I had trouble finding the Thomas Boswell chat this morning. It wasn’t linked from the front page of washingtonpost.com like all the other chats. Anyway, here it is:

Ask Boswell: Nats Spring Training, Stephen Strasburg, Caps and more – The Post
“Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell will be online Thursday, March 25 at 11:00 a.m. ET to take your questions about the NCAA Tournament, March Madness, Nationals Spring Training, Stephen Strasburg, the rest of Major League Baseball, the Caps, Redskins and his latest columns from Spring Training.”

Bos may be tired from last night’s Washington Capitals shootout win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. He ever wrote a column about it. Yay, but it doesn’t mean much — the playoffs do and they don’t start for a while. Our nation’s Capitals are not suspects in that annoying steroid investigation either.

The other red, white and blue team from D.C. played last night, albeit in Spring Training. The Washington Nationals fell to the New York Yankees and since the game doesn’t count, I skipped the whole neutrality thing. In fact, I skipped it altogether.

Now, a look at the Nats pitching situation:

Starters

Jon Lannan – American hero, having a good spring, gets the ball Opening Day

Jason Marquis – Yay, his ERA is down to 14+!

¡LIVAN! – He’s in the rotation

Garrett Mock – Finally, the 2006 ¡LIVAN! trade pays off

Craig Stammen – You might just make it after all

Scott Olsen – Can’t throw 90+ MPH, needs further rehab

Chein Ming-Wong – Shoulder tightness, his chances of pitching before June…remote

Stpehen Strasburg – best pitcher in camp, his chances of pitching before June…remote

Jordan Zimmermann – Throwing too hard in rehab, wants to return in September, I say don’t push it kid

Matt Chico – He’ll always have 2007

Shairon Martis — you had that nice stretch last spring, savor it

Ross Detwiler – throwing from 70 feet, no longer sleeping with legs tied together. Hip surgery doesn’t sound fun.

So, in other words, things could be a lot better for the rotation in June (but of what year?). The first month of the season is pretty tough and the big challenge is going to be not getting bogged down by losing.

Bullpen

Mike MacDougal – released by Marlins, picked up by the Nats, ready to prove last year’s closing was a fluke

Jason Bergmann – same as ever, still wondering if he’ll get Shawn Hill/John Patterson’d or did Elijah Dukes meet the quota for surprising Nats cut?

Drew Storen – best in the bullpen? Chances of pitching before June…remote

Ron Villone – released, but was only signed to be released

Collin Balestar – needs to shave, pitch well

J.D. Martin — will actually get to pitch against MLB players for a change
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Sean Burnett is not injured…yet

Tyler Clippard, Brian Brunney and Matt Capps – jobs seemingly secure