The Nationals front office has in turmoil since the revelation that player the team thought was 16-year-old Gonzalez at the time of his signing was actually 20-year-old Alvarez. Jose Rijo, who worked under Bowden, was recently fired, and an investigation continues into possible skimming of bonuses paid to Latin American prospects.

--RHP Shawn Hill is receiving cautious treatment from the Nationals this spring after forearm and elbow troubles cut his 2008 season short. Hill threw one inning in his spring opener on Feb. 27, but manager Manny Acta said if Hill is healthy, there will be a spot in the team's rotation reserved for him. That likely means young RHPs Jordan Zimmermann and Collin Balester are competing for the final spot in a rotation that would include LHP John Lannan, LHP Scott Olsen, RHP Daniel Cabrera and Hill.

--RHP Jordan Zimmermann, the Nationals' 2008 minor league pitcher of the year, opened his bid to make the team's rotation this spring in grand form on Feb. 26. The 22-year-old needed just 20 pitches to get through two innings, throwing 16 of them strikes and fanning Tigers sluggers Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera on fastballs in the second inning. "He was very aggressive," manager Manny Acta said. "For a first outing in a big-league camp, that was very good."

--1B Nick Johnson hit leadoff in the Nationals' Feb. 26 game against the Tigers, mostly so he could get two at-bats before leaving the game, manager Manny Acta told reporters. Johnson is recovering from a torn tendon sheath in his right wrist that limited him to 38 games last season.

--OF Austin Kearns struck out twice and left five runners on base in the Nationals' spring debut on Feb. 25, an inauspicious start for the longtime starter whose right field job might be in jeopardy. Kearns figures to have a stiff battle on his hands from Elijah Dukes even if the Nationals don't play free agent acquisition Adam Dunn in the outfield. Kearns hit just .217 with seven homers and 32 RBIs in 86 games last season, missing time with elbow and ankle injuries.

--RHP Collin Balester was impressive in his first spring outing, getting through two innings in 23 pitches and walking one. Balester, another of the Nationals' highly touted young arms, is a favorite to make the rotation this spring because of the experience he gained in two months with the Nationals last season.

BY THE NUMBERS: 43 -- Pitches Jordan Zimmermann and Collin Balester needed to get through a combined four innings in a 2-1 spring training win over the Tigers on Feb. 26. The young right-handers are likely battling for the final spot in Washington's rotation.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "It's just not a subject that I'm going to touch. I did become convinced with what I had learned that it was time for us to finally go ahead and cut the cord." -- Nationals president Stan Kasten, on the decision to fire special assistant Jose Rijo in the wake of growing questions about the team's practices in the Dominican Republic.