WASHINGTON — Baseball may be deep in the winter months, but for thousands of die-hard Nationals fans, this weekend, at least, brought Winterfest to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
For kids, it was a chance to run around and play baseball-related games. For adults, it was a chance to put behind any lingering discord about the way the 2016 season ended and get ready for 2017, when the Nationals are sure to be among the favorites in the National League.
For the die-hard fans who may be too old for Little League, the two-day Winterfest offers a chance to get some autographs, and hear from players and management about what went right and wrong last year, and the moves that were made to make sure 2017 will end with better results. Various forums allow the fans to ask questions directly to people like General Manager Mike Rizzo or pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
But this is an all-ages spectacle, too, and plenty of parents had their little ones running around. Abby Froemming of Alexandria, Virginia was among those taking advantage. She sat and watched her kids play in what was made to look like an indoor snowball fight, complete with “ice cubes” they could stack to turn into forts.
“They get to see the presidents, Screech, and they get to run around and throw baseballs, and it’s OK,” she said. “We enjoy the team. Our son loves baseball, so he’s hoping to see some players and have fun today.”
She said it was at least her third time coming to this event.
A short walk away Joe Sheehy of D.C. was watching his kids play inside the fences of a mini-ballpark.
“First, they were hitting baseballs and running the bases,” Sheehy said. “Now Lucas, our 4-year-old, is taking grounders. He was running the bases with Max Scherzer and [Derek] Norris, so it’s pretty exciting.
“My son he still thinks it’s baseball season. Baseball season for him is year-round so this has been great.”
Winterfest gives fans their first shot at meeting new outfielder Adam Eaton, who was just acquired from the Chicago White Sox in a trade that cost the Nationals some highly regarded pitchers.
“It’s been a good week,” said Eaton. “I’m excited at the opportunity that I have here in Washington and meeting everybody throughout the Winterfest has been great. They’ve really welcomed me with open arms and it’s been a good introduction.”
Eaton arrived in D.C. on Friday and said he’s getting to know the staff. He said Daniel Murphy was one of the first of his teammates to reach out to him, welcoming him to the club and making clear that they’re in it to win it. Eaton is also still what you’d call a new dad. His son was born the day after Opening Day 2016 and is 8 months old now. He says the experience has made him a better player by changing his perspective on the mental side of things. Now he won’t dwell too long on a bad day at the park because when he gets home he has a laughing baby with a poopy diaper to change.
It also means he’s less worried about how he’ll fit in with the team and what comes next. Instead, he’s most worried about finding out “where spring training is?”
“I try not to make it any more difficult than it already is. It’s going to be difficult transformation just in a sense of learning people, learning names, learning a new city. But realistically the first thing I want to know is where’s spring training? Where am I going to live? My family is number one priority in my life and for them to be comfortable in the city that they’re going to be living in is number one for me.”
