Top News:
Adam Kilgore / Nationals Journal:
Stephen Strasburg, Drew Storen to start in Class AA Harrisburg — The inevitable became official this morning when the Nationals optioned phenom Stephen Strasburg to Class AA Harrisburg, meaning baseball's best pitching prospect will not join the Nationals until late spring or midsummer.
RELATED:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Strasburg sent to Minor League camp — Nats' two 2009 first-round picks to start at Double-A Harrisburg — VIERA, Fla. — Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo doesn't like to rush pitching prospects to the big leagues. He was true to his reputation on Saturday morning …
Discussion:
Federal Baseball
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Bats back another solid Strasburg outing — Three batters drive in two runs apeice while righty cruises — NATIONALS 13, CARDINALS 5 — Cardinals at the plate: Tyler Greene and Allen Craig hit solo home runs in the first inning. Tyler Henley had two hits and drove in a run.
Associated Press:
Stephen Strasburg fans 8 in 4 innings as Nats top Cards 13-5
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Lee has right lower abdominal strain — Left-hander could start the season on 15-day DL — PEORIA, Ariz. — Cliff Lee's eventful week took a painful turn Friday. — Lee, the 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner who was expected to be the club's No. 2 starter behind …
RELATED:
Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Reds 6, Mariners 2: Don Wakamatsu rips umpire over Milton Bradley “witch hunt” — Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu just went off on Class AAA umpire Jon Merry for ejecting Milton Bradley in the fourth inning. — “To me, it's almost like a witch hunt,” he said.
Peter Abraham / Boston Globe:
Red Sox sign Embree to minor-league deal — The Red Sox, unhappy with their bullpen options, today signed 40-year-old lefty Alan Embree to a minor-league deal that included an invitation to spring training. — With veteran Brian Shouse not particularly impressive and prospect Dustin Richardson getting hurt …
RELATED:
Gordon Edes / ESPN:
Alan Embree is returning to the Boston Red Sox after signing a minor-league deal
Discussion:
MLB Daily Dish
Steve Popper / NorthJersey.com:
Mets' John Santana all smiles after erratic outing against Twins — Mets third baseman David Wright, left, and starting pitcher Johan Santana get together after the Minnesota Twins second home run in the second inning in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Friday. — But he couldn't resist a smile …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
RELATED:
Mark Gonzales / Chicago Tribune:
Ozzie Guillen in flap over son — Manager upset with organization after son quits because club wanted him to stop blunt Twitter posts — Ozzie Guillen watches a game against the Red Sox. (José M. Osorio, Chicago Tribune / September 6, 2009)
RELATED:
Paul Hoynes / Plain Dealer:
Closer Kerry Wood lost to Cleveland Indians for six to eight weeks … GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Indians have lost closer Kerry Wood for six to eight weeks with a strained right latissimus dorsi muscle. Chris Perez will open the season as the closer. — The latissimus dorsi is located under the shoulder.
Discussion:
HardballTalk
Robert Cribb / Toronto Star:
Sabermetrics: Stats guru advising Blue Jays — There's no statistic too obscure for Blue Jays adviser Tom Tango, a self-taught, secretive superstar in the growing field of sabermetrics … Tom Tango, one of the Toronto Blue Jays' latest acquisitions, won't be pitching, catching or hitting for the club this season.
Fox Sports:
Nats' Dunn learning about life at first — Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since Aug. 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. — Before the Nationals sign Adam Dunn to a contract extension, they might want to see how he performs at first base.
Ken Gurnick / MLB.com:
Mixed night for Dodgers on the bump — Kuo sharp, McDonald roughed up, Kuroda endures scare — PEORIA, Ariz. — Hong-Chih Kuo pitched with no pain and Hiroki Kuroda narrowly escaped another line drive at his head Friday night, but it was James McDonald who had the pained look after the Dodgers' 9-4 loss to the Padres.
Beck / Beck's Blog:
Seay definitely out, set to have MRI — Bobby Seay had a setback in his bullpen session Saturday morning and will have another MRI exam on his ailing left shoulder. — Seay said he will have the exam in the next couple days and have the results checked out by a few specialists, including orthopaedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
