Opening Night starter in doubt
(Mark Zuckerman - Washington Times) The moment will be broadcast around the country and captured by thousands of flashbulbs that will pop throughout the stadium at about 8:05 p.m. on March 30.
The first pitch in Nationals Park history will hold a special place in franchise lore, the signal of a new era of baseball in the District and a seminal moment for the pitcher who will have the honor of throwing it.
Now, if the Washington Nationals could just figure out who that will be, a process that the ongoing saga of Shawn Hill's injured right forearm has complicated.
Hill had to cut short his long-toss session Friday because of pain in his throwing arm, and though the 26-year-old tried to downplay the severity of the situation, the team shut him down until at least Tuesday.
"It's kind of day-by-day," Hill said of his plan moving ahead. "They haven't really given me a schedule looking forward."
Which could throw a major wrench into the Nationals' Opening Night plans.
Hill, who went 4-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 16 starts last season, had remained on a five-day pitching schedule that would have coincided with the March 30 opener against the Atlanta Braves. Team officials won't rule out the possibility of him working his way back in time to make that start, but they are prepared to go in another direction if needed.
"We have a couple of plans in place," manager Manny Acta said.
Read More: Opening Night starter in doubt [Washington Times]
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