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Q: With all of the talk about needing/wanting players on the roster who can play multiple positions, are we going to see "musical chairs" come Opening Day? After Nick Johnson was injured last September, we saw everyone from Robert Fick to Brian Schneider at first base. Are we in for more of the same this coming season or will Manny Acta establish permanent positions for the guys? I would think it would be easier or better for a player to develop his skills at a single position instead of trying to play multiple positions in the field. What's your take on this? Am I way off base?
-- Lisa S., Springfield, Va.

A: I think you'll see some musical chairs as the season plays out, but not a ton. As much as managers would prefer to have eight guys playing the same position every single day, that's usually not the case on below-average teams.

The only Nationals who are basically assured of playing every day are Brian Schneider, Ryan Zimmerman, Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez. Cristian Guzman could be an everyday guy, but we still don't know how his shoulder's going to hold up. Three positions (first base, left field, center field) don't have solidly entrenched starters, though, so I think you'll see a revolving door at times. The winner of the Dmitri Young/Travis Lee competition will start at first base with Robert Fick getting some fill-in time. And I think you'll see a three-way merry-go-round in left and center fields, with some combination of Ryan Church, Nook Logan and Chris Snelling getting playing time.