Pregame bits and pieces

So Manny Acta held his as-promised meeting with the team, and the message was simple. "We have to stay focused," Acta said. I've touched on this theme before, and I'll do so again, but just because the Nationals have played reasonably well (49-51) for 100 games doesn't mean they can pack it in.

"This game is just like life," Acta said. "It's, 'What have you done for me lately?'"

The impressions made in September will be the ones the organization is left with in the offseason. I'll write more about the meeting in the $.35 edition.

Other stuff: Nick Johnson is here, and though he can walk after his surgery a couple weeks ago, he can't pound on his leg. He'll be here another week before he heads home to Sacramento to begin his offseason treatment. I asked him for perhaps the millionth time whether he is concerned about his career, and he said, flatly, "No." OK. Moving on.

Micah Bowie is here, too, and he's just throwing a bullpen session, will head to Columbus for another outing, then return. The club will give us one list of call-ups after the game tonight -- and I'm all but certain Matt Chico will replace Mike Bacsik as Sunday's starter -- and then have another one in a couple of days, after the minor league seasons end.

I've got the Giants (no Bonds edition) lineup, and I'll reprint the Nationals' version, too.

San Francisco:
Roberts -- 7
Davis -- 8
Durham -- 4
Klesko -- 3
Molina -- 2
Feliz -- 5
Vizquel -- 6
Ortmeier -- 9
Correia -- 1

Washington:
Logan -- 8
Lopez -- 6
Zimmerman -- 5
Young -- 3
Kearns -- 9
Pena -- 7
Belliard -- 4
Schneider -- 2
Redding -- 1

Enjoy the game.