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Breaking down the final roster [Mark Zuckerman]


After today's flurry of roster moves and other tidbits, the Nationals have all but finalized their Opening Day roster. Here's where things stand one week from the season opener:


ON THE TEAM
PITCHERS (10)
John Patterson
Shawn Hill
Matt Chico
Jerome Williams
Chad Cordero
Jon Rauch
Ryan Wagner
Ray King
Micah Bowie
Levale Speigner


CATCHERS (2)
Brian Schneider
Jesus Flores


INFIELDERS (7)
Dmitri Young
Felipe Lopez
Cristian Guzman
Ryan Zimmerman
Ronnie Belliard
Robert Fick
Josh Wilson


OUTFIELDERS (4)
Austin Kearns
Ryan Church
Chris Snelling
Kory Casto


FIGHTING FOR THE LAST TWO SPOTS
RHP Jason Bergmann
RHP Chris Booker
RHP Saul Rivera
RHP Jesus Colome
OF Abraham Nunez


DISABLED LIST (6)
Nick Johnson
Luis Ayala
Alex Escobar
Mike O'Connor
Nook Logan
Jason Simontacchi


A few things to note:


-- Neither Logan nor Simontacchi is expected to be out long (both have strained groins) but neither will be ready for Opening Day. Logan will be on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 24 (so he'll be eligible to return April 8). Simontacchi, because he's a non-roster invitee, doesn't have to actually go on the DL. The Nats can just add him to the roster whenever he's ready to go, which may not be more than a week or 10 days into the season.


-- The starting rotation for the first week will be Patterson, Hill, Chico, Williams and either Bergmann or Speigner. Bergmann, who starts Monday against the Tigers, appears to have the leg up on Speigner, who will probably serve as a long man in the bullpen.


-- With Logan out, Church becomes the everyday center fielder and Casto likely becomes the regular left fielder (though Snelling will get his share of playing time). Manny Acta said Casto will also get an occasional start at first base to give Young a breather.


-- There are officially 28 healthy left in camp, with two spots unsecured. Those could both be given to pitchers (such as Bergmann and one of the relievers) or the Nats could decide to go with an 11-man staff for the first week and carry Nunez as a fifth outfielder. Much will depend on who ends up as the No. 5 starter (and don't discount the possibility of a last-minute trade or other acquisition to fill that role).


-- Your Opening Day lineup probably looks something like this:


2B Lopez
SS Guzman
3B Zimmerman
RF Kearns
1B Young
CF Church
C Schneider
LF Casto
P Patterson


Here's my question, though: How long until Casto or Snelling is hitting second, with Guzman bumped down to the 8-hole? Over/under is two weeks.

Comments (2)

From a fromer Mariners fan, You guys will love Snelling. If he can stay healthy and Acta is willing to play him...you wont be sorry.

Ye who have little faith. I think Guz deserves more than 2 weeks to prove he can hit #2. I say, double that, at least. While spring training is not like the regular season, he has shown flashes of his old self, pre-Nats. If his Twins like performance continues he will indeed be entrenched as #2.

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