Stephen Strasburg

It's way too soon Dom Amore Hartford Courant It could be argued that the All-Star Game was conceived as a "dream game," the idea being to put all the great players in baseball on one stage for the fans to see. By this concept putting the hottest new name and face in baseball, Stephen Strasburg, on the team in 2010 would be right in line. Certainly a TV network after ratings would argue this. But one needs to get past the short-term and think about what Arch Ward's concept was: a dream game that brought the best, and the legendary, together on that stage.

Karl Marx is credited with saying that religion is "the opium of the people. " But here in the nation's capital, baseball is the drug of choice that rescues political junkies from the unpleasant realities around them. Currently providing relief from the congressional stalemate over the deficit that has produced the "sequester" of spending cuts, job furloughs and general fiscal paralysis is the return of last year's Cinderella baseball team, the Washington Nationals. After rising from traditional doormat to champion of the National League's East Division, the Nats heart-breakingly collapsed in the final game of their first playoff series.

— Washington Nationals president Stan Kasten leans over his hand-held computer for an inning-by-inning update on Stephen Strasburg, the minor league pitching prodigy whose impending debut with the big club looms as one of baseball's compelling stories. Seated in the press box, Kasten gazes down at the field, where his team is soon to defeat the New York Mets. He has surveyed the stands, which are half-empty on this chilly, midweek night but seem certain to fill up once Strasburg, consistently warm weather and more wins arrive.

The same suspects Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times If you liked last season's NL playoffs, chances are you'll like this fall's version since you'll be seeing many of the same teams. Washington, with Stephen Strasburg cleared to pitch a full season alongside Gio Gonzalez, could be even more dominant in the East, while the World Series champion Giants, with their deep pitching staff and reigning MVP Buster Posey behind the plate, are the favorites in the West.

Ask again next year Dave van Dyck Chicago Tribune History suggests Stephen Strasburg should be just fine — maybe. Most pitchers who return from elbow ligament surgery are as good — in some cases better — than before the operation. And then there are the exceptions. Kerry Wood was never quite the same, although his physical problems moved up his arm to the shoulder. And Chad Fox is not the only pitcher who has had Tommy John surgery performed more than once and never completely recovered.

Television ratings for Tuesday night's Washington Nationals- Pittsburgh Pirates game, which featured the debut of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, set a record for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, according to preliminary ratings released by Nielsen. More than 165,000 households in the Washington area watched the game, according to a MASN news release. The network earned a 7.1 rating, and among the 25-54 age demographic, the game earned a 4.4 rating, which is also a record for MASN.

Facing a dilemma Jim Peltz Los Angeles Times Of course the concern is justified; both pitchers are young (Chris Sale of the White Sox is 23; Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals is 24) and both will be key figures in the long-term success of their clubs, so the teams want them healthy and durable. The Nationals insist they'll shut down Strasburg — who is coming off reconstructive elbow surgery — after 160 innings. He's at 1271/3 now. The Sox say they do not plan to shut down Sale, who has pitched 132 innings, but will find ways to limit his workload ahead of the postseason.

The same suspects Kevin Baxter Los Angeles Times If you liked last season's NL playoffs, chances are you'll like this fall's version since you'll be seeing many of the same teams. Washington, with Stephen Strasburg cleared to pitch a full season alongside Gio Gonzalez, could be even more dominant in the East, while the World Series champion Giants, with their deep pitching staff and reigning MVP Buster Posey behind the plate, are the favorites in the West.

One of the few positives that accompanies the end of summer is the arrival of pennant fever which allows a lucky handful of cities to harbor sandlot dreams of October glory. Sadly, for yet another season, the playoffs will elude both of our local teams. The Orioles have, at least, perked up under their new manager, but the Nationals? Their rusty collection of mediocre arms, tired bats, and underwhelming prospects is locked into another last-place finish. The sting of this year's disappointment was worsened by the announcement that Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' top young phenom who struck out 14 batters in his first big league start, was felled by a potentially career-ending arm injury.

His Orioles are struggling, but team owner Peter Angelos said Thursday that "it's a very good thing" for his club that the Washington Nationals are generating excitement over their performance and celebrated pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg. "I'm sure the Washington team will continue to improve, and I made the side comment that I'm hoping the Orioles will get their act together," Angelos said. The Orioles were 13-28 entering Thursday night's game against the Texas Rangers.

Dan Haren, one of baseball's best right-handed starting pitchers for a half-decade, needed to choose this winter where to continue his career. He used a rationale that, while sound, for generations would have constituted pure fantasy. Haren came to pitch in the nation's capital, home to so many woebegone seasons, to join a first-place powerhouse, to spray champagne and to hoist a trophy. He picked the Washington Nationals, two seasons removed from 298 losses in three years, because he saw in them the makings of a champion.

Facing a dilemma Jim Peltz Los Angeles Times Of course the concern is justified; both pitchers are young (Chris Sale of the White Sox is 23; Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals is 24) and both will be key figures in the long-term success of their clubs, so the teams want them healthy and durable. The Nationals insist they'll shut down Strasburg — who is coming off reconstructive elbow surgery — after 160 innings. He's at 1271/3 now. The Sox say they do not plan to shut down Sale, who has pitched 132 innings, but will find ways to limit his workload ahead of the postseason.

Mark in down on your calendars: the Bryce Harper Tour comes to town Friday. Oh, sure, the 19-year-old phenom is bringing the rest of the Washington Nationals with him for the three-game interleague series against the Orioles at Camden Yards. But it's the kid Sports Illustrated put on its cover as a high school sophomore with the understated headline "Baseball's Chosen One" who's getting all the hype - even more than the Nats' other Chosen One, flame-throwing righty Stephen Strasburg.

Packed into a sardine can of an interview room with about two dozen reporters - most of them sending details of his outing to his home nation of Taiwan - Orioles rookie left-hander Wei-Yin Chen tried to explain the toughest day of his brief major league career. Through his first seven starts as a big leaguer, the 26-year-old has been close to perfect on paper. He came into Sunday's start against the Washington Nationals with a 4-0 record that included wins over the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers in his past two starts.

Brad Lidge did not expect to find himself on the mound for many ninth innings this season, certainly not on Opening Day at Wrigley Field. He signed with the Washington Nationals in late January with the understanding, despite his 223 career saves, that he would set up and provide a mentoring voice. "Give the guy a million dollars and let him look after the kids," said Lidge, 35. But there he was Thursday, capping an idyllic afternoon with save No. 224, finishing a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs filled with both unexpected twists and predictable themes.

Nationals Strasburg in line to start 2 more games - for now The Nationals are planning to give Stephen Strasburg one additional start this season after he pitches tonight, manager Davey Johnson said. Johnson had wanted to let Strasburg pitch in Florida on Wednesday, the final day of the regular season. He spoke with general manager Mike Rizzo , who also thought Strasburg would benefit from making a fifth start in his return from Tommy John ligament replacement surgery.

Baseball The Washington Nationals said Wednesday that Rob Dibble will no longer work as a TV analyst for the team's games, a split that comes after the former reliever made comments critical of rookie pitcher Stephen Strasburg . Dibble lashed out at Strasburg last week for not pitching through pain. Dibble said on Sirius XM Radio that "you can't have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow. " Strasburg has since been diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament and will have surgery Friday.

Ask again next year Dave van Dyck Chicago Tribune History suggests Stephen Strasburg should be just fine — maybe. Most pitchers who return from elbow ligament surgery are as good — in some cases better — than before the operation. And then there are the exceptions. Kerry Wood was never quite the same, although his physical problems moved up his arm to the shoulder. And Chad Fox is not the only pitcher who has had Tommy John surgery performed more than once and never completely recovered.

Nationals Rizzo on Strasburg: 'The stuff is there' Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg allowed two runs, one earned, in three innings in a rehabilitation assignment with the host Single-A Hagerstown Suns in a 3-1 loss to the Hickory Crawdads on Monday night. Strasburg, 23, who is recovering from Tommy John elbow reconstruction, allowed two hits and one walk, hit one batter and struck out six in his fourth rehab start. His fastest pitch topped off at 99 mph, and he threw 46 fastballs, mostly within the 94-96 mph range.