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Guys, there are less than ten days until Opening Day. In a mere nine days, the Nats will be playing meaningful baseball at Nationals Park. We've almost made it!
Here's the news from West Palm.
Daniel Murphy confident he'll be ready for Opening Day
Murphy, in total, has had 23 at-bats this spring -- 17 in Grapefruit League play, and 6 in the WBC. The Nats have six more Grapefruit League games to play, as well as two more exhibition games--will they be enough to get the Nats' star second baseman ready for April 3rd?
Heyman: Nats leaning towards Glover for closer
Koda Glover doesn't have a single major league save. The Nats may not care, according to Jon Heyman.
Daniel Murphy, Tanner Roark return from WBC
Dusty Baker is (understandably) quite happy to have two of his stars back from international play.
Nats have a few decisions left to make before Opening Day
There's one spot left on the bench, and two in the bullpen. Who will Dusty Baker and Mike Rizzo choose?
You can meet Trea Turner, but only if you're fast enough
The five fastest participants in the Nats' "Stealing Home Challenge," where fans are timed running a distance of 90 feet, will win tickets to the Nats-Red Sox exhibition next Friday, as well as a whole boatload of other swag.
The Nats have two winemakers in their clubhouse
Both Joe Blanton and Dusty Baker operate vineyards. (Last year, the clubhouse fixated on coffee -- here's hoping that wine doesn't replace it as the in-game drink of choice).
Jeremy Guthrie makes case for roster spot
The Nats have 43 players on their roster right now. In nine days, they can only have 25. In one of his last spring training appearances on Friday, Jeremy Guthrie made his case as to why he should be one of the 25 as a long man.
Five ways the Nationals' season could spectacularly backfire
Shawn Kelley and Stephen Strasburg are injury risks, Jayson Werth is old, and suddenly the Nats are in the middle of the NL pack, barely competing for a wild card spot.
Is this the year Bryce Harper finally silences his critics?
Bryce Harper has had one MVP season. His other four seasons have been pretty good, but not great. But, if Harper can come out and dominate like he did in 2015, the debate surrounding him may finally end.
Nats are possibly close to selling naming rights to Nats Park
According to TalkNats, the Nats have shopped the Nats Park naming rights to Exxon Mobile, Under Armour, and MGM Casinos.
Rays sign Derek Norris to one-year contract
Norris, after being released by the Nats, didn't take long to find his next destination. As it turns out, he'll be alongside Wilson Ramos in Tampa Bay.
The Nats had a bold offseason, and are all-in on 2017
Over the last five years, the Nats have been contenders until around the last week of the season, or made the playoffs. This year, there's only one option, and it rhymes with 'swirled shmeries".
From Friday: Ten days before Opening Day, ten pressing questions
Shocker: 'Who will close for the Nationals?' is on the list.
Today's Game: Nationals vs Astros -- 1:05 PM
Probable Pitchers: Tanner Roark (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Lance McCullers (1-1, 4.15 ERA)
Days until Opening Day: 9