Guest bloggers to return for 2012 season

It's been an offseason of change, both for the Nationals and our coverage here at MASNsports.com. For the team itself, there's a slew of new faces in both the lineup and rotation, bringing along with them optimism that the Nationals can crack the postseason for the first time since moving to our nation's capital. On our Web site, that very team poised to make a championship run has a new beat writer. You may have seen him before covering some sport the locals call football, but rest assured, Nats fans, newly-appointed Nationals beat writer Dan Kolko has your best interests at heart - and in his keystrokes. To complement Kolko's coverage, MASNsports.com is proud to bring back an added daily dosage of Nationals information in the form of our guest bloggers. Each day, readers will be treated to the thoughts, analysis or general musings of everything Nationals baseball to give fans a different perspective than the one solely from the clubhouse and press box. The season will kick off on Thursday, April 5, more importantly known as opening day for the Nationals as they take on the Cubs in Chicago. Dave Nichols from District Sports Page will get things started and be the Thursday blogger each week. On Friday, we'll read Marty Niland from D.C. Baseball History. Following the weekend, cure those Monday blues with Ted Leavengood from Seamheads.com, and be sure to check out the duo of Will Yoder and Joe Drugan on The Nats Blog on Tuesdays before Rachel Levitin from We Love DC updates on Wednesdays. That's continuous coverage of Nationals baseball, so you have no excuse not to be up on the latest news and notes from South Capitol Street. These five guest bloggers will run up through the All-Star break, when we'll switch things up a bit for even more variety. Until then, enjoy all of our National content and gear up for a potentially great season.