This entry was written by new DCist contributor Jeff Beam Away from the three ring circus created by Major League Baseball, City Council, and Mayor Williams’ office, the 2006 edition of the Nationals prepares this week to close shop in Viera, Florida and head north for another season along the Anacostia. A number of roster moves via trade, promotion, and shoulder tears have changed the look of the team, so we’ve compiled a season preview…

The Nationals missed an opportunity to overtake the Astros in the wild card chase, dropping a tough 4-3 decision against the Phillies last night. Esteban Loaiza coughed up four earned runs on 10 hits and a walk in 5.2 innings. Bright spots for the Nats included Vinny Castilla’s 3rd inning homerun, and Luis Ayala, Joey Eischen, and Gary Majewski combining for 2+ innings of scoreless, hitless relief. The Nats managed to cut the Phillies’…

See, DCist is taking the positive view of things. Playing their worst baseball of the season, the Nationals left for a thirteen game road trip that began at Houston, the team directly above the Nats in the wild-card standings and the team that just swept the hometown boys in RFK, and they avoided the worst possible outcome. They could have been swept again. They could have lost their entire starting lineup to (further) injury….

Editor’s Note: As many of you are well aware, this post was riddled with errors. See comments for our public whipping. The Nats might have lost their home winning streak on Sunday (to say nothing of Nick Johnson) but last night they got their groove back, winning by a characteristic single run, 2-1. Likewise, recent addition Ryan Drese pitched 8 solid innings to rebound from an 11-4 loss to the Pirates just last week. It…

Spring may not have arrived in the mid-Atlantic region just yet, but down in Viera, Fla. — where the Nationals have been training for the past few weeks — it’s practically summer. Good thing, because the ex-Expos play their first game with an interlocking D.C. on their uniforms there tomorrow, against the New York Metropolitans (but against Tom Glavine, not Pedro). Game time is 1:05 p.m. Weather should be 62 degrees and partly cloudy. If…