Washington Nationals Sign Strasburg $15.1M over 4 Years

Most people think that once you draft a player in MLB that signing them to a contract is a done deal. The easy part for the Washington Nationals was drafting Stephen Strasburg in June. The hard part was getting him to agree to a contract by the deadline of midnight Monday. The Last time the Nationals were in this position they failed to reach an agreement with first-round selection, Aaron Crow, a pitcher from Missouri.

I think this gave them a real sense that they had to get this done. With 1 Minute and 17 seconds left until the deadline, the Washington Nationals score a huge deal last night with the record breaking $15.1 million over 4 years signing of Strasburg.

Strasburg comes to the Nationals from San Diego State University. With the Aztecs last season, he lead all Division 1 pitchers in ERA (1.35) and strikeouts (195 in 109 innings), and won the Golden Spikes award for the top U.S. amateur baseball player. He has the ability to come in and be effective immediately. I would expect for the Nationals to feature him this season after giving him a few starts in the minors. Strasburg features a100 mph fastball which sets up an absolutely knee-buckling breaking ball.

What the Nationals hope is this will be the piece of the puzzle they have been searching for. Mike Rizzo the Nationals G.M. said “We thought we signed the player for his value,” calling Strasburg “the most coveted amateur player in the history of the draft.” Giving them a true number one starter next season, that will be exciting for their fans, and sends a message around the league that the Nationals are serious about putting together a winning team.

Did Francisco's Blown Save End Texas Rangers Playoff Hopes?

The Texas Rangers were in command! You could feel it in the air that once again they were going to take down the mighty Boston Red Sox. The stage was set and Rangers leading in the 9th with a score of 4-2 bring in Frank Francisco and you could just tell by his look or demeanor, just something about him that the 9th was going to end in disaster.

There was hit after hit after hit and the Red Sox scored one run, but still the Rangers seemed destined to win getting an out here and there, balls seemed to at least bounce their way like when Buchholz, a starting pitcher, that was brought in to pinch run because of his speed hesitated between second and third base when Texas left fielder David Murphy leaped to try to catch Pedroia’s drive at the wall.

Murphy hit Michael Young with a relay throw and Young’s relay beat a sliding Buchholz. The Red Sox ended up with runners at second and third, and that brought Victor Martinez to the plate for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox now trailing 4-3 were down to their last strike when Martinez ripped a pitch from Francisco into the right-field corner, scoring Ellsbury and Pedroia. Martinez said “I saw three pitches and finally got a fastball right down the middle and I got a good swing at it,”
Then the route was really on. Boston finished off Francisco with Jason Bay’s RBI single and an exclamation point when J.D. Drew blasted a two run homer.

Francisco (2-2), blew his third save in 19 chances, gave up seven hits and six runs. “I don’t want anyone at my locker so beat it,” Francisco said. It was the first time he’s allowed more than four hits or four runs in 203 major league appearances.

The Rangers when leading after eight innings at home had won 72 straight games. Dating back to September 2007.

Why oh why do we continue to put this guy back in the closers role? He has not proven himself effective since coming off the DL and now is not the time to give him a chance to work it out. I am not saying Francisco is a bad pitcher but right now, today, at this moment he is not a closer. He would make a good reliever where you have more control but he does not have that killer instinct that you need as a closer.

No one fears Frank Francisco.

The Boston Red Sox win extended their lead over Texas in the wild card to 1 1/2 games. What we have to hope is that the Rangers are not affected mentally by this loss! Games like this can change an entire season.

Josh Hamilton, "I Am A Human, I Still Have Struggles"

Josh Hamilton like all addicts has and will have ongoing struggles with addiction. This is not something new to anyone that has experienced addiction as an addict, loved one or family member. Josh Hamilton, the Texas Rangers center fielder slipped up from his recovery and drank alcohol in an Arizona bar in January of this year.

On Saturday morning August 8th an internet site, Deadspin posted 12 photos of Hamilton drinking and partying in a Tempe, Arizona bar before the start of this season. They pictured Hamilton with several young women, without his shirt on in several of the photos. Hamilton is never pictured drinking or doing drugs.

Hamilton immediately addressed the media in Anaheim prior to the Texas Rangers game with the Angels, and confessed to drinking that night in January. He says the incident was a one-time thing. "I'm embarrassed about it," said Hamilton, who is married and has children. "I can't have alcohol”. It's a realization. It's amazing how those things creep back in”.

Most baseball players will not spend time with the media talking about what they do during their personal time. However the reason this story has received so much press is because of Hamilton’s promotion of himself and his struggles with addiction that very nearly cost him his Major league career.

During the offseason, Hamilton toured, promoting his best-selling book “Beyond Belief, Finding The Strength To Come Back”. Because of his performance during the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, and constant coverage by the media of his comeback, Hamilton gained thousands of dedicated followers.

I too will confess myself to be one of those dedicated followers of Josh Hamilton. However I do have a question or two for Hamilton, his family and friends, as well as his Texas Rangers family. Where were you? A person such as Josh Hamilton does not just go out on their own to some random bar in Tempe Arizona! Where were you? It’s not as if you all didn’t know of his struggles. Where were you? Josh in your faith in yourself and God, Where were you?

In the end will this change my dedication as a fan of Josh Hamilton, No! If anything his handling of the situation has shown me that in this day and age of the prim donna superstar that cheats their way to the top with performance enhancing drugs, there are still a few stand up players out there that will seek responsibility and take responsibility for their own actions.

Does Josh Hamilton really owe us an explanation? I say no. I believe that the only person’s he owes an explanation to is, His Family, His Close Personal Friends, and The Texas Rangers. All of which he confessed to the day after the incident happened in January. I realize that’s not good enough for a lot of you. To you I say he gave you all the explanation you need when Hamilton said,

“I am a human. I still have struggles”