The Washington Nationals travel to Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Florida to take on the New York Mets, who throw Pedro Martinez against Nationals' lefty Matt Chico.

Pedro Martinez gets Cristian Guzman to pop out to short, and then faces his former catcher Paul Lo Duca, who's making his first start as a National this Spring. Lo Duca's quickly down 0-2, but Pedro gets too much plate and Lo Duca reaches on a grounder deep in the hole at short that Jose Reyes can't come up with. 1-2 fastball high and outside and Zimmerman goes the other way to right, Lo Duca to third, Zimmerman goes for second, Ryan Church comes up throwing...and NAILS Zimmerman at second. CHURCH!!! DY's dialed-in at the plate but two offspeed strikes have Young lunging as he strikes out to end the top of the first.

Matt Chico takes the mound. Chico's sporting a few days growth on his chin and a leg kick Randy St. Claire gave him back, according to Mets' announcer Ron Darling, who recounts how the Arizona Diamondbacks had taken his leg kick away while he was in their system. Chico strikes out Reyes, and pops up Luis Castillo for the second out of the first. David Wright hits a top-spin lob to left for a two-out single. Carlos Beltran beats Zimmeran to the third base line with a hard hit double, Wright moves to third. Carlos Delgado is next in the Mets' unforgiving order. Delgado grounds to first, DY bobbles and tosses Chico who tags the bag to end the first.

Austin Kearns takes a fastball off the hip and takes first for his suffering. Elijah Dukes turns around on a Pedro fastball and rips a double to left, one-hop off the base of the wall. Felipe Lopez is batting in the six-spot, and the Mets' announcers are all over his recent comments about not wanting to ride the pine. Lopez hits a low liner to first that Delgado wrangles and throws to first in time to meet the covering Pedro, Kearns scores, 1-0 Nationals. Ryan Langerhans swings over a slow full count change for strike three.

Matt Chico grounds out to short. 1-0 after one and a half. New York outfielder Angel Pagan beats out a ground ball to short when Guzman's throw is a step late. Ryan Ch-Ch-Ch Church looks awful in a Mets' uniform. Church stares at strike three from Chico. Mets' catcher Raul Casanova grounds to third, Zimmerman throws sidearm to second, to Guzman to DY at first for the DP to end the second.

Pedro Martinez tantalizes Guzman with a two-strike change. Paul Lo Duca flies out to center. Zimmerman does the same. Martinez through three, and then up at bat to lead off the bottom of the frame with a pop out to center that Ryan Langerhans handles. Jose Reyes pops up behind the plate. Luis Castillo lines a two-out single to left. David Wright singles to center. Carlos Beltran rips one to left, Dukes' falls on the first step but recovers in time to make the grab ending the third. 1-0 Nationals.

DY starts the fourth with a groundout. Austin Kearns takes an inside fastball out of the park on a long fly ball to left and off the fence of the field behind the main park, 2-0 Nationals. Elijah Dukes is robbed by Angel Pagan on a low liner to left. Felipe Lopez misses a two-strike fastball for the third out of the fourth.

Matt Chico backs Delgado up with a two-strike fastball inside and then gets a groundout for the first out of the Mets' fourth. Matt Chico loses Angel Pagan and issues his first walk of the afternoon. Lo Duca throws a wild ball to second as Pagan steals a bag. Church grounds out to Guzman at short. Raul Casanova flies out to center. 2-0 Nationals. Four scoreless for Chico.

Ryan Langerhans is ready for the two-strike change this time and he hits Pedro's offering back up the middle. Chico squares to bunt...and pops the second attempt to the catcher who throws to first for an easy DP. Guzman grounds to second to end the top of the fifth. Pinch hitter Caleb Stewart replaces Pedro, grounding out to DY to start the Mets' half of the frame. Jose Reyes doubles to left off Chico on a high fastball, and Chico's done for the day, replaced by Chris Schroder. (cue "Peanuts" intro). Reyes tries to take third and Lo Duca guns him down. Luis Castillo grounds weakly to second and Felipe Lopez sails the throw to first for an error. David Wright takes a full-count fastball to left to tie the game at 2-2 in the fifth. Carlos Beltran bloops one just out of the reach of Felipe Lopez's glove for a single. Carlos Delgado tosses his bat in disgust as he pops out to the infield to end the fifth.

Ricardo Rincon takes over for Pedro in the top of the sixth. Lo Duca strikes out swinging. Zimmerman goes down looking. DY from the rigth side, grounds out to short. Schroder's back to face the Mets left field replacement du jour Angel Pagan, who triples over Austin Kearns glove in right and off the wall. Ryan Church takes four straight Schroder for a walk. Raul Casanova swings through a change for strike three. Marlon Anderson doubles off the wall in right. Pagan scores. Church to third. 3-2 NY. Jose Reyes finds the gap in left and knocks in two before the relay from Dukes to Guzman beats Reyes to third. 5-2 Mets. Two down. Damion Easley lines out to Dukes in left. 5-2 after six.

Pedro Feliciano gets a groundout from Kearns to start the seventh. Elijah Dukes hits an excuse-me grounder to first that Anderson tosses to Feliciano covering. Felipe Lopez gets a high chopper through short for a single. Langerhans grounds out to third to end the top of the seventh. Washington lefty Jason Stanford gets David Wright to fly to left, but Rob Mackowiac can't track it as the wind gives Wright a double. Endy Chavez lines to right, Wright to third. Former Expo Fernando Tatis flies to center, Justin Maxwell doesn't even pretend to throw home. Wright scores. 6-2 Mets. Brady Clark hits a grounder that Zimmerman bobbles but plays. Anderson Hernandez lines to short left. Gustavo Molina up as the Mets clear the bench. Molina hits an RBI single over second. 7-2 NY. Marlon Anderson lines to right. 8-2 Mets. Ruben Gotay walks to load the bases. (Stanford might want to take off the sunglasses.) Damion Easley grounds to short, Guzman backhands and throws to second. 8-2 NY after seven.

Aaron Boone starts the eight at bat against Scott Schoeneweis with a line-out to third. Cristian Guzman flies out to left. Wil Nieves grounds to second. Ray King will pitch in the bottom of the eigth for DC. Rafael Arroyo bats for the Mets. Arroyo drops a single in left. Endy Chavez grounds out to short. Fernando Tatis grounds to third where Pete Orr plays it. Brady Clark strikes out to end the eigth.

Mets' reliever Matt Wise comes on to end it. Pete Orr pops out to right center. Matt Whitney flies out to right. Rob Mackowiac walks. Justin Maxwell grounds out to second. 8-2 Mets win.

GAME NOTES
Lost in the all the New York scoring is Chico's outing which was impressively poised as always with the Nationals' young lefty. Chico's line...4.1 IP, 6 hits, 0 ER, 1 walk, 2 K's, 3.50 ERA on the Spring.

Did Chris Schroder hurt his chances to stay in the bullpen with a blown save and the loss in today's game?

Was Dukes injured again running out his double? Dukes got a visit from Manny Acta and the trainer but stayed in the game...

Is that the performance Felipe Lopez wanted to follow his incendiary comments in the press?

Lo Duca goes 1 for 3 with a single, one steal against, one caught stealing in Nationals' debut.

Odalis Perez, Chico, and John Lannan? Which lefty won't make it? Or can all three stay in DC?

The Flat-Brimmed Closer Chad Cordero has two outs on the Houston Astros in the bottom of the ninth today. Geoff Blum comes up with a man at second and the Washington Nationals holding on to a one-run lead over the Astros, ahead 3-2 after responding in both the first and fourth innings to retake leads after Houston rallied twice to tie the game...

...Lastings Milledge goes 1 for 4 with a run scored. Ryan Zimmerman's 1 for 3 with a run scored and 2 RBI's on a 2-run blast off Astros' reliver Chris Sampson, and Sampson also gives up Nick Johnson's first HR since returning to the field. Johnson goes 1 for 4 with 1 RBI. Ronnie Belliard has a 1 for 4 evening and his Spring average is at .439...Odalis Perez goes 6.0 innings, allowing 4 hits, 2 runs and 1 HR while striking out 6 batters...Luis Ayala and Jon Rauch follow Odalis Perez with scoreless relief innings, and the Nationals call on their closer, Chad Cordero...

...Danny Classen leads off the ninth against the Flat-Brimmed Closer. Cordero gives up a single up the middle. David Newhan grounds to second, Belliard takes the out at first. One down. Runner to second. Cordero gets two strikes on Edwin Maysonet, and gets a groundball for the second out of the ninth. Geoff Blum...takes a ball low from Cordero, who then throws a curve that can't find the plate, fastball...Uh-Oh!...Blum lifts it out of the park, and the Astros take a 4-3 lead on a 2-run Blum blast. Astros righty Chad Moeller comes back out for his second inning of work and retires the Nationals in order to walk away with the win. 4-3 Astros.

...When the Washington Nationals signed Bret Boone to a Minor League deal on February 18th of this year, the 38-year old infielder's intentions were relayed in an article by MLB.com writer Bill Ladson entitled, "Nats sign Boone to Minor League deal", in  which Mr. Ladson wrote:

"Boone made it clear that he wants to be the starting second baseman and is not willing to stay in the Minor Leagues for a lengthy period of time. That may be hard to do because the Nationals already have competition at middle infield.

...And now it appears that the Nationals are set to test Mr. Boone's definition of  a "lengthy period of time" as Bill Ladson is reporting in an article at washington.nationals.mlb.com, "Nats reassign Boone to Minors", that Boone was sent to the Triple-AAA Columbus Clippers, the Nationals Minor League affiliate, where Boone will get as many AB's as possible, while the Nationals decide what to do at second base with either Felipe Lopez or Ronnie Belliard?...

Tomorrow afternoon Washington takes on the New York Mets for the second time this week with Matt Chico on the mound for the Nationals at Port St. Lucie, Florida's Tradition Field, the Mets Spring home, against the Mets' Pedro Martinez, who has one 4.0 inning start this Spring, giving up 0 runs, 4 hits, and striking out 4 in a 7-4 win over Detroit, while Chico, (1-1, 4.61 ERA) in 4 starts this Spring, has given up 7 runs in 13.2 innings, over which he's walked 7 and K'd 8.

?'s for Nationals' Fans

John Lannan or Matt Chico for the starting rotation? Who should the Nationals choose?

Will Paul Lo Duca makes his Major League level Spring debut against his former team tomorrow?

Can Chico nail down a spot in the rotation with a good outing?

Is anyone worried about Chad Cordero?

With Bret Boone gone, does the starting spot at second belong to Ronnie Belliard? And what about Felipe Lopez telling MLB.com's Bill Ladson yesterday, in an article entitled, "Lopez adamant about starting role", that as far as he's concerned, he should be starting:

"'Being on the bench? No. [Heck] no,' Lopez said. 'I feel good out there. The numbers are not showing it, but I'm hitting the ball hard. I'm playing great defense. I feel good. I would like to stay here, but I would not be happy on the bench.'"

Ronnie Belliard told Mr. Ladson, in the same article, that he knows all he can do is go out and play since the decisions out of his hands:

"'It doesn't matter to me. Whatever they decide. I already said that to them. I'm not going to get upset," Belliard said. "They gave me the chance to play when Cristian went down. Whatever my role will be, I'll take it."

Is a trade necessary to solve the second base logjam?

As the Washington Nationals prepare take the field at Space Coast Stadium in the Grapefruit League home of Viera, Florida against the Houston Astros in another Spring Training tilt, John Patterson is preparing to relocate to another team as the Nationals announced today that they had released the 29-year old, oft-injured, right-handed starter and were prepared to go ahead with a young starter like Matt Chico or John Lannan rather than waiting to see if Patterson could ever returned to his '05 form.

GAME REPORT...Miguel Tejada hits a line-drive dinger off Nationals' starter Odalis Perez with two down in the top of the first giving the Astros a 1-0 lead. Perez strikes out Lance Berkman to end the top of the first. Lastings Milledge lines a single over second baseman Geoff Blum's head. Ryan Zimmer... THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!! THE KIDS CALL HIM ZIM!!! Ryan Zimmerman hits an opposite field blast that allows Milledge to walk home and gives the Nationals a 2-1 lead after one.

...According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Patterson released by Nationals", the release was, "...based on the pitcher's lack of performance," and Mr. Ladson quotes Nationals' GM Jim Bowden states "clearly":

"'Obviously, we thought we could get him back to where he was three years ago, and it never happened,' Bowden said."

Patterson, for his part, has no ill will toward his former employer, as he's quoted in a post by Washington Post writer Barry Svrluga in Mr. Svrluga's "Nationals Journal" post entitled, "John Patterson Released [With Update]", in which Patterson tells the press:

"'I have great memories of D.C. and this organization. I'll always remember what it feels like to wear this uniform.  Jim (GM Bowden) stuck by me as long as he could stand by me.'"

Perhaps it was all the starts Patterson made in the Arizona organization over 7 seasons in which he started 124 games, going (31-43) before he returned to Montreal...(the team that had originally drafted and then embarassingly lost Patterson's rights)...that took their toll on Patterson's arm and resulted in the repeated injuries and surgeries that led to his release.

Patterson debuted in Montreal in 2004, posting a (4-7) record in 19 starts with a 5.03 ERA in 98.1 IP, over which he accumulated 99 K's, but it was the '05 season, the Nationals' first in DC, for which Patterson will be remembered in Washington, as the lanky righty went (9-7) with a 3.13 ERA in 31 starts and recorded 185 K's in 198.1 innings.

Nationals' Manager Manny Acta told Washington Post sports writer Barry Svrluga in another post on washingtonpost.com's "Nationals Journal", entitled, "Management's side", that the:

"...decision came down to 'the fact the progress wasn't there, and it was to a point where he was going to [try to] rehab at the major league level, and we'd rather let the younger kids go out there and develop. This had nothing to do with one particular start or outing. It was the whole spring training.'"

The Nationals reportedly told Patterson that he was welcome to return to the organization and work his way up from the Minors...

GAME REPORT...NICK JOHNSON GOES DEEP...with his first HR of the Spring to give the Nationals a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth, after the Astros had tied the game on another Miguel Tejada hit in the top of the frame...

More on Patterson...Bret Boone's Demotion...and the rest of tonight's game with the Astros later tonight...

The New York sports media got their first crack at Paul Lo Duca this past Monday when the Mets and Nationals, (but not the injured Lo Duca), met for the first time on the field since the 36-year old catcher signed with DC this winter, leaving the Mets after two years of service in Queens. The desire to part ways was apparently not mutual, with Lo Duca claiming in a widely-circulated interview that stories about he and the Mets failing to agree on a deal after a stalemate over years and numbers, a fact which did appear in most articles on the Mets' catching situation this offseason, is patently false, or as Lo Duca tells Newark Star-Ledger Staff writer Lisa Kennelly in her article, "Ex-Met seeks revenge":

"'Are you kidding me with that?' Lo Duca said. "Seriously. There was never a phone call."

MLB.com writer Marty Noble's article from 11/17/07 entitled, "Mets end talks with catcher Torrealba", would seem to substantiate Mr. Lo Duca's claim that the Mets never called, by simply reporting the silence on the situation from Mets' GM Omar Minaya, as Mr. Noble writes:

"Minaya declined to say whether he planned to renew contact or if he had made contact with Paul Lo Duca's agent, who seemingly had been eliminated as a candidate to catch next season."

Now taking for granted that there would be an implied, and ubiquitous, follow-up quote from Mr. Minaya...(and all MLB GM's for that matter) stressing that the Mets, as a policy, don't discuss contract negotiations, the fact that the Mets' GM quote, "...declined to say...if he had made contact..." with Lo Duca, and the fact that Willie Randolph told another MLB.com writer, Anthony DiComo, two days earlier, on 11/15/07, in an article entitled, "Randolph praises Lo Duca", that:

"'I thought he brought a lot to the table this year, but that doesn't mean that you hold onto a guy because of that,' Randolph said of Lo Duca. 'You hope you can bring other guys in that maybe can pick up that slack. But each year is totally different.'"

...a quote which would seem to justify Mr. Lo Duca's sense of rejection...and later in Mr. DiComo's article, he quotes the Mets' Manager again, with Mr. Randolph making the disputed claim:

"'He (Lo Duca) wants three or four years, and we have to look at that and see how that fits into our plans,' Randolph said of his old catcher. 'But I like Lo Duca. I think Paulie's the kind of player that knows how to win, and that gives me all that he has every day.'"

"'Are you kidding me with that?' Lo Duca said. "Seriously. There was never a phone call."

A varitation of the Mets' claim also appears in another Marty Noble article at newyork.mets.mlb.com from 11/20/07 entitled, "Mets deal for veteran catcher Estrada", in which Mr. Noble writes, (after catcher Johnny Estrada signed with New York as a free agent...):

"Lo Duca earned $6.25 million last season and was seeking a raise and a contract covering more years than the Mets were willing to afford him."

"'Are you kidding me with that?' Lo Duca said. "Seriously. There was never a phone call."

New York Daily News Sports Writer Adam Rubin backs Lo Duca's claims in his 3/18/08 article, "Paul Lo Duca can't mask irritation with Omar Minaya and wounded feelings", in which Mr. Rubin reports:

"The Mets have suggested Lo Duca's reps were seeking an unpalatable three-year deal, but it's clear there never was any negotiation or legitimate interest."

...Prompting Mr. Lo Duca to state, quite conspiratorially, as quoted by Mr. Rubin:

"'Maybe I wasn't the first choice to begin with,' Lo Duca noted, referring to his Dec. 5, 2005, arrival in Flushing during a Marlins fire sale."

At nypost.com, New York Post sports writer Mark Hale quotes Paul Lo Duca, in a punnily titled article, "METS TOOK LO ROAD", (subtitled, "MIFFED CATCHER: AMAZIN'S NEVER CALLED ME"), in which Mr. Lo Duca explains the kind of treatment he expected from the Mets:

"'I wouldn't have been as upset if they would have just come to me and said we're going in a different direction,' Lo Duca said.

'And that's it. Regardless of what you read, there was no communication, no offer, no nothing.'"

..and Paul Lo Duca continues to openly express his opinion in a New York Times' article by sports writer Charlie Nobles entitled, "Hard Feelings Emerge as Mets Face Lo Duca", which quotes an obviously disappointed Lo Duca admitting to what he:

"...described...as an odd and frustrating feeling of wanting to stay in New York and not having the sentiment reciprocated.

"'Any time in your lifetime when you're not wanted, it's tough,' he (Lo Duca) said. "But that's it. It's on to a new start."

Lo Duca had previously claimed to be over his time in New York, as he was quoted by MLB.com's Bill Ladson in Mr. Ladson's article, "Nats sign backstop Lo Duca", from 12/11/07 which reported on Lo Duca's $5.1 million, 1-year deal with DC, and quoted the catcher stating soberly:

"'It's water under the bridge," Lo Duca said. "The older I get, the less upset I get. I'm excited to be with the team that wants me going into a new ballpark -- that's going in the right direction. That's the way I look at it. It was disappointing [to leave the Mets]. It's over with -- this game is full of disappointments."

What should get Nationals' fans excited with Lo Duca's Nationals' debut still pending, (but expected any day), are some of the other quotes Mr. Lo Duca provided Bill Ladson for the same washington.nationals.mlb.com article, in which Mr. Ladson writes that Lo Duca is, "...looking forward to playing the Mets 18 times," and then quotes the catcher, who gives his best wishes to the Mets for their future success:

"I hope they lose every game, because I want to win every game. If they lose every game, that means we are going up the ladder. That's the way I look at it. It's tough love, so be it."

...and as for why Paul Lo Duca chose the Nationals? According to Mr. Ladson's article, Lo Duca felt that in his opinion:

"'...the Nationals wanted me more. That's the way I looked at it. A big part of it was staying in the National League, knowing the National League East, and [the fact that we will] play the Mets 18 times. That has a lot to do with(sic).'"

If Paul Lo Duca can hit for his career .288 AVG, that would be a significant offensive improvement over Brian Schneider, who hit for a .252 AVG over his 8 seasons in Montreal and DC, with an average of 10 HR's and 63 RBI's over that time, according to Schneider's baseball-reference.com profile's 162-Game Average projections, while Lo Duca's averaged 13 HR's and 74 RBI's per.

As for my feelings for Lo Duca, as a Nationals' fan...I'll wait to see how Lo Duca recovers from surgery on his knee and helps the Nationals this season before I decide whether or not to forgive him for pretending he tagged Soriano out on that Opening Day play...

The Washington Nationals are in Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida, the Detroit Tigers' Spring home with DC righty Tim Redding on the mound against Tigers' starter Jeremy Bonderman in a game broadcast live on ESPN. The game will be played under near-perfect conditions in midday March sunshine with a few clouds dotting the Florida sky...

The Washington Nationals' Starting Lineup...

Cristian Guzman SS
Lastings Milledge CF
Nick Johnson 1B
Dmitri Young DH
Austin Kearns RF
Felipe Lopez 2B
Justin Maxwell LF
Wil Nieves C
Willie Harris 3B

Huh?...Interesting...Maybe a move to the AL is all the Nationals need to solve the first base battle. The Senators were once an American League team...

Jeremy Bonderman gets a fly ball from Cristian Guzman, strikes out Lastings Milledge and then throws a change-up hip-high and outside that gets too much of the plate allowing Nick Johnson to smoke a line drive up the middle. DY does the same with a single Detroit second baseman Placido Polanco can't reach. Austin Kearns gets a hold of  a 3-1 fastball but it ends up in the glove of Detroit left fielder Jacques Jones to end the top of the first. Nationals' righty Tim Redding gives up a leadoff double to Curtis Granderson. Redding gets a ground ball from Polanco which allows Granderson to take third. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez floats one into left, Granderson's going....Justin Maxwell throws a lollipop home and high over the plate, Wil Nieves retrieves it and dives back for the tag and the inning ending DP.

The Nationals go down in order in the top of the second. Tim Redding walks leadoff hitter Gary Sheffield to start the bottom of the frame. Jacques Jones drops a single into center moving Sheffield to second. Marcus Thames takes a third strike with the bat on his shoulder. Edgar Renteria, the Tigers' new shortstop, grounds to second, Felipe Lopez flips to Guzman, to Johnson at first, another DP ends the second.

Willie Harris singles to start the third and then gets picked off first. Cristian Guzman is robbed of a blooper on an awkward head first dive by Jacques Jones.  1-1 pitch from Bonderman to Milledge...fastball high...CRACK...GONE!!! A no-doubter from Milledge puts the Nationals up 1-0. DY has to leap to avoid colliding with Tigers' first baseman Marcus Thames, who falls into the basepath after catching a weak throw from Polanco. Everyone's OK...1-0 Nationals after two and a half. Redding gives up a one-out single to Timo Perez in the bottom of the inning. Curtis Granderson blows a high chopper through second baseman Felipe Lopez. Polanco grounds into a force at second, Pudge flies out to right. Three in the book, 1-0 DC.

Justin Maxwell works a two-out walk in the top of the fourth, but Bonderman gets Wil Nieves to fly out to center ending the Nationals' half. Gary Sheffield explodes on a fastball for a line drive over short. Tim Redding retires the next three batters for his fourth scoreless frame. 1-0 DC.

Willie Harris works a leadoff walk to start the fifth, and wastes his second out of the game as he gets gunned down trying to steal second. Cristian Guzman rips a single to right. Lastings Milledge takes strike three...Jeremy Bonderman's done for the day...Left-handed reliever Tim Byrdak gives up an opposite field double to Nick Johnson that bounces off the left field wall allowing Guzman to score from first. 2-0 Nationals. DY from the right side goes down swinging to end the Nationals' fifth. Brandon Inge grounds out to short. Timo Perez flies out to Milledge. Granderson gives Justin Maxwell work with a high fly to left for Redding's fifth scoreless.

Tim Byrdak's back for the sixth and Austin Kearns lines to right for a leadoff single. Felipe Lopez rips a singles through the right side of the infield. Justin Maxwell takes a 2-1 Byrdak breaking ball inside and lifts it to left for a three-run blast into the outfield grass. 5-0 Nationals. Wil Nieves flies out. Willie Harris works a one-out walk. Ronnie Belliard blasts a 1-0 fastball to left for a two-run HR and a 6-0 lead. Lastings Milledge breaks his bat and sends the barrel and the ball towards third, where Brandon Inge calmly makes the play while avoiding the flying wood. Nick Johnson singles for his third hit of the game. Byrdak's out. Clay Rapada gives up a double to DY on the first pitch he throws, pinch runner Matt Whitney scores from first so Nick Johnson doesn't have to...8-0 Nationals. Austin Kearns singles on a grounder into left. DY to third. Kearns takes second on a throwing error. Felipe Lopez walks. Justin Maxwell takes a full-count slider for ball four and a 9-0 lead after five and a half.

Joel Hanrahan replaces Redding and throws two scoreless innings in relief for a total of 10.2 scoreless this Spring. Ray King's got 5 scoreless innings of his own, with only 2 hits allowed, one of them today. Jesus "Everyday" Colome gives up the only Tigers' run of the game on a two-out HR from Thames in the ninth, but that's all Detroit musters in a 9-1 DC win.

GAME NOTES

Cristian Guzman 1 for 3 with a run scored. Ronnie Belliard's 1 for 3 with a HR and 2 RBI's. Milledge 2 for 5 with a HR. Nick Johnson's 3 for 3 with a double an RBI and a walk. Dmitri Young's 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI. Justin Maxwell 1 for 3 with 4 RBI's.

Tim Redding improves to (2-0) in Grapefruit League action allowing 5 hits and 1 walk with 1 K and a 2.81 ERA, and the Nationals bullpen continues to impress. Joel Hanrahan, Ray King, "Everyday" Colome, Luis Ayala, Jon Rauch, Chad Cordero...and then some combination of Saul Rivera, Ryan Wagner and Chris Schroder should give the Nationals one of best bullpens in baseball.

The Nationals have tomorrow off...which might make for a good time to discuss Paul Lo Duca's recent rant against his former employer...The Mets...

New York Mets' lefty Oliver Perez was (2-10) in 15 starts and looked absolutely lost on the mound in Pittsburgh when the then-twenty-four year old pitcher was traded to NY in 2006, along with pitcher Roberto Hernandez, for outfielder Xavier Nady, and Perez proceeded to go (1-3) with a 6.38 in 7 regular season starts as a Met.

After regaining his confidence in 2 emergency Playoff starts with New York to end his '06 season, Perez once again began to look like the same pitcher who, just two years earlier as a Pirate, had posted a (12-10) record with a 2.98 ERA in 30 starts, and amassed 239 K's in 196.0 IP during his break-out 2004 season, and Perez followed up on the '06 Postseason success with a (15-10) record in 2007 and the first sub-4.00 ERA...(a respectable 3.56)...he had posted since that '04 campaign.

I've been following Oliver Perez's career since the first big year in Pittsburgh, and in fact, Perez is one of the few Mets' starters I enjoy watching pitch...(ed. note- "I'll watch Pedro because of residual Expos-affection, but I won't enjoy it.") That doesn't mean I'm happy when Oliver Perez holds the Nationals to just 2 hits and 1 unearned run in 5.0 innings on the hill like he did today in Viera, Florida's Space Coast Stadium, the Nationals' Spring home, where New York claimed a 7-3 win over Washington. ("I like Perez less each day he's a Met...")

Washington lefty Mike O'Connor wasn't as effective as Oliver Perez, as O'Connor alternately, allowed 7 hits, 5 runs, (4 earned),  and 1 walk with 3 K's in 4.2 innings to raise his ERA to 4.38 and drop his record to (1-1) on the Spring.

Nationals' Pitching Coach Randy St. Claire told MLB.com's Bill Ladson that O'Connor, "...struggled out there with his command," in Mr. Ladson's article entitled, "Latest start no holiday for O'Connor", and Mr. St. Claire then elaborates:

"'He was behind everybody,' pitching coach Randy St. Claire said. 'When you are behind, the pitch count gets high, the count runs deep. To me, he didn't pitch today. He was working way behind in the count.'"

Washington Post baseball writer Barry Svrluga in his most recent "Nationals Journal" post, "Your chance to blog -- about the ballpark", predicts :

"I believe, however, that might be the last time we see O'Connor pitch in a major league game down here.

...and Mr. Svrluga provides the reasoning behind his assertion, writing:

"...(Jason) Bergmann is scheduled to throw on Wednesday's off day (in a minor league game), and Chico has been moved. Tim Redding pitches tomorrow. Odalis Perez Thursday. John Patterson again Friday. You see where I'm heading with this?"

Apparently Mr. Svrluga doesn' think O'Connor's earned a spot in the Nationals' starting rotation...Mr. Svrluga gaves his predictions for all of the Nationals' starters this morning, in a post entitled, "Official Beat Writer Roster Predition(sic) Post."

GAME NOTES

Ryan Zimmerman returned from his right hip flexor and went 2 for 4 today with an RBI, Zimmerman's 8th this Spring, to go with his .360 AVG in 25 at bats. Dmitri Young was 1 for 3 with a run scored. Luis Ayala gave up just 1 hit in a scoreless inning of relief. The Tallest Pitcher in MLB History Jon Rauch gave up his first runs of the Spring, 2 of them, 1 earned, on 2 hits and a walk in 1.0 IP which raised his ERA to 1.50 in 6.0 innings on the mound, followed by Chad Cordero, who came on to pitch a perfect ninth, Cordero's sixth scoreless frame this Spring.

Tomorrow the Nationals get the ESPN treatment for their game against the Detroit Tigers. Tim Redding vs Jeremy Bonderman. 1:05 PM EST...

Washington and New York were supposed to face off for the first time this Spring back on March 6th, but the game was canceled due to rain, so instead, tomorrow's meeting at Space Coast Stadium, the Nationals' Spring home in Viera, Florida is the first of '08 between the NL East rivals.

Mike O'Connor will be on the hill for DC against the Mets' left-hander Oliver Perez. O'Connor's (1-0) with a 2.35 ERA in 7.2 IP this Spring, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned runs, and 4 walks while striking out 5. Perez has no decisions in 3 starts, posting a 7.27 ERA in 8.2 IP, and giving up 14 hits and 7 ER's with 3 walks and 3 K's.

Former Nationals' catcher Brian Schneider has seen very little action this Spring, getting just 1 hit in 5 at bats in the 3 games he's in which he's appeared...(though that 1 hit was a HR), as he recovers from a hamstring injury. Ryan Church, the other former National traded to NY to bring Lastings Milledge to DC, suffered a concussion earlier this Spring in an onfield collision with fellow Met Marlon Anderson. Church is hitting .238 in 21 at bats, with no extra base hits or RBI's in 10 games. MEANWHILE...Milledge has fit in nicely with the Nationals, putting up a .333 AVG in 13 games and 42 at bats, over which he's collected 14 hits, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 8 RBI's and 5 steals...(ed. note- "I still haven't found many Mets' fans who like this trade.")

After O'Connor the Nationals have their A-Bullpen scheduled to throw, with Joel Hanrahan, Jon Rauch and Chad Cordero lined up for a few batters each...and in case you hadn't noticed, not one of the three has given up a run yet this Spring, and there are only 4 hits allowed amongst the three in 18.2 IP. The Mets are set to follow Oliver Perez with relievers Ricardo Rincon and "Generic" Joe Smith.

Ryan Zimmerman could be back on the field tomorrow, according to Washington Post baseball writer Barry Svrluga, who writes in a post from Saturday on his "Nationals Journal" entitled, "Injury updates, the lineup -- and Casto optioned", assuring worried DC baseball fans with word from the Nationals' Manager:

"Manny Acta said the problem is not getting worse, and that he's just being cautious. 'It's playable,' Acta said. 'We don't want to take any chances.' I would guess we'd see him Monday against the Mets."

...and the post also mentions the possibility of Elijah Dukes returning on Monday, as Mr. Svrluga writes:

"Elijah Dukes's hamstring is going to keep him out for the weekend. Acta will try to get him in there on Monday."

Finally, a quick word for the Mets...Leave Lastings Milledge alone.

BIG ?'s Remaining For Nationals' Fans...

Who is going to be catching on Opening Day...Lo Duca hasn't played a game and neither has Johnny Estrada? Both are new catchers who have to get to know the staff...(When it's decided!)...Might it be wise to keep Jesus Flores around until both are 100%. (ed. note- "With my track record on predictions, this means Flores will be sent to Minor League camp tomorrow.

Who will be in the starting rotation two weeks from now? Will Shawn Hill return? Can John Patterson regain his form? Will Odalis Perez prove an effective starter? Mike O'Connor? John Lannan? Tim Redding? Matt Chico?

Johnson or DY? It's still out there too?...and Orioles' announcer Gary Thorne said during today's broadcast that Manager Manny Acta was willing to wait until the day before Opening Night to name the starting first baseman...How 'bout a hint, Mr. Acta?

John Patterson starts for the Washington Nationals, who take on the Baltimore Orioles and their own towering right-hander Daniel Cabrera, live from the Orioles' Spring home of Fort Lauderdale Stadium in the ninety-degree heat of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

The Nationals' starting lineup...

Felipe Lopez SS
Ronnie Belliard 2B
Lastings Milledge CF
Nick Johnson 1B
Alex Escobar DH
Justin Maxwell RF
Willie Harris 3B
Humberto Cota C
Garrett Guzman LF

Felipe Lopez lines the second offering from Cabrera back up the middle for a leadoff single, but Ronnie Belliard erases the runner with a tailor-made DP to Orioles' shortstop Brandon Fahey, who tosses to second, Brian Roberts to first, two down. Lastings Milledge swings through a fastball and the Orioles' starter has one scoreless. In the home half of the first, John Patterson blows a high 2-2 fastball by Brian Roberts to start the frame. Melving Mora grounds out to third. Nick Markakis is baffled by a 1-2 curve that's called a ball inside, then Patterson follows with a fastball in the same spot that Markakis lines out to second to end the first.

Nick Johnson chases a high-outside fastball from Cabrera for strike three to start the second. Alex Escobar tries to check his swing on an 0-2 pitch low in the zone, but the first base ump says it's a swinging strike, and Cabrera's quickly got two down. Justin Maxwell takes a 1-2 fastball on the outside edge as Cabrera strikes out the side. Patterson matches Cabrera's 1-2-3, breaking a 3-2 curve over the top on Luke Scott that leaves the Orioles' outfielder shrugging his shoulders.

Willie Harris grounds out to first. (Are Nationals' fans getting the full story on Zimmerman?) Humberto Cota grounds out for Cabrera's seventh straight out. Garrett Guzman flies out uber-prospect Adam Jones who closes the glove on the final out of the Nationals' third. O's catcher Ramon Hernandez doubles for the first hit of the day off John Patterson. Adam Jones, the centerpiece of the package Baltimore got from Seattle for Erik Bedard, reaches out and hits an 0-2 curve to Milledge in center for out number two. Brandon Fahey drops a sliced single in left, Hernandez rounds third, Garrett Guzman comes up throwing, the throw gets by Cota at the plate, Hernandez is safe, 1-0 Orioles. Fahey moves to third on a groundout, and Melvin Mora singles to left to score him, 2-0 Baltimore. Nick Markakis doubles off the wall in right, Mora scores. 3-0 O's. Kevin Mill-ah grounds a slow single up the middle of the infield, Markakis scores when no one comes up with it. 4-0 after three.

Daniel Cabrera retires the Nationals in order in the fourth. Ramon Hernandez gets his second hit of the afternoon, a one-out single off Patterson. Adam Jones hits a fly ball to center that gets caught up in the wind, and Lastings Milledge loses it, allowing Jones to take second, and moving Hernandez to third. Brandon Fahey flies out to center, and it's not deep enough for Hernandez to test Milledge's arm. Brian Roberts reaches down and lifts a curve ball to right that Justin Maxwell won't reach, two runs score 6-0 O's after four...

With Nick Johnson at first after a leadoff single, Cabrera gets a DP grounder from Alex Escobar, Johnson slides hard in to second with no ill-effects, two down in the top of the fifth. Cabrera strikes out Justin Maxwell and he's got 5 K's through five scoreless. Patterson's replaced by Arnie Munoz. Patterson's line...4.0 IP, 8 hits, 6 runs, 0 BB, 2 K's, and a 7.00 ERA to end the day.

Daniel Cabrera (2-0) would go on to complete 5.1 IP for the win, giving up 2 ER, 1 walk, and 1 HR (to Garrett Guzman) while striking out 5 and finishing with a 3.46 ERA. John Patterson was replaced on the hill by Nationals' lefty Arnie Munoz, who gave up 2 runs on 3 hits, Chris Schroder, who pitched a scoreless inning, Charlie Manning, who gave up 2 walks and 3 runs in one inning, and Jesus "Everyday" Colome, who issued a walk and gave up two hits but didn't surrender a run.

11 runs and 16 hits for the Orioles, who beat the Nationals 11-3, dropping Washington's record this Spring to 8-11-2. Felipe Lopez was 2 for 3, Ronnie Belliard 1 for 3, and now hitting .471 this Spring, Lastings Milledge went 0 for 3 with 2 K's, Nick Johnson 1 for 3 and 2 K's of his own, and Pete Orr was 1 for 2 with a double...

But the story of the day was John Patterson, who is now (0-2) with a 7.00 ERA on the Spring as he works himself and his right arm back into Major League-shape. In 3 starts and 9.0 IP, Patterson allowed 13 hits, 7 ER, and 1 HR, but he hasn't walked anyone, while he's struck out 7 batters, leading Washington Post baseball writer Barry Svrluga to observe in today's post entitled, "Patterson: I felt tight", on Mr. Svrluga's "Nationals Journal", at washingtonpost.com, that:

"...Patterson is trying to pitch a bit differently this year. Last year, it was almost like he didn't believe he didn't have the velocity back, and he was almost defiant about it in the way he pitched. This year, he seems more willing to pitch differently, to throw more breaking balls if need be, almost pitching backwards. Not sure how it'll work out, but it'll be interesting to watch."

...Which would account for all the full-count-curves Patterson's been throwing. In the same post, Mr. Svrluga quotes Patterson himself, who says of his struggles recovering:

"'There's only one way to get out of it and that is to throw and to pitch. I'm not upset about today. I have my head up and I understand there's going to be days like this. You just have to keep looking forward, looking for the end and keep working.'"

Exactly how far away that "end" is, however, not even Patterson himself seems able to predict. The Nationals, already starved for pitching have no real choice but to remain positive and hope for the best from their de facto ace...as Manny Acta tells MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in an article after the game entitled, "Patterson trying to regain form":

"'As long as John shows up to the ballpark and says he is fine with no pain, that's all I care about,' Acta said. 'If he's healthy, that's our main goal here.'"

That is...presumably...just the "main goal" for the Spring...Right? After that, Patterson getting toward that 15 win mark will hopefully take precedence...Patience for Patterson, Please.