Anybody Got a Silver Lining?

A week into Spring Training, and things are starting to get serious. Officer Schneider is all over the press -- George Michael, WaPo, probably speaking on background to Novak -- assuring everyone that (1) The Nationals cannot possibly be as bad as everyone says they'll be, even if we have less hitting and a one-man rotation than 2006; and (2) Yes, he really can learn the names, pitches, and bizarre emotional quirks of all 21,500 pitchers invited to Viera as part of Stan the Plan's "surge" of arms into the rotation. And we finally have the long-awaited Six-Three preview piece that BallWonk was, um, long awaiting.

And the news from planet Guzman is not good. Remember, last year, we were told about how Six-Three was coming to camp healthy and fit for the first time, like, in his career, and he had brand-new bionic eyes with 60/20 vision that would allow him to count the atoms on the seams of approaching pitches? Not so much this year. Now it's all about how he's a proud guy and he sure has a lot to prove and oh, by the way, after a full season off he's not actually healthy yet, so if he keeps failing it's not really his fault or anything.

The WaPo Six-Three profile is enough to send BallWonk into full panic mode. Added to the news that Riker is now echoing Newt Gingrich about his plans -- "I'll get back to you in September" -- well, that maniacal screaming you hear is probably BallWonk.

Still, BW gleans from the Mannyger's statements that Tim Redding and Jerome Williams are in the rotation unless they use the spring to fail their ways out. BW has always liked Jerome's stuff. "Da Kine" has had some issues of late, but BW is pretty sure it's all in his head. Perfect candidate for Dr. St. Claire's patented treatments. Hope for a DC renaissance for Da Kine is something like a chrome lining at best, but when the clouds are this dark, BallWonk will settle for anything shiny at the fringes.