Newsmakers
Assigned Pitcher Stephen Strasburg was sent to the minor leagues by the Washington Nationals, who told baseball’s top pitching prospect he needed to slow down his delivery from the stretch in order to speed up his arrival in the majors. The Nationals optioned the 21-year-old Strasburg, the top overall pick in June’s draft, to Double-A Harrisburg. Easily the best pitcher in spring training for Washington, Strasburg got the news when he reported to Space Coast Stadium the morning after his most impressive spring outing.
Out Cleveland Indians pitcher Kerry Wood will be recuperating from a muscle strain in his back for at least the next six weeks. Chrs Perez will be elevated from the setup position to the closer role, but manager Manny Acta isn’t naming a reliever to pitch the eighth inning.
•Padres right-hander Jon Garland will miss his scheduled start today because of a “cranky” shoulder. Garland, expected to compete for the No. 2 or 3 spot in the San Diego rotation, was a combined 11-13 for the Diamondbacks and Dodgers last season.
•Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum is expected to miss at least the next six games after straining his left Achilles tendon in Friday’s 104-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Hired Former Southern California assistant coach Gib Arnold is Hawaii’s new men’s basketball coach. Arnold succeeds Bob Nash, who was fired after going 34-56 in three seasons with the Warriors, including 10-20 in 2009-10. The 40-year-old Arnold served as an assistant at USC for the past five seasons before being fired this month by coach Kevin O’Neill.
Arrested U.S. Ski Team chief Bill Marolt issued an apology after being arrested days earlier on suspicion of driving under the influence not far from the team’s headquarters in Park City, Utah. Marolt’s arrest came just days after the team completed one of its most successful seasons.
Signed Major League Soccer and its players have signed a five-year labor contract that avoided a strike scheduled before the MLS season opener on Thursday. Negotiators began intensive talks last Thursday. A majority of players will receive guaranteed contracts for the first time, and there will be increased player rights within the league when contracts expire.