Never had a chance to wrap up the Nationals loss to the Astros yesterday in Kissimmee, and here's a quick recap of what was important. The Good: The Nationals' two best players this spring, one position player and one pitcher, have been a pair 20-something who have never played on a regular basis in the major leagues. The sample size is small and he's playing against guys destined for bus rides, but what fun is spring training if you can't get excited about a player who tears apart Florida and puts up double-take stats, a player like Ian Desmond? Yesterday, Desmond went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI single. "It was important for me to stay hot like that," he said. "I saw the ball well today. I'm seeing pitches." Seeing pitches is one way to put. Destroying the Grapefruit League is another. In 21 at-bats, Desmond

More photos » Charlie Riedel - AP

4 days ago: Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the second inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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• What was the best part of Stephen Strasburg's first start? The 98mph fastball he threw by Detroit Tigers' first baseman Miguel Cabrera for a swinging strike three? Or the cruel full-count curve he dropped on frozen and fooled Detroit infielder Brent Glubach? Was it just the fact that he was finally on TV throwing in a "real" game? Or the fact that everyone who saw it came away impressed in spite of ridiculously high expectations? When will the 21-year-old '09 no. 1 overall pick's turns in the rotation stop being big events? Not yet. Start two of the Stephen Strasburg era takes place this afternoon at 1:05 pm EST live (on the radio if you're not in Viera, Florida), from Space Coast Stadium, the Nationals' spring home, where the Nats will welcome the St. Louis Cardinals, who throw 28-year-old right-hander Adam Wainwright for the first two or three innings of the Sunday afternoon Spring Training matinee...

• No Pujols today according to the Cards' official site...Boo.

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• Strasburg on Strasburg.

• Mr. National Himself. What?

BACKPAGE: 

• Strasburg on Strasburg.

• Strasburg threw 27 pitches, 15 for strikes, had a hard time locating his fastball which was clocked at around 96-98mph, but had better luck with his breaking pitches in the second of 2.0 IP, over which the former SDSU Aztec starter induced three ground ball outs, allowed two singles and recorded two K's in a quick debut outing. Strasburg is reportedly scheduled for three innings pitched this time out. MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote Saturday night, in an article entitled, "Anticipation high for Strasburg start", that Strasburg's future after tomorrow's start is uncertain, noting that Nationals' Skipper Jim Riggleman, "...indicated the Strasburg could make one more start before the Nationals decide to send him to Minor League camp or keep him in the big leagues." 

• As impressive as Strasburg was in his first start, he told MLB.com's Bill Ladson in an interview conducted earlier this week for article entitled, "Strasburg discusses first start, future", that he wasn't completely satisfied with what he was able to accomplish on the mound in his debut:

"Strasburg:I had a lot of adrenaline going. I really wasn't able to execute pitches the way I wanted to. ... I'll keep going with I've been working on and I will be a lot more relaxed. ... I got my feet wet. I know what it feels like to go out there. I know what it's like to face guys I watched on TV growing up. I have that feeling now, so I just want to build on it."

In his first start of the 2009 season, Strasburg threw 5.2 innings against Bethune-Cookman, allowing 3 hits and 1 ER while striking out 11, walking 2, hitting one batter and throwing a wild pitch. In the second start of his Junior year at San Diego State University, the then-20-year-old starter gave up 5 hits and 2 ER in 6.2 IP over which he walked just 1 batter, while recording 16 K's. The next start it was one walk and 18 K's. There will undoubtedly be a fairly large crowd and a substantial pool of reporters, but Strasburg's second start isn't being broadcast on MASN, MLB.tv and the MLB Network, it'll be covered on radio, but that's it unless you're there to see it in person. Be interesting to see how a relaxed and focused Strasburg deals with the Cardinals' lineup...

• Mr. National Himself. What?

• According to reports earlier this week, it'll be Mr. National Himself Livan Hernandez making his first appearance of the Spring after Strasburg, as the 35-year-old right-hander seeks to earn himself a spot in the Nationals' starting rotation. Signed in late February, the veteran of 14 MLB seasons is coming off a (9-12) 2009 campaign which saw the soft-tossing former Marlin, Giant, Expo, D-Back, Twin, Rockie and Met walk 67 (3.0 BB/9) and strike out 102 (5.0 K/9) in 183.2 IP over which Hernandez posted a 5.44 ERA (76 ERA+, 4.44 FIP). Call the slowest pitch? I say 63 mph...

DC Starting Lineup: When it's announced. 

• What you'll find below is a Game Thread. Feel free to join in if  you're watching...

Game Time 1:05 pm EST...

More photos » Julie Jacobson - AP

10 months ago: Washington Nationals pitcher Scott Olsen delivers against the New York Mets in the first inning during a Major League Baseball game Friday, April 24, 2009 at Citi Field in New York. (AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

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• A HBP (Willie Harris) and a two-out walk (Chris Duncan) were stranded as the Washington Nationals came up empty in the first inning this afternoon. The Houston Astros got to Nats' lefty Scott Olsen right away in the bottom of the frame with Jason Bourgeois tripling off the center field wall and Jeff Keppinger hanging one up in the air that fell in between Nats' center fielder Nyjer Morgan and right fielder Justin Maxwell for an RBI double and a 1-0 lead.

• Ryan Zimmerman was down 0-2 to Astros' right-hander Bud Norris when he launched his second HR of the Spring over Hunter Pence's head in right to tie the game at 1-1. A walk to Chris Duncan gave Josh Willingham a two-out RBI opp, and the Hammer made good on the chance, doubling to left on the first pitch he saw to score Duncan and give the Nationals a 2-1 lead. 

• Scott Olsen gave up the 1 ER in the first, and 4 hits total in 3.0 innings of work. The 26-year-old left-hander recorded 1 K and ended his day on the mound with the lead. Drew Storen started the fourth on the mound with a three-pitch K of Geoff Blum that ended quickly with an 0-2 slider Blum couldn't hold up on. Storen popped up Pedro Feliz, but the wind caused Nats' first baseman Chris Duncan problems, and it dropped in for a one-out hit. A one-out walk put two on for Houston, but Storen popped up Humberto Quintero and got Edwin Maysonet looking to end the fourth. 15 pitches, 11 strikes for Storen, who walks one, strikes out two and allows 1 "hit" in 1.0 IP. 

• Willie Harris started things up for the Nationals in the fifth with a one-out single and a stolen base with Ryan Zimmerman at bat. Astros' pitcher Jeff Fulchino gave up a line-drive-single to Zimmerman, who took second on a ball in the dirt with Chris Duncan up, and Duncan scored Harris with a single up the middle to make it 3-1 DC. Josh Willingham singles, 4-1 Nationals when Zimmerman scores. Fulchino stops it there, retiring Adam Kennedy to end the Nats' fifth.

• Matt Capps got a groundout from the first batter he faced, Jason "Discreet Charm of the" Bourgeois, but gave up a one-out double to Jeff Keppinger in front on Astros' outfielder Hunter Pence, who popped up over first and got a second chance when Chris Duncan muffed his second pop fly of the day. Pence used the opportunity to walk, and Capps gave up fly ball to center by Carlos Lee which Nyjer Morgan caug...dropped. Carlos Lee's safe. Bases loaded one out, but a fly ball to right that Justin Maxwell snags with a diving play and a ground out by Pedro Feliz give Capps a scoreless inning of work.

• Matt Chico gave up a leadoff walk, single and two-run double to the first three hitters he faced in the top of the sixth, but the Nationals' recovering left-hander got a force at third on a grounder to short by Jason Bourgeois and a DP grounder from Jeff Keppinger to end the sixth with a 5-3 Nationals' lead. After the Nationals threatened but failed to score in the top of the seventh, Chico came out for his second inning of work, going to a full count with Hunter Pence and giving up an infield single that bounced off the mound...and it was all down hill from there...Brandon Barnes doubles to score Pence's pinch runner, 5-4 Nationals. Geoff Blum singles in Barnes. 5-5 tie. Pedro Feliz lines one off Ian Desmond's glove at short, two one, 0 outs. Kevin Cash scores one with a double, 6-5 Astros. Chico ends up allowing 7 hits, 6 R, 5 ER as the Astros take the lead, and another run scores on a passed ball from Luis Atilano, who throws his first pitch in the dirt with runners on second and third to make it 7-5 Houston after seven.

• Justin Maxwell started the eighth with a single off Astros' pitcher Yorman Bazardo, who's injured and out after one batter. Ian Desmond will face Samuel Gervacio. Maxwell steals second, takes third when the throw sails and scores on a wild pitch, 7-6 Astros. Ian Desmond flies out. Jamie Burke strikes out. Roger Bernadina grounds out. 7-6 Houston after Sean Burnett pitches a scoreless bottom of the eighth and the Nationals have 3 outs to get one run or they'll start the Spring 0-9. Willie Harris works a one-out walk and moves to third when Eric Bruntlett doubles. Runners on second and third for Mike Morse. Morse grounds out, but a run scores, 7-7 tie.

• Sean Burnett's back out for the bottom of the ninth, and the left-hander gets Kevin Cash swinging to start the frame and then issues a one-out walk to Humberto Quintero, who takes second on a single by Matt Kata and scores the game-winner on a single to left by Jack Shuck. Nationals now 0-9 in games that don't count.

More photos » Charlie Riedel - AP

4 days ago: Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 in Viera, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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Washington Nationals' right-hander Stephen Strasburg made his Spring Training debut this afternoon in Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium, facing the Detroit Tigers for 2.0 IP in which he threw 27 pitches, 15 of them for strikes, surrendering two singles in the second before he dropped an 81 mph full-count curve on an unsuspecting Tigers' second baseman Brent Blugach, who flinched, thought about it for a second and headed back to the dugout with a backwards K that ended Strasburg's day. MLB.com's Bill Ladson (@washingnats) tweeted that, "RHP Stephen Strasburg's first three pitches were clocked at 97, 97 and 98 miles per hour," and in the first inning, according to Mr. Ladson, Strasburg's, "...pitches were clocked no lower than 96 miles per hour."

Pitch by Pitch after the JUMP...mph according to various Tweets...

Strasburg vs Austin Jackson:

1) Fastball low and away - 97mph, 1-0.

2) Fastball outside - 97 mph, 2-0.

3) 2-0 fastball groundout to third, 1 out.

Strasburg vs Clete Thomas:

1) Fastball in the dirt, ball 1-0.

2) Fastball outside

3) 2-0 fastball grounder to second, 2 outs.

Strasburg vs Magglio Ordonez:

1) Fastball - Grounder up the middle from Magglio Ordonez, 1,2,3 first inning.!! STRASBURG!!!

• 2nd Inning:

Strasburg vs Miguel Cabrera:

1) Fastball outside...ball 1.

2) Fastball low...1-1

3) 1-1 bender for a callled strike to Cabrera

4) Bender ball, 2-2 inside.

5) Fastball strike three swinging from Cabrera. 1 out.

Strasburg vs Carlos Guillen: 

1) Fastball grounded to third, 2 outs.

Strasburg vs Don Kelly: 

1) Fastball, ball, 1-0.

2) Fastball low, fouled off, 1-1.

3) 1-1 fastball outside fouled down, 1-2.

4) Curve low, bounces, 2-2.

5) Kelly slices a fastball outside into left for a 2-out single.

Strasburg vs Avila:

1) Fastball low outside

2) Fastball low fouled off

3) 1-1 fastball hit back up the middle for a single. 2 on, 2 out.

Strasburg vs Brent Dlugach: 

1) Fastball outside to Dlughach, 1-0.

2) Fastball outside - 2-0.

3) Fastball high, 3-0.

4) Fastball strike 3-1

5) Fastball, outside corner, called strike, 3-2.

6) Full count curve drops in for strike Three!!!!!

Scott Olsen still plans on being ready for the first week of the regular season, which for him mattered most Saturday after his second preseason start. "My arm's still attached," Olsen said. "Nothing broke today." In the Nationals ninth consecutive loss to begin spring training, Olsen started and allowed one run on four hits and no walks in three innings. More important than the results, Olsen felt he took another step forward in his recovery from last year's shoulder surgery. His fastball zipped at 88 miles per hour, an upgrade from his first start. "I'm getting there," Olsen said. "I'm real close. I don't know how close, but I think I'm real close. Maybe another start and another couple of innings underneath my belt and I think we'll be ready to go. "I felt as though we were stronger today than we were five days ago," Olsen continued. "In another

(AP Photo. The oft-injured Elijah Dukes missed his first action of the spring on Saturday because of a sore foot.)

"He has a little ailment in his foot. It's nothing serious. He has the knee issue that goes on sometimes. We just felt like, you know what, let's just wait until tomorrow and put him out there. Hopefully, these fields will be dried up tomorrow."
(Jim Riggleman, via All Nats All the Time, 3/13/2010)

Elijah Dukes was scratched from Saturday's lineup; and we cringed when we read Jim Riggleman's comments (above) about the injury. The way things work with the Nationals, Mr. Riggles pretty much just guaranteed Dukes a trip to the 60-day DL with talk like that. Just a "little ailment in his foot"; thanks Jim.

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More photos » Pat Sullivan - AP

Washington Nationals' lefty Scott Olsen is set to make his second start of the Spring on Saturday against the Houston Astros on Osceola County Stadium. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)

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• The Nationals will be in two places at once on Saturday, as a group of Washington's pitchers will throw in an intrasquad game at home in Space Coast Stadium to get in the necessary work with the recent rainouts, while another group makes the trip to Kissimmee, Florida's Osceola County Stadium, the spring home of the Houston Astros, where left-hander Scott Olsen will make his second Grapefruit League start after surrendering 7 hits, 3 ER and 1 HR last week in his first competitive outing since undergoing surgery to repair a torn left labrum in July of '09. Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore's article on Friday entitled, "Stephen Strasburg in Washington -- in April?" speculates about the possibility of the Nationals' '09 no.1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg starting his first game in the nation's capital in the final exhibition game of the season on April 3rd against the Red Sox in Nationals Park, (Good thing someone here figured that out 11 days ago and convinced me to get a ticket for that game then, cause I think it might get crowded quick once folks read his article) and Mr. Kilgore also provides a list of all the pitchers that will throw after Olsen this afternoon, which includes Drew Storen, Matt Capps, Matt Chico and Sean Burnett. Storen was reportedly scheduled to (but didn't) pitch in each of the last two games the Nationals played before the two rainouts, so the 22-year-old right-hander hasn't taken the mound in a game since last Sunday against New York's Mets. 

DC Starting Lineup...after the JUMP...

DC Starting Lineup...

1. Nyjer Morgan - CF
2. Willie Harris - LF
3. Ryan Zimmerman - 3B
4. Chris Duncan - 1B
5. Josh Willingham - DH
6. Adam Kennedy - 2B
7. Justin Maxwell - RF
8. Ian Desmond - SS
9. Wil "Blocker" Nieves - C

Notes: The Astros are playing two today as well, against the Nationals they're throwing right-hander Bud Norris, a 25-year-old '06 6th Round pick who debuted with Houston last year going (6-3) with a 4.53 ERA in 10 starts, 1 relief appearance and 55.2 IP over which the Greenbrae, California native walked 25 (4.0 BB/9) and struck out 54 (8.7 K/9)

• I got a note from the people who run Spring Training Connection.com, offering to answer any questions that Nationals' fans headed to Spring Training might have, and having looked their Space Coast Stadium page over I thought I'd recommend doing so, since it's actually a ridiculously (in a good way) detailed overview of the Nationals' Spring home. If you are going, post your questions here and I'll pass them on to the STC folks, and if you want info on where to park, find the best seats, seek autographs or find a hotel check out the site. 

Game Time: 1:05 pm EST from Kissimmee...Who's Listening to the Nationals? 

I'll provide periodic updates. ... 4:20: The Nationals dropped to 0-9 after a walk-off single off of Sean Burnett. The Astros win, 8-7. 4:11: The Nationals tied the score, 7-7, in the ninth. Willie Harris walked, Eric Bruntlett doubled and Mike Morse scored Harris with an RBI groundout to second. Bruntlett was stranded at third. Sean Burnett, who pitched an easy eighth, is out for the ninth. 3:51: The Nationals inched closer in the eighth and trial 7-6 now. Justin Maxwell led off with a single, his second hit today. He stole second and went to third on a poor throw by catcher Kevin Cash, then scored on a wild pitch. 3:41: Atilano got out of the seventh with only one more running scoring, but the Nationals now trail 7-5. As much as Chico helped himself with his start against the Mets, he shredded that good will today. Six runs,

More photos » Charlie Riedel - AP

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  I hope everybody is enjoying this rainy Saturday in the DC area... maybe they'll actually play today!

Nationals News

  Thomas Boswell argues that while the Nats are 0-8 in Spring Training, they really are a better team than they were last year.

  Stephen Strasburg's reconfigured pitching schedule would have him pitch on April 3... the same date as the exhibition game against the Red Sox... hmm...

  Mike Rizzo may still be looking for a "top of the rotation starter." The Nats Blog breaks down what this could mean for 2010.

  Adam Kilgore figures that Stephen Strasburg will pitch 158 innings between the majors and minors this year.

  Tyler "my favorite pitcher" Clippard has found success in the bullpen, posting a .122 BAA line against lefties.

  Dave Shenin ponders the first round pick situation, and concludes that it may well be Bryce Harper.

  Cristian Guzman, whose wife gave birth to a girl on Thursday, is expected to return to camp today.

  Nats320 wraps up the Spring Training experience.

  As Jim Riggleman sets his lineups, it seems unlikely that any player is locked in place.

  Will Jesus Flores will ever be back to 100 percent?

  FJB looks at the meaning of Eddie Guardado's walking papers.

Non-Nationals News

  Could potential first overall pick Bryce Harper fall to the Blue Jays?

On March 4, the Nationals came here for their first game of the spring and absorbed a 15-5 beating at the hands of the Astros and the wind. The Astros launched five home runs, four of them to right-center, where the wind was blowing out. Well, today, the same wind is back for Scott Olsen to deal with. "You've just got to get the ball down," Manager Jim Riggleman said. "If you get the ball in the air, it's going to go out of the ballpark. It doesn't give you a real good read on how that guy's throwing. But it does give you the challenge of seeing if you can get the ball on the ground and seeing if you can live up to that challenge." In his last start, Olsen allowed three runs on seven hits in two innings. His velocity hovered at about 85-88 mph, which is

Elijah Dukes had been in the lineup early this morning, but the Nationals scratched him with tendnerness in his left toe as a result of being hit by a pitch last Monday. Dukes is sitting as a precaution because the field at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla. has been saturated by two straight days of rain. Dukes is expected to play tomorrow. "Nothing serious," Manager Jim Riggleman said. "And he's got the knee issue that goes on sometimes. We just felt like, let's just wait until tomorrow to put him out there and hope that the field dries up by tomorrow." For today, Justin Maxwell will replace Dukes in rightfield and the seventh slot in the order.

After the drive up Route 192 that included sights such the Reptile World Serpentarium and The Gun Store (not to be confused with The Gun Shack, which is just up the road), we're settling here at the Osceola County Baseballtarium. The weather has been reset to gorgeuous, so there's definitely going to be baseball, and the Nationals are going to play it with this lineup: Nationals 1. Nyjer Morgan, CF 2. Willie Harris, LF 3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B 4. Chris Duncan, 1B 5. Josh Willingham, DH 6. Adam Kennedy, 2B 7. Elijah Dukes, RF 8. Ian Desmond, SS 9. Wil Nieves, C -- Scott Olsen, SP This is probably an important start for Olsen, who allowed three runs on seven hits in his first outing. To be fair, several of those hits were bloops and bleeders; the three-run homer by Jorge Cantu was not. Olsen, who is overhauling his mechanics,

Elijah Dukes has been batting seventh, or even eighth, some games this spring, and that is not coincidence. Spring training is a time to try things out, and Nationals Manager Jim Riggleman is considering batting Dukes lower in the batting order this season. Dukes typically hit sixth last season when the Nationals had their full complement, but the addition of Ivan Rodriguez and Adam Kennedy may push him down in the order. Riggleman floated the idea of a regular lineup that would look something like this: 1. Nyjer Morrgan, CF 2. Cristian Guzman, SS 3. Ryan Zimmerman, 3B 4. Adam Dunn, 1B 5. Josh Willingham, LF 6. Adam Kennedy, 2B 7. Ivan Rodriguez, C 8. Elijah Dukes, RF 9. Starting pitcher "With the addition of Kennedy and Pudge, there's a possibility he's going to hit lower in the lineup," Riggleman said. "Guzman is very comfortable in the second spot. I

More photos » Reinhold Matay - AP

Who is DC GM Mike Rizzo thinking about as the no. 1 overall pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft? Bryce Harper? Deck McGuire? (AP Photo/Reinhold Matay)

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• Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Nationals' draft plot thickens", identifies Georgia Tech right-hander and '09 ACC Pitcher of the Year, 20-year-old Junior starter Deck McGuire as one of the pitchers the Washington Nationals could turn to if they decide not to go with College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper, who was anointed the best prospect available in the 2010 Draft before he was even eligible for it. Mr. Sheinin says he liked LSU right-hander Anthony Ranaudo as well, til he injured his elbow, and he likes prep school right-hander Jameson Taillon while acknowledging the fact that no team's ever selected a high school pitcher with the first overall pick. In the end, Mr. Sheinin concludes that, "It's gotta be Harper," but he's not alone in noting Georgia Tech's Deck McGuire's appeal. The Nationals Farm Authority's Brian Oliver wrote recently in an article entitled, "Digging into the Draft", that the 6'6'', 218lb Richmond, Virginia-born McGuire, "...has the most Mike Rizzo feel to him," and, in Mr. Oliver's opinion, "...has the best chance to go no.1 overall", if the Nationals opt to go for a pitcher instead of the 17-year-old Harper. Of course the man everyone hates to hear from was the first one who threw McGuire's name out as a possibility, and once again tonight the Yellow Jackets' starter showed everyone why he's drawing attention...

BACKPAGE:

• Deck McGuire's 4th Start.

• Bryce Harper's 7th HR.

• Anthony Ranaudo Out Again.

BACKPAGE: 

• Deck McGuire's 4th Start.

• Georgia Tech improved to 11-1 in twenty-ten thanks to Junior right-hander Deck McGuire's complete game performance in the Yellow Jackets' 9-1 win Friday night over ACC rivals Wake Forest at home in Atlanta, Georgia's Russ Chandler Stadium where the third-year starter allowed just 3 hits and 2 walks while collecting 8 K's in 9.0 IP in which he threw 106 pitches, 76 for strikes. The win improves McGuire's record to 3-0 in 4 starts and 31.0 IP this year, during which the 20-year-old starter has K'd 33 (9.58 K/9) and walked just 5 (1.45 K/9), while holding opponents to a .196 BAA as he follows up on a sophomore season which saw McGuire go (11-2) with a 3.50 ERA in 16 starts and 100.1 IP over which the 20-year-old Richmond, Virginia native struck out 118 (10.5 K/9) and walked 41 (3.68 BB/9) while holding opposing teams to a .232 BAA.

LINK: Deck McGuire MLB.com Scouting Video.

• Bryce Harper's 7th HR.

0 for 2 with a walk and a run scored in a 4-3 win in the first game of a double header on Friday, College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper went 2 for 4 in game two, sending his 7th HR of the season sailing out of the park in a 3-0 win that completed a sweep of Western Nevada and raised the CSU Coyotes' record to 18-4 in 2010. In 22 games, the 17-year-old is now hitting .403 (31 for 77) with a .495 OBP, .831 SLG, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 7 HR's, 21 RBI's and 15 walks with 12 defensive assists and only 1 error in the field (.992 fld%).

• Erin Cofeil, of WAFB in Baton Rouge, Louisiana tweeted Friday night that she had spoken to LSU right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, who missed his third straight start with what he's still describing as "discomfort" in his pitching elbow:

"Just interviewed LSU ace Anthony Ranaudo live. Not throwing for 3rd Friday bc of discomfort in elbow. Said prob gonna be out another 2 weeks." 

Ranaudo, considered by some as a contender for the no.1 overall pick in 2010 when the season began, can't remain in consideration after missing 5 weeks with elbow issues during his Draft year, can he? How far will Ranaudo fall?

• And I know the Nationals' won't be the first team in 45 years to draft a high school pitcher no. 1 overall, but that doesn't mean you can't at least look at RHP Jameson Taillon.

LINK: MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo's article entitled, "High schooler Taillon has mix on the mound."

(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... ck

(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... ck

(AP Photo. Everyday Eddie Guardado sitting on a bucket at Nationals camp in February.) Wow, if Eddie Guardado was pissed off in July 2008 when he got punked into thinking he'd been traded to the Nationals by the Rangers.... "I... ck

(Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer Staff. Up with Desmania!) Desmania! "I certainly have an open mind about it. I think Desmond was very impressive last September and he has come in doing the same thing in March. He is... ck

(So that's what Dr. James Andrews looks like!) "We followed all the protocols and we did everything we were supposed to do. We did our due diligence on all sides. And according to our medical people, who I trust, and... ck

(Photo by Getty Images: Stephen Strasburg above, was seen pushing Space Coast Stadium several feet to the right before his start on TUesday. To cap off his busy day, Strasburg rescued a kitten from a tree AND helped an old... ck