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Nats lose while Strasburg fights adrenaline

By WTOP Staff

Craig Heist, wtop.com

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Stephen Strasburg made his first start of the spring and gave up two runs on three hits over two innings of work including a home run as the Mets beat the Nationals 5-3.

Strasburg’s trouble came in the first inning as he gave up a broken-bat single to Kirk Nieuwehuis and then a two-run homer on a 3-2 pitch to shortstop Ruben Tejada. Strasburg then set the Mets down in order in the second inning.

The big, tall, right-hander threw 42 pitches, 24 for strikes and admitted to being just a little amped up in his first start.

“It felt pretty good,” Strasburg said. “I was glad I was able to make an adjustment after a little bit of a debacle in the first inning but it seems like that’s what happens for me every Spring Training. It’s going to take a little while for me to feel a little more comfortable out there and I was just glad I was able to get back feeling right in the second inning.”

Strasburg is coming off a 15-win season but he was shut down after his start against the Marlins Sept. 7 after reaching his innings limit, throwing 159.1. He knows there are no limitations on his this season and being able to harness some of his emotions early on in games is a work in progress.

“For me, it’s always been the first start,” he said. “Whether it’s the first start of the college season which is the first time to face another team or just spring training. As it gets closer to opening day and you get more comfortable out there and then I have a better idea of how I can harness that and use it to my advantage instead of being so sped-up out there and out of control.”

“What happened out there today is pretty much what happens every time, it’s the inning and I’m just really geeked-up and I have a tough time finding the strike zone and usually I settle down after that,” Strasburg said.

Snyder impresses
Nationals catcher Chris Snyder wasn’t 2-for-2 with a two homer as part of a three-run Nats second inning, which gave them a 3-2 lead at the time.

Snyder was catching Strasburg and ironically enough hit a homer off Strasburg early last spring. “Yea, we were laughing a little bit about that in the dugout,” Snyder said. “He said he remembers giving up a homer in his first outing last time. But it was me that hit it.”

Snyder likes the fact his day at the plate was a good one but he is keeping it in perspective after the first game.

“It feels good,” he said. “You go up there right now and you’re just trying to put a good swing on the ball and barrel it up. Results aside, it was a good day.”

When it comes to Strasburg, Snyder was impressed despite his struggles in the first inning.

“He’s got good stuff,” Snyder said with a smile. “It’s hard, two-seamer has good run to it and the curve ball and change-up are both put-away pitches so, like I said, once he gets past this one and everything slows down for him a bit, it will be just another outing for him and get his work in and prepare for the season.”

Davey responds
Before the game, Nationals manager Davey Johnson responded to a report by CBSsports.com that claims then-closer drew Storen was dealing with muscle spasm during the last three games of the Cardinals NLDS series. That might have contributed to the Nats blowing a two-run lead and losing game five of the series 9-7, which cost the team a trip to the NLCS.

Ask what he recalls about Storen’s performance in game five, Johnson downplayed the report.

“The only thing I recall is he didn’t throw many strikes,” Johnson said. “I attribute that to trying to be too fine, and Gio (Gonzalez) had the same problem, trying to be a little too fine, wasn’t very pitch efficient and that’s a lack of experience.”

“I’m sure it’s not the first time he’s pitched with some back spasms. I’m not worried about it. He’s a great, young pitcher. He’s had one conversation and I’m waiting for him to have it with me, he wants to pitch early in some games. But we haven’t discussed any physical problems.”

So far, Storen has thrown the ball well during the spring and Johnson said his players have let him know that. The skipper also said it is not uncommon for players to be playing through minor aches and pains at that time of the year.

“Guys are used to having some nagging things going on but I don’t think anyone was overly tired. Again, I attribute it more to a little inexperience situation, trying to do too much. That comes with lack of experience but I thought, by-and- large, guys handled it well in the pennant race, and that’s a great experience and we just had a few little glitches in the post season.”

Reel in the Fish
The Nationals play their first home game of the Grapefruit League when they welcome the Miami Marlins to Space Coast Stadium Sunday. Jordan Zimmermann will pitch for the Nats while the Marlins send out Henderson Alvarez. Game time is at 1:05 p.m.

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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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