Washington Nationals: 2010 Draft Watch - Deck McGuire, Anthony Ranaudo, Bryce Harper.

• The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets' Junior right-hander, Deck McGuire, last-year's ACC Pitcher of the Year, was back in action Friday night in Atlanta, Georgia's Russ Chandler Stadium, where the 6'6'', 218lb, 20-year-old Richmond, Virginia-born pitcher threw 8.0 scoreless innings, striking out 9, allowing 6 hits and giving up just 1 walk in a 5-0 Jackets' win over (Nats' right-hander Jason Bergmann's own) Rutgers Scarlet Knights. In 3 starts so far in his Draft-year, McGuire, whose name was thrown in the mix of players under consideration for the Nationals' second-straight no.1 overall pick by former DC GM Jim Bowden, is now (2-0) with a 0.82 ERA over 3 starts and 22.0 IP in which the towering right-hander has walked 3 (1.23 BB/9) and struck out 25 (10.23 K/9)...

BACKPAGE:

• Ranaudo Sits.

• Bryce Harper Invades Idaho.

BACKPAGE:

• Ranaudo Sits.

• LSU right-hander Anthony Ranaudo missed his second-straight start this Friday with what was described last week as "discomfort" in his right elbow. Times Picayune reporter sports reporter Jim Kleinpeter quotes LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri in an article entitled, "LSU baseball: Anthony Ranaudo won't pitch this weekend", explaining that they're just waiting for Ranaudo, "...to become asymptomatic...If he feels pain opening a door or combing his hair, we're going to wait." The best-case scenario, according to Mr. Mainieri would see the '09 All-American hurler, "...returning to the mound for the March 12-14 series against Kansas." 

• Bryce Harper Invades Idaho.

• Apparently the town of Twin Falls, Idaho has been invaded by scouts and fans eager to catch a glimpse of the presumptive no.1 overall prospect in the country, College of Southern Nevada catcher Bryce Harper, whose Coyotes are in for the weekend to take on the College of Southern Idaho. In an uncredited article at the Idaho-based Times-News Magic-Valley.com entitled, "BOUND FOR GLORY? Fans flock to see Nevada phenom Bryce Harper", it's reported that the crowd, "...estimated between 275 and 300", that turned out to see Harper and the NJCAA's #1 ranked CSN Coyotes, "...was the largest Friday afternoon crowd any member of the CSI game staff could remember showing up at the Twin Falls ballpark." The College of Southern Nevada swept Friday's double header. Times-News' sports writer David Bashore reports in a post game article entitled, "No.1 CSN sweeps CSI baseball", that the 17-year-old catcher/outfielder, "...doubled, walked three times, stole two bases and scored three times in the doubleheader for the top-ranked Coyotes (15-3, 2-0 SWAC)." No box scores to be found for yesterday's games. The two teams player another doubleheader this afternoon. 

• Check out a video on Harper coming to Idaho HERE.