‘Hop’ Gives Patterson Hope of Opening Night Start – The Post
The oft injured John Patterson is pitching like he used to:
It was right around the time the calendar flipped to December, out on a ballfield in far East Texas, when John Patterson reared back and threw — and saw something that made his heart flutter. The ball took off, toward its target, but instead of merely dropping into the glove of his throwing partner, Patterson could swear to God it accelerated in midflight — or “hopped” — just like it used to do, a couple of years and a couple of surgeries ago.
Great lede and better news. Patterson was pretty special for most of 2005, but hasn’t been the same since. He said that last year’s “I’m healthy” was inaccurate because he had forgotten what it feels like to really be healthy like he was in 2005. If the Nats are to improve upon last year’s 73 wins, Patterson needs to be a consistent starter.
Fewer questions – The Wash. Times
The year’s edition of the Nationals does not have the uncertainty that it did last year. There will not be 37 unknown, unproven or washed up pitchers trying to get in the rotation. While it is debatable whether the likes of Paterson, Shawn Hill, Jason Bergmann, Matt Chico and Tim Redding are proven, they have a larger body of work on which to make spring training less of a crap shoot. There are several changes to the position players though with Brian Schneider and Ryan Church replaced by the likes of Paul Lo Duca, Lastings Milledge and the troubled Elijah Dukes. There is Nick Johnson‘s return and what that means for Dmitri Young.
Nationals still have some questions – The Free Lance-Star
Another take on the Nats different questions this year.
THOM LOVERRO – A year later, it’s how good can they be? – The Wash. Times
Another “what a difference a year makes” column, this time from Loverro. Character questions and the lack of lead-off hitter are a lot different than, who is going to pitch.
Nats win arbitration on Lopez’s contract – The Wash. Times
Arbitrator to Felipe Lopez: Um, no freakin’ way.
Crack of the bats hits at senses – Florida Today
An overview from the hometown paper of spring training.
New-look stadium all about the fans – Florida Today
The Nats spring training home Space Coast Stadium has been renovated because that is how they get things done down there in order to say things like “spring training is good. In Viera, better. There is also short a video.
Did you notice that The Post had one more story about Peter Angelo$’ team than they did the Washington team? At least there was a Barry Svrluga chat on the dot-com side yesterday.