MLBThanks to @JonathanMayoB3 of MLB.com for confirming that @strasburg37 is NOT the real Stephen Strasburg.

JonathanMayoB3 @strasburg37 is not Stephen Strasburg. Just an FYI, so don't take anything he writes today as coming from the No. 1 pick

When a team drafts a player, as the Orioles did McDonald 20 years ago and the Nationals will Strasburg tonight, it's not paying for the entirety of a career. It's paying to control the player's first six years of major-league service time. So before we start worrying whether Strasburg will be an all-time great, let's focus on his first six major-league years. Because that's what the Nationals will be contemplating as they negotiate a price.

Cabrera Designated For Assignment

After tonight's game, a 6-1 loss to the Mets, the Nationals designated for assignment pitcher Daniel Cabrera. Acting GM Mike Rizzo said of Cabrera, "I was tired of watching him."

Cabrera had been signed this offseason to a one-year, $2.6 million deal.

Cabrera said tonight that he plans to become a free agent if he clears waivers.

With Cabrera's departure, the Nationals will recall from Class AA Harrisburg catcher Luke Montz. The move is entirely temporary. Catcher Josh Bard is leaving the team tonight to be with his wife, who is having an induced labor.

I'll have more on this move - and reaction from Cabrera - shortly.

By Chico Harlan | May 26, 2009; 10:54 PM ET

About time Manny started reading my posts... "never get beat on your best pitch"... 4 sliders in a row anyone?

* This was a big save tonight for Joel Hanrahan, who just one night earlier threw a bases-loaded wild pitch (a slider in the dirt) and took a loss. Tonight, we saw a different Hanrahan. He threw 19 pitches -- and 17 fastballs.

Said Acta: "He's been preached to lately about, you know, go ahead and get beat on your best pitch. He's got a very good fastball, and just try to execute the slider after you get ahead in the count. Tonight he went out there and carried the gameplan and it proved to him that it worked."

Quote of the week.

"Step 1 is obvious. As soon as feasible, the Nats need to admit that the 6-foot-9 Cabrera, perhaps the wildest pitcher in captivity, is just the latest in a line of "high-ceiling" disasters from the Jim Bowden era, the pitching equivalent of Wily Mo Peña, the 500-foot BP extravaganza who couldn't hit any pitch with a wrinkle."
-- Tom Boswell.