1B Nick Johnson limped into spring training (The Post, The Wash. Times and The Free Lance-Star) yesterday, not knowing when he will be in the lineup again. June 1 is being thrown around as possible return.

In the bullpen, Luis Ayala will not be rushed back (The Post) from ligament replacement surgery (The Wash. Times) while closer Chad Cordero’s agent continues to negoiate (Florida Today) with Jim Bowden. Perhaps the unflattened brims (Nationals Journal blog) of the spring training caps are complicating matters.

Manager Manny Acta is glad Pat Corrales, who coached on the Braves staff for 14 straight division titles, is his bench coach (Florida Today). No word on how Corrales feels about rasin bran in chocolate milk though.

Another day, another Jesus Flores article, this time in The Free Lance-Star.

Bashing Viera may be so 2005, but The Wash. Times’ Thom Loverro does it anyway. He is not the ideal spring training spot for sportswriters since there is nothing to do. That makes it ideal for a team that wants to keep its players out of trouble though. Barry Svrluga doesn’t think much of the 45 MPH breeze, but both he and Loverro like being close to the Kennedy Space Center.

Today’s winner for most articles is The Free Lance-Star, which in addition to the above articles had SCHEDULE, The BUZZ and gets to know P Mike Bacsik. Matt Chico has a Q&A with The Wash. Times as well.

NATMOSPHERE POST OF THE DAY:

Nats320 — Why so bitter? re: Frank Robinson not participating in Frank Robinson Day. Honorable mention: DC Sports Bog — Nats fans have swag