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Article: Fun Even Before the Games Begin; Nationals' Big Sluggers Bring Punch to Batting Practice, Hope to Season
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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Standing with his or her back to the Washington Nationals'
batting cage, with no idea who's hacking away, an experienced
observer would be able to pinpoint the player producing the noise.
Friday morning, that sound -- "Whack!" would do it a disservice,
because it is so much more distinct -- came from the cage.
"You can tell," right fielder Austin Kearns said as he stood to
the side. "It's just different."
With that, Wily Mo Pena -- 265 pounds of Popeye forearms and
redwood thighs -- lashed at a pitch and sent it well over the berm
that sits beyond the left field wall at Space Coast Stadium. "You
think he got that?" Kearns asked. The next pitch made that sound, as