The Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs recently lost their affiliation with the (nearby) Houston Astros, and hooked up with the Expos just a week or two ago when the move to D.C. was already a foregone conclusion but not yet official.

So, we'll have the new DC team's number-one minor league affiliate here in the Crescent City (actually, in suburban Metairie, LA); baseball fans in this area will have a special interest in the newly relocated team.

The Expos have always had a great minor-league farm system, and brought many great stars into Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, with such paltry ticket sales, they could never afford to keep their best players once they had established their market value. Maybe things will be different in their new home.

If they can't use the name "Senators," I hope they go with the equally time-honored "Nationals" (or "Nats"), a long-time unofficial nickname and alternative to "Senators." This will be Washington's first appearance in the National League, rendering obsolete the old ditty:

Washington:
First in War
First in Peace
Last in the American League.