WASHINGTON - Opening day is still weeks away, but there's already trouble for the Washington Nationals. The team's manager is now under investigation after being accused of taking money from players.

Spring training is now in full swing and Nationals fans are eagerly looking forward to catching a game. One bookstore manager and Nationals fan is first processing what he calls baseball's latest blemish: SportsIllustrated.com is reporting the FBI (web) is investigating Jim Bowden, the Nationals' general manager, for allegedly skimming on signing bonuses for prospects from the Dominican Republic.

"I didn't think that somebody in the Nationals organization so high up would be implicated. So saddened, but not surprised," said Don Allen, a Nationals fan.

Bowden spoke out from training camp in Viera, Fla. Monday to say, "I'm innocent of any wrongdoing and besides, I don't have any comment."

Stan Kasten, the team's president, has also been tight-lipped on the matter. "I am obviously dying to tell you guys as much as I can and I can't yet," he said.

Meanwhile, throughout the D.C. area Monday, Nationals fans gave their opinions.

"If the FBI finds a problem and they take advantage, then good. But if it's not, it'll still be good because it'll put other teams on notice that other agencies are watching," said Darryl Taylor, a D.C. resident.

"It can't be good because it seems the Nats are having a hard time attracting and retaining talent as it is," added D.C. resident Carson Hodges.

"It's awful. Especially if it's taking advantage of people who are coming from the Dominican Republic. Baseball is huge there -- it's a huge dream for so many boys there," noted Eirin Kallestaz, a D.C. resident. "So he's taking advantage of people who probably don't know how the system works and probably don't even know that he's taking their money."

"I think it's kind of like a vicious cycle. Players take advantage of management and management kind of takes advantage of the players. Professional sports has changed a lot," said Mike Sass, a D.C. resident.

Neither Bowden or his special assistant Jose Rijo has been charged at this time.

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