Ouch!

Good news for the long relievers on the Nationals this year: Jason Marquis is a starter. Job Security!

Last night, Marquis faced seven batters and retired only himself. Four singles, two hit batsmen and a walk later, Marquis headed for the showers. Well, in a manner of speaking. How much do you sweat on a spring day in D.C. before most fans have settled into their seats?

Miguel Batista munched up five innings in relief, but saved his best for first, relinquishing a grand slam to slugger Craig Counsel (40 home runs in 15 Major League seasons) that capped Marquis's day. Zero innings, four hits, seven runs, all earned, one walk and no strikeouts. De-licious! Marquis is now 0-3 with a 20.52 ERA. In three starts he's completed eight innings. But this is the Nationals, so he'll get a fourth start.

Marquis's outing was simply a diversionary tactic for Gavin Floyd, the 6'6" White Sox righty who allowed a home run, double, four singles and four walks, threw a wild pitch and surrendered seven Cleveland runs before he could record the game's fourth out. Four Chicago relievers pitched seven scoreless innings behind him on two hits, striking out eight. Dear Ozzie: next time, start with the relievers.

In a way, it's worse for the Sox. Washington has the same chance of success this season as the opposition party in North Korea, regardless of Jason Marquis's exploits. On the South Side, though, they have delusions of adequacy this year, especially in the wide open AL Central. They are counting on Floyd to help anchor a strong pitching staff that boasts Mark Buherle, John Danks, Freddy Garcia and Jake Peavy, with Bobby Jenks out of the pen. 

Both these guys have long resumes of thoroughly middling Major League service. A disastrous start or three may or may not mean a thing. In Chicago, it actually matters.

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