A tour through the Nationals' new spring training complex

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Before we get started, I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for the kind words and well wishes over the last week. For those who don't know, my mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly late last Monday night. I flew back to Washington the next morning and was home all week, helping my wife, our son, my father-in-law and sister-in-law cope with a difficult situation.

Everybody is doing reasonably well, given the circumstances, and we're all grateful for all the support we've received from all corners of our respective lives. For those who are so inclined, we've established a memorial fund with my mother-in-law's favorite charity, Heifer International.

A big thank you to Pete Kerzel, who flew down here at the last minute to cover in my stead while I was away, and to Bobby Blanco, who assisted and made sure things continued to run smoothly in my absence. OK, now back to baseball ...

My return to West Palm Beach yesterday coincided with a late-afternoon tour of the Nationals' new spring training complex given to media members, so that was a nice treat and a good chance to get better acquainted with the facility.

The complex, as previously stated, is vast. You barely even realize the Astros are also training here (I'm sure they would say likewise). There remain some areas still under final construction - the stadium concourse, press box and suites, the minor league facilities, the central tower that sits in the middle of the four-field cloverleaf and the four-lane, outdoor training pool - but everything that needs to be done for now is done.

And everything that is done is sparkling. The Nationals clubhouse is as nice as, if not nicer than, plenty of clubhouses in Major League Baseball stadiums. It's 51,000 square feet in total, the centerpiece being the round players' clubhouse. That vast room includes a rarity for clubhouses: windows that bring in natural light. It also features a lighted 24-foot curly W logo on the ceiling that hovers over everything.

Near the clubhouse is a weight room that puts the old one at Space Coast Stadium to shame. In addition to all of the exercise equipment (including curly W-emblazoned dumbbells) there are four flat-screen televisions and speakers hanging from the ceiling in the center of the room. It basically looks like a miniature scoreboard/videoboard that you'd see high above center court in an NBA arena.

The kitchen and dining room area is a nice new touch, as well, allowing players to eat meals prepared on-site and in a separate, spacious area. At the old place, they could only bring in catered food and had to set up a couple of tables inside the actual clubhouse, making for a really cramped (and not particularly appetizing) scene.

All of these rooms are essentially duplicated around the corner on the minor league side of the clubhouse. Again, this is a major upgrade from Viera, where the minor league clubhouse was a quarter-mile down the road from the stadium, with far inferior accoutrements.

Directly outside the clubhouse is the agility field, which is an artificial turf rectangle that looks a little bit like a mini football field but will allow players to go through various drills and exercises without taking over an actual baseball field.

There are 14 pitcher's mounds in the pack bullpen (including protection from the sun for pitchers and catchers on about half of them), 12 batting cage lanes, six practice fields (two of which have the same dimensions as Nationals Park), a half-field, a steam room and sauna, a hydrotherapy room with two hot pools, two cold pools and a hydro-treadmill.

So, yes, it's safe to say we aren't in Viera anymore. This is quite a change for this franchise. And everyone here has been thrilled with the results so far.

Here are some more photos from yesterday's tour:

A giant curly W welcomes visitors to the Nationals' side of The Ballpark at the Palm Beaches.

The agility field allows players to work out without being on fields where other activities may be taking place.

The Nationals clubhouse in spring training is larger and nicer than the facilities in some major league parks.

A spacious weight room makes working out a breeze for the Nationals.

Check out the 24-foot lighted curly W above the center of the Nationals clubhouse.

The new complex offers kitchen and dining facilities, a major upgrade over Space Coast Stadium.