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. 

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.