[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 21526]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         VERMONT LAKE MONSTERS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today I wish to applaud the Washington 
Nationals and the Vermont Lake Monsters for extending their player 
development contract for the next 2 years. This new agreement will keep 
Vermont as the New York-Penn League affiliate for Washington through at 
least the 2008 season.
  Vermont has been the NY-Penn League affiliate of the Montreal Expos/
Washington Nationals since joining the league in 1994, and the Vermont-
Montreal/Washington affiliation is now the longest current partnership 
in the league. The Vermont team's on-field success is highlighted by 
winning the New York-Penn League championship in 1996.
  Since beginning the partnership in 1994, Vermont has seen 46 of its 
players reach the Major Leagues. Eighteen of those 46 players were on 
Major League rosters during the 2006 season. On top of that, two 
players have been part of World Series championship teams--Geoff Blum 
for the Chicago White Sox in 2005, and Orlando Cabrera for the Boston 
Red Sox in 2004.
  While the teams have struggled on the field of late, I am confident 
that the new Washington ownership will make a firm commitment to 
bolstering their player development program. The Lake Monsters' owner 
Ray Pecor and general manager C.J. Knudsen also should be commended for 
their hard work and dedication in running a top-notch franchise in 
Vermont. In short order, the Lake Monsters should get back to its 
winning ways and fans in Vermont and Washington will benefit.

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