First off, there was an awful lot of good Nats (and Caps) stuff waiting for me in my Google Reader this morning. I have linked to it on the right.<\/p>\n
John Patterson<\/span> is not used to being an ace<\/span><\/a>, but the bigger concern is that he labored through yesterday’s outing<\/a> vs. Detroit. That being said, he only gave up one run over four innings and the Nats won their fifth in a row<\/span><\/a>. MissChatter<\/span>, who is down in Viera (again), has more<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n The Nats promotional schedule<\/span><\/a> is out and it leaves a lot to be desired. When I see how few promotions they have and their decision to have them on Saturday nights instead of during the week, it makes me wonder if Stan Kasten<\/span> gets it as much as we have been led to believe he does. Either that or ownership is really cheap. Capitol Punishment<\/span><\/a> and Ball-Wonk<\/span><\/a> add more. Nats320<\/span> is excited<\/span><\/a> about racing presidents bobbleheads.<\/p>\n Speaking of Capitol Punishment and Ball-Wonk, both are up for Sports Illustrated<\/span>‘s best Nationals blog<\/span><\/a>, along with Federal Baseball<\/span><\/a> and D.C. Sports Bog<\/span><\/a>. Guess which one doesn’t belong? Anyhow, the current leader acknowledges that he may not be worthy of his position in a clever way. Maybe that is why the masses think he is worthy.<\/p>\n Back to baseball, cutting Kory Casto is not easy<\/span><\/a> (The Post<\/span>), even with his options. The Nats may only go with 11 pitchers so they can keep him on the team.<\/p>\n P Jason Simontacchi<\/span> is optmistic that he will be ready for Opening Day<\/span><\/a> (The Wash. Times<\/span>), but manager Manny Acta is concerned that the righthander’s right groin will still be a problem. Acta does not think he’ll put Simontacchi in the rotation without another spring start.<\/p>\n Remember yesterday when The Post<\/span> had a story about the Nats Rule 5 players? Today, The Wash. Times<\/span> gets one in too<\/span><\/a>. That is unusual because the two papers usually have the same topics on the same days.<\/p>\n Kasten told the AP<\/span> (via FoxSports<\/span>) “I don’t get that at all” when it comes to the doomsday predictions<\/span><\/a> for the Nats this season.<\/p>\n Hampton Roads will get Opening Day and Sunday games<\/span><\/a> (The Daily Press<\/span>) on 102.1 FM (owned by Daniel Synder’s Red Zebra Broadcasting).<\/p>\n More from The Wash. Times<\/i>: Spring Report<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n