Nationals Have Logjam Up the Middle – The Post
Lopez adamantly opposed to bench – The Wash. Times
Lopez: No to backup job – The Free Lance-Star
Felipe Lopez would rather play shortstop or second base than sit on the bench. The problem for him is right now SS Cristian Guzman is hitting .356. 2B Ronnie Belliard is hitting .459. In order to start, Lopez might have do it with a different team and by complaining that he isn’t a bench player, Lopez is making it harder for himself to get traded. My advice to Lopez — shut up and hit better than .205.

Winning Effort Has Redding Feeling Great – The Post
Spring Report – The Wash. Times
Tim Redding was one of several Nationals battling illness yesterday, but after pitching five shutout innings, Redding said “I hope I feel like crap for 34 starts.” He wants the ball on Opening Night and is trying to force the issue.

The Nats wound up beating the Tigers 9-1 in Lakeland. The game was an ESPN telecast too. Lastings Milledge, Justin Maxwell and Belliard all went deep.

Young and Johnson: Friends in waiting – The Wash. Times
Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young are trying to win the same job, but remain friendly. I hope we start seeing bumper stickers that say things like, “I root for the Nats and I prefer Nick” or “I root for the Nats and I prefer Dmitri.” It will be like Sonny vs. Billy all over again!