FanHouse JasonSimontacchi

Apparently, this movement has been around for a while, as some very appreciative Cardinals fans started selling t-shirts with "Retire 46" on it, in honor of former Cardinal, Italian Olympic pitcher, and current Nationals pitcher Jason Simontacchi ... and in reference to the more famous "Retire 51" movement, an attempt to get the Cardinals to retire Willie McGee's number 51. As for the "Retire 46" movement, it appears that after all this time, it has reached all the way to Simontacchi himself:

After beating the Brewers to even his record at 6-6 on Saturday night, Simontacchi was sporting a green T-shirt bearing the inscription "Retire 46," a reference to the jersey number he wore when he broke into the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"It's just a joke," admitted Simontacchi. "They're pushing to retire Willie McGee's number, 51, so these guys made up these shirts and a Web site."

Simontacchi has no plans on retiring any time soon - not after fighting his way back to the majors after going 20-10 in 83 games with the Cardinals from 2002-04. He missed 2005 after surgery to repair a torn right labrum. He's still regarded as a cult hero in St. Louis. "They've always treated me real well," he said. "People in St. Louis are always really, really good to me when we're there."

Just being a healthy Nationals pitcher should be reason enough to have your number retired. That's not easy in Washington, DC. Now if only he'd bring back those high socks ...

Previously on The Fanhouse:
Nationals Starters are Dropping Like Flies

Mike Bacsik is very close to being called up to the major leagues to pitch for the Washington Nationals. But if I was Bacsik, I wouldn't leave the house. You see, the whole reason Bacsik is on his way to the show is because practically every other Nationals starter has fallen to injury. First is was John Patterson. Then Shawn Hill. Jerome Williams came off the DL on the 15th to only last two innings before returning.

And now it's Jason Bergmann, who recently came within six outs of throwing a no-hitter, is on now the disabled list with inflammation in his throwing elbow. So that's four-fifths of his rotation, in addition to Ryan Wagner and Luis Ayala, on the DL. Your starting rotation is now Matt Chico, Jason Simontacchi, Levale Speigner, and Bacsik. Yet this team, amazingly, has won five out of six.

We wondered what was in the Wheaties of the Nationals pitching ... now we know: elbow inflammation. Don't eat those Wheaties, Mike.

Previously on The Fanhouse:
What's in the Wheaties of the Nationals Pitching