Monday Talking Points

Washington at Arizona.
Snakes 11, Nationals 4.
Snakes 1, Nationals 0.
Nationals 7, Snakes 6.

Press, Baltimore supporters, and Phillies fans will try to portray recent results in the desert as defeat for the Nationals. Opponents will say we lost two of three, got schooled by former ace starter, dropped a game away from .500 and lost a game on Florida.

These are the points to get out today in interviews and appearances. Call-in to talk radio also in order.

• Nationals outplayed NL-leading Arizona in two of three games. Nats played better game on Saturday, came up unlucky in one of the best games in all of baseball this year. On Sunday, came from behind late against large lead on getaway day. Defied all odds, significant contributions from secondary players. Should have been two wins in series, and everyone knows it.

• Rookie lefty John Lannan, just five days after preventing Barry Bonds from breaking home-run record, outpitched hottest pitcher in baseball on Saturday. Gave up only four hits to Webb's five. Unlucky broken bat made the difference in the game. Moral victory for Nationals pitching; upheld credibility of The Plan's reliance on young pitching for foundation of future success.

• Arizona's only clear-cut win game thanks to former Nationals star ¡Livo!. Shows Washington maintains strong tradition of player-development excellence established in Montreal. See also Pedro Martinez, Vladimir Guerrero, Milton Bradley, Jake Westbrook, Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, etc.

• Come-from-behind win better for morale than blowout win as team returns home for tough homestand against NL East. Nats have no dog in the fight for NL West pennant, but performance in Arizona should help prepare Nats to play decisive role in NL East race. Nats positioned to be the rock on which at least one division opponent will break in late season. Hopefully, Philly.

• Chief remains on form, closed Sunday's game with ease under adverse playing conditions.

• West-Coast exposure, moral victory against Arizona advanced Manny Acta's Manager of the Year campaign. Palpable sense of candidacy gaining ground.

• Nationals not playing for .500. Playing to win today's game every day. Success measured in 2008, 2009, 2010, not September 2007.

• Standings in division not important this year. Washington 5th from bottom in NL, out of bottom quartile in MLB. Third place in NL East within reach. On pace to win 74 games, 50 percent more than "experts" predicted in April.

Please remember to stay on-point. Use turn-phrases to move from questioner's grounds to your own: "What the critics don't understand is ..." or "Look, the truth is that ..." for example.