Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Finally Back In Action Tonight vs San Diego Padres.

• It's a light day for links. The Washington Nationals haven't played since Saturday afternoon when they beat the Miami Marlins in the second game of what was supposed to be a three-game set. A rainout Sunday and a scheduled day off have deprived NatsTown of much in the way of news. The Nationals announced this morning that OF Brett Carroll, who was DFA'd over a week back, had been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse and has accepted the assignment, meaning he'll be playing alongside hard-hitting outfielders Tyler Moore and Bryce Harper with the Chiefs. There wasn't even much minor league action in the Nats' system with rainouts and off days limiting the amount of news out of the organization from top-to-bottom. 24-year-old Danny Rosenbaum was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Week yesterday. Gio Gonzalez takes on the Padres tonight... at 10:00 pm EDT. Gio vs Clayton Richard at 10:00 pm EDT. Take a nap after work. It's going to be a week of late night action. Prepare yourself by reading the following links and getting up to speed... RIGHT NOW!!!

• THE BIG STORY!!!:

• "The Washington Nationals wake up this morning in San Diego as the team with the second-best record in baseball." - "A few thoughts, observations and leftovers as the Nationals head out west" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• NATS BEAT:

• "5. Washington Nationals (12-4), down one: Riding a major-league best 2.34 team ERA, the Nationals won eight games during their 10-game home stand, including five won by a single run and two coming in extra innings." - "MLB Power Rankings, Week 3: Detroit Tigers still trail red-hot Texas Rangers" - James Schmehl, MLive.com

• "It is early, too early to declare the Phillies’ window closed, but their rough start carries with it real problems." - "The Phillies are struggling in the National League East" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "[Chien-MIng] Wang appears poised to go on a rehab assignment, and if all goes well, the Nationals expect him to be able to return to the majors in a matter of weeks." - "Nationals Pastime: Chien-Ming Wang goes three innings at extended spring training" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The latest test begins tonight in San Diego, with Davey Johnson's team opening a six-game, West Coast road trip that concludes Sunday in Los Angeles." - "Good test for Nats on West Coast" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "Every season produces one or two clubs that tear up the pea patch in April and early May only to disappear." - "HELLER: Enjoy Nats' start, but proceed with caution" - DIck Heller, Washington Times

• "Making his first rehab appearance, Chien-Ming Wang threw 51 pitches over three innings this afternoon in an extended spring training game." - "Chien-Ming Wang makes first rehab start" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "The Washington Nationals wake up this morning in San Diego as the team with the second-best record in baseball." - "A few thoughts, observations and leftovers as the Nationals head out west" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Also down on the farm, Double-A Harrisburg's Danny Rosenbaum has been named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete game last Wednesday..." - "Nationals Pastime: Some minor matters" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "The Dodgers are starting a six-game homestand Monday against the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, two teams off to strong starts." - "Be careful what you wish for? Dodgers finally play winning teams" - Steve Dilbeck, latimes.com

• "In a Monday news conference in Arlington, Texas, Ivan Rodriguez officially hung up his cleats. Literally he walked into the room, holding a pair of cleats, and then he hung them on the wall and sighed while slumping his shoulders." - "Washington Times: Ivan Rodriguez Left An Imprint On The Nationals" - Jeff Sullivan, Baseball Nation

• "Speaking of this pitching staff, I've got a few ridiculous statistics to pass along which show this group's dominance through the first 16 games of the 2012 campaign..." - "Nationals Pastime: Flipping through some insane numbers" - Dan Kolko, MASNSports.com

• "Don't worry about [Danny] Espinosa or even think of moving him. He's a fixture and will only get better." - "Ask Boswell about the Washington Nationals, spring training, the Capitals, the Redskins and all Washington sports" - Thomas Boswell, The Washington Post

• "'I’m walking out of the white lines,' an emotional [Pudge] Rodriguez said Monday, after thanking all of the organizations he played for." - "Rodriguez left an imprint on the Nationals" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Another new mantra for [Gio] Gonzalez is 'pitch count.' More strikes mean fewer pitches." - "Gonzalez takes command for Nationals" - Kevin Dunleavy, Washington Examiner

• "If I had to make a prediction, I would say that [Ross] Detwiler would remain in the rotation and [Chien-Ming] Wang would be put in the bullpen as a long reliever." - "Nationals Inbox: Addressing the rotation, offensive concerns" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "But manager Davey Johnson said pitching, with starters Stephen Strasburg, Jordan Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler, has been main reason for the quick start out of the gate." - "Proof is in the pitching: Nationals staff is dominating" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "As individuals and nations become increasingly interdependent, we have no choice but to develop a sense of universal responsibility."

• NATS MINORS:

• Class-A Potomac: "With the temperature in the mid 40s, the Dash got the scoring started off Potomac starter RHP Matt Swynenberg in the first." - "DASH SILENCE POTOMAC BATS 4-1" - Potomac Nationals News

• "[Danny] Rosenbaum, 24, is not typically considered among the Nationals’ top prospects, but since the Nationals drafted him in the 22nd round in 2009, he has been excellent at every level." - "Danny Rosenbaum named Eastern League player of the week" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Tuesday’s News & Notes" - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com

• "Washington Nationals Minor League and Prospect Report" - Tyler Radecki, District Sports Page

• NATSTOWN:

• "Someone brought a giant Jayson Werth head to right field of Nats Park." - "Giant Jayson Werth head" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post

• "With Michael Morse out of commission for at least another month, it's time for the Nats to look to options other than Xavier Nady, Mark DeRosa and Roger Bernadina." - "It's time to give Lombardozzi a chance" - Nationals Buzz: Joe Drugan, MASNSports.com

• "Starved for a winner, Washington baseball fans went a little crazy when it looked like they might actually get one in 1969." - "The Passion of Senators Fans in 1969: The Raucous Welcome for the Nats at Friendship Airport" - Steve Walker, D.C. Baseball History

• "Ryan Zimmerman's shoulder looked fine signing autographs in his Bentley on Saturday" - Nats Enquirer

• "Nats Talk On The Go: Episode 17" - Capitol Baseball

• "The Ten Percent Problem" - Natstradamus

• "I’m grateful to have been able to watch Rodríguez play during his two years as a Washington National." - "Thank you and best wishes, Pudge Rodríguez" - Jenn Jenson, Nationals Fangirl

• NL EAST UPDATES:

• Marlins/Mets: "On Tuesday night, [Jose Reyes] will make his first appearance against the Mets when New York opens a three-game series against Miami at Citi Field." - "Miami Marlins at New York Mets - April 24, 2012" - Andrew Simon, MLB.com Preview

• Phillies: "Back in December, when the Phillies were still deciding on their future with right-hander Kyle Kendrick, I suggested that they cut their ties with the veteran swingman." - "Kyle Kendrick and Plan B" - Bill Baer, Crashburn Alley

• Mets: "But [Jose Reyes'] replacement, Ruben Tejada, has filled in admirably. Better yet, through this eye-blink of the long season, he has outperformed his old friend and mentor." - "Jose Reyes vs. Ruben Tejada: Comparing Mets' former shortstop to new one" - Andy McCullough, NJ.com

• Braves: "As a dejected Jair Jurrjens stood in front of his locker at Dodger Stadium, he found himself saying things like 'I'm not a quitter' and 'I just need to keep fighting.'" - "Atlanta Braves at Los Angeles Dodgers - April 23, 2012" - Mark Bowman, MLB.com ATL Recap

• "[Ryan] Zimmerman was coming off his age-26 season, meaning the length and money for that deal might not completely translate to Wright." - "Is David Wright Worth $100 Million?" - Chris Cwik, FanGraphs Baseball