Vermont Lake Monsters

Here's the team photo of the 2008 Vermont Lake Monsters.

Who?

The Vermont Lake Monsters are the single A team for the Washington Nationals. Their home is in Burlington, Vermont.

Okay, but why should I care about single A ball?

Because most everyone has to start somewhere. Notable Lake Monsters alumni include: Jason Bay, Orlando Cabrera, Milton Bradley, Michael Barrett and Justin Maxwell. And they've got a cool name.

Yeah, cool name. Whatever. But the Nationals?

Everyone has to start somewhere. And yes, the name is cool. Better than the Vermont Tatoskoks, which is what the Abenaki Indians call the monster that lives in Lake Champlain. Actually, the Vermont Lake Monsters used to be called the Vermont Expos. You do the math.

Here are some newspaper clippings from the Plattsburgh Sentinel from 1887 which help explain their name.

I visited their office in March of this year, when I flew into Burlington to attend my grandmother's funeral. The front office guy, Denny Madigan, was very nice, talking about the team, showing me the gift shop. I didn't pick anything up. I really don't need another baseball cap.

I took some photos, but I seem to have misplaced them on the computer.

I hope that they do well this season. The Nats need some help.