Johnson Delights the Nats By Taking a Healthy Stance – The Post
Johnson shows healthy improvement – The Wash. Times
Johnson swings for starting job – The Free Lance-Star
Johnson back in swing of things – Florida Today
Manager Manny Acta and GM Jim Bowden were pleased watching 1B Nick Johnson smash line drives in the batting cage this weekend. Johnson, who broke his femur in a September 2006 collision with Austin Kearns, has come a long way from September when his BP session were hard to watch. He says he is feeling good.
A healthy Johnson could mean that Nats have two quality first baseman which could lead to a trade (The Post). I hope they hold onto both of them for some time, given Johnson’s injury history. Dmitri Young was the 2007 Comeback Player of the Year, but I want Johnson out there the most. If either gets traded, let it be Young.
After a Break, Zimmerman Looks to Lead – The Post
Acta has infield starters in mind – The Wash. Times
López Will Be Given ‘Every Chance’ to Play – The Post
3B Ryan Zimmerman is in camp early and ready to lead. He claims there are no ill-effects from his offseason wrist surgery. Also, IF Felipe Lopez, fresh after losing arbitration, says he is ready to compete for a starting job in the middle infield. Acta says that Lopez is one of the priorities of spring training (The Post). Personal issues, since resolved, weighed heavily on him during his poor 2007 season.
So far, Nationals’ top starters feeling fine – The Wash. Times
Patterson says he’s OK; Nats need convincing – The Free Lance-Star
So far, none of the pitchers are reported injured. Yes, it is day 4 of spring training. One of the overriding themes of this spring will be the apparent potential of the rotation provided it can stay healthy. The team is wary of putting too much into oft-injured John Patterson‘s potential though, they are waiting for results.
Nationals swing for winning year – The Wash. Times
The team thinks it can build off of its 73-89 season last year. It is not hard to envision the team improving on that number, provided the rotation stabilizes and get a couple of ten game winners. After the middle of May 2007, the Nats were quite competitive last year.
Without Getting Specific, Nats’ Lo Duca Apologizes – The Post
Lo Duca vaguely apologizes – The Wash. Times
Lo Duca won’t say what he’s sorry for – The Free Lance-Star
C Paul Lo Duca is very sorry for what he did. He didn’t say what he did, but we can assume that it is a lot like what Jason Giambi was sorry for doing.