Nationals Briefing: Rotation set for Nats? http://dcprosportsreport.com/2011/02/20/nationals-briefing-rotation-set-for-nats AUTHOR: PennSkinsFan | IN: Washington Nationals | COMMENTS: None Yet According to Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggelman, the starting 5 rotation slots are nearly set for the Nationals. Riggleman said Sunday that Livan Hernandez, John Lannan, Jordan Zimmermann, Jason Marquis and Tom Gorzelanny will likely start the season in the rotation. Gaudin will start the team’s first spring training game on Feb. 28 against the Mets in a bid to shake things up. Hernandez will start the next day when the Mets visit the Nationals. Granted, Spring Training and pre-season games have a tendency at times to mix things up. But, looking at that rotation, it is pretty much what one would expect. Craig Stammen and Garrett Mock are also battling for starting slots, but they both may very well be headed to the Nationals bullpen. Yunesky Maya and Ross Detwiler are also in the running for one of the five slots. Not in that consideration is Luis Atilano. Atilano was out-righted to Syracuse (AAA). Nats GM Mike Rizzo is felling pretty good about his 2011 Washington Nationals. He better be, because his stamp is all over this club. I feel good about the team. We energized the ballclub. I think we are a faster, more athletic, defensive-oriented club. I think we are going to find ways to score runs. We are going to play good defense. It’s going to make our pitchers better. The bullpen is strong. We feel good where we are at. Besides the defensive and offensive upswing the Nationals will get from big time signee Jayson Werth, the Werth signing had an even more significant meaning. The Jayson Werth signing made us a better baseball team. That will make players want to come here. What it did prove is, we are here to win games. We have an organization that is willing to spend money to acquire talent. We showed it, not only in the last two drafts, but in the free-agent market. I think word of mouth travels. I know talking to people in the industry, the players have really good things to say about the Washington Nationals — the way we treat our people. That’s a big important thing because players talk. They talk to each other. What they are saying about us is very positive. Go read the rest. Good interview by our friend Bill Ladson. Bryce Harper has arrived for Spring Training. Welcome to the Nationals young man. Harper took batting practice with the South Carolina Gamecocks today, as his brother, Bryan Harper, kicks off his collegiate baseball career. --

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