It's almost time for baseball in the District.  The Washington Nationals wrapped up their Grapefruit League play with a 5-1 win over the New York Mets today.  They now head north to Washington.

Gio Gonzalez wrapped up the Nats spring with the win and finishing the spring with a perfect record at 3-0.  Gonzalez was nothing short of dominating today.  He threw 4 shutout innings, while allow just 1 hit and 2 walks, while fanning 7 batters.  Gonzalez finsihed the spring with a 1.50 ERA.  He allowed 3 runs over 18 total innings.  Craig Stammen, Neil Holland, and Rafael Soriano combined for 5 innings of 1 run ball, allowing just 1 hit, as the Nats pitching staff limited the Mets to 2 hits on the day.  Soriano threw a scorless ninth inning, fanning two of four batters faced. 

Offensively, the Nats got home runs from Danny Espinosa and Adam LaRoche, a day after the offense blistered the Braves for 6 home runs.  Denard Span and Bryce Harper also drove in runs.  Harper went 1 for 1, finishing his spring off with a perfect 10 hits in his last 10 at bats.  He finshed spring with a batting average over .480.  I think he might be ready for the season. 

Next Up:  The 2013 Season Opener!

Stephen Strasburg will take on Miami's Ricky Nolasco

Baseball is coming quickly.  Just four days from now, the Washington Nationals will commence the start of their 2013 season and their first National Lagues East Division defense.  They will do it with a roster that has high expectations, both internally and externally.  It is not a secret that several publications and media sites have projected the Nats to not only repeat as Division champs, but also to win the World Series.  Lofty goals and expectations for a youth infested roster.  

Here are more expectation and previews:  Boston Herald, Fayetteville Observer,

Much of thesucccess of the building of the current Washington Nationals is the philosophy of scouting first. 

In yesterday's 11-2 pounding of division rival Atlanta Braves, the Nats starters made a strong statement that their bats are ready for the season.  Ryan Zimmerman went 3 for 4 with 4 RBI and smacking THREE home runs.  Catcher Wilson Ramos went 2 for 4 and driove in four runs and smacked TWO home runs.  Tyler Moore added his fourth home run of the spring, in a 6 home run, 11 run, 11 hit trouncing of their division rivals. 

Ross Detwiler picked up the win in his final spring start, throwing 5.1 innings and allowing 8 hits and 2 runs.  JC Romero and Rafael Soriano threw scoreless innings. 

Wilson Ramos and Kurt Suzuki are good enough to be behind the plate, game in and game out.  Fortunately for the Nats, we have both of them.  Did Ramos do enough to start opening day, after recovering from ACL surgery? 

Bryce Harper did not play yesterday as he rested a sore hand.  He vows to play in Friday's exhibition game at Nationals Park. 

The only spot on the roster that is uncertain as of now is whether reliever JC Romero will make the opening day roster. 

Federal Baseball reports on young Tyler Moore and his power bat. 

Despite an unsettlement television contract, the Nationals still rank 14th overall in franchise value.  Forbes estimates the franchise to be worth $631 million.  Thta is a 31% increase from last year. 

Despite several trades to acquiring a few key players like Gio Gonzalez and giving up prospects to do it, the Washington Nationals farm system still ranks at the top of Major Legaue Baseball.  However, thos rankings were pre-set before those deals.  

Even after the deal, the Nationals have one of the strongest systems on baseball, topped with 2010 first overall pick Bryce Harper and stocked with several other players signed out of the draft using contracts well above the “slot” value recommended by Major League Baseball. Jim Callis, Baseball America’s prospect guru, said the Nationals will still likely be ranked between No. 5 and 10 when the magazine updates its rankings this spring despite losing four of their top 13 players.

Maybe the Terps deserved to be in the 'big dance" after all! Iowa upset Virginia last night in Charlottesville and with the win the Hawkeyes advance to the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden against Maryland. Brigham Young and Baylor also won last night and will meet in the other national semifinal.

Maryland edged Alabama 58-57 in Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night to advance, getting 15 points and 13 rebounds from sophomore center Alex Len. The Crimson Tide have one of the best home court advantages in the nation and pressured the Terps with suffocating defense all night. Maryland played without guard Seth Allen as the freshman broke his hand in practice and will not play in New York.

Iowa won in Charlottesville, which has also been very difficult for opponents all season long. The loss was the first in the last 20 games for UVA at home. The Hawkeyes used clutch free throw shooting down the stretch (15-for-15) in the 75-64 win.

Maryland and Iowa meet in the second game of the NIT Final Four doubleheader on Tuesday night, beginning around 930pm on ESPN2. The championship game tips off at 9pm on Thursday night and will be carried LIVE nationally on ESPN.

If you are like me, your March Madness bracket is a mess! But don't blame the East Regional, where the top four seeds have all advanced to the Sweet 16. Best of all, the Final Four representative from the East will be decided right here in town at the Verizon Center beginning tonight!

#2 Miami, Florida vs. #3 Marquette

715pm on CBS

Pointspread: Miami -6

#1 Indiana vs #4 Syracuse

945pm on CBS

Pointspread: Indiana -5.5

The winners meet on Saturday, also at the Verizon Center, with the victor advancing to the Final Four in Atlanta.

With just five short day to go until the commencement of the Washington Nationals 2013 regular season, the Nats have made their final roster reductions.  Here are the final cuts:

C Carlos Maldnaldo (heading to minor league camp)

IF Carlos Rivero (minor league camp tomorrow)

IF Micah Owings (minor league camp tomorrow)

Fernando Abad (minor league camp)

At this point, newly signed veteran reliever JC Romero will head north to Washington with the Nationals but has not been assured a roster spot.  With the designation of Abad and the uncertainty of Romero, at this point, it appears the Nats will go with Zack Duke as the only lefty in the bullpen, unless of course they decide to retain Romero. 

September 30, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; Washington Redskins tight end Fred Davis (83) runs with the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Washington Redskins defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-22. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Free agent TE Fred Davis has been on the open market since March 12 and so far hasn't found any takers. In fact, there is little evidence any real biding war for Davis' services has begun and the player is understandably a bit upset about this state of affairs. 

On the NFL Network Davis recently said: 

“A lot of people are looking at the [Achilles] injury and that stuff,” Davis said on NFL Network. “I definitely feel like whatever team signed any tight ends right now, I’m gonna make them regret anything that they do – AND the Redskins, too, as well – because I know I’m gonna go out here and I’m gonna do what I have to do. And I’ll bet you next year’s gonna be a good year for me. This is The One right here. This is The Big One. You ever watch Fred Sanford? He had The Big One. That’s what this year is for me. Elizabeth, I’m coming!”

My memory of the Sanford and Son tv show is hardly perfect, but I thought "The Big One" referred to a heart attack Fred Sanford was always pretending to have. Not sure what it means if Davis is promising this year will be his year of the fake heart attack. Is that good or bad? I suppose a fake heart attack is vastly preferable to a genuine one.

Davis has met with the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills and has an upcoming meeting with the NY Jets. It seems nobody has made him a good offer yet. 

The Redskins want Davis back, but they are clearly prepared to let him leave and want to get him at a bargain price -- at least for the 2013 season -- because of Davis' recent injury and his suspension for drug abuse before that. [Davis' next drug use suspension, if it ever happens, would last for one full year.] 

This has been a tough market for free agents that did not go in the first few days. Most teams are strapped for cap space and the ones that do have some room do not seem inclined to risk it on players who have a fair bit of baggage -- like Davis. This is certainly not the free agent payoff Davis was hoping to land, so his frustration is understandable, but threats about making teams regret not signing him will not increase his payday. It's isn't just the Redskins who have decided Davis is not worth a big contract right now, it's the entire NFL. 

The Redskins need help at tight end. Right now they have Logan Paulsen, a restricted free agent earlier this month until he re-signed wth the team, and Niles Paul, a converted wideout who didn't inspire confidence with his mastery of the new position. Bringing back Chris Cooley is possible, but not preferable. A healthy Fred Davis would be a big help to the Redskins offense and its young quarterbacks. 

It appears as if the best thing Davis can do is sign a one-year deal for as much money as he can get [or a deal that is, for all intents and purposes a one year deal] and then stay healthy and out of trouble. And produce big-time on the field. If he does those three things, Davis' payoff will come, just a year later than he hoped. 

Granting his wishes, the Washington Nationals have unconditionally released starter Chris Young. 

As we said in our Nats Link article this morning, Young wanted to opt out of the contract he signed because of his desire to start in the major leagues.  He knew that was a long shot opportunity with Washington because the starting rotation was already set with Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmermann, Dan Haren, and Ross Detwiler.

Young had a pretty good spring and should be a consideration for clubs in need of a starting pitcher.  In 4 starts, Young was 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA.  He allowed 4 earned runs over 16 innings. 

She only reported for the Nationals for one season, but Kristina Akra will be missed. You will still be able to watch Ms. Akra, as the MLB Network is her new home.

New MLB Network host Kristina Akra, who served as a reporter covering the Washington Nationals for MASN in 2012, will appear across MLB Network's studio programming and make her MLB Network debut on MLB Now on Monday April 1.

MASN has not announced who will take Akra's place.

MLB Network's live game schedule for the 2013 season will begin with the Tampa Bay Rays' home opener against the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, April 2 at 3 PM. Washington will be featured on Friday, April 12th, when the Atlanta Braves come to Nationals Park.

A few Weeks ago, I posted a link in this column to an article that identified three questions for the Nationals in 2013.  One of those questions was regarding a possible sophomore slump by OF Bryce Harper.  I was pretty critical of that article given the player Harper is and has become.  The Spring is proving that to be right.

Yesterday, Harper went 3 for 3 in Washington's 6-4 loss to Houston.  That perfect day at the plate raised Harper's spring batting average to .459 having collected 28 hits in 61 at bats in 22 games.  Certainly doesn't sound like a slump is on the way for the 20 year old phenom.  Of Harper's 28 hits, he has 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 3 home runs.  So plan ahead if you want this non-slumping Harper to be in your office or room.  The Nats announced that the Harper bobble head is set for June 23 at Nationals Park. 

Speaking of Harper, Federal Baseball notes that Bryce Harper stars in a new TV commerical for MLB for Openign Day, titiled "I Play for October."  Wanna see the commercial?  Scroll to the bottom of this article.

Adam LaRoche collected 2 hits yesterday including his 3rd spring home run.  Wilson Ramos also collected 2 hits, raising his spring average to .300 (10 for 30).

Chris Young pitched 4 effective innings in his final game with Washington, as he has opted out of his contract.  Young allowed just 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 run.  You can't blame Young for opting out, the guys wants to pitch in the majors and has had an effective spring.  He knew when signing on with the Nats in the off-season that his opportunities in DC were limited.  Mor eon the Young opt out:  Wash Times, CSN Washington,

“I’m realistic that the roster is full. I understand that,” Young said. “We’ve talked about maybe trying to work something to where I can stay. We’re not there right now. But there’s interest from other clubs. I just have to weigh all the options and see what’s best for me and my family.

“I love it here. I would love to stay. This has been just a terrific spring training, being around a great group of baseball people. There’s nothing negative to stay about this place – maybe that they 15 pitchers deep. I’d like to work  something out if I could be here. But if not, I understand the circumstances.”

After Young departed, normally effective reliever Craig Stammen was pounded by the Astros for 6 hits and 5 runs over 1.1 innings.  OK, get it out of your system now Stammen. 

Neon Tommy blog writes an NL East preview.  For the record, they believe the Nats will finish first and collect 102 wins.  Our predictiosn for the season are coming soon. 

District Sports Page has published a round table on the coming Washington Nationals season, that sits just 6 days away. 

Nats manager Davey Johnson is not confident that Henry Rodriguez will be ready for the start of the season.  Rodriguez has complained of elbow soreness.  That could be good news for veteran JC Romero, signed by the Nats last week.  In fact, given the miniscule roster spots actually in contention, Romero could be the surprise, given he just arrived.  More on Rodriguez and Romero.   That spot may be the only thing left to accomplish in the final 6 days.   

The Nats have also outrighted Carlos Rivera to the minors. 

Dan Haren is hoping to return to his work horse status this season with the Nats. 

Adam Kilgore wrote on prospect Steve Souza and whether he may be prepared for a breakout season in Harrisburg (AA).  Speaking of minors, the Syracuse (AAA) roster is beginning to take shape.  More morning readings from Nationals Prospects. 

New Bryce Harper opening day TV commerical from MLB.