2009 Starts Early. New Season Ticket Invoice. New coaches, New uniforms. Same old players though.

The Nats are obviously as anxious to forget last season as are their fans. The Fightin' Thugs from Philadelphia are still throwing fastballs at the Rays heads but two hours south on I-95, the new 2009 season is already beginning.

Some new coaches were named. Excuse me if I'm underwhelmed. These picks were as predictable as the result of throwing Wily Mo Pena a curve ball. Willie Randolph's name was circulated among the press. The Washington Post reported that the Nats decided against Randolph because it might have created an impression that Acta was not in charge of the team. Newsday in New York reported that Randolph turned down the Nats because he and Acta had a contentious relationship when Acta was in NY. Either way, apparently the reason for not selecting him (i.e. that he might push Manny Acta) was pretty weak and self-serving.

But enough about who wasn't named. Here's our new 2009 Washington Nationals coaches:

1. Jim Riggleman. Well, sort of. He's named as a coach only if he isn't named as the Seattle Mariners manager. He's experienced at failing. He's managed the Cubs. Oh boy. He really wants to go back to Seattle but that Nationals paycheck will do him if they don't want an old Cub managing their team. Thanks Jim. I'm excited. You're replacing Pat Corrales, who was respected by everyone. Does anyone think Pat Corrales or any bench coach was the reason the Nats couldn't win 60 games last year? Manny Acta, for better and worse, seems pretty confident in what he wants to do. Or headstrong, depending on what side you're on. If a guy with a goat comes to Nationals Park....let him in.

2. Marques Grissom. New first base coach. Here to teach outfielders, or so they say. Qualifications: ex-Atlanta Brave. At least he wasn't a Cub. He was an Expo. No major league coaching experience. But he knows how to play the outfield. Maybe he can teach Lastings Milledge some baseball instincts -- like not breaking back on a ball that's hit in front of you. Maybe we can re-sign Nook Logan and Marques can teach him instincts too. Or maybe we can trade two more starters (say, Zimmerman and Guzman) to the New York Mets for Fernando Tatis, and Marques can teach him how to field a fly ball without separating your shoulder.

3. Pat Listach. New third base coach. He isn't Tim Tolman, and for that alone, I love him already. Ready to teach infielders. Former rookie of the year who disappeared shortly thereafter. Was Joe Charbaneaux not available?

4. Randy Doerr. Regains his bullpen coach job that he had in the Frank Robinson era. Remember when it was thought that getting rid of those coaches was a good idea? Let the PNats to an A League Championship.

5. Rick Eckstein. He's new, supposedly, but was here pushing Lenny Harris in September. He's not Lenny Harris, and for that alone I love him. The team hit better in September. We'll see, maybe he did make a difference. But his brother is still overrated and annoying, and beloved in Missouri.

The second bit of exciting news in our inboxes was the revelation that the Nationals were going to be sporting new jerseys in 2009. They are going to be unveiled, allegedly by Lastings Milledge and Elijah Dukes, at an ESPNZone event on November 6. The jerseys are out just in time for Christmas. The Lerner's found another way to make money without improving the product on the field. But I'll want one. Now I know why all jerseys were half price the last homestand.

Not sure what the new jerseys are supposed to look like, so far my internet searches have come up empty. I'm assuming that since they just spent $611 million on a new stadium that has the curly W everywhere in it, that the hats will be the same. I really didn't care for the block lettering on the jerseys, or the DC on the third jersey, but since these were the jerseys that have been worn since baseball returned to Washington, I kind of have a nostalgic place in my heart for them. For the new jerseys, I'd like something closer to a jersey with a "W" on the front like the '50s Nationals had. Or maybe a "Nationals" in script like the '60s Senators.

The Nats also didn't waste time emailing me with the season ticket invoice for next year. I'm a sucker, I'm hooked, they'll get their money when the time comes. But I wonder how many people will be renewing to watch a team win less than 60 games.

Lets get this rat's ass World Series over so we can begin the free agency period. Jim Bowden told me point blank at the ESPNZone appearance in late September that free agency 'absolutely' was a possiblity to get some players in here to make the current team better. I'm waiting.