After Sunday afternoon's 7-3, 11-inning win over the New York Mets, the Nationals have played nine games in the 2011 season, and won four of them, good enough to edge a half-game ahead of the Braves in the race for last place as they return to the capital for a homestand against the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers.

It's difficult to write a column like this at this point in the season without some massive overreaction and projection. Nevertheless, each week throughout the season, I'll be giving you my choice for the three star men (or units) on the Nationals and the three that need to improve the most. I call it "Three Up, Three Down," and it begins after the jump.

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Prior to last night's Home Run Derby, I was not a fan of Adam Dunn. I couldn't understand why the Nationals would keep paying a player with 10 errors already this season, despite his .266/.398/.544 line. It seemed to me that for the money the Nationals were paying him, they could find an outfielder with slightly worse batting statistics but significantly better fielding abilities.

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Nationals News

-The Nationals offer Lastings Milledge for Nyjer Morgan straight up, but the Pirates aren't sold on the deal.

-Ryan Langerhans, lost in a sea of outfielders in Washington, has been traded to the Mariners for Mike Morse, whom the Nats are listing as an infielder.

-Manny Acta shifted the batting order in yesterday's game against the O's, moving R. Zimm to cleanup and putting Willie Harris first, with Guzman and Johnson second and third. Of course, the Nats won that game, so we'll see if it sticks.

-Adam Dunn bombed one 445 feet in yesterday's win over the Orioles.

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Warmup

• Sorry this took so long, I was out of town over the weekend doing a little snowboarding. I actually didn't make it to the game but I sent my correspondents out to do the scouting for me. I edited it and cleaned it up but the following analysis was mostly brought to you by gaslampballer TJB.
• Conference play started this week with a three game series with UNLV. After we won the first game behind Strasburg, SDSU completed the three game sweep and moved to 3-0 in conference play and 11-6 overall.
  
• Possible injury report. In one inning there was a ground ball to Strasburg, but the 1st baseman wasn't  there to cover, so he had to try to beat the runner to the bag. He came down in the most awkward slide to beat the runner to the base, his legs were like a pretzel and he was on his side. Right after that he starts kicking up his leg in a backward motion, I couldn't tell if it was his ankle or knee that was bothering him.  Pitching coach and trainer came out to check on him.  It looked like it was bugging him, but he finished the inning with no problems.
  

Stats

Aztecs 4 runs on 9 hits and no errors

Rebels 3 runs on 7 hits and no errors.

WP: Stephen Strasburg (4-0)

LP: Jeff Urlaub (2-1)

S: Addison Reed (5)

Stephen Strasburg

7IP 6H 2ER 1BB 14K 28 BF

2.57 ERA 18 K/9 1.3 BB/9 14/1 K/BB 1.00 WHIP

Season

(4-0) 27.1 IP 59 Ks 18 H 6 ER 5 BB

1.98 ERA 19.4 K/9 1.6 BB/9 11.8 K/BB 0.84 WHIP

General Analysis

Strasburg threw quite a lot of offspeed stuff, I'm pretty sure most (if not all) the hits off of him were from breaking balls.  His velocity was good, but I'm guessing a little less than normal for strasburg (I had no view of a gun reading), but he would crank it up a notch a few times throughout the game.  A lot of bats missed his fastball, it seems that whenever he turned on the heat, they had no chance to make contact, it was obvious.  He was hard and down most of the night, very few pitches were up.  Very few foul balls, less than 10 by my count.  It was a bit of an up and down night, totalling around 113 pitches, he may have thrown a few too many breaking balls, but he still amazed with 14 Ks over seven innings.A great night and a good game.  It was really more of a battle for Strasburg, and its good to see him able to pitch quite well even when not everything is going his way.

Inning by Inning

1. Struck out the side using about 15 or so pitches, one started as a 3-0 count. (SDSU scored 3 in the bottom, some nice room for strasburg)
   
2. Within 3 pitches total, the 1st two batters got base hits, he left a couple of breaking balls up.  The next batter got a backwards K, strike two was swinging and he was WAY overmatched. 6 pitches and 2 K's later, he was out of the inning, way to finish strong and strand those runners.
   
3. A tough inning for Strasburg.  He started of with a strikeout flashing a nice slider. The next batter walked on 5 pitches and stole second, on a good throw that the infilder just couldn't hold on to. Next batter hit a single up the middle (I think the SS was trying to position for a pick-off play) taking the runner to 3rd base.  During the next AB, Stras is called for a balk (I didn't catch it, but lots of people were calling it out) and both runners advance, scoring the 1st run for UNLV (3-1 aztecs).  Pitching coach came out to the mound to calm him down, and he eventually struck out the batter, and induced a groundout to the next batter to end the inning with no further damage.
4. Can he bounce back? Of course he can, this is Strasburg.  Backwards K, K and a flyout to left in a total of 11 pitches.
5. Can he get in a groove? That's what the stras does!  Backwards K in four pitches, the next hitter was all setup 0-2 after being totally overmatched on some wicked fastballs, but then he threw 3 off speed pitches in a row and the batter stayed back on the last one for a single, the pitch selection was a bit questionable there.  He induced a double play ball in 3 pitches to the next hitter.
6. 3 pitch strikeout, but runner advanced to 1st on a WP. Next hitter doubles in a run.  He followed up with a strikeout, overpowering the hitter on the final 2 strikes.  During the next AB, he got another visit from the pitching coach when the count was 1-2.  He proceeded to get a ground ball to 2B, advancing the runner to 3rd.  He got behind the next hitter, but then with two strikes the 10th man lent him a hand, so he turned up the heat and put another K up on the board.
7. Stras had thrown a lot of pitches, 95 by my unofficial count, but he still went out for the 7th.  A questionable hit (by my notes at least, it could have been ruled an error) on the infield put the lead man on.  The next batter sacrificed to advance the runner.  Next up, this is where the batter grounded to Stras, and he had to hustle to 1st base for the out, sliding ackwardly and twisting his legs, afterward he got up and was kicking his foot up to his thigh. The trainer and coach came out, but he insisted that he was ok and stayed in, causing a roar in the crowd.  He got ahead of the next batter 0-2, but then took the count full before he flied out to right field.

That was the end of the night for Strasburg. The closer Addison Reed came in and tried to blow the win but managed to keep it under control and the final score was 4-3 Aztecs.

Next Game

The next game Strasburg is scheduled to pitch is Thursday, March 19th against BYU at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Stay tuned baseball fans!

Washington third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is on the inside flap of the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated, along with the class of the '05 MLB Draft...Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Arizona's Justin Upton, Troy Tulowitzki from Colorado, Jacoby Ellsbury and Clay Buchholz of Boston...and then...THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Ryan Zimmerman, who stands legs crossed and looking down at Buchholz's personalized cover variant of what I believe was SI's Spring Training Preview edition...

Inside the Sports Illustrated Baseball Preview, SI writers predict a 4th Place finish in the NL East for the Nationals, with a (73-89) record, leading Florida by just one game to claim the Runner-Up To the Runner-Up to the Runner-Up spot behind New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta, first to third '08.

As for Zimmerman's profile, Sports Illustrated writer Ben Reiter writes that, "He reached the big leagues in only 86 days...and hit .397 in 20 games in 2005..." and then Mr. Reiter recounts Zimmerman's sophomore struggles which Zimmerman sums up thoughtfully:

"The second year, [pitchers] know your strengths and weaknesses, and they attack your weaknesses."

...And Nationals' GM Jim Bowden is at his hyperbolic best telling the SI writer, Mr. Reiter:

"He's also a tremendous defensive player, a top-two third baseman who could probably play shortstop. He's got the action on the quickness...He could've been Cal Ripken at shortstop."

If Mr. Bowden was just trying to rile up Orioles' fans up north of DC in Baltimore, that quote should do it.

Mr. Reiter, you'll note, seems to think the Nationals should trade Chad Cordero. For shame. The Flat-Brimmed Closer is here to stay. (I hope.)

IMPORTANT FEDERALBASEBALL.com NEWS-- (ed. note- "Federalbaseball.com Will Undergo Construction starting just after Midnight tonight and lasting through the morning, but it will be back tomorrow night with a new look and a new format that should make building a real DC Baseball Community much easirer. For frequent visitors, you might just have to reclaim your old name and password for access, while any one else trying to comment? (Anyone?)...can set up a new account and join in the fun, post blogs of your own, share pictures, Cheer for Milledge...It should be great...See you on the other side(site)..." -e chigliak)

XM 175 is live from Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, the site of the Grapefruit League action between the visiting Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals at the Cards' Spring home. "Opening Night" Odalis Perez is on the hill in what will be his final Spring start before Sunday night's domestic Season Opener, and the Cards counter with Anthony Reyes, St. Louis' flat-brimmed starter...

The Washington Nationals' starting lineup...

Felipe Lopez SS
Lastings Milledge CF
Ryan Zimmerman 3B
Nick Johnson 1B
Austin Kearns RF
Ronnie Belliard 2B
Rob Mackowiak LF
Jesus Flores C

...Felipe Lopez swings at the first pitch from Anthony Reyes amd grounds it to third where Tony La Russa-approved third baseman Troy Glaus makes the play. Lastings Milledge goes down. Ryan Zimmerman flies out to Skip Schumaker in right, and Anthony Reyes has one scoreless. Odalis Perez retires the Cards in order to end the first.

1 on, 1 out for Ronnie Belliard in the second, Belliard grounds to shortstop Cezar Itzuris, to second and around the horn for the inning-ending DP. Troy Glaus doubles through third to start the Cardinals' second. Rick Ankiel grounds to Belliard who takes the out at first. Jason LaRue grounds out. Glaus scores. A double + two groundouts = 1-0 St. Louis.

Washington goes down in order in the third. Still 1-0 Cards after five innings of play. Odalis Perez singles with one out in the sixth. (Only the 2nd DC hit off Reyes.) Felipe Lopez K's. Lastings Milledge lines a single to left. Ryan Zimmerman up with two on, two out. Zimmerman pops out to the infield.

The Cardinals add the their lead in the home half of the sixth after Rob Mackowiak loses a pop fly in the sun in spite of his sunglasses, bringing up Thee Albert Pujols with runners on second and third...Pujols singles up the middle, two runs cross, 3-0 Cardinals.

Ryan Franklin replaces Anthony Reyes after 6.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 ER, 1 walk and 2 K's, and Franklin continues to dominate Washington's batters holding the Nationals scoreless through seven. Lastings Milledge comes up against lefty Cardinals' reliever Ron Villone with 2 on, 2 out in the eigth...full count...Milledge stares at a third strike, though he doesn't agree with the call. 3-0 St. Louis after eight. Jason Isringhausen comes on to close it for the Cardinals and retires the Nationals in order. Final score 3-0 St. Louis.

Chris Schroder and Saul Rivera pitch a scoreless inning each in relief of Odalis Perez, whose last start of the Spring is a 6.0 inning outing in which the veteran lefty allows 7 hits, 3 runs and 1 walk, while striking out five for a 4.96 Grapefruit League ERA heading into Sunday's showdown with Atlanta live on ESPN from Nationals Park in Washington, DC as the Nationals try to win their first Opening Day game since arriving in DC...('05 8-4 loss in Philly...'06 3-2 loss in NY...'07 9-2 loss at home against Florida)...

...Milledge, Nick Johnson, Pete Orr and Odalis Perez have the only hits of the day, all singles, off St. Louis. Tomorrow it's Matt Chico on the mound against the Braves in a game that's going to be available on MLB.tv...

So...according to MLB.com writer T.R. Sullivan's article entitled, "Rangers sign pitcher Patterson", John Patterson has agreed to a Minor League deal with the Texas Rangers, which returns Patterson to within around 250 miles of his birthplace in Orange, Texas, which is located east of Beaumont and south of Arlington, according to the city's wikipedia.org site.

Federalbaseball.com, and e chigliak in particular wish John Patterson nothing but the best of luck in Texas...unless it's a Nationals/Rangers World Series this season...What? It COULD happen...

MLB.com's Bill Ladson is with the Nationals in their Spring home of Viera, Florida, and he's reporting in an article entitled, "Hill's forearm pain a mystery", that Shawn Hill experienced pain in his right forearm before an appearance in a Minor League game against Los Angeles, as Mr. Ladson recounts, Hill:

"...was in serious pain before the game started, but said that the pain subsided once he started warming up. Hill is currently on the disabled list because of the forearm."

...and no one involved, from Hill, to the team, to the several doctors Hill's said to have seen, appears to know exactly what is wrong with his surgically-repaired arm...

MEANWHILE...Washington Times writer Mark Zuckerman reports that the "medical report" on Tim Redding's ailing back is back and the diagnosis, Mr. Zuckerman writes, in a post at "Chatter: A Nats Blog" entitled, "Redding's injury: Thoracic spasm?", is quite simply that:

"...he has spasms in the right part of his upper back.

Doesn't sound terribly serious, but we'll have to wait and see what Redding has to say and how he looks. For now, he's just getting treatment and is being monitored.

...and continuing on this tour of the Nationals' starting rotation, Jason Bergmann's record dropped to (1-2) as he gave up 7 hits, 3 runs, (2 earned), and 2 walks, while striking out 4 in the Nationals' 5-3 loss this afternoon in another Spring Training tilt with the Tigers. Bergmann now has a 2.70 ERA in 4 starts and 16.2 innings this Spring, while Detroit got 5.1 IP today from their starter, Nate Robertson, (1-0), who allowed 4 hits, 1 run and 2 walks while striking out three to lower his ERA to 1.26 in 3 starts and 14.1 innings.

Ryan Zimmerman hit a two-run home run in the eigth inning of today's game off Tigers' reliever Zach Miner, for Zimmeran's 11th and 12th RBI's of the Spring. 1 for 4 with a run scored and 2 RBI's on the day for Zimmerman. Lo Duca's 2 for 3 with a double, which is where Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga picks it up in a post entitled, "Bergmann: Pecked to death", at his "Nationals Journal" blog today, in which Mr. Svrluga writes:

"And if you wanted to see the most remarkable sight of spring training, you had to see Paul Lo Duca hit a double down the left-field line in the second, and then watch Dmitri Young take off from first. He huffed, and he puffed, but he scored standing up. A remarkable accomplishment."

But did DY knock off his helmet coming around second?

Lastings Milledge? The Lastings Milledge Fan Club is happy to report that Milledge went 2 for 3 against Detroit with a walk and a run scored, for a .355 AVG, 22 hits in 62 at bats, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 9 RBI's, 6 steals, and a .420 OBP, though the L.M.F.C can't get behind Milledge's 12 K's, which are tied for second on the team with Ryan Langerhans' own 12, and both of the two are 2 K's behind Elijah Dukes, who has struck out 14 times in 40 AB's while accumulating 4 doubles, 1 triple and 1 HR and 3 RBI's in 15 Grapefruit League games with the Nationals.

Tomorrow it's off to Jupiter, Florida, where the Nationals' lefty, "Opening-Night" Odalis Perez takes on Flat-Brimmed Anthony Reyes of the St. Louis Cardinals in a day game I'll be tuning in to on XM Radio...(ed. note- "No idea what Matt Chico did today, sorry.")

I was prepared for problems with both Shawn Hill and John Patterson this Spring, (though not prepared for Patterson's departure, more on that in a minute), but I was not prepared for the shock I felt momentarily when I read the headline today proclaiming that Washington righty Tim Redding had suffered back spasms and been removed from the mound in the middle of an inning during today's Easter Sunday affair with the Florida Marlins.

Now normally this news would have launched me into paroxysms of defeatist rhetoric, but instead as I read the reports I was soothed by the calming influence of the Nationals' Manager Manny Acta, who was quoted in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Redding injures back, leaves game", calmly stating:

"'Obviously, you have to be concerned, but we have options this year. It gives you more peace of mind,' Acta said. 'Maybe somebody will have to pitch with an extra day of rest. That's about it.'"

Isn't that honestly reassuring? What I found interesting was the list of pitchers Mr. Ladson then listed, as he wrote, "...the Nationals can rely on their prospects such as right-handers Collin Balester, Tyler Clippard, Garrett Mock and Mike O'Connor to help sometime during the season."

I assume John Lannan's not included in that list because he hasn't officially been reassigned to any Minor League affiliate, but Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga wrote just the other day in a post entitled, "And your Opening Day starter is..." on his "Nationals Journal" blog, that:

"...it seems pretty clear the Nationals have already tabbed him (Lannan) to start the season in Class AAA Columbus, with Matt Chico winning the last spot in the rotation."

As for Tim Redding, Mr. Svrluga reports at his washingtonpost.com blog, in a more recent "Nationals Journal" post entitled,"Redding: "I'm going to be ready" that Redding may have been injured running out a bunt an inning before he left today's game, and the post quotes Mr. Redding who provides his own diagnosis:

"There's a noticeable bulge, I guess. It just feels like it's a knot, nothing major, day-to-day. It could go away tomorrow. It could be there a day or two and then go away. It's a muscle spasm."

As for today's game, Redding gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and a walk in 3.1 IP before leaving the game with the Nationals down 4-2, the score by which they eventually lost to the Marlins. Relievers Ray King, Chad Cordero and Eude Brito combined for 4.2 scoreless with only Brito surrendering a hit to the Marlins. Cristian Guzman collected his 11th RBI of the Spring with a sac fly off Florida starter Rick VandenHurk and ended the day batting .296 in Grapefruit League games. Lastings Milledge was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Aaron Boone 2 for 3, Nick Johnson 1 for 4, and Ronnie Belliard was 0 for 3, but he's still hitting .383...

Tomorrow it's Washington vs Detroit as the Tigers travel to Space Coast Stadium, in sunny Viera, Florida, the Nationals' Spring home, where Jason Bergmann will take the mound against the Tigers' Nate Robinson. 1:05 pm start...MLB's Gameday Audio should have the game...and XM Radio has Tuesday's game against the Cardinals...

Oh...and as for the aforementioned John Patterson news, Newark Star-Ledger baseball writer Dan Graziano mentions Patterson's release in his "Weekly Bottom Three" feature of his Sunday Sports page column entitled, "Dan Graziano on MLB", in which Mr. Graziano writes:

"3. John Patterson- Last year, he was the Nationals' Opening Day starter. This week, they released him. Tough fall. Not even 2007 Yankees Opening Day starter Carl Pavano has been released. Of course, you can't release a guy who's on the disabled list."

Now, first of all, I'll say that I applaud the possessive apostrophe attached to the "...Nationals' Opening Day starter,"...but I have to wonder about the lack of an apostrophe with the Yankees'?...(ed. query- "Is there some rule of baseball writing I remain unaware of at work here?")

...But more importantly why bring up Carl Pavano when discussing the release of yet another Expos' prospect in Patterson, and only compound the pain DC/Montreal fans are feeling by bringing up one of the two players (Pavano and Tony Armas) Montreal received in return for Pedro Martinez, when they traded their Cy Young Award-winning starter to Boston in 1997, the year after he'd first earned the distinction as baseball's best...

Thanks for ruining my Easter breakfast...