FOX SPORTS NOTES, QUOTES & ANECDOTES Nationals Phenom Stephen Strasburg Makes FOX Sports Debut vs. Mets Rosenthal: Strasburg Might Actually Give National League A Chance To Win For A Change MLB ON FOX SPENDS JULY 4 TH WEEKEND IN OUR NATION’S CAPITAL – Being one of the most hyped pitching-prospects ever, Stephen Strasburg has, so far, lived up to it for the Nationals. On Saturday, July 3 at 4:00 PM ET, he makes his national broadcast television debut when he faces David Wright and the Mets. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft, Strasburg has been a smash posting a 2.27 ERA and an staggering 48/7 BB/K ratio. In Atlanta, NL East rivals meet as the division-leading Braves host Hanley Ramirez and the Marlins. Also, Evan Longoria and the Rays take on Joe Mauer and the Twins at Target Field. This week, the pregame show originates live from Nationals Park in Washington, DC with host Chris Rose . Once game action begins, Rose joins the game crew including Joe Buck , Kevin Millar and Ken Rosenthal as a field reporter. For instant updates throughout the week and during games from the entire MLB on FOX crew, follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MLBONFOX . Fans can gain more access to exclusive FOX Sports content by logging on to www.facebook.com/foxsports and www.myspace.com/foxsports . GAME PLAY-BY-PLAY/ANALYST COV. New York Mets at Washington Nationals Joe Buck, Kevin Millar 77% & Ken Rosenthal Nationals Park – Washington, DC MARKETS INCLUDE: Albuquerque, Austin, Baltimore, Buffalo, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dallas, Dayton, Denver, Detroit, Hartford, Houston, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Louisville, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville, New Orleans, New York, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Portland, Providence, Richmond, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Tulsa, Washington Probable Pitchers: R.A. Dickey, RHP (6-1, 2.98 ERA) vs. Stephen Strasburg, RHP (2-2, 2.27 ERA) Florida Marlins at Atlanta Braves Dick Stockton & Mark Grace 14% Turner Field – Atlanta, GA MARKETS INCLUDE: Atlanta, Birmingham, Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Jacksonville, Knoxville, Miami, Raleigh, West Palm Beach Probable Pitchers: Anibal Sanchez, RHP (7-4, 3.18 ERA) vs. Tommy Hanson, RHP (7-5, 4.50 ERA) Tampa Bay Rays at Minnesota Twins Kenny Albert & Bert Blyleven 8% Target Field – Minnesota, MN MARKETS INCLUDE: Boston, Fort Myers, Minneapolis, Orlando, Tampa Probable Pitchers: Wade Davis, RHP (5-9, 4.68 ERA) vs. Francisco Liriano, LHP (6-6, 3.47 ERA) STRASBURG VS. AMERICAN LEAGUE? – It’s hard to imagine the last time an MLB player, this early in his career, had the impact that Nationals Pitcher Stephen Strasburg has. Thus far, Strasburg has delivered on the overwhelming hype surrounding him this season. Below, MLB on FOX voices spoke about the impact he’s had on baseball and whether Strasburg deserves to be in the All-Star Game airing on FOX on Tuesday, July 13 th (8:00 PM ET). Tim McCarver: “It depends on what happens over his next three starts. If he wins his next three starts then yes. If he doesn’t win his next three and his ERA still hovers around 2, then probably. Aside from that if he loses his next three starts, then no. After all, everybody knows and is in agreement that he’s got to earn it. This guy is so phenomenal and has hit the baseball scene with such an impact that it would be an injustice to baseball in America to not show Steven Strasburg on its biggest inter-league play stage.” Kevin Millar: “Strasburg has the best fastball, curveball, and changeup going right now in the big leagues. He should 100% be on the biggest stage in baseball at halfway point.” Ken Rosenthal: “If he continues pitching well then absolutely. The arguments made against him are short-sighted. With rosters expanding to 34 this year - including 13 pitchers - it's doubtful that any truly deserving veteran would get slighted. Strasburg is an electric presence, a pitcher that fans want to see and in a game that determines home-field advantage for the World Series, he might actually give the National League a chance to win for a change. Baseball needs to market its phenoms, not run from them.” Joe Buck: “This guy is one of the best pitchers in the game, he’s dominant. He’s already set the record for the most strikeouts over his first four Major League starts with 41. I compare this to LeBron James and tuning into NBA games to watch him play, if he’s injured I’m probably not going to tune into the Cavaliers.” FOXSPORTS.COM RANKS THE NFL’S TOP 100 PLAYERS OF 2010 – For the second straight summer, FOXSports.com’s Peter Schrager ranked the top 100 players for the upcoming NFL season. The Vikings topped the 2010 list with seven of their players represented (including ageless wonder, Brett Favre) while the Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks, and Buccaneers failed to have any players make the cut. Ben Roethlisberger had a nightmarish off-season and is suspended for the first four games of the 2010 season but he still made the Top Five. "If you ask me who I want leading my team down the field down four points with two minutes left? You better believe I’m taking No.7,” said Schrager. “Hell, in that situation? I might take him over the three guys listed above him.” Who’s number 1? Check it out on FOXSports.com . FSC SIGNS ON AS PARTNER IN USA FIFA WORLD CUP BID COMMITTEE – Fox Soccer Channel has signed on as an official partner of the USA Bid Committee, in support of the organization’s efforts to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the United States in 2018 or 2022. Fox Soccer Channel and its associated platforms, Fox Soccer Plus and Foxsoccer.com, will begin a series of corporate sponsorship announcements for the U.S. bid in the coming weeks. “As the leading source for soccer programming and information in the United States, Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Soccer Plus and Foxsoccer.com is proud to join forces with the USA Bid Committee as a corporate sponsor to bring the most important event in soccer to the United States,” said David Nathanson , General Manager of Fox Soccer Channel. “We are committed to using all of our resources to be a driving force behind support for the USA Bid.” -- FOX SPORTS -- .