–The Washington Nationals might be in the market for some back-of-the-rotation pitching help, according the Washington Post.
–Stephen Strasburg has made a fan of one future hall of famer, who once caught Nolan Ryan, read here.
My predictions for the Nat’s pitching staff PS (Pre-Strasburg) and Pre-Wang:
1) Marquis
2) Lannan
3) Olsen
4) Stammen
5) JD Martin/ Colin Balester/ Livan Hernandez (who isn’t signed yet, but I think will be)
Craig Stammen
–Compare these two mystery pitchers:
Pitcher A
SPLITS G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO W L P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 19 19 1 0 105.2 112 67 60 14 24 48 4 7 83.3 1.29 .271 5.11
Pitcher B
SPLITS G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO W L P/GS WHIP BAA ERA
Season 19 19 1 0 123.1 126 52 47 11 32 65 7 5 98.1 1.28 .265 3.43
One is considered a top young pitching prospect and the other is hardly ever mentioned. The two pitchers are only one year apart (Pitcher B is 24, Pitcher B is 25).
Not such a big descrepancy, yet that is all that seperates Pitcher A, Craig Stammen of the Nats, and Pitcher B, Brad Bergesen of the Orioles. I still stand by Stammen as a Jamie-moyer type ground ball pitcher who could be a solid 4/5 starter for years.
–Concern out of Baltimore about the recently diagnosed herniated disc in Brian Robert’s back. The disc was originally believed to be a kidney stone. Buster Olney says there is reason to worry.
–Jason Bay, New York Mets Outfielder, is optimistic about the Mets season in spite of last season, writes the New York Post.
Goofy Lookin' Jason Bay
–Derek Jeter’s contract situation has become an issues, according the
–Andrew McCutchen has some audio thoughts about the Pirate’s spring training, on the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Web site.
–The holy trinity that makes up the Boston Red Sox ownership group, John Henry, Larry Lucchino and Tom Werner answer questions about their future plans with the franchise with the Boston Herald.
–Jair Jurrjens is coming along ok from an arm injury scare, but honestly, these stories never end well. Read the AJC story here.
Also, in the story, Jordan Schafer is tatted-up and ready to go after hand surgery runied his season last year. That is a scary outfield in two years if Jason Heyward and Schafer are ready to go.
–Hanley Ramirez is stronger, according to the Miami Herald.
–The White Sox will be trying a DH by committee approach according to the Chicago Tribune
–Even though the Dodgers did virtually nothing in the offseason, the Dodgers are doubling ticket prices, and Frank McCourt is not apologetic, read the TJ Simers column here.
–The Hairston Brothers, together at last from Signonsandiego.com
–The Minnestoa Star Tribune reports that a person will be hot-doggin it at the Twin’s new ballpark.
–It looks like Joel “I hurt myself playing Rockband” Zumaya’s arm strength is back, per the Detroit Free Press
–Finally, Ichiro SPEAKS, it’s always a pleasure to read what Ichiro has to say and in this article you get to see Ichiro race and talk about his pitching ability, check out the The Seattle Times .