DENVER — Mark Lerner walked through the concourses, clubhouses and underbelly of Coors Field this weekend, snapping photos and jotting down notes like a giddy tourist.
For Lerner, the Washington Nationals‘ principal owner, this was no casual stroll. He’s using this road trip, which began at Houston’s Minute Maid Park and concludes at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, to pick up ideas for his own new stadium in the District.
“It’s a great thing,” Lerner said before yesterday’s game against the Colorado Rockies. “It’s like getting a refresher course every time we walk through these stadiums. We see things they’ve done right and things they’ve done wrong.”
With Nationals Park little more than seven months from opening, there are only so many changes Lerner can recommend. Structurally, Washington’s new stadium already has been designed and built. But there are subtle things that can be added, removed or changed over time, and Lerner wants to make sure he’s not forgetting anything.
That includes concessions, in-game entertainment, procedures for coordinating stadium work crews and even making sure there are bathrooms in both bullpens.
“We’re really looking at everything,” said Lerner, who has visited about seven or eight ballparks over the last year.
The Nationals have solved one major issue, settling on a new concessionaire. The club must wait for Major League Baseball to approve the contract, but an announcement will be forthcoming in the next week to 10 days.
Washington is expected to name Centerplate, a concession company based in Spartanburg, S.C., to replace Aramark. Centerplate runs concessions for six major league teams: the Yankees, Twins, Giants, Royals, Mariners and Devil Rays.
Schroder impresses
Chris Schroder’s brilliant three innings of relief Saturday night made quite an impression on the Nationals.
The 29-year-old right-hander bailed out struggling starter Tim Redding by escaping a bases-loaded jam without allowing a run, then wound up retiring all nine batters he faced while striking out five.
In 24 appearances this season, Schroder has posted a 2.52 ERA, striking out 30 over 352/3 innings. That’s a stark improvement from his rookie season, in which he was inconsistent and wound up with an inflated 6.35 ERA in 21 games.
“For the most part, I think it’s been pretty productive,” he said. “I think I’ve fixed a few things from last year.”
Schroder has been used almost exclusively in non-pressure situations, usually with the Nationals well ahead or well behind. But manager Manny Acta said the reliever’s recent performances could land him a more significant role.
“He’s definitely worked himself into it,” Acta said. “The next step, obviously, is to put him into some of those situations because what is left? He’s pitched in those other situations so far, and he has done a very nice job for us.”
Extra bases
Ryan Zimmerman’s first-inning homer yesterday was his 21st of the season, surpassing his rookie total. Zimmerman is the first player in franchise history to hit at least 20 homers in each of his first two major league seasons. …
Following the game, the Nationals made their preplanned roster move, activating right-hander Jason Bergmann off the 15-day disabled list and optioning left-hander John Lannan to Class AAA Columbus. Bergmann will start tomorrow against the Dodgers. Lannan will be recalled later in the week once rosters expand to 40.
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