• Programming Notes: Several hours after it was originally announced, last night's game was actually cancelled, but not until after rumors on the Twitter had it on again and off again to the frustration of players and ticket holders. The good news? A traditional single-admission doubleheader today between the Nats and Dodgers. Chien-Ming Wang vs Dana Eveland Chad Billingsley at 1:05 pm EDT. Ross Detwiler will start game two...and according to reports just coming out now, Stephen Lombardozzi is going to get his first MLB start at second in Game One. MASN HD, MLB.tv, 1500 WFED &1580 WHFS for Game 1, 106.7 the FAN in D.C. and 1500 WFED for Game 2, Sirius/XM ch. 189. Who's Watching The Nationals?
• LINKS AND LINKS AND...
• NATS BEAT:
• Game One Lineup: via Washington Times' Amanda Comak (@AComak): "#nats Game 1 lineup: Desmond SS, Lombardozzi 2B, Zimmerman 3B, Morse LF, Werth CF, Ankiel RF, Marrero 1B, Ramos C, Wang P
• "He became a sensation last year with pure power. He wants to trade that in for precision and guile, to make his hardest fastballs specialized weapons rather than the norm." - "How Stephen Strasburg has changed as a pitcher" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "She’s an emotional woman, and while it’s been seven years since Ramos left Valencia, Venezuela, signing with the Minnesota Twins in 2004, it’s the first time she’s seen her son play in the U.S." - "Nats' Ramos receives emotional greeting from family when he steps on field" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "When [Jordan] Zimmermann came back last fall and this spring, he was more concerned with relying on those two pitches and spent less time mixing in his curveball and changeup, his two lesser pitches." - "Strasburg and Zimmermann give Nationals a glimpse of their future" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "Pitchers making their first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery aren't supposed to toss five scoreless innings. They aren't supposed to hit 99 mph on the radar gun." - "Strasburg dominates in return from Tommy John surgery" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com
• "The only time the Dodgers had a runner in scoring position was in the first inning, when Dee Gordon led off the frame with a double. However, Gordon would be left stranded at third." - "Strasburg tosses five scoreless in return" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "Fans may have not have been comfortable with the move, but Peacock was. He had been told he might enter in the middle of the inning..." - "How Brad Peacock made his major league debut in a tough spot" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "'I get nervous for everybody,' McCatty said. 'It's not just Stephen, but for any pitcher. I've lived my worst nightmare with him once.'" - "The view of Stephen Strasburg from the dugout" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "'The biggest problem was that I wasn't getting first-pitch strikes,' Wang said. 'My sinker was up, and I was behind in the count. I wasn't getting ahead.'" - "Los Angeles Dodgers at Washington Nationals: Nationals, Dodgers set to play two in Washington" - Adam Holt, MLB.com Preview
• "'In talking to (Dodgers manager Don) Mattingly, their players were hither and yon, as was everybody. But MLB tried to just hold on to see if it would clear.'" - Davey Johnson - "Dodgers-Nationals postponed, will play doubleheader tomorrow" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com
• "According to those on the scene, the Dodgers clubhouse remained empty and closed for much of the afternoon. It wasn't until four hours after the Dodgers initial announcement that the game was indeed called." - "It's official: No game Wednesday; Nats-Dodgers rained out" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "The two clubs spoke early in the afternoon and agreed to a postponement and a doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 1:05 p.m." - "Game officially postponed" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com
• "I was nervous with [Jordan] Zimmermann [when he had Tommy John surgery]. Anybody who is coming back under what those guys [have gone through], sure, you are always concerned." - "Nationals pitching coach Steve McCatty pleased with Stephen Strasburg's return start" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• "It wasn’t until four hours after the Dodgers‘ initial announcement that the game was indeed called." - "Nationals postpone game against Dodgers; will play doubleheader Thursday" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times
• "Detwiler hopes to rebound from last Friday's outing against the Mets. Detwiler lasted three innings and allowed six runs on seven hits." - "Nats' game rained out, to play twin bill Thursday" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News
• Your Daily Message From the Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Generate great compassion, and you become a friend to the world." -
• NATS MINOR LEAGUES:
• Class-A Auburn: "The Vermont Lake Monsters scored four runs in the bottom of the first and added three more late in a 7-1 defeat of Auburn in front of 2,296 fans at Centennial Field on Tuesday night." - "Strikeouts, Big Inning Plague Doubledays" - Auburn Doubledays News
• Class-A Potomac: "Paul Demny, the Nationals starter, was steady in the first two innings and worked around trouble in the third, inducing a double play to escape a double and a walk." - "P-NATS LOSE RAIN-SHORTENED GAME ONE" - Potomac Nationals News
• Triple-A Syracuse: "During the 2011 season, Dunkin' Donuts pledged to donate one pound of coffee to Food Bank of Central New York for every double play turned at home by the Chiefs." - "Dunkin' Donuts and the Syracuse Chiefs turn two for Food Bank of CNY" - Syracuse Chiefs News
• "Thursday’s News & Notes – Playoff Edition" - NationalsProspects.com
• "Three Nationals minor league affiliates were scheduled to begin playoff series yesterday, but rain and flooding caused the postponement of two of them and the truncation of the third." - "Nationals minor league playoff update" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post
• "Right-hander Paul Demny gets the call for Matt Lecroy, opposed by the Keys' Jake Pettit. Demny was 10-10 with a 4.32 ERA. Left-hander Petit was 7-0 with a 1.62 ERA." - "Potomac's Demny primed for Game 1 tonight at Frederick" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• "'Yeah, when I got up to Syracuse, I started rushing (my delivery),' [Brad] Peacock said. 'I started walking people. (Booker) started yelling at me.'" - "Peacock knows he doesn't need to rush delivery to be effective" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com
• NATSTOWN:
• "Tom Milone, who has gotten at least 2 votes in every poll since he joined the group of hopefuls, has finally made the top prospects list..." - "Community Top Prospect List: #14" - Sean Hogan, DC is for Baseball
• "Not bad for a guy who hadn’t pitched for more than a year at the major-league level. And a nice bunt too!" - "Photos: Stephen Strasburg returns to Washington" - Natsfangirl
• "That Cat returned to Nationals Park Tuesday night, and as the mysterious feline is known to do, threw a wrench into the presidents race procedings." - "Video: That Cat Returns to thwart a sure Teddy Roosevelt Victory" - Presidents Race Fan, Let Teddy Win!
• "But the real story last night, for those paying attention, was the way Strasburg limited the Dodgers to two hits; one a jammed opposite field double and the other a graciously scored single off shortstop Ian Desmond's glove." - "GAME 140 REVIEW: Strasburg Returns in Dominating Fashion" - Dave Nichols, NatsNewsNetwork
• "Oh well, it was fun while it lasted, huh Brewers fans?" - "The real Nyjer Morgan just stood up." - Nats Enquirer
• NL EAST UPDATES:
• Marlins: "With less than seven months until Opening Day 2012 — April 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals — the stadium, which Samson said should become the "Gem of Baseball," is 80 percent complete." - "Florida Marlins stadium on schedule and on budget" - Matt Forman, MiamiHerald.com
• Marlins/Mets: "For the second time in a week and a half, the Marlins couldn’t solve R.A. Dickey, whose pitches dropped, dipped and danced all over the strike zone Wednesday..." - "Florida Marlins shut out by Mets’ Dickey for third time, fall 1-0" - Matt Forman, MiamiHerald.com
• Braves: "Well, as fun as this series was, I think we all are happy that the Braves have left Philadelphia and are on to nicer pastures." - "Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies Series Recap" - SCrebel10, Talking Chop
• Phillies: "Chase Utley was struck by a pitch in the head on Wednesday and a possible concussion means he will miss at least a couple of games for the Major League-best Philadelphia Phillies." - "Phillies Baseman Utley Out With Possible Concussion" - Reuters/NYTimes.com