Yes, I've been away for a while. I'd like to give some exotic excuse - foreign travel, contract holdouts, secret assignments - but in reality I got swamped by life. But now that I'm taking a long weekend in Florida to see some spring training baseball (including the Nats), it's a good as time as ever to get started again. So here we go:

• The Nats played under the lights last night against the Marlins, and took a 1-0 lead into the ninth, thanks to an Aaron Boone RBI single. Unfortunately, Saul Rivera gave up a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that proved to be the difference in the game. Marlins win, 2-1.
• One upside from the game, though, was Tim Redding's five-inning, one-hit start, an outing that improves his odds of making the rotation and helps erase memories of a bad spring last year. "I'm excited," Redding said. "But at the same time, I realize: Just keep myself humble, keep myself back in the shadows, and go out and do my job."
• Wily Mo Peña could missing Opening Night because of a strained oblique muscle he suffered during BP Wednesday. "I just had to put the bat down and cry," he said. "It was hurt." If Peña is not ready by March 30 Elijah Dukes would likely get the start in left.
• There was better injury news elsewhere: Dmitri Young played his first spring training game on Thursday, going 2-for-3 with a walk. Meanwhile, Paul Lo Duca may start on Saturday as he completes his recover from a left meniscus tear suffered in January.
• Cristian Guzman may finally be headed for the season the Nats expected when they signed the shortstop to a four-year deal three years ago. After a disastrous 2005 season, he spent all of 2006 and much of 2007 injured, but this spring is hitting over .400 with a team-leading 10 RBI. "All I know is since he had the [Lasik] surgery, all he's done is hit .300," said GM Jim Bowden.
• Larry Broadway knows this season is do-or-die for him, as the prospect who has failed to crack the majors is a minor league free agent after the season. "I'm looking forward to getting the season started, putting up numbers and trying to win," he told MLB.com, adding that he has yet to play on a minor league team with a winning record.
• The Nats are unlikely to sign free agent pitcher Jeff Weaver, a "baseball source" tells MLB.com, adding that the "situation is complicated". Weaver went 7-13 with a 6.20 ERA last season with Seattle.

I'll try to post some brief items about Nats games I go to this weekend here.