Here are some responses to those.

I read the Mitchell Report and saw the sections on Paul Lo Duca. Are the Nationals going to do anything to address that issue with him?
-- Pat R., Washington, D.C.

Entering Monday, we have not heard from the Nationals other than the press release they put out last Thursday, and Lo Duca has yet to publicly address the matter of whether he purchased or used human growth hormone.

I spoke to an expert on sports contracts and the person told me that the Nationals don't have any legal grounds to void Lo Duca's contract, which is guaranteed.

"He has a guaranteed contract," the expert said. "The Nationals have no legal right to change it. He has never been convicted of anything, and he has never broken any rules of baseball."

Will Lo Duca face suspension by the team or Major League Baseball? I don't know.

I think it's unfair the way you seem to take shots at players as they are on their way out of town. It seems to me that if you have criticism about a player, you should say it while that player is still in a Nats uniform. While Brian Schneider was the starting catcher, you often wrote about what a great defender he was.
-- Matt M., Winooski, Vt.

I have received a lot of e-mails about the comments I made about Schneider last week. First of all, with the exception of 2006, I have never questioned Schneider's defensive skills or his game calling. When I questioned those skills, I went to him on the matter.

In terms of Schneider's hitting skills, the stats say it all. Furthermore, it is not the first time I said that Schneider has regressed as a hitter. Based on what I saw in Montreal, I thought Schneider would someday be a .270, 280 hitter. I was wrong.

As far as Schneider's leadership skills are concerned, I stand by what I said.

Although the Nats didn't pick up a major star, I concluded that their offseason is a great success. Washington could be the big story of next season. Any preliminary thoughts on what its record will look like?
-- Matt D., Montreal

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General manager Jim Bowden has done a tremendous job, and I predict the Nationals will finish the 2008 season over .500. I think the National League East is up for grabs and the Nationals could possibly compete for a division title. I think their offense has improved dramatically and bullpen is deep. I like their young pitching staff. I think Shawn Hill and Jason Bergmann will have breakout years. I'm looking forward to seeing John Patterson return to form and Tyler Clippard and John Lannan play a full season. Don't forget that Tim Redding and Matt Chico are on the team, too. It wouldn't hurt to get another starting pitcher.

Will first baseman Nick Johnson be ready for the season? If so, how do you see the Nationals working both him and Dmitri Young in the lineup?
-- Ryan R., Fairfax Va.

I have never heard Johnson so happy as he was last week when I touched base with him. It sounds like he will be ready for Spring Training. In terms of the first-base situation, Young is the starter entering Spring Training, and it's too early to tell how Nationals will get them both in the lineup.

With the exception of Ryan Zimmerman, the entire starting lineup consists of players developed by other clubs. When can we expect talented players from the Nats' farm system?
-- Blaine P., Ocala Fla.

Give it some time. Most of the players are the low Minor Leagues. I would not be surprised if we saw the homegrown players in a year or two.

Should the Nats sign D'Angelo Jimenez as insurance in case they can't get a leadoff hitter?
-- Dave A., Antigonish, Nova Scotia

Jimenez would never be an everyday player for the Nationals, but I think he would be a nice reserve player. I like the way he works the count.