The Washington Nationals got a deal when they managed to sign “can’t miss” pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg for four years at less than $4 million per. Today, they’ll see what exactly they paid for, as the right-hander will do his first pitching in a Nationals uniform in spring training this afternoon.

Drew Storen, another Nationals draft pick, played with Strasburg in the Arizona Fall League, making him one of the Nationals who has seen him pitch in a game.

“He’s a bulldog out there,” Storen said. “He’s one of those guys you like having on your team, because you know he’s a competitor. He’s so laid-back otherwise, you don’t necessarily see that. You’ll kind of see a different side of him. I don’t know if he’ll say he has a different side, but you’ll definitely see he turns it up a notch on the mound. It’s pretty fun to watch.” –WaPo.

Strasburg won’t put the Nationals in contention right away–the rest of their pitching staff is just abysmal. The San Diego State product should be able to contribute immediately to a team that finished dead last in the NL in team ERA last season. It’s like when you go out on Friday night and make out with the fattest, ugliest person at the bar. Saturday night, by definition, can’t be any worse.

I don’t want to hear anyone bad-mouthing this young man for showing his Cubs fandom at spring training by wearing a cropped women’s top.  Yes, Wrigley Field is located close to Boystown, but there’s no need for anyone to call his sexuality into question.  There could be any number of explanations, and you shouldn’t need to insult this gentleman just to feel better about yourself.  Like, maybe that was his sister’s favorite top, and she died and now it has lots of sentimental value.  Maybe he lost a bet.  Maybe it’s just a really comfortable shirt.

…or maybe you’re just jealous of those abs, you catty little bitch.

|image source via Home Run Derby|

Awful Announcing found this clip of Herb Deshaies, father of Astros’ announcer Jim Deshaies, putting the moves on a currently-unnamed sideline reporter. It’s not very often that mere mortals succeed where Joe Namath fails. And I don’t know if it’s because of her nervousness from being on-air or the allure of that bright bucket hat, but she just goes with it. And his son Jim calls him a masher, instead of saying, “If you did more of that at home then you and Mom might still be together.” I think that shows just how much little Jimmy’s grown up.

Artie Lang was on Letterman earlier this week and recounted the time he and “the great Norm MacDonald” spent with Bob Uecker in spring training. Uecker’s 1920s speakeasy vocabulary was the source of great amusement to everyone, and Lange topped off his visit with the second-worst Harry Caray impression ever. It sounds like he’s doing an impression of Will Ferrell doing an impression of Harry Caray. I’m certain that The Great Norm MacDonald could have done so much better.

[Walkoff Walk]

Just as birds, fish, and women are drawn to shiny objects, I can’t resist the high-resolution photo galleries that Boston.com regularly rolls out.  This one of spring training photos shows that really good photography can make meaningless games and stretching exercises look… well, I wouldn’t go so far as to call it “interesting.”  But there’s at least a chance that some of these will be the coolest/most artistic/whimsical photographs you see today.  Safe-for-work photographs, I mean.