• Asked by reporters for his thoughts on Nats' skipper Davey Johnson's decision (as he explained Sunday) to go with a platoon of Mark DeRosa and Adam LaRoche at first to allow LaRoche to rest occasionally, LaRoche offered a, "No comment," this morning. LaRoche did, however, say that he believes he'l be ready for Opening Day. The beat reporters in Florida finally got the answer to whether or not Jayson Werth's mythical HR actually hit his own car in the parking lot... the answer is below. Davey Johnson also confirmed this morning that John Lannan is going to be the 5th starter (behind Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann and Edwin Jackson, which means it's the bullpen for Ross Detwiler to start the season. When Chien-Ming Wang's healthy? We'll see. The Nationals take on the Astros at 1:05 pm EDT this afternoon. It's only available on the radio, and it's Houston's feed. Don't worry, all the games will be available... soon... for now it's the LINKS and they start RIGHT NOW!!:
• THE BIG STORIES!!!!:
• "Last season was an ordeal for [Jayson] Werth, one that tested his confidence, his mettle and probably his sanity at certain points. But he got through it..." - "DALY: Baseball part of Werth's DNA" - Dan Daly, Washington Times
• "Ian Desmond stood at the far end of the Nationals' dugout at Ed Smith Stadium when a fan's three magic words compelled him to walk over for a brief autograph session." - "Former Sailor Desmond charts course back home" - Doug Fernandes, HeraldTribune.com
• NATS BEAT:
• Twitter: Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP): "Adam LaRoche said he has no doubt he'll be ready for opening day. On being used in a platoon: 'No comment. That's how I feel about it.'"
• "Two things seem most clear. [Davey] Johnson plans to use a platoon at first base to rest [Adam] LaRoche, and you will see a lot of Mark DeRosa." - "With Michael Morse and Adam LaRoche uncertain, Davey Johnson considering all options" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Ian Desmond, Danny Espinosa, Ryan Zimmerman and Werth each had an extra-base hit in the first inning and combined to go 10-for-22 with two home runs..." - "Nationals Buzz: Nats' bats do some damage - literally" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "'When we got to the top of the lineup getting on and got guys on base constantly, it gives your team an opportunity to score runs,' second baseman Danny Espinosa said.'" - "Offense comes to life behind Strasburg" - Craig Heist, WTOP.com
• '[Stephen] Strasburg's 4.12 ERA in five overall starts this spring is nothing to get excited about, but he's been particularly sharp his last two times out..." - "Strasburg: 'I feel ready to go'" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• Twitter: NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman): "Any doubt you'll be ready for Opening Day? LaRoche: 'No, not right now. Again, it's not something I can't play with.'"
• "'Right now, it’s more of a rumor, folklore,' said [Jayson] Werth at his locker stall, getting ready to go inspect the damage to his mythological pickup.''' - "Washington Nationals: Offensive barrage, tall tale after Jayson Werth’s home run brighten the mood" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post
• "During spring workouts in 2011, one of the Nationals' coaches told me he felt [Sandy Leon] was one of two players on the Single-A Potomac Nationals that was a sure bet to make it to the majors." - "Leon again turning heads with consistent play" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "[Davey] Johnson also told [Adam] LaRoche that he will be in a platoon situation to start the season. Mark DeRosa is expected to start against left-handed pitching." - "LaRoche will likely be ready by Opening Day" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "[Adam] LaRoche, for the moment, appears more likely to be ready than [Michael] Morse. But either player's status could change in the coming days." - "Makeup of bench still up in the air" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "[Mel] Parnell didn't pitch for the Senators - he was a Red Sox left-hander from 1947-56 - but he absolutely dominated Washington in head-to-head matchups." - "A left-hander's name you should know" - Phil Wood, MASNSports.com
• "Nationals manager Davey Johnson called it 'the hardest ball I've seen him hit since I've been here.'" - "Jayson Werth is 'like a different guy' this spring and that's a very good thing for the Nationals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• Twitter Washington Times' Amanda Comak (@acomak): "Here's official report on [Jayson] Werth: a few eye witnesses confirmed HR hit his truck. So there was that and the "smoldering crater in the hood." -
• "Manager Davey Johnson will back off [Stephen] Strasburg in his next start, keeping his opening day starter on a pitch count of around 70." - "Nationals Buzz: After another strong start, Strasburg 'ready to go' for opener" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
•"To [Ryan] Zimmerman's teammates, the deal, signed on Feb. 26, was a referendum on the organization itself." - "Staying with Nats pays off for Zimmerman" - Brian McNally, Washington Examiner
• "The Nationals scored early and often to top the Mets, 12-0, on Sunday afternoon at Space Coast Stadium. The victory broke an 11-game winless streak for Washington." - "Nationals' offense breaks out to back strong Stephen Strasburg vs. Mets" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "As we have mentioned before, 'Viera' means faith – Johnson had it in his hitters, and they did not disappoint upon returning to their Spring Training home." - "Show of Good Faith" - Curly W Live
• "Another outstanding prospect that will move up from Potomac to Harrisburg this spring is outfielder Destin Hood, who had a tremendous campaign in Woodbridge, Va., last summer." - "Destin Hood focusing on throwing with continued positive results" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "'It’s definitely in the rehearsal stage,' [Stephen] Strasburg said. 'But when you step on the rubber, it’s go time out there right now.'" - "Stephen Strasburg is ready for Nationals opening day" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "In evaluating his start, Strasburg talked mostly of 'fine tuning' things. Of slowing down his time to home plate from the stretch and other minimal adjustments to his command." - "Stephen Strasbug: 'I feel ready to go.'" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "[Chien-MIng] Wang's stumble was decidedly nonathletic for a player who looks like he could pose for an Olympic statue." - "Wang's hamstring injury is even painful to watch" - Phil Wood, Washington Examiner
• "[Jayson] Werth's dented truck may be fiction, but this much is fact: He's hitting the ball as well this spring as he has since he first donned a Nationals uniform." - "Werth is truckin' along" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "After going 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs against the Mets on Sunday, Werth is hitting a respectable .281 with three home runs and six RBIs this spring." - "Werth feeling much better this spring" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "A member of the grounds crew sent word that the baseball [Jayson] Werth swatted clean out of Space Coast Stadium had flown over the bleachers and crashed into his own truck." - "Jayson Werth may have hit his own truck with a long home run" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "The 2011 season was certainly one to forget (or burn from the memory bank) for [Jayson] Werth..." - "For what it's worth, Werth feels like he's coming around" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com
• "Unfortunately, it's tough for [Davey] Johnson to put together a full lineup when several of his regulars are still dealing with injuries." - "Sunday morning injury updates" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "The top two in Washington's batting order --[Ian] Desmond and Danny Espinosa -- combined for five hits, while Roger Bernadina collected a spring-high four RBIs..." - "Nationals happy to end spring winless streak" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "The first moving truck is already packed outside Space Coast Stadium. It leaves Viera today, bound for Washington..." - "The Nationals enter the stretch run of spring training" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Once your mind is calm and full of love, there is no room for hatred or fear. Others will trust you because of your open heart."
• NATSTOWN:
• "Arriving in the major leagues with the Senators in mid-August of 1920, outfielder/1st baseman Frank Brower would appear in 36 games hitting .311." - "This Date in Washington Senators History" - Art Audley, D.C. Baseball History
• "Despite the major changes made to the Washington Nationals’ roster during the off-season, the players have not proved this Spring Training that much has changed." - "Depth: The Key to Starting the 2012 Season on a Good Foot" - Patrick Hilley, The Nats Blog
• "Shifting Gears" - NationalsProspects.com
• "QnA" - Ryan Tatusko, The Backfield Diaries
• "To those of you here because you think that this is a post about Roger Bernadina punching Tyler in the face, I'm afraid I have to disappoint you..." - "Shark Hits the Fan (not literally)" - Sharkadina
• "Jayson Werth seems to have bad luck with cars, trucks." - Nats Enquirer
• "Yesterday’s game against the Orioles was Jackson’s fifth start of the spring, and while he began well, his day quickly unraveled." - "First Impressions Of Jackson With The Nats" - Keara Dowd, Win For Teddy
• "Sunday baseball was a type of Holy Grail for baseball owners. Sunday being a day of rest enticed baseball owners with the promise of a large crowd and large profits." - "Sunday Baseball" - Karen and Kevin Flynn, D.C. Baseball History
• "Nats Break Out For 12-0 Win" - NationalsProspects.com
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Phillies: "[Cole] Hamels' evolution has cycled him through every stage (except the last) of Philadelphia's psychotic adulation of athletes process, and he has survived it all." - "2012 Phillies Player Preview: Cole Hamels and His Contract" - RemeberthePhitans, The Good Phight
• Braves: "Julio Teheran provided the Braves some relief on Saturday, when he completed a 25-pitch bullpen session with approximately 75 percent effort in a pain-free manner." - "'No problems' for Teheran in 'pen session" - Mark Bowman, braves.com: News
• Marlins: "[Josh] Johnson said his mechanics were off in the first inning, when he gave up a hit, threw a wild pitch and walked two." - "Miami Marlins’ Josh Johnson ‘on time,’ throws five scoreless innings in victory" - Manny Navarro, MiamiHerald.com
• Mets: "It's clear that the Mets were indisputably bad with the leather in 2011, ranking near the bottom in most defensive metrics from Defensive Efficiency to Fielding Percentage." - "2012 Mets Defense Will Be Bad, Does That Matter?" - Rob Castellano, Amazin' Avenue
• Tommy Milone Update: "Kurt Suzuki also homered for the A's, who got five shutout innings from lefty Tommy Milone in their first game at the Tokyo Dome to kick off the Opening Series week." - "Starter Tommy Milone sharp as A's win exhibition game in Japan" - Jane Lee, oaklandathletics.com: News