At least Nats have mascots

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If Washington Nationals owner Ted Lerner thinks that free agent salaries are out of control, he should get a look at the prices for jerseys at the team store in White Flint Mall in Bethesda.

A Rick Short Washington Nationals batting practice-worn jersey sells for $199. He played just 11 games as a National. For a game-worn jersey by Hector Carrasco -- a journeyman relief pitcher -- the price is $299.

Now I know why the Nationals are bringing 70 players to spring training. That's a lot of jerseys to sell, maybe enough to even pay the Nationals' paltry 2007 team payroll.

The Nationals winter caravan, otherwise known as the Pep Boys tour (Manny, Nook and Mike), made a stop this past week at the Nationals team store in White Flint. Outside the mall, the electronic sign touted an upcoming "Camp Fair" at the mall. I swear for a second that in between advertisements for equestrian and computer camps, I saw one for a baseball camp starting Feb. 13 in Viera, Fla. (I would urge any Nationals fans coming to spring training to bring a catcher's mitt. With 37 pitchers invited, they may be recruiting backstops from the crowd).

Inside the mall, Nationals manager Manny Acta conducted what was called a "meet and greet" with Nationals fans, sort of what he probably will be doing the first couple of days of spring training. He already knows two players -- Nook Logan and Mike O'Connor -- pretty well since the three of them have spent the week traveling the region promoting the team, if that is what you can call this lame effort (nothing against the Pep Boys, they did a fine job at the stops where I saw them, but this was the sort of baseball winter caravan that comes with a tank of gas).

Now, when the team announced the caravan, they included the franchise star Ryan Zimmerman as one of the attractions. But I guess somewhere in the fine, fine print, they may have pointed out that Zimmerman wouldn't be making any of the District or Maryland appearances this week. He is, though, supposed to be at the Virginia stops this weekend.

One Nationals fans who brought her children to the store had not read any such disclaimer. She said to Manny, "We were hoping to see Ryan Zimmerman."

Thank goodness one of the Racing Presidents was on hand to placate the crowd, Abe Lincoln. And one of the kids was talking trash to Abe.

"Hey, I hear Teddy's been working out," he said.

Mascots, baby. Expect to see lots of mascots this season.