From John in New Carrollton:
Hey Mark, just had a compliment and a question. I wanted to commend you guys for the excellent coverage thus far this Spring, you all have really stepped your game up this year. My question is this: Who, as of right now, is your "surprise" Opening Day Roster player? Thanks!
Mark Zuckerman:
Thanks for the compliment -- we appreciate that so many people are paying attention to the work we're doing down here. As far as a surprise roster member goes, I'm actually of the belief that there aren't going to be many surprises. There are, believe it or not, more major-league caliber players in camp this spring than available roster spots. So I think it's going to be tough for a surprise candidate to crack it. But here's a possibility for you: Jesus Flores. I have a feeling that either Paul Lo Duca or Johnny Estrada (more likely Estrada) won't be recovered in time for Opening Day, and that could open a spot for Flores on the roster.

From Jay B.
Times and you in particular are doing a great job this year covering the Nats. I am hopeful that the MASN Deal will help to justify the resources even more you are putting towards Baseball. The Blog needs work. Will you be able to allow real time posting of our comment? Without it as you must already know, it is only a one way tool.
How is Lopez dealing with being out played and out hit again? I know it is early but both Ronnie and Guzman are off to hot starts and Lopez seems to be predisposed to get his head down quickly. Is it better than last year or are you starting to see the same old same old? I understand he is young and talented but I will never get over the lack of effort he put into the game last year. I would rather cut him loose and spend $5 million on pitching.
Keep up the good work.
Mark Zuckerman:
Wow, the compliments are coming in from all over the place. And these aren't even members of my family! ... It's early, but Felipe Lopez is not off to a rousing start (though he did homer last night in Vero Beach). He came to camp with a positive attitude, and I can't say I've really seen that change over the last two weeks. But you're right: If the season opened today, I don't see how the Nats can't go with Guzman-Belliard up the middle.

Note: It appears the link to send in questions is now working again.

From John:
Any word on how guys like Marrero and Burgess have looked? Bowden mentioned liking that he got to see Marrero, Burgess, and Stephen Souza and it made me wonder which young guys have stood out at that camp.
Mark Zuckerman:
Had a chance to watch three innings of the accelerated camp game yesterday morning (with Odalis Perez dominating on the mound) so I've now seen some of those young kids in action. It's tough to draw many conclusions based on that one, brief look, but obviously the organization is high on both Chris Marrero and Michael Burgess. I had seen Marrero some before, hadn't seen Burgess in person. He's, how do you say, a bit on a stocky side. Not saying that's a bad thing. But he's got kind of a Kirby Puckett look from the left side of the plate.

Top of the 1st update: Nats burst out to a quick 3-0 lead. Guzman beats out a grounder for a single. Milledge reaches on an E6. Bret Boone flies out to the CF warning track, moving both runners up. Elijah Dukes then sends a deep drive to the wall in right-center, could've been caught but falls in for a 2-run triple. Langerhans adds a sharp single up the middle, sending John Lannan out to the mound with a three-run lead.

From Brian in Alexandria:
Is there a reason the Nationals moved Ian Desmond and Adam Carr to their major league camp? Precursor to some sort of deal? Or just giving the guys the experience?
Mark Zuckerman:
Just giving the guys some experience. Manny Acta said both Desmond and Carr looked good over at the minor-league camp (especially Carr, a young pitcher) so the club decided to reward them with a move over to the big-league side. I think it's a nice gesture on the Nats' part. A lot of teams won't do something like that, they just leave the low-level guys alone. I like that the Nats are willing to given them a look.

From Mark Wolvin:
I've read in various reports that a trade will have to be made to resolve the Nats roster situation - 2 competent starting 1st Basemen, 3 competent starting middle infielders, 4 competent starting outfielders. If the Nats do trade one or more from that list, what are we looking at in return? Have you heard any more specific rumors? If it's a starting pitcher, what kind of pitcher would be get for say, Kearns and Belliard?
Mark Zuckerman:
There certainly seems to be an excess of big leaguers competing for roster spots, and that's going to create an interesting scenario the last week of March when things are whittled down. Can't tell you about any specific rumors at this early stage, but I'll say this: I don't believe the Nats will be trading Nick Johnson, for a couple of reasons. 1) He appears to be healthy and playing well. 2) He's a much better all-around player than Dmitri Young. 3) Da Meat Hook doesn't look so great these days -- he's batting some weight issues, a product of his diabetes, and he's now battling a strained oblique muscle. I say Nick will be the Opening Day first baseman.

Bottom of the 1st update: John Lannan falls into some trouble, allowing a one-out triple to Joe Mather and then walking Albert Pujols on four pitches. But he strikes out Troy Glaus swinging and gets Juan Gonzalez (yes, THAT Juan Gonzalez) to ground into a forceout to end the inning. Still Nats 3, Cards 0.

From Jason in Centreville:
Mark, do you think the NATS will have the willingness to stick to their plan of an "open competition" at 2nd base between Lopez and Belliard?
Mark Zuckerman:
Oh, it's definitely an open competition there, also at shortstop with Lopez/Guzman. Look, the Nats are better off if Felipe Lopez is playing up to his abilities and starting every day. Belliard is a valuable guy to have off the bench. Lopez doesn't do much for you in a reserve role. So the Nats are going to give Felipe every opportunity to win that job.

From Mr. Madison in New Carrollton:
Dukes is playing like a man possessed. Something has to give in that outfield. Do you think that Dukes can keep it up, and if so, we'd have no choice but to play the guy, so who does he replace? Pena, Milledge, or Kearns? Wow what a GOOD problem we have in the OF this year.
Mark Zuckerman:
Elijah Dukes has indeed played well so far. Not spectacular, but well. But let's not rush to put him in the everyday lineup just yet. He's got a long way to go, on and off the field, to prove he's ready for this. In the meantime, look for Pena, Milledge and Kearns to be the regulars, but also look for Dukes to get his at-bats filling in for any one of the three.

Top of the 2nd update: Nats go down in order against Mike Parisi: Whitesell, Flores and Orr.

From Bret in Falls Church:
Let's be honest here -- the Nats will never be popular in DC until MASN is broadcast in HD, when is that going to happen?
Mark Zuckerman:
Actually, they're showing 40 games in HD this season. Is that enough? No, but it's a small sign of progress.

Bottom of the 2nd update: Lannan allows a single to Ryan Ludwick but otherwise retires the side, including a strikeout of Cesar Izturis. End of the second: Nats 3, Cards 0.

From Frank in Jupiter:
Is Thom Loverro really nicer in person than he is in the paper?
Mark Zuckerman:
Actually, he is meaner in person. Much, much meaner. You know how those network TV stars all develop big egos.

From Bob Geisler in Louisville, Ky.:
Any update you can provide on Maekawa?
Mark Zuckerman:
At last check, Katsuhiko Maekawa remains in Japan, his work visa denied by the U.S. Jim Bowden expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved and Maekawa would eventually arrive here, but I wouldn't count on that happening anytime soon.

Top of the 3rd update: Bret Boone laces another double to left-center -- this guy can still hit -- but it was sandwiched by Milledge and Dukes striking out. Still 3-0 Nats, with Lannan taking the mound for his third inning of work.

From Brian:
The Reds projected starting SS looks unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. And Buster Olney reported the Reds management was willing to move former top prospect Homer Bailey. The Nationals have a SS to spare. Is there a match or is the damage done in the Krivsky/Bowden relationship?
Mark Zuckerman:
Wow, do we really want another Reds-Nats trade? Even if Jim Bowden and Wayne Krivsky patched things up (doubtful) I don't see Cincy trading Homer Bailey for Lopez or Guzman.

From Matt in Rockville:
It appears that Bret Boone is being given every chance possible to make the team. What are his chances, particularly where some number of Rule 5 draftees are going to take up big-league roster spots?
Mark Zuckerman:
It's an interesting question. I think when this whole experiment began, the idea was to see if Bret could still play. And if so, see if another team was interested in him. That's probably still the case. But man, the way he's playing, you've got to wonder if there's any scenario that would actually result in him winning the job here.

Bottom of the 3rd update: Lannan once again shows his grit. Despite a leadoff single to Brian Barton and a walk to Joe Mather, he gets Albert Pujols to ground into a 5-4-3 and then strikes out Troy Glaus for the second time today. Looks like Lannan's day is done: 3 ip, 3 h, 0 r, 2 bb, 3 k. Tyler Clippard about to replace him.

And with that, we're going to have to wrap things up for today. Thanks for all the questions -- good stuff. Tune in next week for another round of Q's and A's. See you later...