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Beyond the Box Score A question of history When Alfonso Soriano hit his 45th of 46th homers last season, he broke Vladimir Guerrero's franchise record, but was it really a record? Frank Howard hit 48 in 1969 with the Washington Senators, and the conundrum illuminates a potential sticking point for baseball's newest D.C. occupants. What history to adopt? The 36 seasons baseball was played in Montreal before the move to D.C., or the long history of baseball in Washington, which includes a 1924 world championship? So far, the Nationals have stuck with their Montreal roots, leaving the team's Washington past in the past. Vive les Expos? When the Nationals traded Jose Vidro to the Seattle Mariners in December, they lost their longest-tenured player and one more link to the team's Montreal history. With Vidro gone, only eight players remain with ties to the Expos: Chad Cordero, John Patterson, Brian Schneider, Luis Ayala, Shawn Hill, Jon Rauch, Nick Johnson and Ryan Church. Attendance down at RFK The shine of baseball's return to Washington dimmed in the Nationals' second year in D.C. Attendance at RFK Stadium was down more than 7,000 fans per game, from an average of 33,651 fans in 2005 (11th in the majors) to 26,582 in 2006 (21st). Perhaps more important, in the race for the hearts and minds of fans in the Baltimore-Washington area, Nationals attendance trailed Orioles attendance by an average of one fan per game. TV time The Nationals and the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network fired television analyst Tom Paciorek and plan to replace him with Hall of Fame pitcher Don Sutton.

The Nationals finally have an owner, a permanent GM and a manager with some job security. With the new regime comes a plan to rebuild the long-neglected franchise, first through scouting and player development and only later, much later, through free agency. With that in mind, Nationals general manager Jim Bowden ignored this offseason's high-priced spending frenzy, and Washington's 2007 edition remains one filled with holes, from a patchwork starting rotation to an outfield filled with question marks.

Rotation

Right-hander John Patterson, who missed most of 2006 with a forearm injury, is expected to anchor the rotation. But beyond Patterson, a rotation that ranked last in the National League in 2006 now consists of a hodgepodge of castaways and youngsters to be sorted out during spring training. No fewer than nine pitchers will compete for the final four spots in Washington's rotation, including four signed this offseason -- right-hander Tim Redding, who hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2005, former Dodgers prospect Joel Hanrahan and right-hander Colby Lewis, a former Rangers prospect who pitched briefly for Detroit last year, and Jerome Williams. Left-handers Mike O'Connor and Billy Traber and right-handers Shawn Hill, Beltran Perez and Jason Bergmann earned starts for the Nationals in 2006 and are still in the mix.

Bullpen

If the starters can get the bullpen a lead, it should be safe. Right-hander Luis Ayala missed all of last season after having ligament replacement surgery during spring training, but he's back to bolster a deep and talented group that should be among the team's strengths. Closer Chad Cordero saved 29 games last season, and though he couldn't match his 47-save performance from 2005, he's emerged as one of the game's most reliable stoppers. Right-hander Jon Rauch had a breakout year and made a career-high 85 appearances, left-hander Micah Bowie was dominant in a 15-game stint, and the addition of left-hander Ray King adds another experienced arm. Righty Emiliano Fruto, acquired from the Seattle Mariners in a December trade for Jose Vidro, brings a mid-90s fastball and outstanding changeup.

Middle Infield

A potential logjam was eased when Vidro was traded to the Mariners, but plenty of questions linger for the middle infield. With Cristian Guzman returning from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, Felipe Lopez moves from shortstop to second base, where he hasn't played since 2005. Guzman, who is considered the better defensive shortstop, was signed to a four-year $16.8 million contract before 2005 but has been a bust. He hit .219 in 2005 and didn't play last season, though team officials are hoping that Guzman's 2005 struggles were related to the shoulder injury and that he can revert to the player who hit no worse than .268 from 2001-04.

Corners

The Nationals anticipated big things from third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, and the 22-year-old's explosive rookie campaign has left the team expecting even more in the future. Not only did Zimmerman hit .287 with 20 homers and 110 RBIs, but he was also unfazed by the pressure of hitting third and showed a knack for the dramatic. In the span of 19 days in June and July, he had three game-ending hits, including two homers and a single. Zimmerman and first baseman Nick Johnson could pack a potent punch in the middle of the order, if Johnson is healthy. The knock on Johnson throughout his career has been injuries, and he almost made it through 2006 without incident -- until he broke his right femur on Sept. 23. Club officials are not optimistic Johnson will be ready to go by Opening Day. He might miss up to a month, giving rookie Larry Broadway a shot at the job in the early going.

Outfield

The Nationals know what to expect from right fielder Austin Kearns. Team officials can't say the same thing about the other two outfield positions. Alfonso Soriano's departure opens the door for rookie left fielder Kory Casto, the organization's two-time Minor League Player of the Year. Casto was drafted as an outfielder out of the University of Portland in 2003, switched to third base in 2004 and switched back when the team drafted Zimmerman in 2005. He's batted .283 and averaged 19 homers and 86 RBIs over the last three minor-league seasons, and he'll be given every chance to win the job in spring training. If he fails, however, the team could look to Ryan Church, Michael Restovich or Alex Escobar. Church and Escobar also will be in the running with Nook Logan for the team's center-field job, and all three bring their own strengths to the position. Logan is the best defensive outfielder of the bunch and made several spectacular catches during a 27-game September stint.

Catching

After signing a $16 million contract extension before the season, Brian Schneider had a frustrating 2006 campaign, both at the plate and behind it. Schneider salvaged his offensive statistics with a strong September and finished with 55 RBIs and a .256 average, but he threw out only 30 percent of would-be basestealers. The Nationals took Mets prospect Jesus Flores in the Rule 5 draft, and though he's never played above Single-A, he'll be given every chance to stick as Schneider's backup.

Bench

The Nationals traded top pinch hitters Marlon Anderson and Daryle Ward for prospects last season, leaving a relatively untested group in their wake. Robert Fick, however, will return, and the veteran will be the top bat off the bench. Bernie Castro was a sparkplug in the lineup and an adequate middle infield defensive replacement last season. He'll be pushed by Josh Wilson, who spent last season in the Rockies' minor league system.

Management

The Nationals replace one of the oldest big league managers, 71-year-old Frank Robinson, with the youngest in 37-year-old Manny Acta. Acta is known as a player's coach, and he brings an aggressive and outgoing style to the dugout. Though he has no big league managing experience, he's skippered several teams in the Dominican Winter League and was the manager for the Dominican team in the World Baseball Classic. He'll be surrounded by experience, however. Pitching coach Randy St. Claire returns for his fourth season with the organization, hitting coach Mitchell Page is back for a second season, and former manager Pat Corrales will be Acta's bench coach.

Final Analysis

The Nationals stood pat this winter, content to take their lumps in 2007 while they rebuild from within. While Acta says he is not giving up on this season, the more realistic scenario has the Nats ready to contend in 2008 when the new stadium is scheduled to be completed.

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