Ivan Rodriguez is off to a great start at the plate with the Nats, hitting .367 with 15 RBI. But the job Pudge has done behind the plate has been just as impressive. The future Hall of Fame catcher gives Rob Dibble a demonstration of how body positioning plays a major role in his defensive success, and talks about how important it is for a catcher to be able to manage a pitching staff.

Today Josh Willingham and I had the privilege of visiting some of the bravest men and women in this country. We went over to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. For people who may not know, it's where some of the most courageous military men and women are sent straight from the battlefield, their first stop on the road to recovery after they have been severely wounded during combat. Today we met with some Marines that had been caught in a fire fight and hit pretty hard....

I, for one, am not surprised by the Nationals' start. Baseball is a team sport, and they stress team. From Wil Nieves to Alberto Gonzales, the Nationals are built to fight - Fight for every run, fight for every out. The Nats now have players who play unselfish, hardcore baseball the way it's meant to be played. When Ryan Zimmerman went down with the bad hamstring, the Nationals didn't miss a beat. Whether it's Adam Kennedy, Alberto or Willie Harris - whoever has filled in has done a...

Baseball is a game where the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins. After the first three games of the 2010 season, some things have already started to become apparent. The veterans brought in this year will change the culture in the Nationals' clubhouse on and off the field. Just watching how some of the new Nats like Ivan Rodriguez, Adam Kennedy, Jason Marquis, Tyler Walker, Matt Capps and Brian Bruney go about their business is a pleasure. Hard working, determined, and relentless...

In another couple of weeks the Nats will start Spring Training for the 2010 season. What you, as loyal fans, really want to know is how is this team going to play? Well, me too! What I will tell you first, is that everyone, from the Lerner family to Drew Storen and Danny Espinosa, care very much about what is going on in DC on and off the field. As I and the players - Zimm, Dunn, Willingham, Morgan, Lannan, Stammen, and Clippard, to name a few, as well as manager Jim Riggleman, GM...

I wasn't here last year, so I didn't get to see all 102 losses; but I would guess many of those could have gone the Nationals' way if the players were ready on every play and every pitch. All baseball players and professional athletes are not that much different when it comes to natural talent; but when it comes to winning close games, it's the player who's mentally stronger that usually comes away with the victories. A team is not measured by its best players, but by its 23rd and...

One of the weak spots for the Nationals since they moved to DC has been their pitching; but there are a couple of youngsters who are going to change all that. Jordan Zimmermann and Shairon Martis are two of the best young pitchers I've seen in the last 20 years. Now, I won't compare them to Hall of Fame pitchers, because I think that just adds too much pressure. They are good enough to stand on their own. I will tell you - believe the hype. Jordan has great command of all of his...

I've been told on more than a few occasions that I'm a little rough around the edges, that maybe I'm a little harsh. I'm sorry you feel that way, but get in line. My wife has told me that, so has my mother--and they love me. But I'm going to tell you about five baseball players who were 'harsh' with me, but helped me become less selfish and more of a team player in my playing days. Let's start in the minor leagues. A man, a very good player and my pitching coach in Triple-A...

Last season the World Champion Phillies won the NL East by three games over The NY Mets. The Phillies finished 2008 with a 92-70 record. My wife Jonna helped me do this, so if my math is wrong, blame her, she has the Masters in teaching. The Nats can finish 92-70 if they set small goals the rest of the season. First, the Nationals have to put April in a box, put it on a shelf, and never open it. The 5-16 start....Not good. However, a 4-2 record in May is good. Not counting Saturday's...

As the season winds down, try and stay positive and build for tomorrow. I know it sounds cliche, and maybe it is; but it's how we deal with failure and stay grounded in this game. No matter how the season ends in DC, there will be some who wish to break down the season into numbers and how the team finished. Once again, I will remind people that it only takes a year to turn a negative into a positive. Let's take Tampa in 2007. They finished the year with 66 wins and 96 losses and...