The Nats played thrice over the weekend and won once in a split squad game against the Dodgers (ESPN Boxscore). They lost another split squad game to Houston (ESPN Boxscore). Unfortunately, they also lost (Florida Today) to the hated Balmer Oreos (ESPN Boxscore). I know it is only spring training, but I like to see Peter Angelo$ lose. At least John Patterson was decent (The Wash. Times) against Balmer. Matt Chico pitched three shutout innings (The Wash. Times) in his MLB debut (Florida Today).

I watched a little bit of the Saturday game. I noticed that Malevolent Angelo$’ Sports Network has a new opening with graphics of columns (from the Capitol, I believe) and new music. New analyst Don Sutton didn’t say “wow” once or talk like Cookie Monster impersonating Ray Romano. Sutton also spoke in complete sentences and did not reference playing for the Mets. The advertising still seemed Baltimore focused and even though they want me to think so, Anita Marks is still not hot.

OF Brad Wilkerson 2.0 Austin Kearns is a lot more comfortable being a National than he was last year. His trade from the “hometown” Reds rattled him, but now that he is more established here (contract extensions can do that to you) he can focus on living up to the potential that made him the 7th pick of the ’98 draft. The real question is whether he’ll still shop at the Pentagon City Harris Teeter.

For guys like Jason Simontacchi, the promise of spring training (The Wash. Times) is nothing more than a chance.

Face of the franchise Ryan Zimmerman is negotiating with the team on a contract extension. He said yesterday’s meeting was “positive.”

If a Nats player or official is not a former Red, he is probably a former Brave. Pat Corrales, Manny Acta’s bench coach (The Post) was on the Atlanta staff forever. Nationals reliever Ray King, a former Brave, said Corrales played the “favorite uncle” role with that team.

In Viera, Florida Today asks the fans of other teams if they like the Nats. I don’t think that was the original intent of the article, but that is what happened. By the way, the other fans do like the Nats.

Jim Williams of The Wash. Examiner wrote about the TV situation on Saturday. The Malevolent Angelo$’ Sports Network will have the 161 games that Fox doesn’t want.

Spring Report: Sunday – The Wash. Times

Finally, C Brian Schneider and his wife Jordan are proud parents of a baby girl, Tatum Elizabeth Schneider.