New free agency rules impact Dunn

Updated with new deadlines for arbitration and non-tenders

The players union just announced some changes to their collective bargaining agreement with MLB that will alter the manner in which many offseason moves are completed, particularly with free agents.

Among the changes announced...

-- All players eligible for free agency will become free agents without the need to elect it.

-- The window for current clubs to have exclusive negotiating rights with their own pending free agents has been reduced from 15 days after the World Series to only five days.

-- The deadline for the original team to offer arbitration has moved up to November 23 (from December 1), and the deadline for players to accept has been moved up to November 30 (from December 7).

-- The deadline for clubs to make decisions on tenders and non-tenders has been moved up to December 2 (from December 12).

Here's the key point as it relates to the Nationals: Their window to

Where does Detwiler fit in?

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Ross Detwiler was roughed up by the Phillies last night.

The low point of last night's home finale surely was Ross Detwiler's pitching performance, one that saw the left-hander allow seven runs over 4 2/3 innings, all of the runs scoring via four homers. It was not the kind of performance Detwiler was looking for in his final 2010 appearance, but it probably felt appropriate for a guy who can't take very many positives out of this frustrating season.

After suffering a hip injury last winter that required major surgery, Detwiler missed more than half of the season and wound up making only eight big-league appearances (five starts). Within that timeframe, he went back on the DL with a recurrence of hip pain and returned in September only to pitch sporadically out of the bullpen until the Nats gave him two token starts the last week.

In the end, this was a wasted season for the Nationals' top 2007 draft pick. The club doesn't really know much more about his potential to be a big-league starter now than it did at this time last year. It didn't help that he never fully recovered from the hip surgery, leading to decreased velocity (his fastball ranged from 88 to 91 mph last night) and poor mechanics (Detwiler will work with Steve McCatty next spring on lengthening his stride to the plate, hoping to produce more velocity and less strain on his body).

"He's had pretty significant surgery there on his hip," Jim Riggleman said. "Steve and I were in the dugout pretty much from the first inning on really watching to see if he was OK. We checked with him every inning, and he said: 'I'm fine. My hip is fine.' But I don't know

For die-hards, time for next step

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Nyjer Morgan scored the Nats' lone run in tonight's 7-1 loss.

They gathered behind the first base dugout for the bottom of the ninth. The die-hards. The season-ticket holders. The ones who sit through all the blowouts and the rain delays and the pitching changes and the presidents races and the scoreboard promotions and the dancing ushers and the errors and the blown leads and the extra innings and the occasional walk-off home run.

They don't number in the tens of thousands, but they're there every night through thick and thin. And when the final inning of the season at Nationals Park arrives, they make their way down toward the dugout to bond with each other and bid farewell to their team.

What they lack in numbers they make up for in dedication. Lord knows, it takes some serious dedication to support this franchise on a daily, monthly and yearly basis. For six years now, they've been turning out, having not tasted a whiff of anything resembling a pennant race since that first season at RFK Stadium.

And they haven't gone unnoticed by the men in uniform who offered thanks to them all after tonight's unspectacular 7-1 loss to the Phillies.

"The number of fans that comes out is going to double and triple here when we really get it going," Jim Riggleman said. "And we want that to happen sooner than later, but for the ones who are here now, the

Rizzo's No. 1 priority: No. 1 starter

The Nationals thought they had their No. 1 starter set in stone for years to come. But Stephen Strasburg's Tommy John surgery will leave a massive void at the top of Washington's 2011 rotation and will leave general manager Mike Rizzo searching for a replacement this winter.

Rizzo said acquiring a No. 1 starter is his No. 1 priority this offseason.

"We need a guy to head the rotation, a front-of-the-rotation guy to put everybody in what we feel is their proper place in the rotation," Rizzo said before tonight's game. "That's the No. 1 priority going into the offseason."

The pickings on the free agent market are pretty slim, with Cliff Lee the clear-cut prize of a group that also includes Kevin Millwood, Bronson Arroyo, Javier Vazquez, Ted Lilly and Jake Westbrook.

Read the full story, which includes Rizzo's take on the Adam Dunn situation, on CSNwashington.com.

Game 159: Phillies at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

If the weather cooperates, the Nats will play their home finale tonight.

And so we have arrived at the final home game of the season. Or least the final scheduled home game of the season. As you can see, the tarp is back on the field and the forecast doesn't look promising. Rain throughout the evening, though weather.com actually predicts "light rain" between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., as opposed to the heavier stuff that's supposed to arrive later. If they somehow can't play tonight, they'll announce a makeup game for 1 p.m. tomorrow. But with even heavier rain and wind expected tomorrow from this tropical storm making its way up the East Coast, I can't imagine they'd have any chance of playing tomorrow. So it's entirely possible the Nats will finish the season with 161 games for the second time in three years.

If they do ever play this game, Ross Detwiler will be starting for the Nationals, looking to continue his late-season upswing and once again give the organization reason to consider him for next year's rotation. It's basically the same situation Detwiler found himself in a year ago. Perhaps he'll be able to take advantage of the opportunity this time around.

No Ryan Zimmerman in the Nats' lineup for the seventh straight day. Adam Dunn, of course, is in his familiar cleanup spot for what could be his final home game as a National.

Weather and game updates to come, so check back throughout the afternoon and evening...

PHILLIES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Rain, 79 degrees, Wind 6 mph in from RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (68-90)
CF Nyjer Morgan
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn

Adam Dunn's offensive value

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Adam Dunn's bat has directly contributed to 16 Nationals wins this season.

I know just about everything has been said about Adam Dunn and his future with the Nationals, and people may be growing tired of it. Dunn himself certainly is. But I've been doing some research this morning, and I want to pass along this one final bit of information, because I think it's pertinent to the debate.

If the ultimate issue with Dunn is whether his positive offensive performance outweighs his negative defensive performance, then doesn't the question boil down to this: How many games has he won with his bat this year, and how many games has he lost with his glove?

There's no easy way to calculate the defensive question, not without going back and analyzing every defensive play Dunn was involved in over the the last 158 games. I did, however, come up with one method of evaluating his offensive contribution: How many times his offensive production has been the difference in the Nationals winning a game.

How do you figure that out? Well, I decided to look up how many times this season Dunn's RBI total was greater than or equal to the Nats' margin of victory.

The answer: 16.

Is that a lot? Is that a little? Is that average? I had no idea. So I started running the same test with some other Nationals regulars. Ryan Zimmerman has done it 10 times. Ian Desmond has done it six

Fan favorite, clubhouse favorite

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Adam Dunn is mobbed by teammates after winning tonight's game.

If you were in the stands at Nationals Park or watching on TV tonight, you saw plenty. You saw the ball shoot off Adam Dunn's bat and into the night. You saw the park burst into celebration. You saw the rest of the Nationals leap out of the dugout to greet their conquering hero at the play. And you heard the chant ring from around the building one last time: "Sign Adam Dunn!"

What you didn't see, though, came after the Nats' 2-1 victory was complete, after fans started filing out of the stadium, after Jim Riggleman had finished his postgame press conference.

Let's take you inside the clubhouse, where draped over a recliner near Dunn's locker was one of tonight's giveaway T-shirts. The ones that read "Mr. Walk Off" across the front with the name "Zimmerman" down one sleeve.

Someone had crossed Zimmerman's name out and written another one below it. So it now read: "Donkey!"

You already know the majority of Nationals fans want the club to re-sign Dunn. Rest assured the guys in that clubhouse want it just as much.

Ask them what it would be like to play without the big guy in 2011, and they start shuddering.

"It would be tough," Drew Storen said. "He's such a good guy to have in the clubhouse. He's just a good personality to have as a teammate. Obviously, the numbers, the power in clutch situations, speak for

Flores at full strength in Florida

Photo courtesy Bill Scheuerman

Jesus Flores has been participating in full in the Florida instructional league.

Encouraging news from Viera, where Jesus Flores is playing at full strength in instructional league games and giving Nationals officials reason to believe he's still in their long-term plans.

Flores, still rehabbing from a shoulder injury that dates back to May 2009, has been participating in full in the instructional league. He homered in his first game, has driven several other balls off the fence and has thrown to all bases with no troubles.

"He's hitting the ball very well at the plate, as expected," Mike Rizzo said. "He's making throws to all the bases. He caught six innings yesterday. He's getting into the swing of catching every day. He's full-go to do everything."

Flores is expected to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic, then report to spring training and battle for a roster spot alongside Ivan

Strasburg updates recovery

Read the full story on CSNwashington.com.

Stephen Strasburg just held a conference call with reporters, updating everyone on his recovery from Tommy John surgery for the first time since undergoing the procedure on September 3.

I'll have a full story on CSNwashington.com later this afternoon, but among the highlights from Strasburg...

-- He had the cast removed from his right arm two weeks ago and has since been working on getting his range of motion back. He'll start the actual rehab process shortly. "It's healing very nicely."

-- So far, everything has gone according to plan. The recovery process from the ligament replacement surgery is so detailed, doctors have each of Strasburg's steps mapped out for the next 12 months, right down to the day he'll throw a professional pitch again. Strasburg said he hasn't been surprised by any aspect of the process to this point, which he's been told is a good thing. "The more boring it is, the better," he said.

-- With all this time off, Strasburg is resuming his academic career and continues to pursue his degree at San Diego State.

-- Strasburg said he's been watching the Nats closely since leaving them, though it's tough to watch his teammates and know he can't be there to assist. He did watch last night's debacle, saying: "It didn't look too good, that's for sure. It happens. Unfortunately, we weren't

Game 158: Phillies at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Jason Marquis faces Roy Oswalt tonight at Nationals Park.

After last night's debacle, the Nationals resume their final home series of the season tonight, with slightly less at stake for the visiting Phillies. Having clinched not only the NL East title last night but also the NL's best record, Philadelphia literally has nothing left to play for.

So there will be nothing at stake tonight other than a ballgame, not to mention the pride of all those involved. First and foremost on that list will be Jason Marquis, who makes the final start of what has been far and away the worst season of his career. If I had said back in February that Marquis, on September 28, would be shooting for win No. 3, what would you have thought? That, of course, is the predicament the veteran right-hander finds himself in tonight, hoping to "improve" to 3-9 and "lower" his ERA into the 6.00s.

Little tweak to the Nationals' lineup tonight: Danny Espinosa will bat sixth, with Nyjer Morgan leading off and Roger Bernadina behind him. They'll be facing Roy Oswalt, trying to beat him for the third time in five tries this season. Considering that this start means nothing for Oswalt other than as a means to get some work in and tune up for the playoffs, I'd be surprised if he goes more than five innings, six tops.

Check back for updates throughout...

PHILLIES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 77 degrees, Wind 9 mph out to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (67-90)
CF Nyjer Morgan
LF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn

Embarrassed? Then start winning

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Phillies fans serenade their team during tonight's division-clinching win.

Inside the visitors ... er, actually make that the home clubhouse at Nationals Park, players quietly showered, dressed and left. A few sat in front of their lockers and stewed, clearly upset by what was transpiring over on the other side of the building and in the stands above the third-base dugout, where Phillies fans refused to stop celebrating their team's division-clinching victory.

As if the sight of a visiting team celebrating in the middle of the diamond wasn't tough enough to stomach, throw in several thousand of their fans, who dominated the ballpark all night to the point this felt like anything but a home game for the Nationals.

"Damn, it was a lot louder at our place than it was at their place when we go there," Nyjer Morgan said. "It felt like it was a home game for the Phillies."

"It was kind of embarrassing," Ian Desmond added. "Everyone in the stadium is clapping against you, and you're at home. It's not really where you want to be."

No, nothing about what transpired on South Capitol Street should be acceptable to the Nationals or their fans. The scene around this 8-0 thumping at the hands of the Phillies was both embarrassing and yet

Moore, Milone earn honors

The Nationals have named first baseman Tyler Moore and left-hander Tom Milone as their minor-league player and pitcher of the year, respectively.

Moore, a 16th round pick in the 2008 draft, enjoyed a breakthrough season at Class A Potomac, hitting .269 with 31 homers, 111 RBI, 43 doubles and 78 runs scored in 129 games. He led the Carolina League in most key offensive categories, won league MVP honors, and tied for ninth among all minor leaguers in home runs.

Milone, a 10th round pick in 2008, went 12-5 with a 2.85 ERA in 27 starts for Class AA Harrisburg. Though he doesn't possess overpowering stuff, Milone struck out 155 batters in 158 innings, issuing only 23 walks along the way. The 23-year-old allowed two earned runs or fewer in 70 percent of his starts.

Both players will be honored before Tuesday night's game at Nationals Park.

Zim unlikely to return this season

Though he's still holding out hope that his strained ribcage muscle might heal in the next few days, Ryan Zimmerman most likely won't return to play for the Nationals before season's end.

Zimmerman, who is out of the Nationals' lineup tonight for the fifth straight day, seems resigned to the fact he won't have enough time to heal.

"It's frustrating," he said. "You always want to finish the season. We've been together the whole time, and we've been through some tough times. Obviously you want to finish with these guys. It's tough."

Read the full story on CSNwashington.com.

Game 157: Phillies at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Phillies will try to clinch the NL East tonight, if weather permits.

As you can see from the above photo, the weather isn't very conducive to baseball today. It's been raining on and off all day, and it promises to continue all night. That said, there figure to be periods of heavy rain, periods of light rain and periods of no rain throughout the evening, so my hunch is that they'll try their best to get tonight's game in.

If and when they do play, Roy Halladay will be looking to pitch the Phillies to their fourth consecutive NL East title. This is what they acquired the right-hander for, so it's only appropriate he's starting this game. John Lannan starts for the Nationals, hoping his late-season surge helps put an end to his long-time struggles against the Phillies (he's 0-7 with a 6.06 ERA in 10 career head-to-head starts).

For the fifth straight game, the Nats will be without Ryan Zimmerman, whose strained ribcage muscle has not healed yet to the point he can play without risking serious injury. With each passing day, it looks more likely that Zim won't be returning to play this season.

Check back for both weather and game updates throughout...

PHILLIES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Thunderstorms, 75 degrees, Wind 14 mph RF to LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (67-89)
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Nyjer Morgan
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn

23 tried and true Nats facts

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Yunesky Maya is 0-3 with a 6.43 ERA in four big-league starts.

With apologies to Norman Chad, here are 23 facts, tried and true, about your Washington Nationals...

1. Yunesky Maya may prove some day to be a quality, major-league starting pitcher, but he's not yet. Then again, that's not all that surprising. How many pitchers can be expected to be big-league ready after five minor-league starts? Even Stephen Strasburg got 11 tune-ups before making his debut. I understand that Maya's eight years older, and I understand this was a unique case. But in hindsight, what was the rush getting him up here? Given a choice between the two, would you have rather seen Maya or Ross Detwiler make five big-league starts in September?

2. Speaking of Detwiler, what a wasted year this turned out to be. Obviously, his hip surgery was to blame for it. But it's now been more than three years since the Nationals drafted him sixth in the country (four spots ahead of Madison Bumgarner, eight spots ahead of Jason Heyward) and we don't know much more about him now than we did then.

3. The combination of Roy Halladay starting, the Phillies holding a magic number of 1 to clinch the NL East title and rain in the forecast all day and evening is probably going to make for a really miserable Monday night at Nationals Park.

4. Then again, the rain might help wash away any vomit emanating from the mouths of Philly fans (intentional or unintentional).

5. For all the ups and downs he experienced along the way, Ian Desmond's going to wind up having had a really nice rookie season. If I told you back on Opening Day that he'd wind up hitting nearly .280

Game 156: Braves at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Livan Hernandez faces rookie Brandon Beachy today at Nationals Park.

Ryan Zimmerman is out of the Nationals' lineup with a strained rib muscle for the fourth straight day, which is not all that surprising. The Nationals figured to take the extreme cautious route with their star third baseman, and I don't think anyone would be surprised if Zim doesn't return to play this season. At this point, is it really worth the risk?

Danny Espinosa, who sat yesterday, returns to the leadoff spot in Jim Riggleman's lineup today, with Nyjer Morgan batting second and Ian Desmond hitting third. This will definitely be an interesting dilemma for Riggleman next season, assuming all three players are regulars in the Nats' 2011 lineup. Which two bat in the top two spots, and where does the other guy wind up? Both Espinosa and Desmond have potential to drive in runs, so perhaps the 6-hole could work for either. Then again, they both have speed, and Desmond has been his best this season when hitting second.

Livan Hernandez takes the mound today for his penultimate start of the season. Given the way he's pitched all year, it would be a shame for Livo to wind up with a losing record. But at 10-12, he's going to need to get the win in each of these last two starts just to salvage a .500 record.

With right-hander Jair Jurrjens hampered by a meniscus tear in his knee, the Braves are forced to send rookie Brandon Beachy to the mound for only his second career start today. Given what's at stake -- the Phillies could clinch the NL East with a win and a Nats win -- it's not an ideal scenario for Bobby Cox, who will be honored before today's game (his last one in Washington as Atlanta manager).

Thanks to everyone who turned out for yesterday's informal meet-and-greet in the stands. It was a real treat to meet so many of you and chat about both the team and the website. For those who couldn't make it, sorry we didn't get a chance to meet in person, but hopefully we'll cross paths down the road.

I'm not at the ballpark today, but I'll be back out there tomorrow and will have full coverage of all of the Nationals' final six games of the season. Enjoy the ongoing conversation with each other, and to those of you at the park: Stay dry!...

BRAVES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Chance of showers, 69 degrees, Wind 8 mph in from CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (66-89)
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Nyjer Morgan
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn

Game 155: Braves at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nationals try to extend their season-high winning streak to five games today.

Flying high on their first four-game winning streak of the season, the Nationals get a familiar face back in their lineup today. No, not Ryan Zimmerman, who is still battling a strained ribcage. But Nyjer Morgan is back from his eight-game suspension, determined to put the controversies of the past month behind him and finish out his season on a high note.

Yunesky Maya also would like to finish out on a high note. Making his fourth career start, he's still seeking his first career win. Maya will be facing a Braves lineup that already beat him 12 days ago at Turner Field.

As most of you know by now, I'm attending today's game but not covering it from the press box. My wife and I will be watching from Section 409 in the upper deck. Many of you have already said you'll be stopping by to say hello. Hope many more of you can make it as well. We're hoping to be in our seats by 12:15 p.m. in case people want to come by pregame and then head back to their regular seats in time for first pitch. Of course, everyone's welcome to stay up in 409 and watch the game with us (provided you're not taking up someone else's paid seat).

See you at the ballpark...

BRAVES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 1:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Sunny, 84 degrees, Wind 11 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (66-88)
CF Nyjer Morgan
LF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn

Sign Adam Dunn? Fans say yes

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Adam Dunn clubbed two homers and drove in five runs tonight.

The chant started in the upper deck, behind the plate, right after Adam Dunn mashed his first home run of the night. By the time he crossed the plate again one inning later with his second blast of the game, it had grown in decibel level.

"Sign Adam Dunn! Sign Adam Dunn!"

The big guy could hear it, and he appreciates the sentiment.

"Like I said all along, it's really good to feel wanted," he said. "I mean, who doesn't want that feeling? You really can't put that kind of thing into words. That's special."

If Dunn, sitting in the first-base dugout at Nationals Park, could hear the chant, surely Mike Rizzo and Mark Lerner sitting a few feet away in the front row could hear it as well. The fans' preference in this matter has been known for some time. More and more, it appears Dunn (who carried his team to an 8-3 win over the Braves with two homers and five RBI) shares their passion.

"It's starting to become home," he said. "The way the fans have received me, it's good. I don't know how else to put it. That's

Cox: Kasten would be "solid" commish

Few people in baseball have as much first-hand experience working alongside Stan Kasten as Bobby Cox. So when the soon-to-be-retired Braves manager says his former boss would make a good commissioner of baseball, the sentiment carries some weight.

"He's qualified to do that job, absolutely," Cox said this afternoon before his Braves faced the Nationals in the opener of a three-game series.

Kasten, who announced yesterday he's leaving the Nats after 4 1/2 seasons as team president, built his reputation while holding the same title for the Braves from 1986-2003. At the time, Cox was serving as Atlanta's general manager. He moved to the dugout in 1990 and tonight is in search of his 2,500th career victory.

The two remained close even while working for rival clubs, and Kasten told Cox of his plan to leave the Nationals earlier this year. Cox says Kasten has never brought up a desire to become MLB commissioner, though the manager is convinced he'd do well in that position.

"He's smart," Cox said. "He knows the game. He's a lawyer. He loves baseball more than anything. He knows the inner workings more than anybody. He'd be a solid choice in my opinion."

Read the full story on CSNwashington.com.

Game 154: Braves at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nationals shoot for their first four-game winning streak of the season tonight.

The Nationals somehow managed to win yesterday's game against the Astros in convincing fashion despite having neither Ryan Zimmerman nor Adam Dunn in their lineup. They'll get Dunn back tonight, his elbow and hamstring having healed enough to allow him to play. But they won't have Zimmerman, who continues to be bothered by a strained ribcage muscle and could miss several days.

The Nats certainly wouldn't mind having their full starting lineup tonight against the Braves, because they'll need everything they've got against Tim Hudson. These numbers have been repeated several times here this season (every time he pitches against the Nats) but it has to be said again: Hudson OWNS the Nationals to the tune of a 10-1 record and 1.55 lifetime ERA.

Meanwhile, Jordan Zimmermann returns to the mound, trying once again to recapture the dominant form he displayed in Florida three weeks ago but that has eluded him since. Not that his status within the organization isn't already secure, but it would be nice to see at least one more glimpse of the good Zimmermann before the end of the season. He's only got one more start after this, so time's running out.

Check back for updates throughout...

BRAVES at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Sunny, 89 degrees, Wind 12 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (65-88)
2B Danny Espinosa
CF Roger Bernadina
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn

Friday morning leftovers

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Michael Morse has taken advantage of his increased playing time.

With all the attention on Stan Kasten's resignation announcement yesterday, plenty of other stuff fell through the cracks. So let's pick them up and run through some of the leftovers we didn't get to yesterday...

MICHAEL MORSE KEEPS ON HITTING
So much for the theory that everyone's favorite part-time player can't thrive in an everyday role. Morse has been in the Nationals' lineup in 23 of their last 25 games, and all he's done is hit .366 with eight doubles, four homers, 14 RBI, a .447 on-base percentage and a stout 1.081 OPS.

Baseball is a game of constant adjustments, and clearly Morse has managed to adjust to whatever pitchers were starting to do to him the more he played.

"It's a totally different game when you're playing every day," he said. "You're getting a lot of at-bats. They're learning how to pitch to you. You can make little adjustments during the game. But at the same time, you don't want to change your approach and feed into what

Kasten's appropriate departure

Word of Stan Kasten's resignation as team president began circulating around Nationals Park at 1:30 this afternoon. Players who were heading out to the field for batting practice were summoned back to the clubhouse for an impromptu team meeting. Reaction was swift and generally featured some element of surprise.

In hindsight, though, there really was nothing surprising about this announcement. If you had been reading between the lines for the last year, you probably saw this coming.

Kasten's presence, which at times from 2006-09 was so prevalent it became suffocating, dissipated drastically this season. You just didn't see him around as much as in previous years. Once the public face of the Nationals, he had regressed to the background, opening the door for Mike Rizzo to speak for the organization on all baseball matters.

Sure, Stan would emerge from the shadows every once in a while for something big. He couldn't resist participating in the post-midnight Bryce Harper signing press conference. Even then, his inclusion was less about offering information and more about setting Rizzo up to get a whipped cream pie in the face.

The fact of the matter is that the natural progression of the Nationals franchise over the last five years left Kasten more and more marginalized within the front office. The team simply didn't need a

Kasten leaving after season [updated]

Read the full story on CSNwashington.com.

Stan Kasten will resign as president of the Nationals at the end of the season, ending a tenure that began when the Lerner family took ownership of the franchise in 2006.

Kasten informed players of his pending departure during a pregame meeting in the Nationals Park clubhouse.

More to come...

UPDATE AT 3:07 P.M. -- Kasten just spent 18 minutes talking to media members in the Nationals' dugout. The nuts-and-bolts...

-- He said he told the Lerner family all along he would commit to five years, which ends at the end of this season. Said his decision is not a reflection of his relationship with the owners. "This is just about me," he said. "This has nothing to do with anybody else."

-- He wouldn't reveal whether he'll retain his minority stake in ownership of the club, though he pointed out that if he ends up working for another MLB franchise, he'll be required to sell his share.

-- He isn't classifying this as a retirement, though he doesn't intend to work immediately. "I don't feel like retiring," he said. "I'm going to do

Game 153: Astros at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Ross Detwiler gets a chance to start today at Nationals Park.

Updated with Zimmerman scratched from lineup

When Adam Dunn got hit with a pitch right above his right elbow last night, he described the feeling as "the worst pain I've ever had in baseball." Dunn, though, expressed confidence he'd be back in the Nationals' lineup for today's series finale against the Astros.

Well, Dunn's not in today's lineup. Adam Kennedy will start at first base and bat second. Ian Desmond takes over the third spot, ahead of Ryan Zimmerman and Roger Bernadina. We'll find out what his status is and whether this is anything serious or just a precautionary measure.

Meanwhile, Ross Detwiler makes his fourth start of the season and first since August 5, after which he was placed back on the DL with a recurrence of pain in his surgically repaired right hip. Detwiler returned healthy at the start of September, but his rotation spot was gone, so he's made three bullpen appearances in the interim, tossing six scoreless innings in the process. If the former first-round draft pick is going to thrust himself back into the mix for a starting job next spring, today might be his last chance to make a case.

Journeyman Nelson Figueroa starts for Houston. Why does his name sound familiar? Because he's the former Mets pitcher who in 2008 referred to Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge as "softball girls" after those two started up some encouraging chants from the dugout at Shea Stadium. I wonder if word will circulate to Figueroa that Livan Hernandez, Miguel Batista and Joel Peralta were taking hacks at neon yellow softballs with metal bats this afternoon.

Check back for updates throughout...

ASTROS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 4:35 p.m.
TV: MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 89 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (64-88)
2B Danny Espinosa
1B Adam Kennedy
SS Ian Desmond
RF Michael Morse

Meet up at Saturday's game

The best part of this whole endeavor has been the opportunity to interact with all of you, to gauge your thoughts on the Nationals, on baseball in general, on this website. I've had far more interaction with readers this season than I ever did working at newspapers, which has made the experience all the more rewarding.

That said, almost all of the interaction has come via my computer, through comments on the site, emails and Twitter. I've been fortunate enough to meet a handful of you in person at the ballpark, but it's tough to do that when I'm camped out in the press box every night and only venturing down to the stands for an inning or two to take photos.

So here's the deal: I'm going to attend Saturday afternoon's game against the Braves from the stands. My wife and I have tickets in Section 409, and there should be plenty of open seats around us. If you're going to be at the game, come on by at some point to say hello, chat about the team, about the website, whatever. Stay for the whole game, stay for a few innings or stay for a few seconds if you prefer not to watch from the nosebleeds.

Hope to see you then!

Worried about slump? Not Espinosa

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Danny Espinosa snapped out of a 5-for-51 slump with a triple and go-ahead homer.

As the outs piled up and the first slump of his big-league career moved into full swing, Danny Espinosa could have started panicking. He could have worried about getting benched. He could have started doubting whether he'd be able to hit pitching at this level again.

That, however, would not be Espinosa's style. He didn't follow in the footsteps of Troy Tulowitzki and Evan Longoria at Long Beach State by doubting himself. He didn't cruise through four levels of the Nationals' farm system in 2 1/2 years by questioning his abilities. And now that he's reached the majors, he's not going to suddenly start worrying about a little slump.

"It was easy for me to think that I was going to get through this," he said. "I knew I wasn't going to stay in this. It's not me. I know I can play here, and I have to have the confidence that I know I can play here and know I was going to come out of this."

Espinosa said this inside the Nats' clubhouse some 30 minutes after the conclusion of a 4-3 victory over the Astros that wouldn't have been possible without his contributions.

When he stepped to the plate in the third inning, he was stuck in a 5-for-51 funk. Then he tripled off the fence in center field and wound up scoring the Nationals' first run. And when he stepped to the plate

Thoughts from Storen and Riggleman

Last night's ninth inning -- in which Jim Riggleman pulled Drew Storen with two outs in the ninth and the Nationals leading by four runs -- produced plenty of armchair managing from media members and fans alike. Thanks to all of you who commented in the earlier thread; there were some fantastic points made on both sides of the argument.

I don't want to harp too much on the subject, but I do want to present some thoughts that were provided today from both Riggleman and Storen. The key point they seemed to make -- especially Storen -- was that this wasn't nearly as big a deal as everyone has tried to make it. Yes, Storen was upset to get yanked, but not at Riggleman, at himself for not getting the job done. He said he completely understood his manager's thinking.

Storen also wanted to make it clear that he is worried neither about losing confidence in himself nor about Riggleman losing confidence in him. As both men have pointed out, Storen isn't this team's closer ... yet. He still has to earn that title.

Here are the full quotes from both guys. Riggleman's comments are from his pre-game press conference will all media. Storen's comments are from a one-on-one interview I conducted with him after batting practice (and after Riggleman spoke)...

JIM RIGGLEMAN
Q: With Storen last night, obviously your first priority is to win the game. When it comes to him, do you worry about shaking his confidence when you take him out? Or do you have to set that aside,

Game 152: Astros at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Jason Marquis faces Wandy Rodriguez tonight at Nationals Park.

Last night, the Nationals produced one of their best rallies of the season, scoring seven times with two outs in the bottom of the eighth to beat the Astros, 8-4. So Jim Riggleman is sticking with his same lineup for tonight's game. Why tinker with something that actually worked?

That does, however, mean Ivan Rodriguez will make back-to-back starts behind the plate for the first time in two weeks. Pudge has actually been pretty hot lately, with 11 hits in his last 31 at-bats, two homers and 12 RBI. Wilson Ramos, meanwhile, has done pretty well himself, with 8 hits in 27 at-bats (including two doubles and a homer) since his recall from Class AAA Syracuse at the beginning of the month.

Jason Marquis is on the mound tonight, hoping Friday night's implosion in Philadelphia in which he retired only one of nine batters was a bump in an otherwise smooth road back from elbow surgery. Left-hander Wandy Rodriguez starts for Houston.

Check back for updates throughout...

ASTROS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 75 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (63-88)
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn
3B Ryan Zimmerman

Nats renew with Hagerstown

The Nationals have signed a two-year affiliation agreement with low-Class A Hagerstown, extending their relationship with the Suns through 2012.

The organization has now locked up all of its minor-league affiliates for the next two seasons. The full rundown will be...

AAA: Syracuse
AA: Harrisburg
High-A: Potomac
Low-A: Hagerstown
Short-season A: Auburn (N.Y.)
Rookie: Gulf Coast League (Viera, Fla.)

Clippard's rare 10/100 feat

Tyler Clippard never set out to win 10 games or strike out 100 batters. Few relievers would even set such lofty goals for themselves at the start of a season.

The workhorse of the Nationals bullpen, though, achieved each milestone last night against the Astros and in the process etched his place in baseball history.

Clippard is the first Washington-based reliever to win 10 games since Dennis Higgins of the 1969 Senators and the first to record 100 strikeouts since Bump Hadley of the 1931 Senators, according to baseball-reference.com. He's also only the second major-league reliever to pull off the 10-win, 100-strikeout combo this century, joined by Juan Rincon of the 2004 Twins.

"It's humbling," Clippard said. "I don't really know what to say. It's just one of those things that's taken place. I've gotten used a lot this year, and I've been loving to get in there as much as I can and help contribute as much as I can. And here we are."

Read more about Clippard's rare feat on CSNwashington.com.

An unlikely rally and a surprise move

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Ivan Rodriguez's two-run homer sparked the Nats' seven-run rally.

The explosion was in there somewhere. Someone just needed to light the match. Who could have predicted it would come in the form of a two-run homer by Ivan Rodriguez, off the foul pole, on an 0-2, two-out pitch in the bottom of the eighth?

And who could have predicted that blast would set in motion one of the most impressive rallies of the season, one that featured seven runs, six hits, eight straight batters reaching base, all with two outs?

"You could kind of feel the momentum shift," Tyler Clippard said. "And then Pudge came up and changed the game completely with one swing. After that, we all jumped on his back and everyone followed suit, which was awesome to see."

It turned into quite the scene, this parade of Nationals batters stepping to the plate, stroking a hit to just about any part of the field and then racing around the bases as the Astros stood there dazed and confused while the announced crowd of 11,893 went bananas.

There would still be some intrigue before the Nats' 8-4 victory was complete -- more on that in a bit -- but at night's end, this was as

Has Bernadina earned everyday job?

The Nationals entered the season with a three-headed, revolving door in right field: Willie Harris, Michael Morse and Willy Taveras.

Roger Bernadina? He opened the year at Class AAA Syracuse, having failed to capitalize on a spring training opportunity to win a spot on the big-league roster.

Six months later, the 26-year-old leads the Nats in playing time right field and ranks second only to Nyjer Morgan in playing time among all outfielders.

But does all that experience guarantee Bernadina a starting job in 2011? Not necessarily. The Nationals like much of what they've seen from the versatile outfielder during his first full season in the majors, but they haven't quite seen enough yet to declare him an everyday player.

Read the full story with Jim Riggleman's quotes on CSNwashington.com.

Nats leave Vermont for Auburn, N.Y.

The Nationals have switched affiliates at the short-season Class A level, signing a player-development contract with the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League.

The two-year deal with Auburn, which had previously been affiliated with the Blue Jays, runs through 2012 and ends the Nats' longstanding affiliation with the New York-Penn club in Burlington, Vt. The Vermont Lake Monsters had been this franchise's short-season Class A affiliate since 1994, when they were known as the Vermont Expos.

The Doubledays (named for Civil War general, Auburn native and man who incorrectly was credited with inventing baseball) are located 35 miles west of Syracuse, home of the Nationals' Class AAA affiliate. They play in 2,706-seat Falcon Park, built in 1995.

"We are delighted to add Auburn to the Nationals' family," team president Stan Kasten said in a press release. "This agreement again narrows the footprint of our minor-league system, and starting next summer, Auburn and the Doubledays' fan base will get their first glimpse at the rewards reaped from both our scouting and player development systems."

Game 151: Astros at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

John Lannan faces fellow lefty J.A. Happ tonight at Nationals Park.

One night after an embarrassingly ugly 8-2 loss to the Astros, will the Nationals rebound with a better performance that snaps their four-game losing streak? One night after the smallest paid crowd since baseball returned to the District, will attendance pick up or actually drop?

These are the broader questions surrounding tonight's game at Nationals Park. On a more-specific level, will John Lannan continue his superb second half, one that has seen the left-hander post a 6-2 record while allowing more than three runs only once? And can the Nats get some semblance of offensive production from the bottom half of their lineup? That group hasn't exactly been tearing it up lately, especially Roger Bernadina, who since the All-Star break is hitting .226 with a .279 on-base percentage and .633 OPS.

Bernadina, who has typically been hitting fifth since Josh Willingham's season came to a premature end, has been dropped down to seventh tonight against Astros lefty J.A. Happ. Ryan Zimmerman and Adam Dunn have been flip-flopped, with Michael Morse and Ivan Rodriguez each bumped up a spot to bat fifth and sixth, respectively.

Check back for updates throughout...

ASTROS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Sunny, 75 degrees, Wind 8 mph out to LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (62-88)
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
1B Adam Dunn
3B Ryan Zimmerman

Photos from instructional league

Photo courtesy Bill Scheuerman

Bryce Harper has been very much at ease in his first days as a pro ballplayer.

Workouts for the Florida instructional league have been going on for five days now, with nearly four-dozen Nationals prospects and rehabbing veterans getting some extra work in Viera before heading home for the winter.

The most notable name down there, of course, is Bryce Harper, the top draft pick who is getting his first taste of life as a professional ballplayer after signing a five-year, $9.9 million contract seconds before last month's deadline. By all indications, Harper is blending in nicely, getting along with teammates and coaches, diligently running through all his drills and interacting plenty with fans. I've already heard from several people who have gone to the complex there to see Harper and wound up getting autographs and photos with the 17-year-old catcher-turned-outfielder. Everyone has emerged impressed with the way the kid conducts himself.

Harper may draw the most attention, but he's far from the only significant player in Viera right now. He's joined by several fellow 2010 draft picks, including left-handers Sammy Solis and Robbie Ray, right-hander A.J. Cole and infielder Rick Hague. He's also joined by a pair of big leaguers still slogging their way through a season's worth of rehab: Jesus Flores and Chien-Ming Wang.

Flores, still trying to recover from a major shoulder injury rooted in a foul tip that struck him in May 2009, never did get his arm strong enough to return to the majors this season. The one-time catcher of

"Why would you come see us?"

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

With a paid crowd of only 10,999, there were plenty of empty sections.

As they trickled out of the clubhouse and began warming up for tonight's game, it quickly became obvious to members of the Nationals that they'd be playing in front of a minuscule audience.

"Before the game, we could tell the crowd was down," Jim Riggleman said. "It had all the elements that would cause that to happen."

Indeed, a Monday night contest in late September against a low-profile opponent is a bad combination and leads to small gatherings. Of course, the overriding factor has nothing to do with the night of the week, the time of the year or the name on the visiting team's jersey. It has everything to do with the home team's record and the manner in which it performs on the field.

The Nationals set a new franchise low tonight when only 10,999 seats were sold to paying customers. Then they went out and played down to the crowd, slogging their way through an 8-2 loss to the Astros that featured a seven-run fifth inning in which three errors were committed.

This, of course, was the Nats' fourth straight loss, their 10th loss in 12 games and their 73rd loss in 115 games since hitting their

"No chance" of Desmond at 2B

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Ian Desmond has played shortstop all season and will remain there in 2011.

Since he arrived in the big leagues earlier this month, Danny Espinosa has played almost exclusively at second base, filling in at shortstop only when Ian Desmond isn't in the lineup.

Espinosa, though, came up through the Nationals' farm system as a top shortstop prospect and may actually possess a stronger arm than Desmond. Which raises the question: Would the Nats ever consider having the two swap positions, with Espinosa taking over as the regular shortstop with Desmond becoming the second baseman?

Jim Riggleman had a firm answer to that question when it was posed today: "No chance."

Clearly, the Nationals view Desmond (who turned 25 today) as their long-term answer at shortstop, a conclusion they've drawn over the course of a season that has seen the rookie make some significant strides along the way. Through his first 105 games, Desmond was hitting .260 with a .296 on-base percentage, a .396 slugging percentage and a major-league-leading 27 errors. In 32 games since,

Game 150: Astros at Nats

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

The Nats open their final homestand of the season tonight against the Astros.

Well, we've reached the final homestand of the season, and it's a long one: Ten games against the Astros, Braves and Phillies before the Nationals head up to New York to finish out the season at Citi Field.

On the surface, this four-game series against Houston might look like the easiest portion of the homestand. Dig deeper, though, and this is going to be anything but easy. The Astros have actually been one of the NL's best teams for nearly four months, going 55-43 since June 1. (I'm sure it's pure coincidence that run began with three straight wins over the Nats.) Houston has also won 19 of its last 27, putting together a strong finish.

Livan Hernandez starts tonight for the Nationals, looking to earn his 11th win and even up his record at .500. Right-hander Bud Norris (8-8, 4.95) starts for Houston, having never faced any Nats hitter before.

Danny Espinosa gets the start at shortstop tonight, with Adam Kennedy at second base and Ian Desmond on the bench.

Check back for updates throughout...

ASTROS at NATIONALS
Where: Nationals Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Sunny, 74 degrees, Wind 9 mph in from LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (62-87)
SS Danny Espinosa
2B Adam Kennedy
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn

Bullpen help needed?

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Drew Storen could be the Nats' closer, but he may need some backup.

It's been without question the strongest area of the their roster all season, but the Nationals' bullpen is far from a perfect unit, as we saw yesterday in Philadelphia.

Drew Storen's ninth-inning meltdown -- four batters, four hits, four runs, game over -- was both staggering and not terribly surprising at the same time. As good as Storen has been this season, the rookie right-hander has not gotten many opportunities to close. And he certainly hadn't faced anything like the scenario presented to him yesterday: trying to protect a ninth-inning lead in a hostile ballpark against the heart of the two-time defending NL champs' lineup.

Now, in the grand scheme of things, the Nationals needed to see Storen in that situation. And Storen needed to pitch in that situation. The only way to find out whether the 23-year-old has the, uh, "onions" to close in the big leagues is to throw him into the fire and see if he comes out unscathed.

Yesterday, Storen got burned to a crisp. Now, the Nats need to find out what happens the next time he finds himself in that situation. Does he let thoughts of this blown save creep into his mind and allow it to happen again? Or does he have that character trait required of

Game 149: Nats at Phillies

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Yunesky Maya tries to salvage the series for the Nats today at Citizens Bank Park.

Citizens Bank Park hasn't been the friendliest venue for the Nationals. Since 2005, the Nats are 17-36 at the home of the Phillies. It's even worse over the last two years, when the Nats are 3-14 there. In fact, their only two wins in Philly this season came on April 15 (when Ryan Zimmerman clubbed a pinch-hit home run) and on August 21 (when Stephen Strasburg dominated for 4 1/3 innings before his elbow blew out).

So the pressure's on Yunesky Maya today to try to salvage one game out of this weekend and ensure the Nationals don't get swept in any of their three series in the City of Brotherly Love this season. In each of his two previous big-league starts, Maya has struggled through one disastrous inning early on, then rebounded to pitch quite well after that. The challenge today will be to pitch effectively from the start and then sustain that all afternoon.

Joe Blanton starts for the Phillies, facing a lineup that includes Roger Bernadina in center field and Willie Harris in left.

As you know by now, I'm not in Philadelphia for this series. I'll be back on the job tomorrow for the start of the home series against the Astros. In the meantime, enjoy today's game and please continue the conversation with each other...

NATIONALS at PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 1:35 p.m.
TV: Ch. 50, MASN
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 80 degrees, Wind 4 mph out to RF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (62-86)
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn

Game 148: Nats at Phillies

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Jordan Zimmermann faces Kyle Kendrick tonight at Citizens Bank Park.

After a blowout loss last night in which Jason Marquis retired only one of nine batters faced, the Nationals look to get back on track tonight against the Phillies.

Jordan Zimmermann gets the ball for the Nats, trying to rebound himself from a couple of ragged outings. He'll be opposed by Philadelphia right-hander Kyle Kendrick.

Familiar looking lineup for the Nationals, with Danny Espinosa leading off and Wilson Ramos catching. Justin Maxwell again starts in center field with Nyjer Morgan serving his eight-game suspension.

I'm not in Philadelphia for this series, so enjoy the game and please continue the conversation with each other...

NATIONALS at PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Sunny, 72 degrees, Wind 2 mph out to CF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (62-85)
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn

Game 147: Nats at Phillies

File photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

After taking two of three in Atlanta, the Nats take their spoiler act to Philly.

Whether it's a motivating factor for them or not, the Nationals are in position to have a significant effect on the NL playoff race. They just deal the Braves a serious blow in taking two of three at Turner Field, and this weekend at Citizens Bank Park they'll have the opportunity to do likewise to the Phillies. Then, both NL East contenders come to D.C. for the Nationals' final homestand of the season, six more games that will have a direct impact on this race.

The Phillies and Braves, of course, also still have six games against each other before season's end, and with that in mind Charlie Manuel has reconfigured his starting rotation so that his three big guns (Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels) can all face Atlanta. Oswalt still starts tonight, but then the Nats get Kyle Kendrick and Joe Blanton.

Nyjer Morgan begins serving his eight-game suspension tonight. Justin Maxwell will be taking his place in center field tonight, flanked by Roger Bernadina and Willie Harris, but that alignment could change on a daily basis.

Jason Marquis starts tonight, pitching on Yom Kippur, which is something he's done in the past but takes into consideration each time the situation arises. Marquis, who is Jewish, told me last week he will probably be fasting as custom dictates and attending services with his family tomorrow near his home on Staten Island.

In observance of the holiday, which runs from sundown tonight to sundown tomorrow, I won't be in Philadelphia for this series. Enjoy the game and please continue the conversation with each other...

NATIONALS at PHILLIES
Where: Citizens Bank Park
Gametime: 7:05 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: WFED-1500 AM, WWFD-820 AM
Weather: Partly cloudy, 75 degrees, Wind 7 mph in from LF

STARTING LINEUPS
NATIONALS (62-84)
2B Danny Espinosa
SS Ian Desmond
3B Ryan Zimmerman
1B Adam Dunn

Should Bryce Harper play in AFL?

Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

Bryce Harper, who turns 18 next month, may play in the Arizona Fall League.

Forty-six Nationals prospects have convened in Viera, Fla., and today will begin workouts for the Florida instructional league. Only one of them will be attracting significant media attention: Bryce Harper.

Several media outlets will be present today for Harper's first workout as a professional, just as several media outlets were present one year ago for Stephen Strasburg's first workout (including one represented by yours truly). I won't be in Viera today, but I do have some spies on the ground who hopefully will share some details of the proceedings.

Unlike Strasburg, Harper seems to relish the spotlight, so my guess is he won't have any trouble dealing with all the attention. Ultimately, though, his priorities over the next month are to begin experiencing life as a professional ballplayer, learn a new position (right field, not catcher) and show the first glimpses of what he can accomplish on a baseball field.

Somewhere along the way, Mike Rizzo has an important decision to make: Should Harper move from the instructional league to play in the Arizona Fall League?

Typically, there would be no debate. Of course you wouldn't send a kid who will still be 17 years old when the league begins play on October