CSN Washington dot com. At a spring training approaches much is expected of the Washington Nationals in 2012. They finished just a game under 500 last year and after an active offseason and that's could be poised for a playoff run. Right now with -- more Kelly Johnson and -- Mets insider mark Zuckerman. I'm mark all this time next week pitchers and catchers like nationals will be down and the year Florida. A big offseason depending on how you look at it for the next now going into 20121. And foremost being re signed manager Davey Johnson. How important is that in your mind that. I think it was important just for continuity sake you know. Everyone responded dating very well when he took over as manager after -- recommends resignation and brought some stability to a situation that at the time looked like he could fall apart you know. So bring him back ensuring he's going to be here for the long term a lot of players respond -- them I think that was important just to get that out of the way. And not have that covered over everyone's minds you're going to. X is now a big reason everyone's excited of course about this offseason was a two starting pitchers they picked up in GO Gonzales and Edwin Jackson. Both inning eaters there for the nationals a number two and a number three guy in that rotation. Why should be excited about those two. Well the excitement is over look at the depth they have all the sudden this rotation nuclear talk about Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman at one into analogy -- Gonzales and all star from last year. Put up big numbers and Oakland two years in a row. And Edwin Jackson was a big starter on -- World Series winning team with the Cardinals last season so one through four that's almost as good as any rotation in baseball some power arms young guys -- talk about seasoned veteran so. Young guys who are controllable. It makes for just a really deep and quality starting rotation. Now if they didn't get was a big bats. Or a center fielder Jim Mike Rizzo went into the off season saying those are priorities why they think they can get away without him. Well it was a priority going into the offseason and in the end result looked at the situations that you know what they're really isn't -- center fielder out there that makes sense what we're gonna right now. So they're gonna go short term here Rick Ankiel Mike Cameron Roger -- again. Really it's a very short term situation because ultimately Bryce Harper is gonna make this team at some point probably early in the season and when that happens Jayson Werth goes to center field and when did so because of that. You know -- a lock themselves in. With the center fielder. Had spent a lot of money on a free agent they figure Werth can handle the job they're they figure they're gonna get the offense from guys coming back from injury Zimmerman the -- Put that all together it may not be a great offensive team but it should be a better offensive team last year. Deathly reasons for optimism going into 2012. February 19 when pitchers and catchers report to be -- Florida. Mark Zuckerman our next insider thanks very much. CSN Washington dot com.