• While you're waiting for tonight's televised game with the Detroit Tigers, here are some links to get you through the afternoon. Edwin Jackson takes the hill tonight for the Nats in his third start this Spring in Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium at 6:05 pm EDT in a game that WILL BE TELEVISED on MASN, MLB.tv and then on a delay on the MLB Network. Speaking of the Tigers, FOXSports.com's bow-tied reporter Ken Rosenthal mentioned Detroit as a potential trade partner should Washington decide to deal left-hander John Lannan this Spring, and he also talked about Ian Desmond again and what the future holds for the Nats' SS. More on that in a minute. If you missed the news yesterday, the Nats made the first cuts of the Spring. Lots o' links about the roster moves below. This is a link post and that's why there are links below, get started on your lunchtime reading... RIGHT NOW!!!:
• THE BIG STORY:
• “'To have a manager who’s on your side more so than just worrying about his job and winning games on a daily basis, who’s protecting his players, is awesome,' Clippard said." - "Nationals’ Davey Johnson aims to ease the burden on relievers Tyler Clippard, Drew Storen" - The Washington Post
• NATS BEAT:
• "Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Joe Blanton, Washington Nationals lefty John Lannan and Chicago White Sox right-hander Gavin Floyd are among the starters in play..." - "Atlanta Braves contending with slow spring start, Chipper Jones questions, specter of last season's collapse" - Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports on MSN
• "Entering Tuesday's action against the Tigers, Zimmerman is 7-for-12 (.583) with two home runs and five RBIs. Manager Davey Johnson said his third baseman looks like he is in midseason form." - "Zimmerman continues to swing hot bat" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "[Adam] LaRoche’s sidearm throw was somewhere between a rope and lollipop. LaRoche knows he may not have 100 percent arm strength in his shoulder by opening day..." - "Adam LaRoche’s first throw, Jordan Zimmermann’s second start, Matt Purke’s big league strikeout" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Last year, before [Adam] LaRoche succumbed to the labrum surgery, a throw like that might have caused him pain for two or three days after making it." - "Adam LaRoche made a reactionary throw and it didn't hurt, plus other notes from Monday's 8-4 victory over the Cardinals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Next up in the already sizable list of Nats players making crazy talk in the spring: Brad Lidge." - "Brad Lidge: Nats probably most talented team he’s played for" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "None of the moves were surprises, though Rendon and Purke made nice impressions during their brief stints in big-league camp only nine months after each was drafted out of college." - "Rendon, Purke among first cuts" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "Manager Davey Johnson reiterated that [Bryce] Harper must have a full workout before he is in the starting lineup." - "Nats not going to rush Harper back to action" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "'Do we have to send him out?' [Bo] Porter asked Nationals manager Davey Johnson. 'Let’s keep him.'" - "Brown sent down, but future with Nationals remains bright" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "[Anthony] Rendon impressed the Nats' brass so far this spring, showing good pop at the plate (all three of his spring base hits were doubles) and impressive versatility in the field." - "Rendon, Purke part of first round of Nats cuts" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "The Nationals have been so impressed by [Gio] Gonzalez that, as surprising as it is, they may tab to him to start opening day over [Stephen] Strasburg." - "A guess at the Nationals’ opening day roster" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Manager Davey Johnson felt [Jordan] Zimmermann had problems locating his pitches." - "Johnson likes what he saw from Zimmermann" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "[Jordan] Zimmermann threw 59 pitches, 41 for strikes and despite the numbers he was happy overall with his outing." - "Zimmerman and the Nats take down the Cardinals" - Craig Heist, WTOP.com
• "Ladies and gentlemen, please greet pitcher Austin Bibens-Dirkx. And no, I'd never heard of him either. A righthander who attended the University of Portland, he's 6'2" and 190 pounds." - "The hyphenated hurler" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "Beltway Baseball Live - 1 p.m. today" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "Jordan Zimmermann's been working on developing a changeup, or at least trying to, for more than three years." - "Jordan Zimmermann pleased with fastball control, changeup Monday" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "The outfield depth of the Nationals' system has certainly been fortified over the last few seasons through draft and free agent acquisition, especially with the ..." - "Goodwin, Harper lead discussion of Nationals' top outfield prospects" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "[Corey] Brown said he understood that last year's lost season hurt him from making this year's team. He is expected to start the season with Triple-A Syracuse." - "Brown, Rendon among Nats' first camp cuts" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "[Corey] Brown, who was acquired from Oakland in the Josh Willingham trade, battled health issues and struggled last year, but came into camp looking healthy and on top of his game." - "Zimmerman scorching, Brown impressing" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "The whole emphasis of our spiritual practice should be aimed at creating positive and healthy thoughts and actions."
• The STRASBURGER:
• "Our first update concerns the Red Porch, and a brand-new menu item that will get lots of attention from media and fans: The StrasBurger." - "Nationals Park introduces 8-pound ‘StrasBurger’" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post
• "Colleen Gerg, a registered dietitian from Chevy Chase, Md., did a general breakdown of the 'nutritional value' -- or more appropriately, the lack thereof -- of the StrasBurger." - "Eight-Pound 'Strasburger' No Match For Local Dietitians" - Adam Vingan, NBC4 Washington
• NATSTOWN:
• "Bryce Harper in right/ He should really tone it down/ With all the eye black." - "Babes Love Baseball: Season Previews: Washington Nationals" - Babes Love Baseball
• "Washington Nationals Spring Training Postcards: Photos from March 12 Game" - Cheryl Nichols, District Sports Page
• "In this week's episode, The Nats Blog's Joe Drugan and Capitol Baseball's Craig MacHenry continue to talk about Washington Nationals spring training." - "Nats Talk On The Go: Episode 11" - The Nats Blog
• "In fact the original Moneyball is the story of the building of the 1867 Nationals." - "Moneyball" - Karen and Kevin Flynn, D.C. Baseball History
• "And in other crucial Michael Morse news, via his Facebook page, Morse has selected Pat Benatar's 'Shadows of the Night' as one of his walkup songs for the upcoming year." - "A rare Mike Morse baseball card, inscribed as 'The Beast'" - Nats Enquirer
• "Ian Desmond will be the Nats shortstop for 2012. He will begin the year as the lead-off man, whether or not he stays there for 2012 is very much up in the air." - "Leadoff Plan B" - Sean, Capitol Baseball
• "A Couple More Thoughts On Yesterday’s Cuts" - NationalsProspects.com
• "Nats starter Jordan Zimmermann didn’t fare as well. He gave up four earned runs on seven hits and a walk. He did not strike out a batter and was generally knocked around a bit." - "Zimmerman, Flores lead Washington Nationals past Cards 8-4" - Dave Nichols, District Sports Page
• "Jay Jaffe over at Baseball Prospectus wrote an article about the top pitching staffs in the NL, but it was focused on the Nats." - "The Nats and the Best Rotations" - The Nationals Review
• "You might remember Corey [Brown] as the other guy in the deal for Josh Willingham. The guy fans were less enthused about." - "17 vs 1821" - Harper, Nationals Baseball
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Mets: "The Make-the-Mets-O-Meter is back. We'll keep an eye on the players battling for spots on the Opening Day roster and attempt to forecast which ones have the best shot at making the team." - "Make-the-Mets-O-Meter, Week 1: Pitchers" - Chris McShane, Amazin' Avenue
• Marlins: "We have seen a few articles on the effects of the new Miami Marlins stadium on the team's offensive and pitching contributions." -"Miami Marlins Season Preview: Marlins Park and Its Effects" - Michael Jong, Fish Stripes
• Phillies: "After careful consideration by the lot of Phillies Nation writers, we’ve come up with the players, teams, coaches, and umpires throughout baseball that we just don’t like." - "'Guys We Despise': John Lannan & Rod Barajas" - Pat Gallen, Phillies Nation
• Braves: "A lot is being made of the Atlanta Braves 1-and-10 record this spring, and if that record slips even more, then even more will likely be made of it." - "Braves Quote For The Day ... Fredi On Probation?" - gondeee, Talking Chop