(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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(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

(Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff. Stephen Strasburg's spring debut for the Nationals.) 27 pitches, 15 strikes, 2 Ks, 2 hits, no miracles. Nice job, kid. See you in DC, say around mid-June? See Mister Irrelevant for 5 quick... ck

(Photo by Getty Images. The Stephen Strasburg Era sort of begins today in Viera, FLA.) Strasburgeddon? No big deal, right? Only the most anticipated start in the brief history of the Nationals since April 14th, 2005; you know, when Livan... ck

(AP Photo. Have you heard? Stephen Strasburg makes his spring training debut against Detroit on Tuesday.) "Very humble, very grounded. Just all ears." (Jim Riggleman, via Ben Goessling/MASN.com, 3/8/2010) All ears? You're not joking, Jim. No pressure, kid. Should be... ck

(Getty Images. Miley Cyrus and Amanda Seyfried present an award during Sunday night's Academy Awards.) ...the 2010 Washington Nationals! "During the season, you won't take it because you lost. But where we're at here in spring training, I'm very happy... ck

(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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(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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(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 was pitching good [that year]. I was throwing the ball good. I was like, 'What the [BLEEEEEEEEP!!!!] am I gonna be doing in Washington?'"
(Eddie Guardado, via Nationals Journal, 2/23/2010)

...how pissed off is he this morning?

Mark Zuckerman/Nats Insider reports that Eddie Guardado is one of the first cuts of the Spring for the Nationals.

How the heck did Tyler Walker survive?

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(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 definitely making a strong case to be on the ballclub."
(Jim Riggleman, via Nationals.com, 3/10/2010)

Ho-hum: another day in Florida, another hit (a triple), RBI, for Ian Desmond on Wednesday.

Okay, so the .471 / .550 / .882 in 17 ABs line this spring is essentially meaningless on its own; but when you tack on the 82 ABs from September...we're having a hard time making any sort of argument for Guz starting over Des at shortstop. Well, besides that little problem of the $8 million paycheck owed to Guzzie this year...but that's not exactly an argument for playing time. Did we not learn anything from the Austin Kearns Experience?

Meanwhile, according to Bill Ladson, Cristian Guzman is back in DC:

Nationals shortstop Cristian Guzman has returned to Washington D.C. to be with his wife, who is expecting a baby girl any day. It's not known how long Guzman will be away from the team. 
(via All Nats All the Time, 3/10/2010)

"Not known how long Guzman will be away from the team", you say, Bill? How about: 162 games? Best wishes, Guz.

Meanwhile...

Start #2 of the spring for John Lannan against the Astros at 1:05. Good news! Charlie and Dave will take to the airwaves with today's game on WFED (listen online here).

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(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 Dr. Andrews, who I trust ... in their opinions, which is the only thing that counts for me, we've done everything we can here. I think we're still on the right track."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nats Insider, 3/10/2010)

In other words: Don't blame us!

"I don't see how (Flores) couldn't (start on the DL). Ten days from now, we couldn't get him enough games to be ready for the season, no matter if he got back at the earliest."
(Jim Riggleman, via Ben Goessling/MASNSports.com, 3/10/2010)

In other words:

See you in 2011, Jesus Flores?

You could see this one coming: Another setback for Jesus Flores. Discomfort. Barking. Etc. Jesus Flores will spend the next ~2 weeks in Birmingham, AL, with Dr. James Andrews and friends. Not good.

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(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 lady cross the street.)

"All the craziness, all the hype, all the anticipation -- it's all over with."
(Stephen Strasburg, via Jayson Stark/ESPN.com, 3/9/2010)

Oh no, young Strasburg, you are sadly mistaken. No, no, it has only just begun...

That was great! Now what?

"We'll make a decision about whether he's on the ballclub or not."
(Jim Riggleman, via NatsInsider, 3/9/2010)

In the wake of Strasburg's debut on Tuesday, Ken Rosenthal had this assessment from an unnamed scout:

"He was very poised, threw strikes, was throwing 93 to 98 mph. The ball really jumps out of his hand. He had great finish through the zone. His changeup was 90. ...He needs to go to the minor leagues, pitch every fifth day for the first time, have some stiffness, have some adversity. But it was pretty special."
(via Ken Rosenthal, FoxSports.com, 3/9/2010)

So, the question is: WHEN? How does Sunday, July 4th, against a cupcake like the Mets, sound?

Meanwhile, a couple of things we're now 100% sure about:

• Memo to Jim Riggleman: PLEASE stop dicking around putting Desmond in the outfield (even though he's held his own out there) and install him as his starting shortstop immediately. Desmania! Another hit, 2 more RBI for Desmond yesterday...

• Mike Morse can hit!

• BLS notes the Star-Tribune (MN) "Senators" headline mixup. We actually wouldn't be surprised to see the same mistake in the Washington Post.

• Tyler Walker and Miguel Batista are not long for the majors.

  "Obviously, it's ugly so far. It can't get worse than this."
  (Tyler Walker, via Nats Insider, 3/9/2010)

• Can the Space Coast Raccoon pitch?

 

(Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff. Even this racoon couldn't bring himself to watch the carnage at Space Coast after Jesus's departure.)

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(Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff. Stephen Strasburg's spring debut for the Nationals.)

27 pitches, 15 strikes, 2 Ks, 2 hits, no miracles.

Nice job, kid. See you in DC, say around mid-June?

See Mister Irrelevant for 5 quick observations on the Strasburg debut; see Nationals Fanboy Loooooser for a vote for Strasburg for Opening Day starter (sorry Lannan). See DC Sports Bog for coverage of MASN's coverage of Strasburg.

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(Photo by Getty Images. The Stephen Strasburg Era sort of begins today in Viera, FLA.)

Strasburgeddon?

No big deal, right? Only the most anticipated start in the brief history of the Nationals since April 14th, 2005; you know, when Livan Hernandez took the mound at RFK and baseball finally returned to Washington.

Hopefully we catch a little glimpse of what Stephen Strasburg is all about today, but it's hard to believe we'll find out all that much in ~2 innings/~35 pitches. 

All we're hoping for from today's start is to see Strasburg walk off the field with his arm intact. Is that asking for too much?

Good luck today, kid. No pressure.

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(AP Photo. Have you heard? Stephen Strasburg makes his spring training debut against Detroit on Tuesday.)

"Very humble, very grounded. Just all ears."
(Jim Riggleman, via Ben Goessling/MASN.com, 3/8/2010)

All ears? You're not joking, Jim.

No pressure, kid.

Should be nothing short of a circus tomorrow. Can't imagine what it's going to be like when Strasburg starts a game that actually means something, though. Which probably means 2011 (even if he arrives in DC in 2010).

Meanwhile,

• At least Scott Olsen is feeling great after his start today.

• 11 more runs given up by Nationals pitching, or 67 in six games. But who's counting? Zim, Hammer, go deep. Nyjer Morgan slides headfirst.

• SBF captures evidence of the beer/peanut vendor who made listening to today's game on the radio that much more enjoyable. Not that the return of Charlie & Dave wasn't enjoyable enough.

• The headline writers over at Nationals.com are at it again with the Wang jokes:

  Wang appears at Nationals camp

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