NATIONALS
Trump said with a chuckle. And after Sanchez addressed the crowd, Trump looked in his direction and quipped, “Four outs ... “
Perhaps the event’s loudest chant – “Howie! Howie!” – came for journeyman infielder and World Series designated hitter Howie Kendrick.
Kendrick fired up the crowd with remarks about his teammates’ fighting spirit and appeared to be riding high after clutch postseason hits, including a grand slam in a decisive Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series and the go-ahead home run in Game 7 over the Houston Astros.
But because it’s Trump,
there were some political moments.
Trump appeared to have noticed a late-season 11-10 win over his hometown New York Mets that saw Washington score seven ninth-inning runs to rally for a walk-off win off the bat of catcher Kurt Suzuki.
When Trump called the hero of that game to the mic on the White House’s Truman Balcony overlooking a South Lawn filled with thousands of redclad Nats fans, Suzuki did not disappoint.
The veteran backstop produced a red “Make America Great Again” cap as the crowd roared and Trump gave Suzuki a reverse hug – just picture a home plate umpire placing his hands on a catchers chest after a strikeout.
Veteran first baseman Ryan
Zimmerman, known colloquially as “the face of the franchise,” presented Trump with a No. 45 white jersey. He thanked Trump for keeping Americans safe and for continuing to keep the United States the “greatest” country in the world.
His comments weren’t far from the president’s 2020 reelection theme: “Keep America Great.”
And, of course, the president was thinking about the impeachment inquiry.
“The people fell in love with Nats baseball. It’s all they wanted to talk about,” he said with another chuckle. “That and impeachment. I prefer Nats baseball. Very much.”
Trump, who routinely criticizes the news media, got nods from Nationals manager Davey Martinez and Mike Rizzo, the
general manager, when he noted they had received more than a little negative press with their lackluster 19-31 start.
Rizzo seems to have been reading more than just the sports page lately. He made his own impeachment-themed comment when he spoke at Trump’s blue lectern.
He said the Nationals managed to “unify the (Washington) region when the region needed unifying the most.” It was not clear which side, if any, Rizzo was taking, however.
Near the event’s end, the “American carnage” president flashed his sometimes-dark view of this thing called life.
“As soon as they lose the first two or three games, they won’t be heroes anymore,” he said as the crowd groaned. “That’s just how life works.”