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Big League Stew

Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:40 am EST

D12: Strasburg feels 'pop' in knee, scares Nationals to death

By David Brown

Welcome to Dave's Dozen (because Kaduk's not here, man), a streamlined selection of 12 morning-fresh links and items to start your baseball day. It welcomes your e-mail submissions or tips via Twitter.

1. Stephen "The Future of the Franchise" Strasburg injures his knee shagging flies, causing momentary panic and sympanthy pains. Nationals Enquirer
2. The Nats don't think the injury is serious, but they canceled Strasburg's upcoming start and are having him fly to Los Angeles to see Dr. Lewis Yocum. Oy. MLBlogs
3. Y! private eye Jeff Passan tracks 131 free-agent baseball players. Yahoo! Sports
4. Paul LoDuca hopes he's remembered this Christmas free-agent season. NY Daily News
5. Why it took until 1959 for the Red Sox to have a black player. Verb Plow (via ESPN's Rob Neyer) 
6. Former Rays owner Vince Naimoli gets his revenge, in book form. TampaBay.com
7. Professional baseball back in Montreal? Eric Gagne(notes) says he could help make it happen. Walkoff Walk
8. Up next after "Paranormal State" on A&E, "Stadium Secrets" with your host, Curtis Granderson(notes). MLive
9. Baltimore wants to boost its economy by starting a Negro League baseball museum. Baltimore Sun
10. Hey. Isn't there already a Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City?  Kansas City Star
11. At least KC will always have the 2012 All-Star Game. MLB.com
12. Ring the bell for commish Selig, who says some MLB teams lost money this past season. Yahoo! News

Related: Duks Dozen, 2009 Hot Stove on BLS

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11 Comments

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  1. NewYork
    1. Posted by NewYork Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:29 pm EST

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    It's nice to see that he's working out the kinks with the triple A Washington Nationals, before we call him up in a few years to play for the Yankees.
    Just kidding.
    Kinda.
    Not really.
  2. terriance
    2. Posted by terriance Sat Nov 21, 2009 2:33 am EST

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    Right not really but yeah hes theyre only realistic shot at hope for a franchise in dc and that is a damn shame well at least houston dosent have to worry about that we could never pay him
  3. Domino
    3. Posted by Domino Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:45 am EST

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    Washington almost can't pay him. If he turns out to be a bust, that franchise might never recover.
  4. chester d
    4. Posted by chester d Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:22 am EST

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    Some call it karma. I don't wish this fellow any bad luck in his career. Yet, at the same time, anything that inches this franchise out of DC makes me smile. It should have never been sent there in the first place. The Nats have done zero to improve that team since they stole them out of Montreal (and stiffed the DC taxpayers with a pricey new stadium). To have all their hopes riding on one very young player shows how poorly this outfit has been constructed. I hope baseball in DC is finished within the next five years. In fact, I hope MLB is down the tubes shortly thereafter. Keep up the imbalance and see how long baseball fans will tolerate this. I long for the day when a new, major-league baseball outfit comes into existence. One with a salary cap and a salary floor. One that plays double-headers on Sundays a few weekends each season. One that wraps up business in late September/early October. One that has a real post-season - where you play everyday and can't get by with a three-man rotation. I have loads of other ideas. But they will have to stay on the shelf - because it won't happen any time soon. I just hope I am around when it does.
  5. Geoff D
    5. Posted by Geoff D Sat Nov 21, 2009 3:07 pm EST

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    why did mlb go back to washington? regardless of this kids star power, it always goes wrong in that town. like death and taxes, washington baseball, clipper basketball, browns football and maple leaf hockey are classic tragedies.
  6. Jill
    6. Posted by Jill Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:35 pm EST

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    Hey Chester, wake up. Its not the 50's anymore. Most of what you suggested was business as usual prior to 1970. The only difference is back then the owners could pay however little they wanted to and the players were screwed. MLB will continue on as usual. There are enough people who will go see or watch the games on TV to keep the gravy train rolling. Get over it.
  7. Peanut Noir
    7. Posted by Peanut Noir Mon Nov 23, 2009 12:19 am EST

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    The smart thing for the Nationals to do, at least before this presage, would be to trade him for 3 or 4 top prospects and experienced quality journeymen. That would give them a shot at being competitive, rather than simply being a one game out every five novelty. With this 'minor' injury though, his marketability has probably suffered, too.
  8. Jo Bangles
    8. Posted by Jo Bangles Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:06 am EST

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    I'm from the Left Coast, but don't quite understand the animosity for DC. Sure, the Nats stink - and the fact that they are so bad despite having players like Dunn and Zimmerman shows that they are poorly managed on the field and in the front office - but it takes a few years to build a successful franchise, especially when it's not an expansion team that gets to leech players from other teams in an expansion draft. Remember, these are the Expos, who were a horrible failure in and of themselves. I'd like to see Strasburg overcome this injury and live up to the hype - and I'd like to see DC have a competetive team. It's our nation's capitol, and it's a beautiful city rich with history. Success for Strasburg and the Nats can only be good for our recovering economy and baseball's tarnished image. Why root for something negative?
  9. cpass
    9. Posted by cpass Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:51 am EST

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    Peanut Noir, the Nats can't trade Strasburg - under the collective bargaining agreement a draft pick cannot be traded for at least a year. (I don't know if that's a year after the draft or a year after signing...)
  10. sgurd0187
    10. Posted by sgurd0187 Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:24 am EST

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    Re: the Nats
    They're actually a pretty solid hitting team with Dunn and Zimmerman, Jo Bangles. They can't PITCH to save their lives.
    Chili Cheese half-smokes from Ben's Chili Bowl is usually the best reason to go to a game.
  11. THE GAME 2009
    11. Posted by THE GAME 2009 Fri Dec 11, 2009 1:52 am EST

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    The signing of Pudge makes alll the sense in the world with as much as they have invested in this pitcher! What better catcher is available? Do you think they could have gotten Mike Piazza out of retirement for this money?? It makes all the sense in the world tohave a toptier catcher break this guy in!!!!! DUHHH, I can't be the only one that thinks logically am I???

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