Hitting lesson with Long, grounds crew experience up for bid

LAS VEGAS - If you want to feel what it's like to be a member of the media covering the Nationals, get a behind-the-scenes look at what the grounds crew at Nationals Park does or receive a private lesson with Nats hitting coach Kevin Long in the stadium batting cages, get your clicking fingers ready to bid.

Beginning this morning, and running through Thursday at 10 p.m., these Nationals-centric goodies and other baseball items and experiences are up for bid at the annual Winter Meetings auction, which this year benefits the Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars program and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City, Mo., which is recovering from an episode of vandalism in August.

The auction is live now, and you can place your bids at at www.mlb.com/wintermeetingsauction.

The winning bidder for the "Media Member for a Day" auction will enjoy a Nationals game through the eyes of a reporter. The winner will attend manager Davey Martinez's pregame press conference, have access to the field during batting practice and the press box during the game, and attend Martinez's postgame meeting with the media. Meet-and-greet opportunities with Nationals broadcasters and members of the local media are also included.

One small caveat: No cheering in the press box. No, seriously. But since you don't have to worry about those pesky deadlines or rain delays, that's a fair tradeoff.

The bidding is already up to $1,550.

Another lucky winner will receive a hitting lesson and batting practice experience with Long (be sure to ask about launch angle). The package includes a 30-minute lesson in the hitting cages at Nationals Park the afternoon before a home game, the opportunity to view batting practice from the field and four complimentary tickets to the game. After the game, the winner and guests will attend Martinez's postgame press conference.

The winning bid is currently $775. C'mon, you can do better than that!

Finally, one lucky bidder will receive the opportunity to be a member of the Nationals Park grounds crew for a day, tagging along with head groundskeeper John Turnour and his staff as they prepare the field an hour before a home game. The package also includes the chance to watch batting practice from the field and four tickets to the game.

You know the recent history with the Nationals and inclement weather. Be ready to work. Galoshes and experience pulling a tarp are helpful, but not required.

Right now, the grounds crew experience is at $500. I'm going to guess that's not the winning bid.

Remember, bidding closes at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday.

Note: Valerie Camillo, who has served as the Nationals' chief revenue and marketing officer for four years, has been named president of business operations for the National Hockey League's Philadelphia Flyers and Wells Fargo Center. With the Nationals, she was responsible for leading the development and implementation of the club's initiatives to maximize commercial opportunities and long-term growth.