• In a recent appearance on ESPN Radio's The Scott Van Pelt Show, DC Skipper Jim Riggleman told the titular host that Washington had signed veteran right-handers Livan Hernandez and Miguel Batista based on their reputations for consistently pitching deep into ballgames and their potential for reducing stress on the Nationals' bullpen. Batista, who'll start this afternoon's game against Atlanta, signed a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training in late January, after he'd pitched exclusively in relief last season in Seattle, making 56 appearances for the Mariners over which he allowed 79 hits, 32 runs and 39 walks (4.9 BB/9) with 52 K's (6.6 K/9) in 71.1 IP, but he's being considered as a starter this Spring, and he's one of the first five pitchers being given the ball this week following Garrett Mock and J.D. Martin's outings yesterday and in advance of starts by John Lannan and Jason Marquis. No word yet on when the 35-year-old Hernandez will make his first appearance, or if he'll come on in relief as potential starters Collin Balester and Shairon Martis did in the first two games yesterday. 

• MLB.com's Bill Ladson wrote last night that as things stand now, Marquis and Lannan are still the only pitchers penciled into the starting rotation, with, in Mr. Ladson's words, "...at least 10 pitchers fighting for the final three spots," and though there's an off day after the season opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 5th, the MLB writer noted in the article entitled, "Nats considering five starters, six relievers", that if the season were to begin today, (exactly 4 weeks before Opening Day and two games into the Spring schedule) the Nationals would go with a full five starters instead of using the day off after the opener as an opportunity to keep an extra reliever on the roster as they did last year by sending Jordan Zimmermann down after ackowledging that he'd made the rotation before recalling him on April 20th to make his first start. 

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• Federal Baseball.com's 5th Outfielder Predicition.

• Drew Storen's 5-Pitch Attack.

• Twitter Madness.

BACKPAGE: 

• Federal Baseball.com's 5th Outfielder Predicition.

Strong defense, patience at the plate and speed on the basepaths...Roger Bernadina, (Federal Baseball.com's Official Pick for the Nationals' fifth outfielder behind starters Josh Willingham, Nyjer Morgan and Elijah Dukes and fourth outfielder Willie Harris), got off to a good start in Thursday's Spring opener against the Astros, making, "...a number of impressive plays in left field," according to MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling, who wrote in a post game article yesterday entitled, "Nats vs. Astros/Marlins: Post-game thoughts", that the soon-to-turn-26-year-old outfielder, "...might be the Nationals' strongest defensive player among their reserve outfield candidates." That Bernadina's being considered a strong contender for the Opening Day roster might surprise some, as his limited major league experience and modest success in DC belie the fact that in his last full season on the field, in 2008, the amateur free agent signed by the Expos out of Willemstad, Curacao back in 2001, hit for a .335 AVG with a .400 OBP and a .490 SLG in 120 games with the Nationals' Double and Triple-A affiliates in 2008 before fracturing his ankle three games after being recalled to replace Lastings Milledge on the roster in April 2009. 

• Drew Storen's 5-Pitch Attack.

Not only did Drew Storen retire the three Astros he faced yesterday in order, with only 9 pitches, eight of which were strikes, but as Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore notes in an article about the Nationals' 2nd '09 1st Round pick published this morning entitled, "For Drew Storen, the Washington Nationals' future closer, the future can't get here quick enough", Storen did so, "In just nine pitches, (and) he squeezed in two different fastballs, a slider and a curve." In an interview with Baseball Prospectus' writer Dan Laurila last weekend entitled, "Prospect Q&A: Drew Storen", when asked if he'd continue to throw both his curve and slider, which, "...isn't all that common for a closer", Storen assured the BP writer that he works with four pitches and even has a fifth, a change, which is rarely used but available:

"'I throw two different types of breaking balls; I throw a curveball and a slider. I also mix in a changeup, but that’s rarely. I pretty much live off of my fastball, but I’ll mix in my breaking pitches in any count. That's pretty much a key for me...

"'I learned the slider as a cutter and it kind of turned into a slider. I think that’s crucial because it gives me a different edge. The ability to throw a lot of pitches as a reliever is a little like playing with house money. I kind of feel lucky in that regard, that I can do that.'"

• Twitter Madness.

Collin Balester (@ballystar40) said it, "felt good" to get his first Spring outing in, and he, "...can't wait for the next one." Balester gave up just one hit (a solo HR) in 2.0 IP against the Marlins Thursday, walking two and striking two out. Right-hander Craig Stammen's on Twitter (@cstammen35) but he's yet to embrace the medium. Check out Drew Storen's Twitter (@DrewStoren) today to see if he's got any reaction to his first big league inning...If you want an avalanche of tweets from Spring Training, which was admittedly a bit overwhelming yesterday, MLB.com's Bill Ladson (@washingnats), Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP), MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling (@masnNATS) and NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) are all in Florida and providing updates from the game...

NEXT GAME: 1:05 pm EST - From Atlanta's Spring Home - Miguel Batista vs Derek Lowe. Game Thread to follow this afternoon if anyone want to follow along.