Nationals' Acta happy to share ballpark office

Manny Acta will no doubt have to endure many indignities this season as manager of the Washington Nationals, who will compete with the Giants for the dishonor of being the worst team in the league.

But Acta was not perturbed on Thursday morning when he found out that someone had taken over his office at Nationals Park.

It was Pope Benedict XVI, who before celebrating Mass at the ballpark, dressed inside Acta's office. Acta, who told reporters he doesn't practice any religion, said he was honored to lend his office to his holiness.

On opening day, Acta caught the ceremonial first pitch from President Bush.

"How many times can you put together catching the president first, and then having the pope use your office?" he told reporters. "Not many people can say that."

The pope is celebrating Mass today at Yankee Stadium, which is causing the Yankees some inconvenience. They are home for just two days between a pair of three-city road trips, making them the first team since the 1966 Orioles to play 18 road games in 20 days.

"You'd like to be home a little bit more," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "But who's going to argue with the pope?"

The 1966 Orioles made the best of their schedule, winning the American League pennant and then sweeping the Dodgers in the World Series.

Looking to stay fresh?

Hyperbaric is hot

National League MVP Jimmy Rollins, on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, revealed that he takes a two-hour nap every day in his hyperbaric chamber.

"A lot of football players have them, but I guess it's still kind of new to baseball," he said. "I like being on the edge of things."

One baseball player who has such a chamber is none other than Ichiro. He told me in spring training it's part of his attempt to fight off the ravages of age.

"From now on, I will pay attention to what I'm going to invest in," he said in March. "For example, the weight machines I have in Safeco Field, I purchased the same kind of equipment here in my Arizona home. I also purchased an oxygen capsule for my home in Arizona."

Notes and quotes

• Coco Crisp trade rumors were revived when the Cubs placed Alfonso Soriano on the disabled list. But Crisp, whose trade prospects were dimmed in spring training because he had groin problems, is now having hamstring issues.

• Interesting quote from Gil Meche after he picked up his first win of the year over the Angels on Tuesday: "I just need to relax," he said. "I've been pitching with a lot of anger on the mound for some reason. That is totally not me. It's not my approach."

• One of the few bright spots for San Francisco has been outfielder John Bowker, who became the first Giants player (San Francisco or New York) to homer in his first two big-league games.

Desperate for left-handed power, the Giants called up Bowker after 11 games and he hit .538 in his first four starts.

"The kid is hotter than a flapjack," reliever Tyler Walker said.

• Jim Leyland's closed-door tirade got a lot of attention, especially when the Tigers followed by winning their next three games.

But Leyland may have had a more important conversation the next day, when he met privately with slumping Miguel Cabrera and told him to relax. Cabrera followed with a three-game span in which he drove in eight runs.

"I didn't want him worrying about having to carry the team and justify his new contract," Leyland told the Detroit Free Press. "I told him, 'Don't worry about anything. Just go play the game and have fun.'

"He looks a little more relaxed now."

• The Nationals are very worried about closer Chad Cordero, who was clocked at 76 mph on his first pitch Wednesday. It was a fastball. Cordero began the season on the disabled list with tendinitis in his right shoulder but insists he's not injured now.

• Colorado's Kip Wells and Houston's Jason Jennings were teammates at Baylor University from 1997 to 1998 and remain friends. Their pitching careers are on parallel paths as well — unfortunately for them.

From opening day 2005 through this past Wednesday, Wells had the worst winning percentage in the majors at .289 (17-40), followed by Jennings at .333 (17-34). Wells was the White Sox first-round pick out of Baylor in 1998, and the Rockies took Jennings first in 1999.