By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
Monday, more than four years after they earned the right to draft him, the Nationals will send Strasburg to the mound at Nationals Park to open the 2013 season. In many ways, it is the real beginning of the Strasburg Era.
To be clear, it's Michael, not Mike Morse. That's one of the things that has changed since the last time Morse was a member of the Seattle Mariners more than three years ago.
The Nationals also received minor-league right-hander Blake Treinen from the A's and will get a player to be named from Oakland in the deal, which also sent catcher John Jaso from Seattle to Oakland.
The Mariners added some much-needed power to their lineup Wednesday, acquiring Michael Morse from Washington in a three-team deal that moved catcher John Jaso from Seattle to Oakland.
The Washington Nationals agreed on a two-year contract extension with Michael Morse on Friday afternoon, thereby avoiding salary arbitration for the final two years of the slugger's existing contract. The Associated Press reported the deal was worth $10.5 million.
Michael Morse has put a lot behind him this season. He's shed the label of bench player, and he's gotten past a slow start by making his bat invaluable to the Washington Nationals' lineup.
Slumping Milton Bradley was cut by the Seattle Mariners on Monday, leaving the temperamental outfielder again looking for a new job.
A pitching duel between an up-and-coming lefty and a veteran right-hander was decided by a utility player in the role of emergency starter.
The Washington Nationals gave Matt Chico nearly two months to work out his troubles in the big leagues, both out of the rotation and the bullpen. The club finally decided the 24-year-old left-hander would be better served finding himself in the minors.
Baseball
PHILADELPHIA — Had the Washington Nationals lost last nights game because of a simple lack of offense against one of the sports best young pitchers, it wouldnt have been terribly difficult to swallow. They would have congratulated Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, left the park and prepared to come back today.
The Washington Nationals' 7-6 victory over the Houston Astros yesterday was decided by any number of crucial developments, from a series of clutch hits by Ryan Church, Austin Kearns, Ronnie Belliard and Ryan Langerhans to an effective start by Jason Bergmann to a nice escape act by Chad Cordero.
The Washington Nationals' revolving door of center fielders again has stopped on Nook Logan, though it may crank up again within the week.
MIAMI — One starting pitcher was derailed by long fly balls while the other thrived by keeping them on the ground.
It was an all-too-familiar script.
I looked up for a second and saw him coming," Langerhans said.
"It feels good, getting that hit in a close game and giving us a big lift," he said. "I've got to be more consistent with it, not just do stuff like that every now and then."
