Nationals News: Bryce Harper, Semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award

  USA Baseball announced the 30 semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, the award given to the best amateur baseball player, and Bryce Harper was the only freshman named. Tom Verducci says that he's too good for the Nats to pass up, even at his young age.

  Lance Berkman's check swing yesterday really was a game-ending strike.

  Dan Steinberg must have received an angry email, because he makes it very clear that there are still tickets available for Stephen Strasburg's June 8 debut.

  Heading into last night's game, the Nationals (as a team) have the batting triple crown -- Cristian Guzman leads the league in batting average, Josh Willingham leads in on-base percentage and Ryan Zimmerman leads in slugging.

  Stephen Strasburg will pitch around 95 innings in the majors if the Nats hold him to the pitching schedule they generally use.

  Roy Oswalt says he would go anywhere he could contend, which apparently includes the Nationals.

  Scott Boras, Bryce Harper's agent, says that "no baseball person in his right mind would have [Harper] catch."

  John Wall, the Wizards' number one pick, is not really a baseball fan, but he wants to see Strasburg's debut on Tuesday.

  Ben Goessling says that Craig Stammen did not do himself any favors in terms of not getting replaced by Stephen Strasburg in his start yesterday, giving up 5 ER in 5.0 innings.

  The Nationals are more concerned with winning than they are with Stephen Strasburg's debut.

  The Nats have played well against good teams, but really need to step up their game and beat the bad ones, like the Astros. 

  Center Field Gate ponders whether this is the year of the umpire. Concidentally, MLB has announced that umpire Bill Hohn will get a very stern talking to regarding his ejection of Roy Oslwalt.

  The Nats have switched Cristian Guzman and Nyjer Morgan in the 1 and 2 spots, but are willing to switch them back when Morgan begins producing again.