2006 Washington Nationals season


The Washington Nationals' 2006 season was the franchise's second season in Washington, D.C. and 38th season overall.
The Nationals finished last in the NL East for the third consecutive year, 26 games behind the New York Mets with a 71-91 record.

Offseason

On November 4, 2005, the Nationals traded Vinny Castilla to the San Diego Padres for Brian Lawrence. On December 8, 2005, they traded Brad Wilkerson, Terrmel Sledge, and minor-leaguer Armando Galarraga to the Texas Rangers for Alfonso Soriano. On December 24, 2005, they signed Mike Stanton - who they had traded to the Boston Red Sox late the previous season - as a free agent. On February 11, 2006, the Nationals sold Jamey Carroll to the Colorado Rockies for $300,000, and on March 31, 2006, they sold Jim Crowell to the Philadelphia Phillies.

Advertising and marketing

The Nationals' marketing slogan for the season was "Make It Your Pastime." The slogan was a reference to the common saying that baseball is "the national pastime" in the United States.

Spring training

The Nationals held their 2006 spring training in Viera, Florida, with home games played at Space Coast Stadium.

Regular season

Groundbreaking for Nationals Park

On May 4, 2006, the groundbreaking ceremony took place for the Nationals' new ballpark, Nationals Park in Southeast Washington, D.C. Principal Owner Mark D. Lerner, Managing Principal Owner Theodore N. Lerner, Principal Owner Robert K. Tanenbaum, and Principal Owner Edward L. Cohen wielded the shovels at the ceremony; public address announcer Charlie Brotman emceed the event, and former Mayor of the District of Columbia Anthony A. Williams, former Nationals Manager Frank Robinson, representatives from Major League Baseball, the District of Columbia Sports and Entertainment Commission, the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation, and Clark-Hunt-Smoot Construction, and former Washington Senators and Homestead Grays players also attended. Less than two years later, the Nationals moved to Nationals Park for the 2008 season.

Beltway Series

During spring training in 2006, the Nationals and Orioles played each other in Washington on March 31 and in Baltimore on April 1. The first match-up of the regular-season Beltway Series rivalry took place on May 19, 2006, at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium; the Orioles won. This marked first time in 35 years that the Orioles played a regular-season game in Washington; previously, they had played the original Washington Senators of the American League annually from 1954 to 1960 and the expansion Washington Senators - which replaced the original Senators - each year from 1961 to 1971.
The two teams split the 2006 season series 3-3 with each team winning two games at home and one on the road.

Season standings

National League East

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

The 2006 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft took place on June 6 and 7. With their first pick - the 15th pick overall - the Nationals selected outfielder Chris Marrero. Other notable players the Nationals selected were pitcher Cole Kimball, pitcher Sam Dyson, outfielder Khris Davis, first baseman Tyler Moore, and pitcher Brad Peacock. The Nationals had drafted Moore in 2005, but he had not signed, and he did not sign again this year. Dyson and Davis also did not sign with the Nationals.

Roster

Attendance

The Nationals drew 2,153,056 fans at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium in 2006, placing them 11th in attendance for the season among the 16 National League teams.

Game log

Player stats

Batting

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases
Complete offensive statistics are available
PosPlayerGABRH2B3BHRRBIAVGSB
C12441030105810455.2562
1B1475001001454602377.29010
2B12646352134261747.2891
SS873053682221027.2698
3B1576148417647320110.28711
LF1596471191794124695.27741
CF78197284481518.2233
RF692412852151940.2161
SS712744377132222.28121
RF632122133121836.2502
2B1092153159132523.2742
CF7119622541711035.2766
C6012814344029.2661
UT67116162361410.1981
UT78104153290619.3080
2B42110182513010.2277
CF279013272118.3002
CF3387143132418.3562
UT39675163029.2390
C18416123026.2930
C1235380002.2290
IF1732382002.2500
CF928050000.1790
UT2226542013.1540
OF2021230011.1432
RF918351001.2780
IF1519341000.2110
OF1415232000.2000
P3856560013.1070
P3050130001.0600
P26456124016.2670
P1525250000.2000
P2131220001.0650
P1513110001.0770
P298000000.0000
P88020000.2500
P57000000.0000
P66110000.1670
P96030000.5000
P544000000.0000
P854000000.0000
P463000000.0000
P263010000.3330
P23000000.0000
P222000000.0000
P682000000.0000
P61000000.0000
P212000000.0000
P151000000.0000
P311000000.0000
P810100001.0000
P561000000.0000
P191000000.0000
P60000000-0
P100000000-0
P40000000-0
P40000000-0
Totals1625495746143732222164695.262123

Pitching

Note: Pos = Position; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts
Complete pitching statistics are available
PosPlayerWLERAGGSSVIPRERBBK
SP11165.5733330190.212711864104
SP9125.0330300154.096866497
SP985.3424240146.294875289
SP384.8021200105.061564559
SP555.981717090.164603142
CL743.196802973.127262269
RP303.43540160.128233241
RP453.35850291.137343686
RP323.58460055.124222534
RP354.47560044.122222130
026.68296064.249482754
436.44158043.133311425
124.4388040.22120942
026.35210028.121201539
134.6666036.220191216
117.67310029.125251615
134.7355026.215141113
113.91190023.01110916
213.8683021.099139
334.70260030.221161520
011.37150019.233711
018.59220014.218141918
003.6810007.13317
006.3580011.18864
025.192208.28585
0014.296005.211924
0111.126005.28746
0010.384004.15524
008.104003.13321
Totals71915.03162162321436.1872803584960

Team leaders

Qualifying players only.

Batting

StatPlayerTotal
Avg.Nick Johnson.290
HRAlfonso Soriano46
RBIRyan Zimmerman110
RAlfonso Soriano119
HAlfonso Soriano179
SBAlfonso Soriano41

Pitching

StatPlayerTotal
WRamón Ortiz11
LRamón Ortiz16
ERARamón Ortiz5.57
SORamón Ortiz104
SVChad Cordero29
IPRamón Ortiz190.2

Awards and honors

All-Stars