The Nats rotation is 40% complete (The Post) with John Patterson and Shawn Hill (The Wash. Times) filling the first two slots (Florida Today). Jason Simontacchi is close to being the third starter. Matt Chico pitched four scoreless innings (Florida Today) in a split squad game vs. Detroit in Viera, a 2-0 loss (ESPN Boxscore). Tim Redding gave up one run over three innings in relief. For a break from the monotony of spring training (Booth Newspapers), the game was played at night.

Down in Vero Beach, the other split squad fell to the Dodgers, 6-3. (ESPN Boxscore). The game was notable for featuring prospects (The Wash. Times) like Esmailyn Gonzalez and Chris Marrero. “Did you see how big their eyes were?” one player noted. “Oh my god, they’re just kids.”

1B Dimitri Young made his first appearance for the Nats (The Post and Florida Today) and made it count with a solo shot off of Jason Schmidt as well as a RBI single. GM Jim Bowden was in attendance.

Manny Acta thinks a batting stance flaw is why LF Ryan Church has been struggling.

SS Cristian Guzman made his first appearance in the field, reporting no problems with his shoulder.

I am not shocked to learn that the first time Bowden cut a player (in 1986 with Pittsburgh) the player punched him (The Wash. Examiner). I am shocked to learn it only happened once.

Former commisioner Bowie Kuhn, a native Washingtonian, died yesterday (The Post). It was on his watch that the expansion Senators moved to Texas. He defended himself in a 2005 interview with Maury Brown of Biz of Baseball. Kuhn wrote a whole chapter in his autobiography to saving the Senators.