The Nationals had a veteran squad the past two seasons and the play on the field wasn't very good, and the end result was a fifth-place finish in 2005 and '06.

The team is now planning to use younger players with a much smaller payroll next season, and a lot of people are predicting that the Nationals won't do well in 2007. But don't tell that to new manager Manny Acta, who is hoping the Nationals can be this year's Marlins.

A year ago at this time, the Marlins were going through a fire sale and the so-called baseball experts predicted that Florida would lose 100 games. But the team ended up competing for a National League Wild Card berth for most of the 2006 season.

"I'm optimistic," Acta said. "I believe it's 25 [players] against 25 [players] every single day, and I believe my guys can have a good day every single day. I want to shock the world. I want to play over .500 and [also play] meaningful games at the end of the season.

"I just cannot walk into this situation, and right off be penciling [this team] in last place right away. I don't care what anybody says. I'll find out on Sept. 30."

Starting in Spring Training, Acta is making sure that the Nationals practice basic fundamentals, especially on the defensive end. Washington was among the league leaders in errors last year.

Offseason report card: The first priority was to find a manager to replace Frank Robinson, and the Nationals hired Acta, 37, last November. Washington loves Acta, because he has his own ideas about solving problems. He already announced that Felipe Lopez will be the leadoff hitter, and the first-year manager said he will give Ryan Church and Nook Logan every chance to win starting jobs in the outfield.

	Season in Preview A lot can change by Opening Day, but as 2006 becomes 2007, this is who is projected to take the field for the Nationals:
	2B	Felipe Lopez
	1B	Nick Johnson
	3B	Ryan Zimmerman
	RF	Austin Kearns
	C	Brian Schneider
	LF	Kory Casto
	SS	Cristian Guzman
	CF	Nook Logan
	SP	John Patterson
	SP	Beltran Perez
	SP	Matt Chico
	SP	Joel Hanrahan
	SP	Mike O'Connor/Shawn Hill
	CL	Chad Cordero
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The Nats made great strides to improve their bullpen by signing Ray King, who will most likely be one of the lefties out of the bullpen, but the team still needs to improve its starting pitching. After John Patterson, it's anybody's guess who will be in the rotation. Beltran Perez, Mike O'Connor, Matt Chico and Shawn Hill will get a chance to make the team. In case, they don't work out, the Nationals signed a large number of six-year free agents, including Tim Redding and Joel Hanrahan.

Grade on a scale of 1 to 10: 5, it's too early to tell.

Arrivals: OF Chris Snelling (trade), RHP Emiliano Fruto, C Jesus Flores (Rule 5) RHP Levale Speigner (Rule 5), LHP Justin Jones (Rule 5), RHP Redding (free agent) RHP Hanrahan (free agent), INF Josh Wilson (free agent), OF Michael Restovich (free agent), RHP Jermaine Van Buren (free agent), RHP T.J. Nall (free agent), RHP Colby Lewis (free agent), RHP Felix Diaz (free agent), RHP Eduardo Valdez (free agent), RHP Josh Hall (free agent), RHP Winston Abreu (free agent), RHP Jim Magrane (free agent), LHP Mike Bacsik (free agent), LHP Billy White (free agent), LHP Chris Michalak (free agent), C Juan Brito (free agent)and C Danny Ardoin (free agent), INF Joe Thurston (free agent), OF Darnell McDonald (free agent) OF Wayne Lydon (free agent), LHP King (free agent) and RHP Jason Simontacchi (free agent).

Departures: LF Alfonso Soriano, 2B Jose Vidro, RHP Tony Armas Jr., RHP Ramon Ortiz, RHP Pedro Astacio, RHP Zach Day, RHP Felix Rodriguez, LHP Joey Eischen, RHP Travis Hughes, RHP Ryan Drese, RHP Brian Lawrence, INF Henry Mateo and CF Marlon Byrd.

The road ahead: There's still a lot of work to do to improve the Nationals, but don't look for them to spend money to do it. Look for general manager Jim Bowden to make a trade or two before Spring Training. Church and closer Chad Cordero have been on the trade block for most of the offseason, and Washington wants top prospects or young Major League players in return.