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Washington Nationals new players, catcher Paul Lo Duca left, and outfielder Lasting Milledge, pose with their new uniforms during a press conference, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007, in Washington. Milledge was acquired from the New York Mets in a three-player trade on Nov. 30 and Lo Duca joined the Nationals after signing a $5 million one-year deal. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/ASSOCIATED PRESS View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Additions buoy Nats' optimism page 2

Nationals introduce Paul Lo Duca, Lastings Milledge

Date published: 12/12/2007

By RICH CAMPBELL

"There's going to be a lot of fans here coming to the new ballpark, and they pay good money to watch us play," Lo Duca said. "We're entertainment. We've got to go out and win. The more we win, the more fans come, and it's better for the ballclub."

Lo Duca believes that winning results not only come from the players on the field, but also the atmosphere inside the clubhouse. With four all-star nominations on his resume--more than any player in the Nationals' brief history--he knows what it takes to be successful in the major leagues.

He said he will defer any vocal leadership roles to players such as Ryan Zimmerman and Dmitri Young, but he wants to lead by example.

"I don't care if you have one year in the big leagues or 20, if I'm out of line I want somebody to put me in my place because I'm going to put you in your place in just the same way," Lo Duca said. "I don't play that game of 'I've got more years than another guy.' That's not the way a good clubhouse gets along. No matter what kind of players you have on the field, if you don't get along in the clubhouse, you're not going to win ballgames."

With Lo Duca entrenched as the starting catcher, the Nationals will wait until spring training to decide on Jesus Flores' role, manager Manny Acta said.

Flores, 23, whom the team considers its catcher of the future, could back Lo Duca up in a role similar to the one he played last year behind Brian Schneider. He could also play every day in the minor leagues.

"He's very talented, and he's got a great future, too," said Lo Duca, who got to know Flores in the Mets' organization. "If you sit down and ask questions, I'm going to answer them. Same thing, I might learn stuff from him. You learn stuff every day, especially in the catching position."

Milledge did not always thrive inside the New York clubhouse, but he said that he and Lo Duca got along, especially after Milledge got more comfortable reaching out to veterans last season.

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Date published: 12/12/2007