Send Mark Zuckerman to Viera

There’s a cool movement afoot among Nationals fans to respond to the fact that the team is on the verge of having basically zero full time, independent (ie not affiliated with the team) beat writers, as the Washington Times has ended sports coverage, and the Post’s beat writer, Chico Harlan announced months ago that he was leaving the beat and didn’t want to cover the Nationals anymore.

Check it out.

CSN: Beltway Baseball: Jim Riggleman’s Week Out

Spell Kasten...the Nats way.

While this is the first NatsFest for Riggleman as a manager in Washington, he’s been down this road before. He has also coached the San Diego Padres, the Chicago Cubs, and the Seattle Mariners (as interim manager).  But even with past experience, Riggleman was asked some questions that seemed to take him by surprise.

At the Hot Stove Luncheon last Friday, Nats TV analyst Rob Dibble asked the skipper about his awareness and involvement with steroids in the late 1990s. Riggleman was manager of the Cubs during Sammy Sosa’s chase of the single season home-run record. He began his answer by responding lightheartedly with “thanks a lot.” After the crowd reacted, team president Stan Kasten remarked in jest about Dibble’s television contract security and looked displeased as Riggleman began to speak.

Riggleman explained that he had not been asked a question about that topic. While Tony La Russa has been scrutinized about Mark McGwire, no one had yet questioned Riggleman about it. He said that he had been anticipating it, but thought the topic may have passed on.

He continued to describe managing in the Steroid Era: “It’s hard to believe, but we were really naive about it.  When you’re there, you kind of just don’t even really think about it. You see the guy getting bigger and you’re thinking ‘Man, he’s working hard.’ We all missed it.”

MASN: Wood: Another view of Orlando Hudson

I believe it was noted philologist turned pinch-hitter deluxe, Friedrich Nietzscheinblum, that said...“The best weapon against an enemy ballplayer is another enemy ballplayer”

However, there are some in the game who feel that Hudson’s year with the Dodgers - while solid statistically from all indications - is not beyond criticism. I spoke at length today with a prominent National League pro scout who knows Hudson quite well.

“Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player,” he said, “but I know the Dodgers were bothered by his constant fraternization with players on other teams. Joe Torre is kind of old school in that regard, and Hudson was always hanging out with opposing players before games.”

But couldn’t something like that be overlooked if the player puts up the numbers?

“Maybe, but Hudson’s offense really slipped in the second half,” he continued. “No one expected he’d hit .330 all season [Hudson batted about .332 in April and May], but his average dropped about 30 points the second half of the season.”

Doing some basic math, from April through June Hudson hit .297; from July through the end of the season he hit .270.

Hillis Layne, former Seattle Rainier, dies at 91

Hillis Layne, whose 17-year playing career in professional baseball included a Pacific Coast League batting title with the Seattle Rainiers in 1947, died Jan. 12 in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was 91.
[...]
Signed by the Washington Senators, Layne played three full seasons in the major leagues from 1941 to 1945, but missed parts of three seasons because of military service.

The left-handed hitter, listed as 6 feet, 170 pounds, played mostly third base. He played 17 seasons in the minor leagues, appearing in nearly 2,000 games and batting .335. He played three years for the Rainiers, leading the PCL in batting in 1947 with a .367 average. He hit .342 the next year. His last full season in Seattle was 1949.

MLB: Nationals Make Offer to Orlando Hudson

How much is that O-Dog...worth?

Free-agent second baseman Orlando Hudson wants to play for the Nationals, but he is shopping for a more lucrative deal, according to a baseball source.

Since becoming a free agent, Hudson has asked for $9 million, but the Nationals are not willing to give him that kind of money.

This past season, Hudson, 32, made a base salary of $3.38 million, but with incentives, he received close to $7 million as a member of the Dodgers.

According to a published report, the Nationals have offered Hudson $3 million, with incentives that could bring the value of the contract to $4 million.

According to the source, Hudson understood why it took until Feb. 22 to sign with the Dodgers last year. He was coming off a wrist injury and people in baseball were not sure if he was healthy. Hudson is 100 percent now and doesn’t want to take a pay cut, because he feels he had a good season in 2009, hitting .283 with nine home runs and 62 RBIs for Los Angeles.

Hudson did not return several phone messages.

Washington Nationals: Skipper Jim Riggleman On XM With Rob Dibble

Q: Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez? What do you expect? Will he mentor catchers or pitchers?

Jim Riggleman: “Well, he’ll do both. I think he’s taken on that a little bit in the last couple years on clubs that he’s been on, whereas in the past that wasn’t part of his game, but I think he will mentor some other players. I think he’ll give us an air of confidence with our pitchers when they look in and see who’s back there, but, you know, he’s still a good player, he’s not just a senior citizen on the club. This guy can block balls, throws the ball very well, he’s an athlete back there and he kind of puts in the mind to the other ballclub that you just can’t get on and go. We’ve got a chance to stop your running game. If our pitcher gives him any chance at all, he can throw people out and he’s a good hitter. I only saw Pudge in games that we played against him, but the last couple years that I saw him, I actually commented to him a couple times through the last couple years that he really was swinging into some bad luck? He was hitting a lot of balls right on the barrel, right at people, and that’s just the way it goes sometimes. All you can do is try to hit the ball hard in our game and his numbers are not bad, offensively he’s still a productive hitter, but he can’t continue to hit into that kind of bad luck, cause this guy hit a lot of “at’em” balls...”

Cappydick wants to know if there is any truth to this…

Baseball Picture of the Day: “Thanks for the hint, Jason.”

18 days until the greatest words in the world are said.

By which I mean “Pitchers and Catchers report today.”

“It’s a Boy (or Girl)”, “I Do”, “You’ve won a million dollars”, “I love you” and “You have been accepted to [prestigious university here]” are just runners up.

All Parents, Married People, Millionaires, Lovers and Snobby High-Level Collegiates can complain all they want.

Today’s image comes from a Nationals event that took place JUST YESTERDAY:

And now, my guess of how Jason Marquis ended up doing this:

“Who are you?”
“I’m Jason Marquis.”
“Who are you again?”
“Jason Marquis, 2009 All-Star, member of the 2006 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals.”
“Wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.”
“I threw a no-hitter in the third-place game of the 1991 Little League World Series.”
“Yes, but I’m sorry, I still don’t know who you are. You are wearing a Nationals jersey, after all, and you are not Ryan Zimmerman or Stephen Strasburg. So I don’t know who you are.”
“Maybe this will help. I’ll hold my name in front of me the entire time.”
“Oh, you are Jason Marquis! What the hell are you doing on the Nationals?”

Creative Commons:

Tomorrow: The Japanese Cy Young

Bryce Harper shows flair in CSN debut

Coyote Gold Mine!

Washington Nationals scout Jeff Zona was happy to talk baseball during top-ranked College of Southern Nevada’s season opener against Arizona Western on Friday—so long as the discussion wasn’t about Bryce Harper.

Harper, a 17-year-old CSN freshman who is the top-rated baseball prospect in the country, started at third base and went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk in his college debut, an 11-4 CSN victory at Morse Stadium in Henderson.

Harper is projected to be taken by Washington with the first pick in June’s first-year player draft. But Zona wasn’t about to tip the Nationals’ hand four months before draft day.

“I can’t say anything about Bryce Harper,” said Zona, one of five members of the Nationals organization on hand to scout Harper and others in the Coyote Border Battle tournament.

Washington assistant general managers Bob Boone and Roy Clark and scouting director Kris Kline also attended CSN’s opener, witnessed by the largest crowd in the program’s 11-year history, about 1,300. Kline also declined comment about Harper.

MASN: Wood: A Dunn extension and a man of letters

Not play bat-ista...but then I decided against it and included him.

I was told on Monday - off-the-record - that the Nationals were interested in signing Adam Dunn to a contract extension.

Now that it’s out there, I’ll quote someone who’s pretty close to Adam who told me that Dunn’s preference is to play baseball, not play bat.

“Adam really doesn’t want to DH in the American League. He wants to play the field, and believes his first base defense has reached the adequate level. He knows he’s no Gold Glover, but believes that he’ll get better, and is anxious to improve that aspect of his game.”

If you’ve been through the Nats’ clubhouse, it’s pretty clear that Dunn’s a one-for-all, all-for-one kind of guy. His teammates love him. If he’s determined to play in the field - and he’s still in his prime - then he’s got to play in the National League. In another story he described the extension talks as being at the zero stage, and inasmuch as they’ve just started, that’s a fair assessment.

The other bit of interesting news is the signing of Miguel Batista to a minor league contract. Batista is no kid - he’ll turn 39 in 3 weeks - but he’s coming off of an effective year in the Seattle bullpen. He’s below .500 for his career, both starting and relieving, and has been in the organization before, originally signing wth the Expos in 1988, and pitching in Montreal 1998-2000. He made $9.5 million with the M’s last year, so a minor league deal is quite a step down. He pitched for Jim Riggleman in Seattle in 2008, and knows Mike Rizzo from his time with Arizona, so perhaps those connections played some role in today’s signing.

MASN: A Dunn extension and a man of letters

I was told on Monday - off-the-record - that the Nationals were interested in signing Adam Dunn to a contract extension.

Now that it’s out there, I’ll quote someone who’s pretty close to Adam who told me that Dunn’s preference is to play baseball, not play bat.

“Adam really doesn’t want to DH in the American League. He wants to play the field, and believes his first base defense has reached the adequate level. He knows he’s no Gold Glover, but believes that he’ll get better, and is anxious to improve that aspect of his game.”

If you’ve been through the Nats’ clubhouse, it’s pretty clear that Dunn’s a one-for-all, all-for-one kind of guy. His teammates love him. If he’s determined to play in the field - and he’s still in his prime - then he’s got to play in the National League. In another story he described the extension talks as being at the zero stage, and inasmuch as they’ve just started, that’s a fair assessment.

WaPo Nationals Journal/Sheinin: The Bacsik-Bonds at-bat, pitch-by-pitch

Did he or didn’t he? Sheinin goes to the replay:

Luckily, MLB.com has the entire game in its archive. (I found it by googling “Bonds 756 video,” then clicking on this link, then the “watch” button next to “Bonds hits No. 756.” This brings up the pop-up media player with a replay of the home run. Near the top right of the media player is an option to open a linescore, from which you can choose any half-inning to pick up the full game action. I chose the bottom of the fifth, and there was Barry, digging in the batter’s box.)

Keith Law: Top 100 prospects

NO.  PLAYER
1 Jason Heyward, OF, ATL
2 Stephen Strasburg, RHP, WAS
3 Carlos Santana, C, CLE
4 Buster Posey, C, SFO
5 Mike Stanton, OF, FLA
6 Desmond Jennings, OF, TAM
7 Martin Perez, LHP, TEX
8 Dustin Ackley, CF, SEA
9 Justin Smoak, 1B, TEX
10 Jesus Montero, C, NYY
11 Brian Matusz, LHP, BAL
12 Starlin Castro, SS, CHC
13 Neftali Feliz, RHP, TEX
14 Domonic Brown, RF, PHI
15 Wade Davis, RHP, TAM
16 Aroldis Chapman, LHP, CIN
17 Jeremy Hellickson, RHP, TAM
18 Casey Kelly, RHP, BOS
19 Aaron Hicks, RHP, MIN
20 Brett Wallace, 1B, TOR
21 Logan Morrison, 1B, FLA
22 Tyler Matzek, LHP, COL
23 Jenrry Mejia, RHP, NYM
24 Michael Taylor, OF, OAK
25 Zach Britton, LHP, BAL

Scouting reports for the top 25 should be free, I think.

WaPo: Jim Bowden interviews Mike Rizzo

So former Nats GM Jim Bowden--co-hosting a SIRIUS XM MLB Home Plate show with Seth Everett--interviewed current Nats GM Mike Rizzo Wednesday morning. That’s like Vinny Cerrato interviewing Bruce Allen on the radio. That’s like Glen Hanlon interviewing Bruce Boudreau on the radio. Heck, that’s like Tony Kornheiser interviewing Mike Wise on the radio.

“First of all, how’s my office?” began Bowden in the session’s only awkward moment. “How does the chair feel? And how do you like the three TVs you’re staring at right now?”

“The three TVs are doing well,” Rizzo said amiably, possessing the calm self-assuredness of the victor. “The office is a little chilly right now, as you remember. I’m trying to get a little more comfortable. You know, it’s a big seat to fill.”

“Well, I’m trying to lose weight,” Bowden responded.

They should go on the road, these two.

Bizarreness aside, it actually made for great radio, since Bowden was in a position of some power, knowing what he does. The questions were sometimes more interesting than the answers, as when Bowden raised the inevitable question about club finances.

“Mike, the Nationals’ payroll, based on the other 30 clubs, was 28th in financial exposure long term,” Bowden began. “The only two players you have signed long term, you have Dunn for one more year and of course Ryan Zimmerman. Do you think there’ll be a time where the Nationals will be able to play for the top free agents in the marketplace?”

Answer and the rest of the transcript in the link.

MASN: A Q-and-A with Jim Riggleman

Uncle Wrigglebee gives his forecast…

Q: This is your first chance to run a camp as a manager in quite a while, and put it together the way you want it to look. What kinds of things will you stress once you get there?

A: It’s going to be pretty much like any other camp. We’re not going to reinvent the game. It will be full of everything the other clubs do: Basics, fundamentals, batting practice, ground balls, first-and-third defense. You try to stress the attention to detail, teach everything as if nobody knows anything and give the players the respect of being good baseball people. We hope to make this group a team. We go in as a group and hope to end spring training as a team. It’s a lot of basics, not a lot different from any other club.

Q: You spent a lot of time drilling fundamentals with early work when you took over as the interim manager last season. Do you see this camp as an extension of that?

A: Yeah, we’ll try to continue that. I don’t want to overstress or continue to repeat the point too much, but the situation last year, we really wanted to be doing that all along. I became the manager, but when I was a coach (under Manny Acta), we wanted to be doing a lot of that work all along. It was kind of a strange year weather-wise. We wanted to do it, but field was so wet so many days. And then the weather would get good, but we’d be on the road, where you can’t get that defensive work early. It wasn’t any particular brainchild of mine. It was stuff we knew we needed to do, thing that you have to weigh into it is, it was a change that was going to happen anyway. I happened to be the manager, and as I institute that pregame work, make the change in our schedule, some people are going to be saying, ‘Why are we doing this?’ Players have to buy into it. They’ve got to trust you that this is needed. To their credit, they did buy in. They did the work, and got better.

MASN: Could Elijah Dukes have a breakout season for Nats?

Only if they make Henry Charrière his roommate…

Manager Jim Riggleman is excited about the prospects in the Nats outfield this upcoming season, especially the chances of Elijah Dukes having a season to remember.

I asked Jim about Elijah recently and he told me, “I think Elijah can have a big year. He did well for himself in right field (last season). He had a lot of assists and is getting to be a finished product at his position.”

Do you think Elijah can have a big year at the plate?

“Offensively, we are just scratching the surface with Elijah. He can definitely hit more home runs than he hit last season. That will bring his RBI total up, whether he is knocking them in or crossing the plate himself. Despite not being up with the club the entire season, he did have 58 RBI in 364 at bats, which was pretty productive.”

Montreal Expos, Forgotten by Many, Are Reuniting in Cooperstown

There is an episode of “Newhart,” the 1980s sitcom set at a lodge in Vermont, in which George the handyman considers which baseball team to root for. The Montreal Expos were somewhat local, but they would not do.

“I can’t figure out their hats,” he said. “I mean, is it an ‘M’ or are they trying to spell out Expos?”

Such was the plight of the Expos, baseball’s mystery team from 1969 through 2004. They had erratic fan support, a bubbly M on their caps and a furry orange mascot with an exclamation point on his jersey (Youppi!). They also had an ever-flowing pipeline of talent that continues to make an impact.

The time is right for some serious nostalgia over Les Expos: Gene Mauch! Coco Laboy! Boots Day!

NYBD: If Not Damon, Why Not Austin Kearns?

My first preference for the Yankees as far as left field is concerned for 2010 is to bring back Johnny Damon.

The veteran outfielder won’t sign with any other team until he is 100 percent certain the Yankees will not offer him any kind of contract. To me, an incentive-laden deal is in line for a player who could contribute like Damon, but apparently the budget is not.

Such being the case, the Yankees ought to take a chance on Austin Kearns, a former first-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds (1998), who spent most of the last four seasons with the Washington Nationals.

An option I had not considered. Maybe they could have him bat cleanup, too.

Nationals have higher hopes for 2010 | nationals.com: News

“Just what makes that little old ant
Think he’ll move that rubber tree plant
Anyone knows an ant, can’t
Move a rubber tree plant

But he’s got high hopes, he’s got high hopes
He’s got high apple pie, in the sky hopes

So any time your gettin’ low
’stead of lettin’ go
Just remember that ant
Oops there goes another rubber tree plant”

MASN: Kerr: When will Strasburg debut? Look to Tim Lincecum

Asking the experts, I checked in Potomac Nationals pitching coach Paul Menhart. Paul was Stephen’s pitching coach during his tenure in the Arizona Fall League and knows Strasburg very well.

Do you see a comparison between Tim Lincecum and Stephen Strasburg?

“The kid is worthy of comparison in my opinion. He is the best I have ever seen at his age and this stage of his career. Lincecum was not as highly touted coming out as Strasburg.

Roger Clemens might be a better comparison. Clemens was a freakish super college ball player who was a no brainer to be in big leagues. I feel Strasburg, will reach an outstanding level of success in the Majors barring injuries and the unforeseen.”

So can Strasburg start the season with the Nats?

“The team already has a plan for Stephen and where they want him to start. He will most likely show in spring training he can pitch in the big leagues, stuff wise. The question is: is he ready mentally?

Thanks to Beano.

BPro: Laurila: Prospectus Q&A Jim Riggleman

DL: In a perfect world, would you rather have a speed team or a power team?

JR: I think somewhere in between. I like baseball players. I like guys who can run well enough that they can go first to third, and they can run well enough that they can score from second on a single or from first on a double. Not necessarily base stealers, but good base runners. I like hitters who can put the ball in play. I guess, in a nutshell, I would prefer a 15 home run, 45 doubles guy who doesn’t strike out much over a 30 home run guy who strikes out all the time. Now, if you’re getting 45 homers, that’s different. But I like guys who can put the ball in play so you can start runners in front of them. I also like guys who can field their position and aren’t one-dimensional players.

DL: What do you stand on the school of thought that a strikeout is no worse than any other out that doesn’t advance a runner?

JR: I call them unproductive outs. There are outs that you can make in the game that are productive outs, where you advance a runner or stay out of a double play—that type of thing. I’m obviously… I think that everybody would prefer that their guys don’t strike out a lot, but there are players in the game who are extremely successful with relatively high strikeout numbers, because they hit the ball out of the ball park. We’ve got one of the best in the game, but your home run numbers have to be very high to make that work, and it’s hard to find those people who can hit that many home runs.

DL: What about when it comes to statistical analysis? Acta is regarded as being pretty progressive in that respect.

JR: Well, I’m probably not as astute on the computer as Manny is, but the information that comes out of that computer…I like getting that information. I like to sort it out and see what I want to use, just as Manny does, but he’s probably a little better at going into the computer himself and getting it than I am.

WaPo: Capps picks Nats over Cubs

The Nats beat the Senate by several hours in improving Washington’s health...at least on South Capitol Street.

At roughly 1 a.m., the Nationals got their man.

Making their clearest step yet to improve a bullpen and end their pained search for a closer, the Washington Nationals on Wednesday reached a deal with free agent reliever Matt Capps, according to agent Paul Kinzer.

Terms were not immediately disclosed, but the right-hander, who has saved 66 games in the last three seasons, will receive a one-year deal. In turn, he will likely inherit responsibility for the ninth-inning role—a trouble spot in 2009.

Capps, non-tendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates earlier this month, had attracted some dozen suitors, and this week narrowed his list to two, the Nationals and the Chicago Cubs. But Capps, Pittsburgh’s closer since 2007, wanted a chance to close—and Washington offered a clearer path toward that opportunity.

MASN: Wood: High pitch counts, Marquis & Guardado

Don Drysdale, Early Wynn and Jason Marquis. (blows into envelope) “A late loss, an early win and, well...Jason Marquis” (laugh sign flashes)

Maybe you’ve seen it recently on the MLB Network: the last game of the 1983 ALCS between the Orioles and White Sox.

Britt Burns pitched for Chcago that day, and took it into the 10th inning when he allowed a home run to Tito Landrum. He was removed at that point for a reliever, but his pitch count was over 140.

And the game’s announcers - Don Drysdale and Early Wynn, both Hall of Fame righthanders - made no big deal out of it. That was due largely to the era in which they pitched, when pitchers routinely threw more pitches than they do today - and the rulebook strike zone seemed to actually matter - and the simple fact that a quarter-century ago a pitch count wasn’t nearly as important in the overall scheme of things.

I spoke with Nats’ GM Mike Rizzo about that telecast at yesterday’s Jason Marquis press conference, and he chalked it up to the game’s economics. “When we started paying these guys so much money, we tended to want to protect our investment,” he said. “It’s not that that we don’t think these guys could do it,” he continued. “If someone like a Jason Marquis were in a must-win, post-season-type game for us and was effective past the 100-pitch level, I think we’d let him stay in the game if he felt strongly about it.”

Inasmuch as Marquis only has six career complete games, I don’t think it’s likely we’ll see him in the tenth inning anytime soon, much less the ninth, but he does have good command of the strike zone, and averaged just a shade over 2 non-intentional walks per outing in 2009.

Washington Post: Nats nearing deal with veteran reliever Guardado

And the Nats add another All-Star!

Continuing an active offseason, the Washington Nationals are close to a contract agreement with free agent reliever Eddie Guardado, according to a source. The terms of the deal with the 39-year-old lefty, first reported by Foxsports.com, remain unknown.

Topps Lands Strasburg

The deal gives the company the right to sell autographed cards and game-used memorabilia, and allows Topps to use Strasburg’s image on packaging and advertising.

This is the first big endorsement deal announced by Topps since it became the exclusive trading card of both the majors and minors. It’s also the first endorsement for Strasburg, who landed a record-breaking contract when he signed with the Nationals in June. The 21-year-old pitcher went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA for San Diego State last season.

“I can’t wait to see myself in uniform on my first Topps card,” Strasburg said in a press release from Topps. “That’s when I know I will have truly made it as a baseball player.”

Just like Pete Broberg and his Marvins Magic Drawing Boardian cap!

MLB: Nyjer Morgan, Sean Burnett hope Capps joins Nats

Both Morgan and Burnett know Capps well. As recently as last June, they were all teammates when they were with the Pirates. Morgan and Burnett said Capps is a great teammate and would help the Nationals’ bullpen, which ranked 30th in ERA [5.09]. They also said Capps holds himself accountable whenever he has a not-so-stellar outing on the mound.

Capps, 26, has spent his entire five-year career with the Pirates, collecting 67 saves while posting a 3.61 ERA. He was non-tendered by Pittsburgh on Dec. 12. MLB.com reported last week that the Nationals are a finalist to acquire Capps.

“I love everything about the guy,” Morgan said. “That guy is a winner. He has a bulldog mentality. He throws strikes and has been through adversity. He is a friend of mine, too. I have so many good things to say about the guy.

“If he came over to Washington, he would have the greatest opportunities. We are on the rise after getting Ivan Rodriguez. Matt is still young and can pick his brain.”

Shouldn’t brains be picked after removing Capps?

MASN: Kerr: Dunn will get defensive at first base

Adam Dunn and jiu jitsu?

There was some talk out there this week that Dunn might need to improve on his defense to help out his cause to get a new extended deal with the Nats. I say Dunn is good enough at first base and can get better. And when you have that kind of power in your lineup, he only makes everyone else better, just ask Zimmerman.

I asked manager Jim Riggleman about Dunn defensively at first base.

Jim told me “Adam can play good defense at first base. He will do fine. He picks balls up from the dirt good. He is a good target with his big frame for high throws. Adam can pick guys off first base and throw to second base well. He’s very good at that. Adam has got pretty good hands.”

“It is all about range. We will look to improve on his range in spring training. He and I have talked about it. Myself and the coaches want to position Adam so he can get to more balls. He will do fine at first base.”

“Adam is excited about the upcoming year. He has been learning jiu jitsu to improve his agility and has been working hard. He will come in to spring training in good shape. Dunn is the least of our concerns.”

Thanks to Pollo.

Fox Sports: Cubs ‘not leaning toward’ any particular CF

Now that the Cubs have dealt Milton Bradley to Seattle, they will move Kosuke Fukudome to right field and find a new center fielder.

As of early Saturday afternoon, though, the Cubs were “not leaning toward” any one candidate in their search, one major league source said.

Marlon Byrd and Scott Podsednik are the strongest options among free agents, sources say. Rick Ankiel, who had a difficult 2009 season with St. Louis, is a less likely option.

Byrd is coming off a career year in which he batted .283 with 20 home runs and 89 RBIs for the Rangers. Byrd, 32, has the added value of being able to play all three outfield positions.

And from Morosi.

#Cubs have asked #Nationals about Nyjer Morgan, but Washington doesn’t want to move him. http://bit.ly/6SKSZE

Steinberg: Stan Kasten interviews Adam Dunn

More powerful than a Bernarr Macfadden interview!

“I think a lot of Adam’s future hinges on the transition [to first base] he makes,” Kasten said at one point. “And Adam, you know I’ve said this to you personally, you are so skilled at the plate, you are so athletic...but the rest of your career will be determined by how well you make the transition to first. Everyone on our team knows you can be a very good first baseman. If you do, you have a long future in the National League playing two ways. Otherwise, if you don’t, you’ll wind up having to be an American League player far too early in your career. Because as I said, I don’t even think you’re at the midpoint of your career now. And your ability to stay in the National League...it’s all gonna be dependent on how far you come in becoming a really good first baseman.”

Not exactly a Jim Rome question there. I mean, the player does his boss a favor by calling in to his radio show, and all he gets in return is a lecture.

...Which is not to say that Dunn didn’t say anything interesting. The one softball Kasten provided was about Dunn’s first year in D.C., but rather than provide pap, Dunn brought the truth. Sort of.

“I think the first year for me was disappointing, because I knew and I know we have the talent to win,” Dunn said. “This was a very disappointing season for me, and I know it was for the fans, and it should have been. But I can promise you that we have the right people in place, and we’re getting some of the riff-raff out of there and kind of getting a main core together and turning this thing around. And it’s not gonna be five years from now. I really believe the moves that you guys are making this year, it’s what we needed.”

Wow. Who was the riff-raff? And how does he like being in Pittsburgh?

Federal Baseball: Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo On Pudge Rodriguez

Wasn’t Pudgerizzo the name of the opera singer that punk-haired Shemp pinged all those grapes at? I hope he saved some…

Q: How did the deal come together? What does signing Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez mean to DC?

Mike Rizzo: “Going into the offseason we had a check list of things that we wanted to accomplish,” DC GM Mike Rizzo responded when asked what Pudge Rodriguez signing in Washington meant for the Nationals, “to address the catching situation was certainly a priority for us, with the injury and the surgery to Jesus Flores, we thought that we needed a person that could be a significant contributor to the ball club, particulary in 2010, but in 2010 and beyond, and when we made our checklist and our evaluations, and it was very evident very quickly in the process, when we gathered all our evaluators together in one place, that we were no longer looking for “a” catcher to fill that role, we were looking for Ivan Rodriguez to fill that role.”

Q: Why Pudge?

Mike Rizzo: “Not only his character, his leadership abilities, his track record and the aura that he brings to a clubhouse, but also for the fact that he threw out 38% of the would-be base stealers, which was fourth in all of baseball last year, has a potent bat and we think that there’s a lot left in the tank with this particular player.”

Loverro: Nats’ shopping isn’t done

“If the Nationals are willing to shell out $6 million for Pudge, they also are ready to spend money on more substantial needs.” Uhhh...like bailing out The Washington Times?

Starting pitching is the highest priority, and Rizzo indicated before he left Indianapolis that he will not be scared off by the contracts awarded the likes of Randy Wolf, who got a three-year, $29.75 million deal from the Brewers, or Rich Harden, who signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Rangers.

“I guess [saying a deal is for] a lot of money is in the eye of the beholder,” Rizzo said. “I think each pitcher is an individual situation, and there’s a value placed on each individual pitcher. If you sign a player for what you believe and what you deem his value is, that’s a fair and equitable deal.”

Rizzo, serving under Bowden last winter, coveted Wolf from afar, and the one-year, $5 million deal Wolf signed with the Dodgers at the time turned out to be a bargain.

Now the Nationals must set their sights on the respectable starters still available: Jarrod Washburn, Jon Garland, Jason Marquis, Joel Pineiro and Vicente Padilla - though it is disturbing that a troubled player like Padilla is even under consideration.