A re-introduction to the Nats ... and me

When last we saw them assembled on a baseball field, the Nationals were managed by Matt Williams. Ian Desmond was their shortstop. Jordan Zimmermann was their most-consistent pitcher over a period of five years. Drew Storen was a key part of their bullpen.

When next we see them assembled on a baseball field, none of that will be true. Williams was fired less than 24 hours after the season finale, ultimately replaced by Dusty Baker (after a brief fling with Bud Black went awry). Desmond and Zimmermann became free agents, with Zimmermann landing in Detroit while Desmond still sits at home in Sarasota seeking a new employer. Storen was traded to Toronto for Ben Revere, who will replace another fan favorite in D.C.: Denard Span (now a Giant).

Baseball, much as we'd like to believe otherwise, is a sport of change. The Nationals who gather tomorrow at Space Coast Stadium for the franchise's final spring in Viera will look quite different than we remember.

And, to an extent, so will yours truly.

Some of you may already know me from 11 seasons spent covering the Nats for various media outlets around town. Some of you may have never heard of me. And some of you may be utterly confused right now, wondering why the guy who invented Facebook is writing about baseball.

Well, let me explain. After a couple months of unemployment this winter, I've now had the good fortune to be hired as MASNsports.com's new Nats beat writer and contributor to MASN's baseball broadcasts. (And for those still confused, no I didn't invent Facebook. I don't even have the same name as that guy. I went to Northwestern, not Harvard. And my hair is straight, not curly. And I don't wear gray hoodies to work.)

I have to admit, I'm pretty fired up about this opportunity. Though each outlet I worked for in the past had its own benefits, this one offers something none of the previous could: Baseball coverage - and nothing but baseball coverage - 365 days a year. You're reading this because you love baseball and you love the Nationals. I'm working here because I love baseball and I love writing about the Nats.

It was never really my intention to cover this franchise for so long, but I've come to embrace the role. This has been a fascinating team to chronicle for more than a decade, from the joyous inaugural campaign of 2005 at RFK Stadium to the opening of Nationals Park to the disastrous 100-loss clubs that led to major organizational changes to the drafting of No. 1 picks Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper to the thrill of two NL East championships to the heartbreak of two first-round playoff exits to a wild 2015 that featured an MVP performance, two no-hitters by the same pitcher, a string of bullpen meltdowns at the worst possible times, the choking of the league MVP by a volatile midseason acquisition and eventually the firing of the reigning NL Manager of the Year.

I couldn't walk away from all that now, could I? No chance.

Not with so many compelling storylines about to play out in 2016. Harper's attempt to duplicate (or dare we suggest elevate further?) his record-setting performance from a year ago. Strasburg's attempt to put everything together in what could be his final season pitching in D.C. Max Scherzer's attempt to build off his All-Star showing and lead a reconfigured starting rotation. Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Anthony Rendon's attempts to stay healthy and rediscover their past form over a full season. Revere and Daniel Murphy's attempts to contribute to a new-look lineup that may emphasize contact over all-or-nothing swings. A totally made-over bullpen's attempt to do what last year's group couldn't. Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner's attempts to crack the big league roster at some point and become key rookie performers. Baker's attempt to take over his fourth major league club and do what he couldn't quite do with his previous three: win a World Series.

Oh, yeah, and Jonathan Papelbon is still this team's closer. There may be one or two articles worth writing about that fact along the way.

It all starts tomorrow when pitchers and catchers officially report, and I'll be there to chronicle it every step of the way.

This isn't, however, a one-man enterprise. My purpose in this position is to serve you, the loyal Nationals fan who wants to know everything there is to know about this team. The sportswriting blueprint when I started covering the Nats in 2005 was far different. We wrote the articles we thought were important to write, and though we'd occasionally hear from a reader via email, phone or (gasp) an actual, handwritten letter, there really wasn't all that much interaction.

That blueprint has changed dramatically in the ensuing 11 years. Interaction with readers is constant and comes in many forms: Blog comments (please do), Twitter replies (you can find me @MarkZuckerman), email (reach me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). I've been fortunate to meet and interact with so many of you over the years, and I look forward to continuing and expanding that interaction at my new home.

The venue may be different. But so is the Nats roster and coaching staff.

This promises to be the start of a new era of baseball in D.C. And I couldn't be more excited to chronicle all of it for you.