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Nats pitcher Stephen Strasburg is ready for the season

By WTOP Staff

Craig Heist, wtop.com

Viera, Fla. – Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg went 15-6 last season with a 3.16 ERA before getting shut down after his Sept. 7 start against Miami at Nats Park. Strasburg, one year removed from Tommy John Surgery at the time, finished the year throwing 159 1/3 innings.

This season, there are no innings limits and no restrictions.

I sat down and talked to Strasburg at Nats camp in Viera as he gets set to make his first start of the Grapefruit League season Saturday against the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie.

Heist – Stephen, as you get ready for this season it has to be good to know there are no limitations and you are full bore and ready to go.

Strasburg – Yeah, it’s pretty exciting and I worked hard all off season to get ready for this opportunity, so I’m excited to see how everything plays out.

Heist – How has this spring been different for you or has it been?

Strasburg – It’s been pretty much the same as last year. It’s been kind of the same drills. We haven’t started games yet but once that starts, I’m probably going to notice a difference in how I feel. I can already tell I feel a lot stronger early on.

Heist – This team in the Cardinals in the NLDS came up short and it seems like the team mantra is “unfinished business.” Is that the best way to look at it?

Strasburg – Yeah. I mean, we wanted to get to the World Series last year and win it and we didn’t do that so that’s our number one goal this year.

Heist – I know you have answered this in the past but how tough was it for you not to be a part of that post-season run last year?

Strasburg – It was tough but it’s all water under the bridge now and I’m just excited to be back with the guys here in spring training and get ready for the year.

Heist – You have added Dan Haren to this rotation and obviously if his back is 100 percent and he is healthy, you’ve got a number one in the back end of the rotation essentially and that makes everyone stronger.

Strasburg – Well, I think we have number one guys 1-through-5 in the rotation. It’s all about picking each other up and I think if we can click on all the right cylinders, we’re going to win a lot of games.

Heist – The Nats brought in Denard Span to hit leadoff and play center field. That means Bryce moves to left and Jayson on right. Defense up the middle is key to any pitcher and it appears you guys are set there.

Strasburg – Yeah, absolutely. I think it was a huge pick up this off-season getting a true leadoff type guy and a guy who can really track it in centerfield. I’m excited to go out there, knowing he is going to be backing it up and catching everything.

Heist – Do you set any goals coming into a season? I mean, you won 15 games last year and with the way you pitched last year, do you set any goals for yourself?

Strasburg – No, not like statistical goals or anything. I want to go out there and give it everything I have every single time, be mentally locked in and focused every single pitch and just trust it, just commit and let the chips fall.

Heist – During the spring what are you working on most? Is it command? Location? What’s the progress for you as the spring moves on?

Strasburg – Well, I found out the last couple of years it take longer for me to get my consistency and my command down being a power pitcher so, I’m just going to take it day-by-day and focus on the little things and really not try and re-invent the wheel. I know the more times I get out on the mound in games it’s going to be a little more crisp and it’s going to look a little more polished.

Heist – The Braves got better, the Phillies look to rebound after having a ton of injuries last year and this division, top to bottom, is probably one of the best in baseball.

Strasburg – I think it is the best in baseball. Anywhere we go there is going to be a target on our back, not just our division. So that’s something we are going to have to learn to play with and we’re going to have to step up our games because there are teams that are going to be doing the same thing.

Heist – The exhibition opener Saturday against the Mets. What’s your goal for that game? Pitches, innings?

Strasburg – I don’t know. I have heard multiple pitch counts and stuff. So I am just going to go out there and work on a few things and get my work in, move on and get ready for the next one.

Heist – What did you learn about yourself last year going through that 15- win season?

Strasburg – I’ve got a lot more left in the tank. Last year was the most pitches I’ve ever thrown but I think with all the conditioning and preparation I had in place, I definitely could have gone a lot longer and I want to do that this year.

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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
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