Before moving on to today’s articles, I have to mention that I expect MLB to make an announcement around 5:45 p.m. or so on the ballpark lease. I am not optimistic. Thomas Boswell writes a a decent column in today’s Post on what has happened and what is at stake.
Slow start for Nationals, fans – Florida Today
The Nats lost 9-1 to Pittsburgh in their Grapefruit League opener.
More from Post-Gazette: Spring Training: Pirates’ play, results please Tracy in debut
Soriano Is Off to WBC, Return TBD – The Post
Thankfully, Alfonso Soriano is off to train for the WBC, which means we might be spared any more discussion about him and the infamous trade that brought him here for a few weeks. But first one more article…
Soriano deserves no love for his glove – The Wash. Times
“A second baseman’s glove in Soriano’s hands is like a microphone in the hands of Ashlee Simpson.”
“Heck, bring the $7 million annual paycheck for Jose Vidro (66 errors in 929 games, ranked 19th, or 100 places, ahead of Soriano on the fielding rankings) into the picture, and the bargain-basement Nationals are paying their second basemen $17 million. That’s about $2 million more than the team is paying its entire group of starting pitching candidates.”
Even T(h)om Loverro is scoring on Jim Bowden for this stupid, stupid trade.
Searching for a Home Base – The Post
Cuban defector ¡LIVAN! is a man without a country in the WBC, so he gets to stay in spring training. He isdisappointedd, but I am not; I would rather have him in Viera.
Astacio will compete – The Wash. Times
A look at P Pedro Astacio.
Q&A with Jim Bowden – nationals.com
Bowden leads off the Q&A by saying he believes that Nats are a better team than last year. Of course, last year at the All-Star break he believed they could win the pennant, so does Bowden think that this year they could win the World Series and the Super Bowl too?
Also, Bowden is intrigued by all 69 players in Viera. He reminds me of those crazy ladies who live in a house with 300 cats.
NOTEBOOK – Ortiz Could Be ‘Sleeper’ For Rotation – The Post
I don’t know if a rotation as depleted as the Nats can really call anyone a sleeper.
More from Florida Today: Ortiz getting grip on slider
Nats Report – The Wash. Times
Nats Report – The Wash. Examiner
According to 69 time Emmy winner Jim Williams the TV voice of the Nats will be either Dave Sims or Bob Carpenter.
AND SPEAKING OF NON SEQUITORS, it looks like dl004d is chatting on washingtonpost.com today. Totally.