barry Bonds was skinny. The Florida Marlins are loaded. And because the league still owns the Nats while it searches for a buyer, other owners may not let Washington secure a big bat before the July 31 trading deadline. (Seven groups have submitted bids for the team, with George Soros and Colin Powell among the possible investors.) Robinson knows that many people consider the Nats a fluke. "Some of the experts are still saying, 'They're doing it with cards, they're doing it with magic, and they can't keep that up,'" he says. "Well, we don't worry about what other people think about us. We know we're good." Watch out: Ragin' Robby is ready for a few more rounds. --With reporting by Dan Cray/ Anaheim, Calif., and Michael Duffy/Washington

With reporting by Dan Cray/Anaheim, Michael Duffy/Washington