• Programming Note: There's no TV, MLB.tv or radio coverage of this afternoon's game at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida between the Washington Nationals and Detroit Tigers, but you can follow along with the MLB.com Gameday box score and the MLB At Bat 11 app on your smartphone. And of course we'll be following along live here in today's gamethread.
• Another Note: I'm going to be doing an interview with FOXSports Radio 1340 AM in New Mexico's Steve Bortstein at 11:00 am EST this morning in which we'll talk briefly about the 2010 season, the Nats' offseason moves and their competition in the NL East.
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• NATS BEAT:
• "'At first, [Seattle GM Jack] Zduriencik was reluctant to add Morse. The Nationals were adamant: Morse for Langerhans, or no deal. Zduriencik decided he would give up Morse." - "For Michael Morse, left field for the Nationals is the chance he’d been waiting for." Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post
• Twitter: Ben Goessling on MASN (@MASNBen): "That's it for Henry Rodriguez, who just walked in a run. Fastball is enticing, but not if he can't control it."
• "First, a disclaimer: When I told a rival general manager Friday that I was picking the Nationals as my surprise team, he responded, 'they’re going to finish last,' calling their rotation 'terrible, absolutely terrible.'" - "New-culture Washington Nationals should be much improved." - Ken Rosenthal, FOX Sports on MSN
• "Based at least on the scouts I talked to today, there's a strong opinion that [Danny] Espinosa's a true five-tool player who could hit second in the Nationals' lineup as he grows into the role this year." - "A Nationals-Marlins update, with thoughts from a few scouts." MASN, Ben Goessling.
• Twitter: Adam Kilgore (AdamKilgoreWP) on Twitter: "Henry Rodriguez walked Hanley Ramirez on a ball outside somewhere between Boca and West Palm Beach. Control is what he must improve.
• "'No question, without a doubt,' said Morgan when asked if he felt Nolasco hit him on purpose Sunday. 'It's obvious because of what happened last year.'" - "Morgan feels Nolasco purposely plunked him." - MLB.com's Bill Ladson
• "'I felt better by going out there and being able to steal that bag, getting myself over to third and generating a run. "'I felt more satisfied after that than staring at him and putting on my mean mug.'" - Nyjer Morgan on yesterday's HBP - "By hitting Morgan, were the Marlins keeping an old grudge alive?" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• Twitter: William Ladson (washingnats) on Twitter: "#Nats RHP Henry Rodriguez has walked two batters in the sixth inning. He has a reputation of not having control of his pitches.
• "'My velocity was probably like 88 or 90 miles per hour,' [A.J.] Cole said. 'I wasn't really trying to throw hard because it was my first outing. I am really trying to just locate right now. It is still early.'" - "Cole fights through early jam in first outing, pleased with results." - MASN, Byron Kerr
• Morse-Morgan-Werth in the OF, Nix Over Stairs, Adam Kilgore Updates Roster Guesses - "A Nationals roster guess." - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• NATSTOWN:
• "'Our club had our eye on him, We thought because he came from such a small school (Wisconsin-Stevens Point) he'd fall past the top 75 players, but Rizz (Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo) had him scoped out.'" - Anonymous MLB source - "Zimmermann continues to impress." - Phil Wood, MASN
• "Which utility player (Rick Ankiel, Jerry Hairston or Alberto Gonzalez) will get more at bats for the Nats? Jerry Hairston. I think Riggleman will find ways to get the versatile Hairston in the lineup. He could see time at second, short, third, center and left fields." - "DC-IBWA Pre-Season Survey Results." - Dave Nichols, NatsNewsNetwork
• "March 13, 2011: Washington Nationals at Florida Marlins (Spring Training)." - Maggie, First Ladies of Baseball
• "Jordan Zimmermann and Today’s Pitching." - MissChatter, The Chatter Files MissChatter.com
• "SHARK VS. NYJER." - Sharkadina, Street Shark: Roger Bernadina's Unofficial Blog
• Your Daily Message from the Dalai Lama on Twitter (@DalaiLama): "As well as restraining ourselves from negative thoughts and emotions, we need to cultivate and reinforce our positive qualities."
• NL EAST:
• Braves: "Spring Training 2011 Question Of The Day: Atlanta Braves." - Rob Neyer, SBNation.com
• Mets: "Johan Santana, New York Mets dispute report that team is ready to shut down ace's rehab schedule." - Andy Martino, New York Daily News:
"After a frenzied weekend when Johan Santana joined Twitter, hosted a nighttime fund-raising event for his foundation, turned 32 and said that anyone who doubted the progress of his shoulder rehabilitation was "lying," one hard truth remained: neither Santana nor the Mets knows when he'll return, or if he will ever again resemble his former self."
• Phillies: "Oswalt pitches, reflects on frightening experience." - Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com
• Marlins: "'Obviously, no matter who is up there, I'm not trying to do that,' Nolasco said. 'It's my first outing coming off an injury.'" - "Back on mound, Marlins right-hander Ricky Nolasco unfazed by wildness." Joe Frisaro, MLB.com
• MLB News:
"Former big leaguer, Cardinals coach Mitchell Page, dead at 59." - Spencer Fordin, MLB.com: News