'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
PHILADELPHIA | With Jordan Zimmermann working in the sixth inning Sunday, left-hander Doug Slaten and right-hander Todd Coffey began to stir in the Washington Nationals' bullpen. The double-barreled action ended immediately after Zimmermann recorded the third out of the inning.
![@Subhead.frcd.22:"Sometimes [bullpen ERA] can be blown out of proportion either way. We all see it as one group, so it doesn't matter. ... I don't look at it like we're carrying the load or whatever. It's kind of one big group, and that's one thing we're really trying to do. It's individual, sure, but we're all one collective bullpen. That's our whole idea. That's what we are, and we pick each other up."
@PullQuoteSig:-Drew Storen](http://media.washtimes.com/media/image/2011/04/08/20110408-001718-pic-302090529_s60x100.jpg?b3b79033ceaf99b484c32f5f09d68397d7c4abdf)
A cursory glance at a few numbers about the Nationals' bullpen displays a divide in its effectiveness.
Tim Hudson pitched seven solid innings in another strong start against Washington and Brian McCann had four RBIs in the Atlanta Braves' 11-2 victory over the Nationals on Sunday.
Over the course of the next 159 games, the Nationals may well prove that the defensive team that showed up to play their first two games of the 2011 season is the one they'll be this year.
The Nationals finalized their Opening Day roster on Monday, sending four players to the minor leagues and trading another to get down to the 25-man maximum one day before their spring training finale.
Ross Detwiler knows the math, and he understands he's most likely the odd man out.
"We have a good attitude," Broderick said.
"A little different," Broderick said looking around. "Yesterday I walked up to the stadium when we got here and then the banners on the board were lighting up and the names were popping up. Mine was like the third one to pop up and I just stood there, kind of just in awe of it all."
