Skip to main content

Nats intent on pulling Strasburg before postseason

By WTOP Staff

Should the Nationals shut down Stephen Strasburg before the playoffs? Or is this such a rare opportunity that he should keep pitching in the postseason? Post a comment in this story, comment on WTOP’s Facebook Page or use #WTOPTalkback or #WTOP on Twitter.

WASHINGTON – The Washington Nationals have the best record in Major League Baseball and a steamroller of a pitching staff that includes National League strikeout leader Stephen Strasburg.

Strasburg (13-5) pitches Wednesday against the Giants and Tim Lincecum, a former pitching ace who’s in the midst of a terrible (6-12) year.

The Nationals and their fans hope Strasburg has many more years like this one ahead. He has a 2.90 ERA and 166 strikeouts.

He’s also pitched 133 2/3 innings and his days of pitching this season are numbered.

The Nationals and General Manager Mike Rizzo have made it clear they plan to shut down Strasburg before the postseason — and at this point, few would argue the Nats won’t make the playoffs. They head into Wednesday’s game with the Giants with a 72-44 record and lead the National League East.

Rizzo wants to make sure the young pitcher has a long career and doesn’t want to jeopardize future seasons, in the wake of Strasburg’s Tommy John surgery, which he underwent on his throwing arm last year.

But others, including some of Strasburg’s teammates, feel the future is now. They won’t challenge management’s decision, but have acknowledged they’d like Strasburg on the mound if they reach the playoffs, The Washington Post reports.

It’s widely expected that Strasburg will be shut down after he pitches somewhere between 160 and 180 innings. That means he’d be done for the season before the playoffs begin.

“Well I wouldn’t shut him down,” says Tim Kurkjian, Major League Baseball analyst for ESPN. “But I don’t have this kind of investment in him.”

“I’d love to be in that room when they told Stephen Strasburg, ‘By the way, we’re going to win the division but you’re not going to pitch in the playoffs.’ I’m going to see this to believe it,” he adds.

Still, Kurkjian believes the Nats will stick to the original plan and fans won’t see Strasburg on the mound when the playoffs begin.

Some still hold out hope that the Nationals will rest Strasburg between now and the playoffs, so he can pitch in the postseason.

“I think they’ll do anything they can to protect him,” Kurkjian says.

Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote