USA! USA!

• USA 7, Nicaragua 4

It's not exactly the Yanks-Red Sox, it's not even the Chiba Lotte Marines-Yakult Swallows, (and shouldn't the Phillies really get busy and change their name to Philadelphia Swallows?) but it's baseball and the boys in red, white and blue are undefeated after 3 games in the regional Olympic qualifying tournament. The latest victory comes courtesy of National infielder Brendan Harris, who hit the go-ahead 2-run homer in the bottom of the sixth.

Brendan is having himself a nice winter, following up an impressive Arizona Fall League showing with a 5-9, 2 run, 3 RBI, 1 HR, 0K start to the Olympic tournament. His .556 batting average currently leads Team USA. If Harris doesn't get a legitimate shot to compete for a utility infielder spot with the Nats this spring I despair for the future of the franchise. Of course the Damian Jackson signing means that Brendan, Jamey Carroll and Rick Short will be fighting for two roster spots at best.

But Only If They Throw In The Parker Brothers Too

Count me as a convert to the cult of Milton Bradley. News of Trader Jim's misguided lust for Juan Encarnacion sparked a "What About Milton?" movement in the Nats blogosphere. OMG and new Nats Blogger Banks make the case for Uncle Milty. Summarized: we need a CF and leadoff man, Bradley can play center and hit leadoff. Sure he's crazier than a shithouse rat, but so what? Is he going to disrupt the burgeoning clubhouse chemistry between Guillen and Wilkerson? Predictably of course, the Nats are said to have no interest in the Dodgers outfielder.