Merry Strasmas!!!

Stephen Strasburg is finally back, and man did he look impressive. In his first major league start since undergoing Tommy John surgery Strasburg looked every bit as good as when we last saw him in 2010. He went 5 scoreless innings allowing 2 hits, no runs, 4 Ks and was topping out at 98 MPH.

There was so much buzz when this guy first came up in 2010, and to be honest the MLB needs a guy like this. I have my fingers crossed that he can stay healthy, and next year could be the "The Year of the Strasburg", which to me sounds like kind of terrible natural disaster.

MLB NIXES NATS TRIBUTE

So the Washington Nationals wanted to play a game wearing hats representing the different branches of the United States' military. It was going to be a tribute to the helicopter crash in Afghanistan that killed 30 Americans, from three different branches (Navy, Air Force, and Army). But Major League Baseball said no.

The Nats were allowed to don the caps in batting practice, but were not permitted to do so in an actual game. When asked for an explanation, an MLB spokesman stated:

"We reserve hats for national tributes, where every club is wearing them on the same day. But we're happy to work with clubs on alternatives."

That cryptic, vague, almost Belichickian response really pisses me off, as does this whole story. The Nats wanted to do a nice tribute to all the men and women who commit themselves to serving our country. Think about how cool it would be to be a Marine, or a sailor, or a soldier, or an airman, and see a pro ballplayer wearing a Marine hat, or an Air Force hat.

It was just a minor little tribute, but Major League Baseball are being major league dinks for no good reason.

Strasburg On His Way Back

Stephen Strasburg made his return to the mound in game action, throwing 31 pitches and surrendering one run on three hits, including a home run, over 1 2/3 innings for the Nationals' Class A affiliate Hagerstown Suns. This was his first start since having Tommy John surgery. Scouts from the game say he was hitting 97 MPH, and although letting up a HR and 3 hits isn't special in just an inning and 2/3 that stuff really doesn't matter. He said after the game he felt great, which is great news not just for the Nationals but for baseball in general. There was so much buzz when this kid came up and I really hope that he comes through next year and tears it up. Between him and Bryce Harper the Nationals could be a really fun team to watch next year.

Matt Stairs Retires

I read a story today that Matt Stairs had retired. My first reaction was shock, not at the fact that he retired, but at the fact he is still playing baseball. Stairs broke into the league with the Montreal Expos during the 1992-93 season (I was 8 years old). Of course we all all remember him. Not just because he looks nothing like a baseball player, but rather a guy you'd meet as some shitty biker bar in Western Mass. Rather it's probably because he played for your hometown team at some point. Matt Stairs played for 13 MLB teams (MLB) during his long career. Here is a quick list of the teams...

Montreal Expos
Boston Red Sox
Oakland Athletics
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates
Kansas City Royals
Texas Rangers
Detroit Tigers
Toronto Blue Jays
Philadelphia Phillies
San Diego Padres
Washington Nationals


Stairs won a World Series title with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008, and will be known as maybe the best pinch hitter of all time hitting 23 pinch hit HRs in his career. We usually wouldn't give such a "role player" love on this site, but Matt Stairs deserves it.