Ball Four redux

Nationals suspend chapel leader after comments about Jews

The Washington Nationals on Tuesday suspended clubhouse credentials for a prayer service leader after a flap over comments about Jews.

Club officials said Jon Moeller will not be allowed access to the locker room while the team investigates. Meantime, the Nationals have asked the Christian ministry Baseball Chapel, which oversees clubhouse prayer services, to provide a replacement.

An article published Sunday in The Washington Post described outfielder Ryan Church asking Moeller if Jews are "doomed" because they do not believe in Jesus — to which Moeller reportedly nodded.

In a team statement issued Tuesday, Church said, "I am not the type of person who would call into question the religious beliefs of others."

It's possible that Church's question was a reflection of genuine naivete rather than bigoted malice, but if it wasn't, he shouldn't be surprised to eventually find himself in hell stepping into the batter's box day after day against Sandy Koufax. And Sandy ain't going to be pitching for the home team.