More on Zimmerman's transition to first (pitchers, catchers report Feb. 19)

Quantifying Adam LaRoche's importance to the Nationals over his four-year stint isn't difficult. Yes, there was the left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup that supplied necessary power. But LaRoche's prowess with the leather was something that came up over and over again at NatsFest as his now ex-teammates lamented his departure as a free agent. LaRoche was the kind of steady but stellar defender whose glovework often gets overlooked - not because it's not spectacular, but because people get so used to seeing him turn short-hop throws into outs or watch him benefit from perfect positioning on relays and cutoffs. In baseball, the little things really do mean a lot. That means new first baseman Ryan Zimmerman has some big defensive shoes to fill as he shifts across the diamond from third base. The move isn't particularly newsworthy - it was assumed Zimmerman would eventually depart the hot corner for first base, though maybe not this soon, as injuries to his throwing shoulder hastened the shift. But Zimmerman will be under a microscope starting in spring training. Last year, Zimmerman had the benefit of some on-the-job training with LaRoche, who couldn't have been more helpful when it came to showing his eventual successor the ropes around the other bag. This spring in Viera, Fla., Zimmerman will be on his own a lot more, but he'll still have some people to reach out to for advice and counsel, starting with manager Matt Williams. "I think Matt played there at the end of his career," Zimmerman said Saturday at NatsFest. "Matt and Weeds (Mark Weidemaier, defensive alignment coordinator), obviously, has done a lot with the defensive (positioning). There's plenty of people there to help. I'm not too worried about it, as much as I need to have a personal consultant. But Adam was great. Obviously, he's one of the best defensive first basemen I've ever seen play, so he'll be missed." Williams did play some first base, but not in the waning years of the 17-year career that ended in 2003 with 37 turns at third for the Diamondbacks. In 1996, he appeared in 13 games at first base, starting 12 of them. It's a small sample size, but enough to give the manager some perspective about the challenges Zimmerman will face. "It's the opposite side of the diamond, so everything that Zim has done in his career has gone to his left," Williams said. "And now everything is going to go to his right. So that's a challenge. It's a switch, but he's an athlete. We put him in left field for crying out loud, and he did great. He's an athlete. He can do it. And it will just take some time. But I think he'll have ample time in spring training to accomplish that. I think the transition for him will be fine." Zimmerman has obviously been taking a cerebral approach to the transition, long before he focuses on footwork on the back fields in Viera. Having made himself into a most credible left fielder (after 1,119 games at third) when he returned from a fractured right thumb, he can grasp the big-picture look at the switch, drawing on his previous experience. "It's always easier to move further away from the ball. I think outfielders that come in - I don't know how often that happens - but when it does happen, I think it's harder for them because they're so used to being further away and having more time to react," he said. "It doesn't really get more reactionary than third base. So first base will be a little different with the footwork and all that, but playing infield, especially third base, I think would help. Shortstop to first would be a little different. ... It'll help being that close." Decision day?: Today is a big day in the Nats' search for a new spring training home. The Palm Beach County Commissioners meet at 9:30 this morning, and will consider a land swap that would exchange 1.8 acres in downtown West Palm Beach for the 160-acre parcel at Haverhill Road and 45th Street where the Nationals and Astros want to construct a shared spring training complex. The Haverhill Road tract was thought to be targeted for a competing mixed-use development based on an offer made for the site in October, roughly at the time the Nationals and Astros secured funding from Palm Beach County for the complex they want to construct. On Oct. 21, the commissioners gave the Nationals and Astros 90 days to find a suitable parcel of land for a two-team facility. If the land swap goes through, it would pave the way for the Nationals and Astros to move to Palm Beach County, perhaps as early as 2017. The Nats' lease on Space Coast Stadium in Viera runs through spring training 2017, but they can leave early because they have repaid bonds to Brevard County. The Nationals must inform Brevard County by the end of camp in 2016 if they intent to leave or renew their lease for another decade. Update: Palm Beach County commissioners voted this morning to move ahead with the proposed land swap, which could pave the way for the shared Nationals-Astros spring training complex on Haverhill Road. Update II: The Nats have officially announced that pitchers and catchers will report to spring training on Feb. 19. The first full-squad workout will be on Feb. 24.