Patrick Semansky/Associated Press
HOUSTON — There is a nickname that the more experienced players on the Washington Nationals use to describe themselves: Los Viejos. In Spanish, it means the Old Ones.
The main inspiration was Fernando Rodney, the 42-year-old reliever in his 17th year in the major leagues. But it was infielder Howie Kendrick (36), first baseman Ryan Zimmerman (35) and catcher Kurt Suzuki (36) who started using the term liberally throughout the season.
The Nationals have plenty of viejos, which, by modern baseball standards, is probably anyone over 30. And whenever any of them make a good play in a game, they compliment each other with a salute of, “Hey viejo, nice job.