LaRoche To Return

Adam LaRoche is expected to play first base this season. (Photo: sbnation.com)

Mark Zuckerman reported a bit of a change to the return of Adam LaRoche.

Last week it was reported that he would be returning to full action tomorrow against the Cardinals. According to the new report, that is no longer the case.

"I think he'll be champing at the bit for tomorrow, but I'm not going to play him tomorrow. Hopefully he'll be ready to go Thursday," said Nationals Manager Davey Johnson in an interview with Zuckerman.

Johnson did go on to say that LaRoche could see a few at bats as a designated hitter, but he will see no action in the field.

The Nationals first baseman has been sidelined this spring due to an injury to his shoulder and ankle. In a workout earlier this year, he suffered a "mild ankle sprain". He is also recovering from a surgical procedure he had done last summer to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

Trading For the Number 2 Pick

(Photo: comcorpusa.com)

As the April NFL draft fast approaches more and more people are claiming that quarterbacks Andrew Luck will go first overall (likely) and Robert Griffin III will go second overall (probably).

If the Redskins have any hope of drafting RG3, they should trade up into the number two spot of they want to get him. That means, they will need to make a trade with the Saint Louis Rams.

Let's speak hypothetically real quick...

The Redskins are the only team currently in the running for trading up to the number two spot. What does it take? In my opinion and looking at past trades, this years first AND second round pick and next years first and possibly second round pick.

It would for sure take at least three picks in order to move up. If the Redskins do make the trade, expect it to be this years first, this years second, and next years first.

Enough hypothetical talk...back to reality...

It has been reported numerous times that the Cleveland Browns are also interested in trading up for the number two pick. There is one big reason why we could possibly write this off: the Browns have invested too much in acquiring and grooming Colt McCoy.

They have too much time and money invested in developing this young quarterback. It would be a huge waste of time to not draft an offensive lineman to protect him with their first pick and then draft a tight end or running back with the 22 pick.

Back to hypothetical talk...

The Browns are extremely interested in acquiring the second round pick and drafting RG3 (Fact: they have stated that they will not give up the 22nd pick to move up...they will only give up the number four pick). That all bodes well for the Redskins except for one thing: Cleveland has the fourth pick.

Back to reality...

The fact that the Browns select two places before the Redskins is enough to make the Rams choose Cleveland over Washington. If this is the case and the Browns are going after the number two pick hard, here is the Redskins new offer: 2012 1st/2nd, 2013 1st/2nd, and maybe even throw in a player.

That is certainly quite a lot to give up for just one player. The fact of the matter is, if the Redskins want to select Robert Griffin III, they are going to have to move up to the number two position. Whether or not Cleveland is pursuing that pick is a totally different story that adds numerous dimensions to the equation.

The 2012 NFL Draft is not until April 26th at 8 P.M. In all honesty, I would not expect to see any type of deal between the Redskins and the Rams to be made until that night.

Nationals Week Preview

Nationals Bryce Harper. (Photo: newsday.com)

This week the Nationals have a busy schedule down in Florida. They have a game each day of the week including a double header this Saturday.

Their opponents this week consist of the Mets (twice), Braves, Cardinals (twice), Astros, Marlins, and Tigers. Saturday is a split squad double header against the Mets and Tigers.

Something to watch for this week is the return of first baseman Adam LaRoche. According to Bill Ladson of MLB.com, LaRoche is expected to make his first spring training appearance this Wednesday against the Cardinals. He has been sidelined by shoulder and ankle injuries.

Bryce Harpers improvement is another thing to keep an eye on. So far, he has been showing effort defensively by diving after numerous fly balls. His hitting has been OK at best, but I expect we will see what he is really made of this week.

Harper will be facing top (if you can say this early in the spring) pitching talent when they play the likes of the Cardinals and Tigers.

This Saturday when the Nationals take on the Tigers in game two of their double header, the team will get a look at the once pursued Prince Fielder. Fielder was rumored to have been heavily pursued by the Nationals, but went to the Tigers instead.

Nationals Sunday Review

(Photo: sportschump.net)

This past Friday the Washington Nationals began their Spring Training schedule. For their first three games, they played the Georgetown Hoyas and the Houston Astros.

Friday the Nationals stayed in Viera to take on the Georgetown Hoyas baseball team. This was a chance for young prospects to catch Davey Johnson Co's eye.

The star of the show for the Nationals was starting pitcher Matt Purke. Purke, who was scheduled to throw 42 pitches, only needed 32 to get him through three scoreless innings. He struck out three batters and only gave up one hit in the effort.

Bryce Harper was 0-2 on the day with a walk. Anthony Rendon was also 0-2 and struck out with the bases loaded to end the first inning.

The Nats did defeat the Hoyas by a score of 3-0.

The Nationals officially began their Spring Training schedule in Kissimmee against the Houston Astros. Bryce Harper was scheduled for his very first start.

In the first inning, Harper got his first chance at a big league hitter. He stepped to the plate against former National Livan Hernandez hit a single.

The next two times Harper came to the plate he grounded out and finished 1-3.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Astros Chris Johnson took Ross Detwiler deep for a two-run shot. The Nationals answered in the fifth when Roger Bernadina and Jesus Flores both doubled to score the Nationals only run.

Ross Detwiler would get credited with the 3-1 loss.

Sunday the Nationals returned to Viera to take on the Astros for the second straight day. Stephen Strasburg would get his first start on the mound for the Nationals this spring.

After going two innings without giving up a run and striking out three, he gave up two runs in the third inning.

Davey Johnson then made the move to the bullpen and brought in veteran Tom Gorzelanny. Gorzelanny gave up 7 runs in one inning of work including a three-run homer to Fernando Martinez.

Bryce Harper went 1-2 in his second start this spring.

The Astros would sweep the two game series by winning this game by a score of 10-2.

The Nationals are 0-2 this spring. It is early and there really is no point in panicking two games into Spring Training.

Time for War...Literally

Recently, ESPN broke a story claiming that Gregg Williams used a "bounty program" to motivate his defensive players while he coached for the Redskins and Saints.

He would set a cash prize to the guy who could take out or "kill" the opponents star player.

Like usual, I have a strong opinion about this...

First off, the cash prize would not come out of his own pocket. He would take the money that the team fined the players and use that to reward his players. That money is supposed to go to charity! What?! Are you kidding me? First, you're going to encourage your players to hurt other players and now you're stealing from those less fortunate? Why don't you just go into a preschool and tell the kids that Santa, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy aren't real?

The timing of this is absolutely absurd. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is currently in the middle of making the league safer and promote player longevity. So the fact that Williams was promoting the exact opposite in a closed room is not going to help is case.

After this came out, I read the quotes on an article where one person said that players can't do kill shots. They're just simply going for the tackle....whoever you are...stop watching football. Of course they know how to do kill shots! They've been playing this game their ENTIRE life.

Something that really bothers me, however, is the fact I feel tricked by the New Orleans Saints.

For a whole season they acted like they were the good guys and that they deserved to have a bandwagon because they're just nice regular people...with a killer instinct.

We watched as these guys helped clean up after Katrina. I'm sure they went at that with spear-headed mentality like they did Brett Favre...

We all know that stuff like this goes on in each locker room of the NFL and it's so ridiculous. They have no idea what they are going to be doing to each other. If this dirty play style and bounty system continues, the field is going to look like the Battle of Antietam.

Redskins Tag Davis

CSN Washington reported, and later confirmed, that the Washington Redskins have franchise tagged tight end Fred Davis.

Due to the parameters of the tag, Davis will make $5.4 million next year.

This past season Davis was suspended for the final five games of the season for violating the leagues drug policy. He, along with offensive tackle Trent Williams, used marijuana on a regular basis.

When THAT story first broke many said that the ownership would not stand for such an action. I guess that meant that they would not pay him $5.5 million.

Davis, who will be entering his fifth season in Washington, had 59 receptions for 796 yards and 3 touchdowns in 12 games last season.

Many believe that Fred Davis is the answer for the Redskins when Chris Cooley finally hangs it up.

Obviously his little drug mishap, and I use "mishap" loosely, doesn't seem to matter to Redskins GM Bruce Allen and company. Davis got abused the drug after practice on a day-to-day basis. Is this really going to be our "franchise" player?

Davis's actions last season exposed a level of immaturity that is alarming. Conducting himself like that on a day-to-day basis hints that he cares more about what goes on after practice than during it. It makes one really question his desire to play the game.

There is no doubt that Fred Davis is a player worthy of the franchise tag, but, he has a lot he needs to show in terms of maturity.


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What To Do With LaRon Landry

As free agency approaches the Redskins have one huge decision to make: what to do with safety LaRon Landry.

The Redskins safety is set for free agency when it begins. The Redskins have a few directions to go: franchise tag, new contract, or release.

My answer? Release him.

I know! You all think I'm crazy! Hear me out! Here's my biggest issue with him: he can't seem to stay on the field anymore!!

What good is a player that can't even play?? He's as good as the water boy is! Instead of spending $15 million a year for someone to ride the pine let's just go out and get a really good water boy!!

When Landry first entered the league he played a $15 million a year player. In his first three seasons, he played in all but one game. Through those three seasons, he totaled 250 total tackles. That is great!

In the two seasons since then, he's missed 9 games and has had 133 tackles. What happened??

Injury. LaRon Landry got injured and he has not been the same since then. The Redskins can't be guaranteed that he will give them at least 14-15 games through each year of his contract. Unless he can guarantee me that, I don't want him!

The Redskins have a tough decision. To give him credit, when he's on the field he's a difference maker. The problem, however, is that he can't seem to stay on the field.

My advice to Bruce and Danny Boy: save yourself some cash and move on. LaRon Landry is a health liability now. Turn to free agency and the draft over the next few years to look for his replacement.

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