Nationals Chatter: Williams profile, Fister compares rotations, Johnson to meet family friend

"Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love you tomorrow!" Excuse my willingness to quote the musical "Annie," but baseball will be back tomorrow. Nationals pitchers and catchers are set to report to spring training tomorrow. Baseball is back. Here are a few stories involving the Nationals over the last few days. * USA TODAY's Paul White wrote an in-depth feature on how new technological analytics have changed the relationship between managers and general managers. Because of the new analytics, general managers are more involved with the manager on a day-to-day basis. The connection between Nats general manager Mike Rizzo and manager Matt Williams was among the relationships featured. Williams is a first-year manager, but has known Rizzo since the two were with the Diamondbacks organization. It's an interesting read that also features Rays manager Joe Maddon, Tigers manager Brad Ausmus and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. * The Associated Press has a cool story about former Nationals manager Davey Johnson. When Johnson traveled to Syracuse to attend the Triple-A Chiefs' hot stove event, he met Don Waful, one of his father's former comrades during World War II. Johsnon's father, Fred, and Waful were prisoners of war of the Germans. The two men shared a barracks with six other men while captured. * Last Friday, Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post wrote a terrific profile on Williams. Kilgore traveled to Williams' offseason home in Scottsdale, Ariz., and visited with Williams and his family. It's a pretty lengthy story, but if you have the chance, I would recommend reading it. * Doug Fister believes the Nationals have a better starting rotation than the Detroit Tigers, his former team. Fister has been blessed to throw alongside aces Felix Hernandez (while with the Mariners) and Justin Verlander (while with the Tigers). * This next story is not about the Washington Nationals, but a celebration honoring one of baseball's all-time greatest players. Last Friday, an event celebrating Hank Aaron's 80th birthday was held in D.C. Guests included Reggie Jackson, attorney general Eric Holder, Robin Yount and basaeball commissioner Bud Selig. * The last story comes from Capitol Hill. President Barack Obama met with Senate Democrats last week at Nationals Park. Former President Bill Clinton also attended the event. Do you think anyone invited the racing presidents? That's a wrap for this week's Nationals Chatter. Now kick back, relax and start dreaming of baseball.