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Q: What's John Patterson's status so far this spring? Any idea whether his persistent injuries might be affecting his first-class stuff?
-- Ian Knight

A: Patterson made his first start Saturday against the Orioles, and while he admitted he wasn't totally comfortable on the mound, he still managed to toss two effective innings. Now, this was his first appearance against a major-league opponent since July, so it's admittedly going to take a few more outings for Patterson to get his feel back. But he and the team insist last year's forearm injury is no longer anything to be concerned about, and he's poised to make 30 starts and pitch 200 innings this year.

That may be asking a lot from a guy who's never reached the 200-inning plateau, and until he does prove his durability, Patterson will always be labeled as being soft. I think John knows this, which is why he's sounded particularly determined this spring to advance his career. The past two years, he was generally quiet and reserved, deferring to Livan Hernandez as the anchor of the Nationals' pitching staff. This year, he's carrying himself differently, being much more open and generally acting like he's the ace of the rotation.

Whether that translates into a much-awaited breakthrough season from Patterson remains to be seen. But it's certainly encouraging to see this new incarnation of him.