For the first time since major league baseball returned to Washington, D.C., Nationals fans have reasonable grounds for hope. Thanks to Mike Rizzo’s whirlwind of moves the past two seasons, the team has a promising mix of veterans and youngsters. Veterans Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, free agent blockbuster Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche are proven veterans. Paired with high-potential youngsters like Wilson Ramos, Danny Espinosa, Ian Desmond, and Roger Bernadina, the Nationals look like a bona fide professional club. The pitching, a perennial weaknesses since fans closed out 2005 with a standing ovation for Frank Robinson’s boys, finally has credible starters like Livan Hernandez, Tom Gorzelanny, Jason Marquis, and John Lannan. Unlike 2005, Rizzo has also added depth with Yunesky Maya, Ross Detwiler, Chien-Ming Wang, and Rule 5 pick Brian Broderick, with 2nd round pick Sammy Solis waiting in the wings.