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Washington Nationals vs Florida Marlins: Sunday Spring Training GameThread.

By Patrick Reddington

• Programming Note: After two games on MASN spoiled Nats fans this weekend, today's game against the Florida Marlins, live from Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida, is available only on MLB.tv and MLB Gameday radio for those of us outside the Sunshine State.

• Washington Nationals' Sunday Starting Lineup: 

  1. NMISSMH: Nyjer Morgan - CF
  2. Alex Cora - SS
  3. Jayson Werth - RF
  4. Adam LaRoche  - 1B
  5. Rick Ankiel - LF
  6. Roger Bernadina - DH
  7. Danny "Glover" - 2B
  8. WWJD? - C
  9. Alberto "The General" Gonzalez - 3B
  10. Jordan "Dead Eyez" Zimmermann - SP
• A rumor, a left-over Michael Morse paragraph and today's thread if you click just below HERE...
• In case you missed it last night, there was a report out of Chicago from ESPNChicago's Bruce Levine that had "three scouts" from the Washington Nationals in attendance for a Spring game between the Chicago Cubs and Cincinatti Reds to have a look at Cubs' right-hander Carlos Silva. In an article entitled, "Sources: Scouts watching Carlos Silva", Mr. Levine wrote yesterday that, "in addition to the Nationals, the New York Yankees are following all of Silva's outings." The 31-year-old Venezuelan-born former Phillies, Twins and Mariners' starter, who last year pitched in Chicago after being acquired in a deal for outfielder Milton Bradley, was (10-6) with a 4.22 ERA, 103 ERA+, 3.75 FIP, 6.37 K's and 1.91 BB/9 in 2010. A crowded Cubs' rotation is cited as the reason the right-handed starter might be available. Is there room in the Nats' rotation?

• Circumstances (and an NHL game) conspired to keep me from finishing (or even really starting) last night's post game report, but I did write the following during yesterday's Nats' win over the Yankees' farm system:

5. Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me? M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-R-S-E!!!: Nats' lefty John Lannan allowed two runs after a one-out walk and three straight singles by the Yankees in the top of the first, but Michael Morse, who was pumped up in the press today by both Nats' Skipper Jim Riggleman and D.C. GM Mike Rizzo, who told reporters he was separating himself from the pack in left field, tied the game with one swing. Morse's 5th HR of the Spring and second in the last twenty-four hours made it a 2-2 game in the top of the second and further cemented the fact that the 28-going-on-29-year-old outfielder is on his way to an Opening Day start in the Nationals' outfield. After a routine grounder in his second AB, Morse continued to hit, with a two-out RBI single in the sixth drawing the Nationals within one at 5-4 NY...

That was it for Morse, who was replaced by a pinch runner after singling. In nine games and 28 at bats, the presumptive opening day left fielder (according to his Skipper) has 14 hits, two doubles, five HR's and 10 RBI's. The Nats' big right-handed bat has bullied his way to the top of the depth chart in left where he was expected to split time as part of a platoon with Roger Bernadina and now some are wondering if Bernadina or maybe Rick Ankiel won't be forced to unseat Nyjer Morgan in center if they want to get playing time. But with all the enthusiasm about Morse, and as impressive as he is, it's easy to forget that the Nats are halfway through Spring Training right now. Morse has never played more than the 98 games he did last season, and never gotten more than 266 at bats. Can Morse make it through Spring Training and earn the job, then hold on to it?

• Who's Watching J-Zim(n) and the Nats take on the FISH?

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