MASN announces Nationals spring training broadcast schedule (with website news)

Three weeks from tomorrow, Nationals pitchers and catchers will report to Viera, Fla., to kick off spring training.

Just over than two weeks after that, the first Nats spring training broadcast will air on MASN HD.

MASN has announced its spring training broadcast schedule, which will feature seven games during the Nats' 2015 Grapefruit League campaign.

The first broadcast will be Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m., when the Nats host the Cardinals at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.

Two days later, on Monday, March 9, MASN will air the Nationals-Braves contest that starts at 1 p.m. Two days after that, on Wednesday, March 11, the Nats-Tigers game (also at 1 p.m.) will air on MASN HD.

Three games in a five-day span. Not bad.

MASN will also be broadcasting the March 16 game between the Nats and Astros, the March 26 game between the Nats and Mets, and two contests in which the Nats host the Yankees - one on March 23 at Space Coast Stadium and another on Saturday, April 4 at Nationals Park, in the final exhibition game before the regular season begins.

Here is the full broadcast schedule, including re-air times for six of the seven games:

* Saturday, March 7 at 1 p.m., St. Louis Cardinals vs. Nationals (replay at 11:30 p.m.)
* Monday, March 9 at 1 p.m., Atlanta Braves vs. Nationals (replay at 7 p.m.)
* Wednesday, March 11 at 1 p.m., Detroit Tigers vs. Nationals (replay at 7 p.m.)
* Monday, March 16 at 1 p.m., Houston Astros vs. Nationals (replay at 7 p.m.)
* Monday, March 23 at 1 p.m., New York Yankees vs. Nationals (replay at 7 p.m.)
* Thursday, March 26 at 5 p.m., New York Mets vs. Nationals
* Saturday, April 4 at 1 p.m., New York Yankees vs. Nationals (replay at 7 p.m.)

Bob Carpenter, F.P. Santangelo and I will have the call for you for these games. All three of us are back for this season (you're stuck with us yet again!), and we're excited to get going.

One bit of MASN news to pass along this morning - while I'll be back in my role as on-field reporter for our broadcasts this season, I will no longer be covering the Nats on a daily basis for MASNsports.com.

You'll probably still see me contribute a blog post from time to time on any number of various topics, but I'll be focusing predominantly on the TV side of things this year.

Handling two roles last season was a bit much, and not entirely fair to you guys, the readers, who deserve someone whose sole focus is providing the best web coverage we can offer. I'm excited to get a chance to focus mainly on our broadcasts, which was a thrill last season.

Chris Johnson will be replacing me in terms of the website duties, and if you live in the D.C. area, you might be familiar with his name and voice. Chris has spent the past 18 years working in the D.C. sports media, most recently co-hosting the midday show on 106.7 FM with Mike Wise.

He'll do a great job, and will begin writing on a daily basis this Sunday, Feb. 1. I'll still be with you guys on here through Saturday, and then the keys to the car are all C.J.'s.