Tony Plush on the Stras

From Chico:

Commencing their first formal day of spring training, a morning of basic drills for pitchers and catchers, the Washington Nationals divided their players into workout groups, such that Group 2A included right-hander Joel Peralta, left-hander Matt Chico, right-hander Tyler Walker, left-hander Aaron Thompson, and lastly a right-hander known to at least a few of his teammates as Jesus.

Why Jesus? " 'Cause what's the first thing you say when you see him pitch?" center fielder Nyjer Morgan said, excited just to answer his own question. "Jeee-sus!"

The season is going to be long enough.  Nyjer is going to keep it fun.

Nats a team to watch this spring?

CBS Sports' Danny Knobler says the Nats are a team he wants to see this spring, a break from the past when they were the "only team that could regularly bring 70-plus players to big league camp -- and still not manage not to find five that you cared to see."

And it's not only Strasburg. He cites Storen, Morgan, Pudge, Marquis, and Capps as new faces that were not in  Viera in the past.  Also the sense is that under Rizzo, the Nats are more professional and the front office is well respected.

That is, as they say, change I can believe in.

h/t Nationals Journal

MLB Network Hot Stove's take on the Nats

MLB Network's Hot Stove has one fine looking set.  I am guessing their production budget is greater than or equal to MASN's Nats pregame show, probably because they don't have to worry that Rob Dibble will punch the flatscreens.  The Hot Stovians took a break from admiring Studio 3 to review the Nationals' offseason moves.  Let's have a look, if only because any opinion given from a set that fine deserves to be taken seriously.

Victor Rojas observes that it surprises people that Pudge was on the Nats' radar, and "that he was able to get a 2 year contract."  That's not something you like to hear.  Translation: if you aren't regretting this contract by midseason, wait til 2011.

Rojas goes on to explain that "this is a ballclub that revolves around young players, and you have to fill the rest of the ballclub with veteran guys."  This is one of the most persistent myths about the Nationals.  Take a look at the ages of the guys who will be in the opening day lineup: Rodriguez (38), Dunn (30), Kennedy (34), Guzman (32), Zimmerman (25), Willingham (31), Morgan (29), Dukes (25).  And the likely opening day starter is 32.  Apart from Pudge they are not ancient, but really the only young guys are Zim, Dukes & Lannan (all 25).

Harold Reynolds likes IF Ian Desmond. He says he's the future, but he is not going to play behind Guzman & Kennedy. That's a problem. If the team is supposed to be young and build for the future, why not let Desmond (24), get his rookie year out of the way now rather than playing behind 2 guys who won't be here next year. Reynolds believes it is because he is not quite ready and the Nats need to win "because they are losing their fan base, if anybody watches them at all."  Well.

Al Leiter reiterates what we already know about Jason Marquis - he eats innings, is a groundball pitcher and will be a veteran presence and anchor for the rotation.  He did go way out on a limb with the praise that Marquis, who has been in the league 10 years, "is now considered a legitimate veteran player."  Ok.  They project the rotation to go Lannan-Marquis-Olsen-Martin-Mock.  Really?  Detwiler & Stammen would have to have failed spectacularly in order for those last 3 to all make the rotation.

Tom Verducci says the key to the team in "moving forward toward respectability" is the additions made to the bullpen. If Bruney & Capps, younger guys, can change things around in the bullpen the Nats can improve 10 to 15 games.

Rojas then submits that "guys want to go to the nation's capital... there are veteran guys that legitimately want to go there and try to help that franchise turn things around," without any evidence or anecdotes.  It felt like he was contractually required to say something positive even if he didn't even pretend to believe it, to end on a high note.

So to recap:  The team is losing its fanbase, it's surprising the Nats gave a 38 year old catcher a 2 year contract, they are a young team that happens to be full of veterans for now, their staff ace is considered a "legitimate" veteran player and the bullpen will move the team "toward respectability", and free agents "legitimately" want to go to DC.  Could be worse. Right? Legitimately?