Nationals manager Davey Johnson looked ready for his final season as a big league skipper

Opening day starter Stephen Strasburg threw 7 shutout innings for the win

Bryce Harper accounted for all the runs, hitting two solo homers

Harper tipped his cap to the adoring crowd after his second home run

Rafael Soriano struck out 2 in a perfect 9th inning for the save

Catcher Wilson Ramos congratulates Soriano after the final out

I was a guest on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt earlier today to discuss the Washington Nationals season debut, which included reporter John Gonzalez live from the park. In addition, I spoke about the injury situation with Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III and his recent remarks that have sparked controversy and speculation. Enjoy. 

First, the Nats: 

Now, the Redskins: 

The Washington Post is reporting that Washington Redskins QB Robert Griffin III will begin running next week, as he continues his rehabilitation from a gruesome knee injury that tore his LCL and ACL last January in the first round of the playoffs. 

Griffin's surgeon Dr James Andrews has called the pace of RG3's rehab "unbelievable" and called his patient "superhuman", comparing him to Bo Jackson and Adrian Peterson. However, apart from that and a few cryptic and non-committal statements by Head Coach Mike Shanahan, little is known about the rehab process and where RG3 is in it. However, his father recently shed some light on the subject: 

Robert Griffin Jr. on Monday, however, revealed exactly how far along his son was in his recovery.

Opening day went according to script for the Washington Nationals today, as the home team shut out the visiting Miami Marlins 2-0 and the big stars came out to play and dominate. The biggest home crowd in regular season history for the Nationals -- 45,274 -- showed up to enjoy pretty good weather and very good baseball. 

Ace Stephen Strasburg pitched 7 scoreless, almost perfect, innings, tossing only 80 pitches, 52 for strikes. On his way to the 7th inning, Strasburg retired 19 straight batters and 20 of his last 22. He struck out three and walked none. If you're wondering why Strasburg only struck out three, it's because he decided to use his fielders today -- and to good effect. Strasburg may have taken some advice from Kevin Costner in "Bull Durham," who told pitcher Nuke Laloosh: "Strikeouts are boring. Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls." 

Rob Carr - Getty Images

Left fielder Bryce Harper, who tore up spring training with his torrid hitting, continued his smoking hot streak on opening day, crushing a home run to right field in the first inning to put the Nats up 1-0. Then, in the fourth, he followed up with another home run to right and this one was never in doubt. "What can you say about Harp?," manager Davey Johnson said after the game. "I guess he likes the three hole." Harper became the youngest player in MLB history to hit two home runs on opening day.

We have seen some preview articles with 2013 questions for the Washington Nationals.  Some were brave enough to write that a big questions for the Nationals was whether Bryce Harperwould suffer a sophomore slump.

Answer --- we think not!

Bryce Harper has hammered away those little skpetics in one short afternoon, thus far.  In his first two at bast of the 2013 season, Bryce Harper has slammed home runs.  Through five innings, the Nationals lead 2-0.  They only have 3 hits so far, two of those being solo homers by Harper.  

And how is the other pheno doing?

Stephen Strasburg is through five innings and tossing a 1 hitter.  He has thrown 60 pitches, 37 for strikeouts, and has fanned 2 batters.  He has retired 15 straight. 

Nats lead the Marlins 2-0 after five innings. 

The Washington Nationals open their long awaited 2013 season today.  The season features a four critical components for the 2013 Washington Nationals. 

First, it is the final season for Manager Davey Johnson.  Johnson was signed to a one year deal to manage the Nats in 2013 and try and win the World Series.  Although he will not manage next season, Johnson has made clear he is not exiting baseball and will likely stay in a front office role with the Nats, as he formally retires from coaching.  The 70 year-old former major league player and manager has six major league playoff appearances, one Pennant, and one World Series win, the 1986 New York Mets.  In his final managing season, his Washington Nationals have lofty expectations, from predicted World Series winner to "World Series or Bust" right from the mouth of Davey Johnson.  Davey embodies what major league baseball is all about, the national past time.  The Washington Nationals roster loves Johnson and will embark on an opportunity to deliver the ultimate prize for his final season.  

Second, under Davey Johnson, the Nats won a franchise best 98 games last season and won their first National League East title as the Washington Nationals.  Johnson led the Nationals to their first post-season play in 79 years.  The Nats enter the 2013 as the reigning National League East champs and embark on their first title defense.  However, in many eyes, that is not good enough.  The Nats 'plan' has come to fruition and the roster is loaded in a wealth of baseball talent.  Several baseball media outlets have predicted the Nationals to win the World Series this season.  Perhaps, the biggest challenge for Davey Johnson in 2013 will not be winning, but managing the lofty expectations with such a young roster.  Pressure can be adverse.  Johnson's hall mark may very well be managing that pressure. 

The Nationals have finalized their Opening Day roster and it is precisely as we projected several weeks ago. There was some consideration given to keeping J.C. Romero as a second left hander out of the bullpen, but Henry Rodriguez held on. The fact that K-Rod has no options left may have played a role, but he is a personal favorite of manager Davey Johnson (and mine as well). Romero was re-assigned to minor league camp today, but we will see him in the majors, sooner rather than later.

PITCHERS (12 / 3 LHP, 9 RHP) 

LHP Ross Detwiler      

LHP Zach Duke     

LHP Gio Gonzalez         

RHP Tyler Clippard  

RHP Dan Haren   

RHP Ryan Mattheus                                                                                   

RHP Henry Rodriguez                              

RHP Rafael Soriano                                

RHP Craig Stammen

RHP Drew Storen

RHP Stephen Strasburg

RHP Jordan Zimmermann

CATCHERS (2)

C Wilson Ramos

C Kurt Suzuki

INFIELDERS (6)

SS Ian Desmond

2B Danny Espinosa (S)

1B Adam LaRoche (L)

INF Steve Lombardozzi (S)

1/3B Chad Tracy (L)

3B Ryan Zimmerman

OUTFIELDERS (5) 

OF Roger Bernadina (L)

OF Bryce Harper (L)

OF/1B Tyler Moore

OF Denard Span (L)

OF Jayson Werth

Been sometime since we munched the NFL Mock Draft Database to determine if there were any kind of conensus among mock draft writers on the Top 6 picks.  Clearly, the top overall projected pick, barring any weird trades, is Texas A & M OT Luke Joeckel.  In fact, it isn't even if mock writers are split.  We munched together all mock drafts updated between March 25 and March 29, a total of 88 mock drafts.  Of the 88 mocks, 87% project Joeckel to go first overall to Kanasa City.  At one time, West Virginia QB Geno Smith was the consensus top pick. That changed when KC acquired QB Alex Smith from the 49ers. 

So who leads the rest of the Top 6 picks?  Well, here you go . . .

DE Dion Jordan is becoming a popular pick at second overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars.  This is all assuming of coruse that the Jags are set on Blaine Gabbert.  Given the fact they just drafted Gabbert two years ago, if they need to take Geno Smith this draft, isn't the issue more scouting than anything?  I am not totally sold on the fact Gabbert is a fluke.  I am more sold on the Jags just suck and Gabbert is stuck with them.   Philadelphia Eagles at #4 is thebig question mark.  They could use both offensive tackle and cornerback badly.  If both CB Dee Milliner and OT Eric Fisher are both there, that is a tough choice. 

The Redskins have added much needed depth with the addition of unrestricted free agent Darryl Tapp. Tapp has been a defensive end most of his career, but Washington will try and convert him into a pass rushing outside linebacker. The 'Skins are preparing for four weeks without the suspended Rob Jackson, the departure of Lorenzo Alexander to Arizona and Brian Orakpo returning from injury.

Tapp is well known in area football circles from his career at Virginia Tech. Tapp was a second round pick of Seattle in the 2006 draft and spent four seasons with the Seahawks. Tapp was traded to Philadelphia in 2010 and spent the last three seasons with the Eagles.

Tapp played high school football at powerhouse Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. A "lunch pail" leader of the Hokies, Tapp played in Blacksburg with current Redskins Josh Morgan and Will Montgomery.

Washington Redskins free agent TE Fred Davis canceled his scheduled visit to the New York Jets last night.  Instead, after visiting the Buffalo Bills yesterday, he would decide between Buffalo, who offered a two year deal and slightly more money than the Redskins, or to return to the Redskins.  That decision has been made.  Davis has signed a one year deal to return to Washington.  

Davis is coming off a season where he missed more than half the season due to a torn Achilles.  That follows a season where he missed the last four games of 2011 due to an NFL mandated suspension due to drugs.  Both of those issues caused teams to balk at offering substantial money or years to Davis.  Davis opted to return to the Redskins on a one year deal in which he will work to reestablish himself as one of the top, young tight ends in football, and then look to a bigger deal next year.   

Davis will play a critical role in Washington's offense behind QB Robert Griffin III.  Even though Washington's offense catapulted to one of the tops in the NFL, it should expect to be even better with a healthy Davis involved in the passing game.  In the 7 games that Davis did play last season, he caught 24 passes for 325 yards.  In 2011, Davis led the Redskins in receiving, grabbing 59 passes for 759 yards and 3 TDs, despite missing the final four games.   

Earlier in the off-season, the Redskins resigned TE Logan Paulsen.  Davis joins Paulsen, Niles Paul, and DeAngelo Petersen as the four tight ends currently on the roster.