Nats Enquirer

Scott Boras: Stephen Strasburg will throw "a couple hundred" innings next year

With MLB's free agency period officially opening over the weekend, now seems as good as any to start thinking about the Nats and potential free agent targets. And, because nothing says "Nats" and "free agency" like Scott Boras, this story by FOX Sports' Jon Paul Morosi on Scott Boras is required reading for Nationals fans.

At the end of Morosi's piece, Boras talks about his involvement in the Strasburg shutdown - and hints at reigns-off, 200+ innings for Stras in 2013:

"He’s going to have six months now to prepare for next season, when you consider that he didn’t pitch in September and October. He’s going to be a No. 1 who’s going to throw a couple hundred innings."
(Scott Boras, via FOX Sports.com, 11/4/2012)

Good of Scott to help set expectations  this early in the offseason. You can be sure Mike Rizzo appreciates it. And in case you're interested, Boras clears up his involvement in Shutdown Day:

"In the end, I got a message from Mike (Rizzo) that said, ‘We’re doing this on this date. We’re going to talk with Stras tomorrow.’ He followed the plan we talked about in February. After that, there was no conversation between Mike and I about changing the plan. They run their own teams. I make it a point in my practice: I’m an information provider, not a decision maker."
(Scott Boras, via FOX Sports.com, 11/4/2012)

And so that clarifies Boras's role with the Nats: simple information provider, not a decision maker. Got it. 200+ innings it is for Strasburg in 2013...

(Screencap of Scott Boras via MASN.com)

Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter.

Brian Goodwin's solo home run nearly hit someone...

So the Arizona Fall League's Rising Stars Game is tonight (box here). Brian Goodwin, the Nationals OF prospect who just might keep the Nats from going after FA Michael Bourne (we'll see what Scott Boras has to say about that), hit a solo home run to lead off the first inning for the AFL East squad. Video here. Goodwin's solo shot came thisclose to hitting a woman and her kid who were happily sititng on a blanket on the grassy hill behind the right field fence. See helpful yellow arrow in the screencap above.

Earlier today, Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post had an overview of the Nats prospects in the AFL this season. A scout in that story had this to say about the timing of Goodwin's arrival in D.C.: "It’s at least a year. And I think that’s what [the Nationals] expect, too."

(Screencaps via MLB Network/TV)

Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter.

Video: Bryce Harper's new Under Armour Cold ad

So here's Bryce Harper's new ad for Dick's Sporting Goods (Under Armour Coldgear Headquarters?), in which Harper is shown doing Bryce Harper things in the cold.

Here's to hoping Bryce gets to play meaningful games in the cold next year...

(via DC Sports Bog yesterday)

Befriend Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow on Twitter.