• LINK: Jayson Werth On What Could Have Been:
"'I think if they would have played it right they would have had us both,' said Werth. 'I mean, they traded Cliff away for prospects and then realized that was probably not what they should have done. They ended up paying him a lot more than they would have if they'd signed him the year before. Then we would have had him. Chances are if they had signed him before they traded him, it probably would have made it a little easier to sign me.'" - Philadelphia Daily News- Paul Hagen: "Werth on Phillies, Lee: 'They could have had us both'"
• Tweets: Live BP: Jayson Werth vs Drew Storen:
Washington Post writer Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP): "Drew Storen is about to face Jayson Werth. Last time this happened, last September, the #Phillies walked off."
@AdamKilgoreWP: "Second pitch, Storen almost drills Werth. "Now we're even," Werth says."
MASNSports.com's Ben Goessling (@MASNBen):"Werth to Storen after BP: "I don't know if I would have respected you if you didn't throw that first one in on me."
• Bryce Bieber Stories, Links And More Tweets After The JUMP...
• LINKS:
• NATIONALS NEWS NETWORK: Dave Nichols - "Respect is Earned, Not Given."
"Not to put too fine a point to this, but the ideas of 'raising expectations' and 'exceeding expectations' are fairly separate concepts, and already Riggleman is employing an 'us against them' strategy with his players -- and the media."
• Washington Post Adam Kilgore: Nationals Journal - "How Jayson Werth fits at Nationals Park"
"One of the most fascinating aspects of the home team acquiring a big-ticket free agent comes in watching his adjustment to his new home ballpark. How does he see the ball at the plate? How quickly will he learn the wall's angles, or how the ball carries?"
"From the reports out of Viera, the new delivery sounds to have rejuvenated an arm that was considered one of the best among young starters in the minor leagues. With less pressure on his hip, the now 25-year-old Detwiler may finally be poised to reach his full major league potential."
• Twitter: Live BP Bryce Harper vs Cole Kimball:
CSN Washington/NatsInsider.com's Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman): "Power vs power: Bryce Harper takes Cole Kimball to the base of the CF wall.
@MarkZuckerman:"And now Harper takes Kimball over the RC fence. Laser."
• LINKS:
• MASNSports.com - Byron Kerr: "Kimball ready to make big impression in Viera"
"This is awesome for me," Kimball said. "Arizona was beneficial because I only had one month off so I didn't have to build back arm strength. I didn't lose it from that time in the fall league."
• Whose Rotation Job is really at stake? " Nationals Arm Race Looks At The Nats' 2011 Rotation.
• "So While The Nats Are Fishing Off Cocoa Beach Pier…" - Nationals Inquisition - Danger Nat
• Twitter: Today's Message from the Dalai Lama (@DalaiLama): "If we want to help humanity in a practical way, we must begin by setting an example of mutual respect, harmony and cooperation."
• LINKS:
"Two potential bidders, Donald Trump and the investment bankers behind the BuyTheMets.com Web site, have voiced a preference to buy all of the team. And Mike Repole, a co-founder of Glacéau, the maker of Vitaminwater, and the owner of the Kentucky Derby favorite Uncle Mo, has said he would invest in a minority interest only if he had a say in running the team."
• Bryce Harper + Justin Bieber = Bryce Bieber?:
• Yahoo!Sports - Jeff Passan: "Harper fits bill as the Nationals' latest treasure"
"Harper is an extrovert, Strasburg an introvert. Harper relishes the limelight, Strasburg shies from it. Harper was bred for this, Strasburg thrust into it...Harper loves it. He is Baseball Bieber. He is a teenage prodigy."
• The Nationals Enquirer: TV sports anchor compares Bryce Harper Hype to Bieber Fever
"Video above is a one-on-one interview with Bryce Harper by ABC 7's Britt McHenry. Interestingly (or not), WJLA's sports anchor Tim Brant introduces the clip by comparing the Harper hype in Viera on Monday to Bieber Fever."
• Twitter: Visa Updates:
MLB.com's Bill Ladson (@washingnats):
@washingnats: "RHP Elvin Ramirez is expected to report to Space Coast Stadium sometime today."
@washingnats: "RHP Henry Rodriguez is expected to report to Space Coast Stadium on Thursday."
• Live BP Video: Livan vs Jesus Flores. (courtesy @NationalsPR):