More photos » Nick Wass - AP

6 months ago: Washington Nationals' Cristian Guzman (15) slides home to score on a single by Adam Dunn as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Paul Bako, left, waits for the ball during the frist inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009, in Washington.(AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Position/Roster Battles:

Between games missed or spent as a DH as he builds up strength in his shoulder following off-season surgery and the time away from camp for the recent birth of his daughter, Cristian Guzman has played in just 3 of 8 games this Spring, two starting at short, one as a DH, in which the 32-years-old-on-March-21st shortstop has 2 hits and an RBI in 10 at bats. Meanwhile...Ian Desmond, the 24-year-old starting-shortstop-in-waiting has taken advantage of the opportunity to showcase his talents, hitting in 8 of 17 AB's thus far and collecting 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 10 RBI's, 3 walks and 2 stolen bases, with a .550 OBP and .882 SLG in 7 games played. If the Nationals started the season today who would you play at short? Who would Jim Riggleman go with? Guzman played his first game at short this past Monday, following rumors last weekend that the Nationals might consider relegating the veteran infielder and his $8M dollar salary to the bench if he's outplayed by Desmond the rest of the way. MLB.com's Bill Ladson even quoted Guzman's agent Stanley King addressing the possibility in a blog post entitled, "Guzman, King will take a wait and see approach", where Mr. Ladson wrote that Mr. King, "...declined to say if he would ask the team to trade Guzman if the latter starts the season on the bench," but did say that, "...the team has not talked to him about a contract extension for Guzman." One way or another, it's Guzman's last stand as a National, how will it end? 

Are there really any other position battles? The rotation and bullpen...after the JUMP...

• Bullpen/Rotation:

It's been hard not to cringe while listening to the first week of Spring baseball played by the Washington Nationals, as their pitchers have allowed 116 hits and 76 runs (all but 1 ER's) in 8 games so far, in which the team is 0-8, with standout (for all the wrong reasons) performances like Matt Capps' (6 H, 5 ER in 3.0 IP), Sean Burnett's (5 H, 4 ER in 0.2 IP) and Tyler Walker's (14 H, 11 ER, 4 HR in 2.2 IP) causes for early concern, while standout performances like Stephen Strasburg's debut, Drew Storen's 2.0 scoreless, Aaron Thompson's 4.0 scoreless innings pitched and Matt Chico's return to the mound have provided reason for hope. Tyler Clippard seems like his late-season '09 self early in camp, J.D. Martin and Garrett Mock are (seemingly?) locked in a head-to-head battle that might land both spots in the rotation, and Livan Hernandez is set to debut this Sunday (right after Strasburg's second start) which should provide a study in contrasts the likes of which hasn't been seen since Ryan Zimmerman replaced a hobbled Vinny Castilla as the everyday shortstop late in 2005.

• The BIG ?'s : I already know the answer, (or think I do), but people are still asking how the Nationals will justify sending Stephen Strasburg down (after only 2.0 IP) when the rest of their starters are performing as they are, but as I quoted ESPN.com's Jayson Stark saying the other day in a radio appearance, "Even Tom Seaver and Roger Clemens spent time in the minors, and it can't possibly hurt Strasburg to do the same. It can only help him." My comparison, though he was picked out of high school in the 22nd Round of the 2005 Draft, is the Braves' 22-year-old right-hander Tommy Hanson, who dominated the Arizona Fall League in 2008, winning the first-ever MVP for a pitcher in the historically hitter-friendly league, and was still held back until June so it would delay the start of his arbitration clock's ticking...Strasburg will make his debut this season, he might be the best pitcher in the organization right now, (Sorry, Lannan and Marquis), but the Nationals will take their time with the 21-year-old. Who's going to miss his MLB debut?

But what about the strike-throwing-four-or-five-pitch reliever the Nationals picked 10th overall in the '09 Draft, behind only Strasburg? Drew Storen might be the only name I add to the bullpen I predicted at the start of Spring Training. With Capps and Tyler Walker just brutal so far, and Capps' fastball in a the 89-90 range each time I've seen it get hit hard by the opposition, Brian Bruney allowing 2 hits, 2 ER and 3 walks in 2.0 IP, and the first round of cuts eliminating Eddie Guardado, Shawn Estes, Logan Kensing and Victor Garate from competition for bullpen roles, it'll be up to Storen (or once again the dern arbitration clock) to determine where he starts the season.

After 8 games, I'm sticking with my rotation and bullpen predictions so far, with one slight adjustment in bold type:

Rotation:

1. John Lannan - LHP
2. Jason Marquis - RHP
3. Scott Olsen - LHP
4. Garrett Mock - RHP
5. Livan Hernandez - RHP

Bullpen: 

1. Matt Capps - CL
2. Sean Burnett - SU
3. Brian Bruney - SU
4. Ron Villone - LHP
5. Craig Stammen/Jason Bergmann/Drew Storen - RHP 
6. Tyler Walker - RHP
7. Tyler Clippard - RHP

Feel free to disagree below...

The question of where Stephen Strasburg will pitch this season has of course been a dominant storyline this spring training, and it seems the most likely outcome will be 15 starts in the minors, a mid-June call-up, and then he's in the majors to stay. But what about how much Strasburg will pitch? Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman discussed the Nationals' policy of trying to protect young pitchers by using a system to limit innings. Their pitches will not exceed 120 percent of the number of innings they threw the previous year, whether that was in college, the majors, or the minors. Last year Strasburg pitched 109 innings at San Diego State and 19 innings in the Arizona Fall League, a total of 128. He also participated in the Instructional League, so tack on another, say, five innings, to be conservative. Taking 120 percent of 132, then, Strasburg will throw no

For a while now, I've harbored a deep suspicion the Nationals would ultimately use their No. 1 overall draft pick this June on someone other than 17-year-old catcher Bryce Harper. It was an educated hunch, based on a few facts: 1. Multiple scouts have told me he had not separated himself from the rest of the elite class of No. 1 contenders, the way Stephen Strasburg did a year ago. 2. Some scouts have said they don't project Harper as a catcher, long-term. 3. Harper is being advised by Scott Boras, and has more negotiating leverage than Strasburg did a year ago, since Harper has the option of going back into the draft up to three more times if he doesn't reach a deal with the team that picks him. 4. I read this feature on Harper, who temporarily ended his media blackout to tell the Las Vegas Review-Journal that,

Today's Nationals/Yankees Game Cancelled.

In case you don't already have 300 Twitter messages saying the same, today's game between Washington and New York has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

Check out John Quinn's Link Post HERE or below, back soon with more news...

More photos » Rob Carr - AP

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  On the heels of yesterday's roster reduction of 8, the Nats have announced that C Devin Ivany and 1B Josh Whitesell were sent to minor league camp.

Nationals News 

  Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his next Spring Training start this Sunday, and Adam Kilgore speculates that this may be his last start this spring before being sent to minor league camp. Livan Hernandez is expected to follow Stephen Strasburg's start, and will pitch three innings.

  Eddie Guardado was surprised that he was released by the Nats yesterday, but Jim Riggleman points out that they were doing Eddie a favor in releasing him when they did, so he could get a shot with another team this season.

  It's never too early to start thinking about the 2010 draft!

  Mark Zuckerman sat down with Rick Short, who made his major league debut in 2005 with the Nationals after 12 long seasons in the minors.

  MLB Trade Rumors assesses the Nats' offseason.

  Yesterday's game was cancelled due to rain, and today's game is not likely to take place.

  Bill Ladson had an interview with Stephen Strasburg.

(Photo by Getty Images. Stephen Strasburg talks with Steve McCatty before The Debut on Tuesday. Judging by the look on Strasburg's face, this might be the moment where McCatty reminded him to breathe.)

"I know that God has a plan for me. Rizzo has a plan for me. It's ride from here on. It's really not a big deal to me whether it's in the Major Leagues or the Minor Leagues. ... I'm trying to learn as much as I can."
(Stephen Strasburg, via Nationals.com, 3/11/2010)

Rumor has it God would like Strasburg to start the season in the Majors. But Rizzo has other plans...

Depending on the rain (and apparently, there's been lots of it down there), Strasburg is still all systems go for Sunday vs. the Cards, with Livo making his Spring debut following Strasburg.

Meanwhile...

• Nationals Farm Authority takes a look at the top names in the 2010 draft class and explores the options beyond Bryce Harper.

• More cuts by the Nats Friday morning, reports Mark Zuckerman.

• Chris Needham finds the dumping of Eddie Guardado to be a bit...funny. Not ha ha funny, but just...you know, funny.

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The Nationals and Yankees never had a chance today. It was called because of rain at about 9 a.m. before the Yankees even had a chance to arrive in Viera. (The bus had left, I was told, so it must have turned around.) No flyovers are planned. The Nationals aren't quite sure what they're going to do with their pitching and Jim Riggleman and Steve McCatty are meeting to figure it out right now. Jason Marquis and Matt Chico were going to be the day's starting pitchers. Yesterday, scheduled starters John Lannan and Craig Stammen couldn't pitch in a game and they threw simulated games in the bullpen. Riggleman said Stephen Strasburg and Livan Hernandez will "likely" remain on track to both pitch Sunday.

The forecast -- they're calling for flash flood warnings down here -- makes playing baseball today not much more likely than yesterday. If there is a game, it'll be Jason Marquis and Matt Chico on the mound against the Yankees. For today, I'm just going to cut to the links chase. Boz chatted yesterday, and so did Stephen Strasburg. Speaking of Strasburg, there's a left-handed, Cuban version of him throwing bullets in Arizona for the Reds. Before yesterday was rained out, Rick Short had come to take in the game as a scout. After his monster 2009, what's next for Ryan Zimmerman? On the subject of what's next, there are several names to keep in mind if the Nationals don't pick Bryce Harper. Nationals attendence is bound to go up by a few D.C.Council members this season, thanks to the mayor. If you haven't seen it yet, this is just

The Nats dumped the bloated corpse of Eddie Guardado today, shoving him off Cocoa Beach before a marine mammal emergency could be declared. Fair enough. Teams dive in the dumpster, and sometimes they come up with a mouth foll of bananas with greasy, black peels. Minor league deals = no harm. Might as well see what the dude's got. But this one struck me as kinda funny. For one, when the team

I was trying to get this to post as a comment to the last post, but it's not working, so it goes here. With respect to yesterday's post and the comment there... i didn't say he was going to be a bum, or that control was going to be a problem. i even said that he has quite good control. i just was pointing out that while everyone's buzzing about the quality of his stuff, you need to look at

More photos » Charles Dharapak - AP

6 months ago: Pitcher Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 overall draft pick in the baseball draft, holds up a Washington Nationals jersey with third baseman Ryan Zimmerman during a news conference at Nationals Park in Washington, Friday, Aug. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Is the "Teh Lerners are teh cheep" era over yet? After the Washington Nationals outbid (overbid?) the rest of the league to acquire Adam Dunn (2yr/$20) last winter, only after their 8-year/$160-$180 million dollar offer (depending on the source) to Mark Teixeira was effectively rejected when he opted to sign with the Yankees? After the Nationals aggressively pursued and signed free agent pitchers Jason Marquis (2yr/$15) and Matt Capps (1yr/$3.5+) and fell just short of reaching Aroldis Chapman's asking price with what was reportedly a 5-year/$25M dollar offer...and DC GM Mike Rizzo said it was his decision to end the team's pursuit of the Cuban left-hander, not the owners', as Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell quoted Mr. Rizzo stating in a January 11th 2010 Nationals Journal article entitled, "Nats were 'in it to the end' with Chapman [Updated]":

"According to Rizzo, the front office -- not the Lerners -- drew the line on how much Washington was willing to offer. 'At a certain price point, the risk-reward wasn't worth it,' Rizzo said. 'We went up to a price point I was comfortable with, and at the end of the day we fell a bit short.'"

The Nationals also inked two 1st Round picks in the '09 First-Year Player Draft, signing the no.1 overall selection, former SDSU Aztec starter Stephen Strasburg to a record-setting 4-year/$15.1M dollar deal within minutes of the August 18th signing deadline for this year's picks, and selecting and signing Stanford Cardinal closer Drew Storen with the 10th overall pick, quickly agreeing on a $1.6 million dollar signing bonus, and using the compensation pick they received after failing to sign RHP Aaron Crow, the '08 Draft's 9th overall pick, to add a major-league ready closer to save games for their future ace. Oh, and they also agreed on a 5-year/$45 million dollar deal with the Face of the Franchise©, Ryan Zimmerman, who says he wants to be here when they finally turn things around...

I only bring this up now (because I'm bored with no game today and all afternoon to read about the Nationals) because I read two articles today that talked about the Nationals' owners...

I only bring this up now (because I'm bored with no game today and all afternoon to read about the Nationals) because I read two articles today that talked about the Nationals' owners, one an article at SB Nation.com by Andrew Sharp which asked the question, "What's More Valuable: Owner's Money? Or Money Player?", and the second an article by staff reporter Jeff Clabaugh at the Washington Business Journal's site entitled, "Forbes worldwide billionaire list includes 14 from Washington area", which announced that the 316th person on their billionaire list was, "Theodore Lerner, of Lerner Enterprises. The commercial real estate tycoon, and D.C. resident, (who) has an estimated net worth of $3 billion," and is also the managing principal owner of the Washington Nationals.

The SB Nation's Mr. Sharp's article starts close to home for me with a look my hapless (7-56) hometown New Jersey Nets who are about to be bought by #40 on Forbes' billionaire list, the richest man in Russia Mikhail Prokhorov, and are also going to receive the no.1 pick in next year's draft as a result of their on-court struggles, and Mr. Sharp asks, what if they could have one or the other, a number-one-overall-type pick, a sure thing, or a billionaire owner who's willing, "...to shut up and sign the checks," for whatever a team needs to field a winner. "What if the Nets fans had to choose?" Mr. Sharp asks, and what if fans of teams in other sports had to make the decision?

"In baseball," Mr. Sharp writes, using Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals as an example, the answer is easy,"...having a billionaire owner is worth more than a hundred top draft picks, because at the end of the day, that owner can simply buy those draft picks, or let them mature in someone else's farm system, and then buy them...The best talent goes to the highest bidder, period." I agree with Mr. Sharp, it's hard to even argue that in baseball a free-spending owner isn't far more valuable than any one pick or player, and one only has to look at the Yankees' owners, the Steinbrenner family with their free-spending ways, or on the other hand the Texas Rangers when they employed the current Yankees' third baseman or the San Francisco Giants with their old left fielder to see what one good player alone is worth in the Majors. (ed. note - "Just have to mention that the idea of MLB teams letting players, "mature in someone else's farm system" and then signing them once they've developed is sure to provide any Montreal Expos' fan with a moment of remembered pain, but it's not like that in the nation's capital.")

The Nationals are building through the draft, and though they've only recently turned to free agents, and have yet to make a move into the international market (does Chien-Ming Wang count, really?), DC GM Mike Rizzo has made clear that what he and team President Stan Kasten want is made available to them by the team's ownership. Signing top draft picks and supplementing their core players with free agents where appropriate has always been the Nationals' plan, well, since late '06-ish. Clearly in baseball, having an owner who's willing to build a team this way is more valuable than any one player, but what about other sports? Check out the rest of SB Nation.com's Mr. Sharp's article. And since there's no new Nationals news to read tonight, and Strasburg's next start isn't until Sunday, check out what Caps' owner Ted Leonsis had to say about the SB Nation.com writer's opinion of whether an owner or a star is more valuable in the NHL. The Capitals, as Mr. Sharp points out, have both the pick and the owner in Alex Ovechkin and Mr. Leonsis, do the Nationals have the same in Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg and Mr. Lerner?

(Photo by Getty Images. Oh well, looks like we'll have to cancel that "Mayor Fenty is a prick" post we scheduled for mid-May this year.)

No Ticketgate in 2010.

With his approval rating going down the toilet and a reelection bid looming, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty has coughed up the District's Nationals tickets several months earlier than usual:

During the two previous baseball seasons, Fenty (D) sparred with council members over season tickets to Washington Nationals games until weeks after Opening Day, prompting members to say that the mayor was holding their property hostage because of politics.
(via Tim Craig/Washington Post, 3/11/2010)

The letter from Neil O. Albert, City Administrator, to Vincent Gray, is short and sweet, and goes something like this:

Pursuant to our practice of the last three years [with the teensie, tiny, exception of timing], enclosed are tickets and parking passes to Suite 61 of the Nationals Park for the 2010 baseball season.  

Last season, we called out the would-be-Nationals-Park-Killer for his antics in mid-May. Of course, it's possible that Fenty took one look at the state of the Nationals 2010 rotation (beyond Lannan & Marquis) and figured he'd be screwing members of the DC Council even more by giving up the tickets early than he would by holding the tickets. Is it possible Fenty hates the council now more than ever?

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Everyone knows the name at the top of practically everyone’s list of 2010 draft prospects. Bryce Harper. The 17-year old Harper is batting 408/500/831 over his first 20 games at the College of Southern Nevada, a junior college that plays with wood bats. Harper has six home runs and twenty RBI (also of interest, Bryce’s brother [...]

In his 17 years of professional baseball, Eddie Guardado had never been released before this morning, when the Washington Nationals included him in their first round of cuts. "They caught him totally, pretty much, by surprise," said Kevin Kohler, Guardado's agent. "I don't think he was expecting it at all." Kohler said Guardado has received calls from several teams interested in his services, either as a pitcher or in a front office or coaching capacity. Guardado plans on mulling his options, including simply staying with his family.

I mean, they pretty much made it all up - didn't even interview me - but at least they spelled my name right.

In three days, Stephen Strasburg will again get to do his favorite thing: pitch. His Sunday start remains on schedule despite the rain, and it promises to bring significantly less hoopla than his Tuesday debut. Between then and now, Strasburg will fire between 40 and 45 pitches in the bullpen and play long toss each day. This is only educated speculation, but that might actually be the last time we see Strasburg in a major league game this spring training. His next day to pitch would be the 19th, when the Nationals play the Yankees at their place in Tampa. At that point, the Nationals will be 16 days away from Opening Day. They will need to stretch out their entrenched starters and figure out just who will the back of their rotation. There may not be enough innings to go around to let a pitcher who by all appearances

Old news for today, but the Nationals released LHPs Eddie Guardado & Shawn Estes and re-assigned LHP Victor Garate, RHPs Logan Kensing, Joel Peralta & Ryan Speier, CA Derek Norris and OF Jerry Owens to minor-league camp. Additionally, the Nationals released OF Aaron Seuss and removed 2009 draft pick Gianison Boekhoudt from the restricted list. The Big [...]

More photos » Rob Carr - AP

5 days ago: Washington Nationals pitcher John Lannan throws to a New York Mets batter during the first inning of a spring training baseball game, Saturday, March 6, 2010, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/Rob Carr)

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• Today's Game Cancelled at 12:22 pm EST.

The first round of cuts came today. Early this morning, MLB.com's Bill Ladson's announced (via Twitter, @washingnats for updates) that C Derek Norris and (RHP) Joel Peralta have been sent to minor league camp. Shortly afterwards the rest of the names came out. (RHP) Logan Kensing, (LHP) Victor Garate and (OF) Jerry Owens were assigned to Minor League camp and (LHP)'s Eddie Guardado and Shawn Estes were given their unconditional releases by the Nationals. According to @NatsTownNews' count, the roster stood at 53 after the morning's moves.

(ed. note - "If you're not familiar with Eddie Guardado's history with the Washington Nationals, check this out, suffice it to say, the left-handed veteran who once dreaded having to come to the nation's capital, failed to make the team, and didn't even survive the first cut. Whether that's a sign of what time and a long career have done to diminish Guardado's skills or the improvement on the Nationals' roster is a difficult question to answer. Probably a little of both.")

• DC Starting Lineup and Game Notes after the JUMP... Game Cancelled at 12:22 pm EST.

• Meanwhile, (if the rain allows it, which is a BIG question mark right now), the Nationals will welcome the Houston Astros to Space Coast Stadium in sunny Viera, Florida this afternoon for the ninth game this Spring, which will feature DC lefty John Lannan on the mound against the 'Stros Roy Oswalt in a 1:05 pm EST affair that will be broadcast on XM ch. 184, MLB Game Day audio, MLB's At Bat Mobile App, etc., (w/ etc. including FB favorites Charlie and Dave on 1500 WFED at 12:50). John Lannan's first start this Spring saw the 25-year-old left hander allow 2 hits, 2 ER and 2 walks in 2 IP, with the second inning a quick 1-2-3, while the first was delayed by a one-out single, HBP and base-loading walk which cost Lannan both runs he'd allow. Roy Oswalt, the Astros' right-hander who turned 32 last August, is entering his 10th MLB season, and he started it with 2.0 scoreless innings in his first outing this Spring, walking 3, K'ing 2 and allowing 1 hit in an otherwise successful outing. 

DC Starting Lineup:

1. Nyjer Morgan - CF
2. Roger Bernadina - RF
3. Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
4. Adam Dunn - 1B
5. Josh Willingham - LF
6. Adam Kennedy - 2B
7. Elijah Dukes - DH
8. Jamie Burke - C
9. Alberto Gonzalez - SS

Notes: Completely random, but...Did you know Elijah Dukes uses D-Bat model 110's? According to the D-Bat company's Twitter, Dukes just placed his order for the season. According to MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling (@masnBen), the Nationals' will pitch Livan Hernandez on Sunday, immediately after the Nationals' '09 no. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg in what is sure to be a nightmare for opposing hitters. 100mph fastball followed by a 62 mph eephus, good luck. 

Not much else to add yet. The game today has been rained out, and it will not be made up. Once we talk to Jim Riggleman and get an idea of any re-worked pitching schedules and such, I'll include it in this post. 12:50: The Nationals aren't going to change anything with their pitching schedule because John Lannan and Craig Stammen, who were both going to throw three or four innings today, will throw simulated games in the cages. So tomorrow will be Jason Marquis and Matt Chico against the Yankees, unless the rain forces another cancellation and the Natonals have to figure all of this out again. In the meantime, hitters will stay and use the batting cages. Jim Riggleman called a quick team meeting to go over signs. Basically, they're trying to make use of the day other than eating the spread of Popeye's fried chicken.

I may be the only person in the entire Middle East who routinely wears a Reds cap and t-shirt. That being said, there is no shortage of folks wearing Bankee$ and Bread $ox gear. In fact, the guy sitting right next to me is wearing the big red B on his head right now.

I walked by a shoe shop the other day and there was a massive display of Bankee$ footwear in the window. I'm talking the whole window, men's, women's, and children's shoes, all with the infamous NY Bankee$ logo stitched all over the place.

Ugh. Really? Is that the best baseball can do? Pollute the already troubled Middle East with the stamp of imperialism? Isn't that NY the epitome of the economic system which has so incensed the have nots that they have taken up arms to defeat it?

I have to do that Reds cap thing Jamey Ramsey does on his blog. I'll get someone to take my photo in my Reds cap in front of some bombed out building or something.