Nick Johnson is back and looks like he's in the best shape he's been in since hitting town as a National with the rest of the team. His presence, fielding, and solid hitting should help provide more protection to Zimmerman as an all around hitter.

Christian Guzman even looks lighter than many in the area have seen him before. Could it be that both Johnson and Guzman helped bring a victory to the Nationals in the opener due to some running on the base paths?

Certainly the Nationals are going to go through hitting droughts causing losing streaks and without a bonafide stopper will have some losing streaks due to starting pitching that's already had a history of injury problems, but they're also capable of going on a good tear for a few good winning streaks. The team boasts its best batting order in DC yet, but doesn't have a top to bottom order like the Red Sox, Braves, or Mets that may have a bad game, but not a series and therefore fans should be prepared to watch a competitive team that battles to hang around .500 up one day and down the next. Let's all sit back and enjoy the ride, the new digs, and the prospects of a great young farm system to challenge the division foes in years to come.