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• Vote: How much does Stephen Strasburg mean to the Nationals?

Remember the movie "Brewster's Millions," when Richard Pryor's character, a pitcher with the Hackensack Bulls, has to squander $30 million in 30 days in order to inherit $300 million for real? Well, other than the fact that Stephen Strasburg is also a pitcher and Scott Boras may feel he's worth roughly $300 million, there aren't that many similarities between the movie's plot and the current predicament involving this year's No. 1 overall pick.

All the same, we can't help thinking it wouldn't sound entirely out of place for Nationals catcher Josh Bard to stroll out to the mound in the late innings of a game in D.C. and borrow John Candy's line in telling his pitcher: "This is Washington, D.C. No scout comes here; you understand that. Trains are going through the outfield right now. But you strike this guy out, and I'll take you with me tonight and get you drunk. That's a promise."

With Monday's deadline to sign Strasburg rapidly approaching and little buzz to suggest a deal is imminent, the beleaguered Nationals could be on the verge of losing a guy widely thought to be one of the best pitching prospects in memory. SportsNation's faith in the team's ability to get a deal done has certainly wavered since June's draft.

Now: 45 percent | July 28: 45 percent | July 13: 64 percent | June 10: 69 percent

Then again, maybe Nationals president Stan Kasten just has a secret task he can't reveal to anyone that involves running a franchise into the ground in order to inherit the big prize.

• Voters feel Michael Crabtree and Ricky Rubio both likely to play before Strasburg.
• SportsNation wouldn't pay Strasburg as much as Jets rookie QB Mark Sanchez.
• Even if Strasburg had signed right away, SN didn't expect to see him in 2009.
• Chat wrap: Baseball America's Jim Callis on Strasburg and other prospects.
• Groups: Nasty Nats live here | Washington Sports Fans | Save Baseball

“

Stan Kasten was a village idiot for his entire "career" in Atlanta.The Braves were good because of Bobby Cox and John Shuerholz.The Hawks were .....consistently bad. Good luck with that Nats project.

” -- quidproknow1212

“

They should have given this guy whatever he wanted. This is the worst run franchise in the history of the game of baseball. The additional money is for having to play for the "Natinals"

” -- yankeejoe225