Dunn talks return to Washington

Photo by USA Today

Returning to Nationals Park for the first time since signing a free agent deal with the Chicago White Sox in 2010, former Nats first baseman Adam Dunn quickly felt back at home on Tuesday. There were familiar faces between players and stadium staff, all of whom Dunn remembers fondly. But this time Dunn headed to the other locker room, the visiting clubhouse. He called it strange, but said it “comes with the territory.”

Dunn isn’t set to start in Tuesday’s series opener, as manager Robin Ventura has catered the lineup towards lefty Gio Gonzalez. So Dunn gets to sit back and take in the experience. Whether he gets in the game as a pinch hitter, or has to wait until Wednesday with Jordan Zimmermann on the mound, Dunn is looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be fun. I loved my time here,” he said. “Obviously I still have some really good friends on the team and it will be good to see everybody from top to bottom.”

Dunn left after the 2010 season in which he hit 38 homers and over 100 RBI for the second straight year with the Nats. But general manager Mike Rizzo decided to go in a different direction, Dunn was 31 and showing his age on defense. It was beneficial for him to transition to the American League if he wanted a multi-year deal.

Game 7: White Sox at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Nationals Park plays host to the White Sox starting tonight.

Who's ready for some early-April interleague play, baby! Yes, it's April 9 and the White Sox are in town for a three-game set between Barack Obama's former hometown team and his current hometown team. (The Prez made a surprise appearance here three years ago for the Sox's last appearance, but no evidence yet to suggest he'll make a cameo tonight.)

Adam Dunn, on the other hand, is here, his first trip to D.C. since his final game with the Nationals in 2010. Remember all those "Sign Adam Dunn!" chants? Feels like a long time ago, huh? The big guy won't be in Chicago's lineup for the opener, since there's no DH in the NL park and the Nats are sending left-hander Gio Gonzalez to the mound. Sounds like Dunn will start at least one of the next two games, though, at which point I expect him to get a nice ovation from the crowd.

The guy who replaced Dunn at first base here in Washington, Adam LaRoche, is back in the lineup after missing two games with a stiff back. LaRoche is still looking for his first hit of the season, having gone 0-for-13 before the back injury started acting up.

Updates to come...

CHICAGO WHITE SOX at WASHINGTON NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), XM 185
Weather: Partly cloudy, 79 degrees, Wind 7 mph out to CF

NATIONALS (4-2)
CF Denard Span
RF Jayson Werth
CF Bryce Harper
3B Ryan Zimmerman

Would a team of ex-Nats be any good?

Photo by US-Presswire

Sometimes when teams get good they have to let good players go. The 2007 Philadelphia Phillies, for instance, had Michael Bourn and Kyle Lohse on their roster and neither were major contributors. Jayson Werth was of course also on Philly before coming to Washington.

It took a lot of roster turnover to transform the Nats into what they are today, a playoff team and division champion. Just look at the 2010 squad, nine different pitchers who made appearances with that team have yet to pitch again in the majors. (Luis Atilano, Scott Olsen, J.D. Martin, Tyler Walker, Jesse English, Matt Chico, Joe Bisenius, Garrett Mock, and Jason Bergmann)

The Nationals over the past few years have traded players away and let others go via free agency, some simply because it was time they switched to the American League. But looking at who has left and where they are now, the talent pool of ex-Nationals players really