Nationals won’t let Lo Duca catch Bush’s first pitch.
Nationals won’t let Lo Duca catch Bush’s first pitch.
On Sunday, President Bush will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Washington Nationals. The team’s starting catcher Paul Lo Duca — who was mentioned 37 times in the Mitchell Report — was originally expected to catch Bush’s pitch, despite the President’s repeated denunciations of performance-enhancing drugs. But the Washington Post now reports that Lo Duca is being replaced by Manager Manny Acta:
The White House said it played no role in determining who would catch the pitch.
“Whatever the decision the Nationals make is up to them,” White House spokesman Tony Fratto said by telephone Thursday. “In no way did we, or would we, raise any issues.”
Lo Duca said after Thursday’s final Grapefruit League game that he had no animosity about the situation. […]
Lo Duca declined to speculate as to whether his role in the Mitchell report had anything to do with the decision.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
59 Responses to “Nationals won’t let Lo Duca catch Bush’s first pitch.”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
what? a druggie can pitch to another druggie?
March 28th, 2008 at 9:54 amI wouldn’t doubt the Nationals didn’ want to provide any bad publicity for the President. They didn’t have to be told this wouldn’t look good.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:55 amInteresting point Fan of Man. Maybe Lo Duca didn’t want to catch for someone who never cam clean about his own drug problems.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:57 amThe important thing about this story is that Opening Day is just two days away!!!!
(I don’t count those Red Sox-A’s games played earlier this week in Japan….I mean, who saw those?)
March 28th, 2008 at 9:59 amIf only it was that easy to replace the president.
March 28th, 2008 at 9:59 amThey should designate Opening Day as Bring Your Own Rotten Produce Day and allow fans to aim their first pitch of the season at the Decider Guy. Another proposed tradition for Opening Day…FREE PRETZELS!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:00 amThey should have left Lo Duca behind the plate. There is a certain poetic symmetry about having a catcher who takes performance-enhancing drugs behind the plate for a presi-dunce who is hooked on performance-deteriorating drugs.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:01 amActually, the real news is the Nationals is letting a sorry fascist POS drunkard war criminal throw the first pitch of a game. How low could they go?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:03 amHey, Nationals fans, remember to bring AK-47s to the game. And shoot the crap out of each other for the whole 9 innings. Just to give Dubya some “normalcy”, you understand.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:03 amColor me surprised that Exley’s a baseball fan. He gets excited at every non-story coming out of Iraq, so it would be natural for him to get excited watching a dull sport like baseball.
I’m cashing in some aluminum cans today, Exley, wanna watch?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:04 amCorporate baseball…boring.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:04 amThis is too easy…Maybe Jeff Gannon should be the “catcher”.;)
March 28th, 2008 at 10:05 amI guess I’d rather see Bush pitching baseballs than bullshit.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:05 amMaybe “lips” should stick to cheerleading.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:06 amAlert: Streaker on the field!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:07 amNow the only question remains — can Bush get the ball over the plate?
Kinda reminds me of that West Wing story when Jed Bartlet was practicing his pitching in an upper hallway of the White House with a bullet-proof vest on, because he was worried about embarrassing himself with poor pitching distance on opening day.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:08 amspecialist f Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:05 am
This is too easy…Maybe Jeff Gannon should be the “catcher”.;)
Since Gannon advertised as a “top only”, then it would be Bush doing the “catching”.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:09 amDumb_Hussein_Fox Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:03 am
Wouldn’t that be romantic?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:09 amJeff Gannon approves of Bush’s “stimulus package.”
March 28th, 2008 at 10:11 amI’d rather watch Bush slide into home in Crawford and then sit out the rest of the game.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:13 am#10 Barfly,
We have disagreed on many important and serious issues in the past. But this particular disagreement is the most disappointing…You don’t like baseball?! *sigh* Well, everyone is entitled to their opinion…
Meanwhile, other TP regulars, like Gummitch, DRxJ, Wayne and Jane Schneider, are, like me, very excited baseball season is here!
March 28th, 2008 at 10:14 amA Patriot Acting Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Ah yes, what with “last throws” and all.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:18 amGood morning Exley —
These days, I like apple pie more than baseball. ;)
March 28th, 2008 at 10:18 amI wouldn’t want to touch anything that this President has touched either.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:21 amMeanwhile, other TP regulars, like Gummitch, DRxJ, Wayne and Jane Schneider, are, like me, very excited baseball season is here!
Yeah, but whose on YOUR team?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:21 amDemocratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says he wants superdelegates to make a decision by JULY 1
http://www.politico.com/ blogs/ bensmith/ 0308/ BREAKING_Dean_wants_closure_by_July_1.html
An aide explains that July 1 is not a drop-dead deadline: “The point is before the convention, ideally in June.”
March 28th, 2008 at 10:28 amMeanwhile, other TP regulars, like Gummitch, DRxJ, Wayne and Jane Schneider, are, like me, very excited baseball season is here!
A “national pastime” is something this country doesn’t need. Such diversions make it easy to ignore the real problems we face. I’m against all organized sports, not just baseball, so don’t feel like I’m picking on your favorite. Kids in jr. high schools all over america are taking steroids, to “be like Mike,” or to emulate their professional sports heros. It’s all a waste of resources, and does nothing but fan the flames of divisiveness. And what is accomplished? Did a sports game solve any of Man’s most pressing problems? Or did they allow him (or her) to attain a previously unreachable goal? Any cures for cancer result? Any wars ended?
March 28th, 2008 at 10:28 amPlayball!!!! the great uniter.
By the way, where is that ball GWB is throwing in the picture going? By the trajectory it’s either going in the stands, or is traveling about 23 mph.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:29 amhellinabucket Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:29 am
By the way, where is that ball GWB is throwing in the picture going? By the trajectory it’s either going in the stands, or is traveling about 23 mph.
That pitch demonstrates why Bush was a cheerleader in college.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:35 amUgh, baseball again. Can’t we get an interesting national pastime? Maybe something along the lines of buzkashi. Shit, I’ll even settle for cricket over this stuff
March 28th, 2008 at 10:36 amExley Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Meanwhile, other TP regulars, like Gummitch, DRxJ, Wayne and Jane Schneider, are, like me, very excited baseball season is here!
I am more of a boxing/martial arts fan.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:40 amBaseball would be more interesting if they used those bats on something other than a defenseless ball. =)
The good Doctor settled this baseball thing years ago. In words that both fans and non-fans can appreciate, Hunter S Thompson said: “Baseball is like watching a bunch of angry Jews arguing on the porch.”
March 28th, 2008 at 10:40 amSince TP is just wee bit slow on updates today, here’s another story:
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Baghdad was on virtual lockdown Friday as a tough new curfew ordered everyone off the streets of the Iraqi capital and five other cities until 5 p.m. Sunday.
That restriction didn’t stop someone from firing rockets and mortar rounds into the capital’s heavily fortified International Zone, commonly known as the Green Zone. One slammed into the office of one of Iraq’s vice presidents, Tareq al-Hashemi, killing two guards.
Alice in Wonderland sees this as a positive thing. It shows that the Iraqi government is exerting authority by ordering a lockdown.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:44 am#27 Barfly,
Well, we are getting a little estoteric here, but while I agree there can be and, in many cases, is an over-emphasis on sports and entertainment in our society — sometimes to the detriment of other, far more pressing issues — people need to be entertained. Diversion is a human need…People cannot be focused 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on the troubles and horrors faced by the world. That would be maddening. Sports has provided that kind of healthy diversion for centuries in all societies.
And I don’t agree with you that sports necessarily divides people. I think it can be a great uniter, a common bond when all else divides….How many times have you seen strangers strike up a conversation at a bar to talk about sports. Look at me, Gummitch, the Schneiders and DRxJ…No matter how much we disagree politically, we find common interest and engage in friendly chats about the Mets, Tigers, Mariners, etc.
Again, I agree an over-emphasis on sports can ne unhealthy. But, as with music, art, comedy, film, etc., it also provides an outlet for people to enjoy themselves and retreat for just a bit from the often harsh realities and problems of everyday life.
(Sorry…Got a little long-winded there…)
March 28th, 2008 at 10:45 amChasing after a dead goat or playing a game that has the word “Googly” in it is no comparison to someone trying to score from second while a a ball thrown on a frozen rope gets to the catcher a split second before collision in a tie game at the bottom of the ninth.
I’m sure ESPN eurochannel or something like that will play the sports you wish to see dbadass. I’ll take baseball.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:46 amDumb_Hussein_Fox Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:40 am
The good doctor also took his own life. Doubt you’ll follow that advice.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:47 amhellinabucket Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I’m sure ESPN eurochannel or something like that will play the sports you wish to see dbadass. I’ll take baseball.
——-
Sure but than I would have to partake in that other annoying pasttime - television. Enjoy
March 28th, 2008 at 10:50 amExley Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Again, I agree an over-emphasis on sports can ne unhealthy. But, as with music, art, comedy, film, etc., it also provides an outlet for people to enjoy themselves and retreat for just a bit from the often harsh realities and problems of everyday life.
So True, if I focused on what ails the world 24/7, I would go nuts. Like when I leave work, my thoughts of issues at work end when I exit the door to go home.
For me my guitar, martial arts and other hobbies help keep what little sanity I have left.
March 28th, 2008 at 10:56 amAre we ignoring rotgut gin? He seems easily fascinated by shiny things from a Dutch guy.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:00 amwell said dbadass.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:04 amIf Bush is pitching, who’s on first?
March 28th, 2008 at 11:06 amI see Bush gets to bring his bubble to the baseball game. Nice for him.
I hope they boo until the stadium shakes.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:06 amGreat Abbott and Costello reference Zimzone. Well played.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:10 amI have to admit that I couldn’t care less about this.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:23 amlostinhisownmind Did you write humor for the FNC show “The half hour news hour”??? I know you are out of work now,but can you support yourself on 5 cents a post?
March 28th, 2008 at 11:28 amExley Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 10:45 am
And I don’t agree with you that sports necessarily divides people. I think it can be a great uniter, a common bond when all else divides….How many times have you seen strangers strike up a conversation at a bar to talk about sports. Look at me, Gummitch, the Schneiders and DRxJ…No matter how much we disagree politically, we find common interest and engage in friendly chats about the Mets, Tigers, Mariners, etc.
I should point out that we are all (I think) united in loathing the Yankees.
But Exley, 45,000 people watched each one of those games in Tokyo and a lot more watched on tv. So they do count. Just because the audience was Japanese . . .
And, seriously, if the Mets can’t get it done with Pedro and Johann this year they need to turn their new stadium into a flea market or something and hang it up.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:29 amprogressinourminds Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Let’s start a boycott on baseball. If this racist southerner likes it we need to stop our kids from playing. Soccer is way better; Stupid Americans can’t even invent a decent sports
——
I think that Abner Doubleday shit has long since been debunked and that the origins of the game have a fairly international legacy. True the variation played in the USA is a bit different, but it is hardly a uniquely American invented activity
March 28th, 2008 at 11:30 amThe White House said it played no role in determining who would catch the pitch.
LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!
March 28th, 2008 at 11:46 am.
dbadass Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 11:30 am
progressinourminds Says:
I think that Abner Doubleday shit has long since been debunked and that the origins of the game have a fairly international legacy. True the variation played in the USA is a bit different, but it is hardly a uniquely American invented activity
You’re wasting your time discussing anything with the troll.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:48 amGummitch,
“if the Mets can’t get it done with Pedro and Johann this year they need to turn their new stadium into a flea market or something and hang it up”
Agreed…..(And don’t forget Maine…He has had a heck of a spring!…El Duque, however, is probably finished).
March 28th, 2008 at 11:51 amgummitch Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 11:29 am
And, seriously, if the Mets can’t get it done with Pedro and Johann this year they need to turn their new stadium into a flea market or something and hang it up.
Is that finished now? It was still a pile of ironwork when I went to a game last summer.
March 28th, 2008 at 11:57 amI’ll be at the Nats opening game on Sunday evening, ready to join in with 40-something thousand other patriots in lobbing as many loud boos as possible at the Invader-in-Chief. Look for us on ESPN on Sunday evening — I’ll be the one right above the left field bullpen giving the finger to Dumbya the whole time (ok, there’s likely to be many of us…). Looking forward to that nearly as much as to beginning the new Nats season in what looks to be a fantastic new ballpark.
As for LoDuca, reports here in the DC area are that the Nats decided that for the first game in the new stadium, they wanted the manager to catch the first pitch because that’s what other teams have done upon opening new stadiums — that it had nothing to do with LoDuca’s being named in the Mitchell Report. Also, the Nats confirmed the WH’s comment that the WH had nothing to do with LoDuca being “unnamed” to catch it.
All those who believe that crap, please take one step forward…
March 28th, 2008 at 12:08 pm#54 Toasterhead,
Nope, the new Shea (which I will always call it! Not “CitiField”) opens next season. This is the last year for the old Shea. Sad. It was a dump…But it was OUR dump!
The new Nats park is ready to go though…Can’t wait to see it (Although, in a strange sort of way, I have come to identify the Nats with RFK…I’ll kinda miss it),
March 28th, 2008 at 12:18 pmDogfather, please let us know what it’s really like there because I’m fairly certain that the information will be heavily filter before getting to the rest of us.
March 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pmYou got it, hellina…
March 28th, 2008 at 12:34 pmLo Duca being mentioned 37 times in the Mitchell Report is reason enough for a retarded chimp who is mentioned along with every curse word imaginable not to throw the 1st pitch to him ?
How ironic
March 28th, 2008 at 12:46 pmExley Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
#54 Toasterhead,
Nope, the new Shea (which I will always call it! Not “CitiField”) opens next season. This is the last year for the old Shea. Sad. It was a dump…But it was OUR dump!
The new Nats park is ready to go though…Can’t wait to see it (Although, in a strange sort of way, I have come to identify the Nats with RFK…I’ll kinda miss it),
Then Chimpy should throw out the 1st pitch in a dump like Shea , because his presidency has been nothing but shit……….
March 28th, 2008 at 12:48 pmExley Says:
March 28th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
Nope, the new Shea (which I will always call it! Not “CitiField”) opens next season.
____________________________________
I hear you. In this day and age of corporate-named arenas (and the extra money this generates), many fans are resisting the commercialism of this and calling their stadiums by their original names.
I remember when Candlestick Park in San Francisco was renamed “3com Park”, yet all self-respecting San Franciscans still referred to it as “Candlestick” (or “the stick”) — even the local papers!
March 28th, 2008 at 3:08 pmI wouldn’t want my starting catcher catching any of what the Cheerleader is pitching either.
March 28th, 2008 at 5:11 pm