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I've been searching, even though I never say, "I told you so," and don't like people who do, for an audio clip from Nats Nightly w/ Dave Nichols from the District Sports Page where I swear I said even last August/September that Danny Espinosa was going to be the Washington Nationals' utility infielder this season. I've been searching for it so that I could tell Dave, and Doghouse, who joins us on the show often, that I told them so when it comes to Espinosa.
It looks like Espinosa will be the utility man. Jeff Kobernus is still in the mix for a bench role, though Nats' skipper Matt Williams said today that they might consider keeping three catchers, so Sandy Leon is still in the running for the final spot on the Nationals' bench as well, assuming that is, that Espinosa and Scott Hairston have spots locked down.
Tyler Moore was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse where he'll get regularly at bats that apparently weren't going to be available at the major league level? Did that decision surprise you? And what about Aaron Barrett being told that he made the Opening Day roster? He sure was happy to hear the news:
Words can't describe how I feel right now... I give all the glory to God! Been waiting for this moment my whole life! #Blessed #Nats
— Aaron Barrett (@aaronbarrett30) March 25, 2014
As I mentioned on the first edition of Nats Nightly with The District Sports Page's Dave Nichols tonight, I started to believe Barrett just might make it when I heard the following quote by Matt Williams last week:
"Every situation we've put him into he's performed and that's all we can ask. He's been aggressive. He's commanded the strike zone and had quick innings, worked well. So, it's all good."
The big decision left? Who wins the fifth spot in the Nationals' rotation? Will it be Taylor Jordan or Tanner Roark?
The most interesting thing from Matt Williams today (IMHO) was the quote from his post game about the fate of whichever pitcher doesn't win the battle for the final spot. Assuming Doug Fister is able to get through the rest of his throwing without any issues, Williams said either Jordan or Roark will go down to Triple-A rather than the major league bullpen:
Roark is not an option for the 'pen at this point. If Fister is healthy, either Roark or Jordan makes rotation, the other goes to AAA
— Dan Kolko (@masnKolko) March 25, 2014
We talked about all the stuff above and a little more in tonight's edition of Nats Nightly. In case you're new to FBB or Nats Nightly, it's a (mostly) daily talk show that Dave Nichols from the District Sports Page and I have done for the last year-plus (often with the help of the estimable Doghouse).
We have all the episodes archived down a little bit on the front page here at Federal Baseball.
This is what the "group" of recordings looks like:
And this is what Nats Nightly sounds like...
AUDIO: #Nats Nightly Spring Training Edition w/ @NationalsDSP: http://t.co/iddZXJuRST
— federalbaseball (@federalbaseball) March 25, 2014
Bonus: You get to hear my voice crack as I try to talk on the phone outside in 36° weather.