Off the Field With Felipe Lopez

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FELIPE LOPEZ HAS DONE EVERYTHING his team has asked for this season. After switching to second base to accommodate Cristian Guzman, Lopez switched back to short when Guzman went on the DL. Now he's back at second, but even with all the changes, he has committed just five errors.

The leadoff man's .254 batting average is not the best on the team, but he does lead the Nationals in hits (36) and, when on base, he's one of the few Nats with a green light to run. He has stolen five bases so far this year, almost as many as the rest of the team combined.

» EXPRESS: Of the many infield positions you can play, which is your favorite?
» LOPEZ: I don't care, as long as I am in the big leagues. Shortstop or second — it doesn't matter to me.

» EXPRESS: What did you learn about playing major league baseball and about the ins and outs of everyday life when backing up Barry Larkin in Cincinnati?
» LOPEZ: When I was in Cincinnati, I learned to work. I established my work ethic and learned from him and other guys, too.

» EXPRESS: In 2005, you were selected to your first All-Star game. What did that honor mean to you?
» LOPEZ: It was awesome. It is something that I worked for, and to get that honor it told me that I was playing well.

» EXPRESS: When you were traded to the Nationals, what was your first reaction?
» LOPEZ: I didn't really have a big reaction — probably like [Austin] Kearns would have — because I was traded once before. Going from first place to last was a little hard, but being traded is all part of the business.

» EXPRESS: I hear you are known for your tattoos. How many do you have and which is your favorite?
» LOPEZ: I have never counted how many tattoos I have. I have a tattoo with my daughters' names on it, so that one definitely has more meaning to me.

» EXPRESS: Where is the one place that you go to clear your mind and relax?
» LOPEZ: I don't have time to relax. When I get done here, I go home and play with my kids. And I don't complain about it, because I love every minute of it.

» EXPRESS: Were you always a switch-hitter? How did you learn to switch-hit?
» LOPEZ: I taught myself how to switch-hit at age 11. It wasn't hard to learn, because I really wanted to do it. But if you are against doing it, then you are going to have trouble.

» EXPRESS: If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?
» LOPEZ: I would love to go to dinner with Roberto Clemente. He was my idol. But I think everyone from Puerto Rico loved him for all that he did for my country.

Written by Express contributor Drew Rifkin
Photo by Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post