Quick Hits: Strasburg, Cubs, Dodgers, Rockies

Sunday afternoon linkage..

• In a terrific article, Jonathan Newton of the Washington Post looks at Stephen Strasburg's recovery from Tommy John surgery and explains the four key advancements since the operation's initial occurence that have made it so commonplace and so successful.
• ESPN.com's Buster Olney has an interesting take on the Cubs' extension of player personnel director Oneri Fleita.  The move means that the incoming general manager will not be allowed to pick his own executive in that spot.  Olney says that high-profile GM candidates like Theo Epstein, Andrew Friedman, or Billy Beane would likely want to fill that position themselves.
• Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said that if he had to choose between a big bat or a quality arm this winter, he'd choose the former, writes Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.  Of course, their financial situation could hamstring them in the offseason.  Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, and Ted Lilly are all set to return but with Rubby De La Rosa possibly missing the 2012 season, the Dodgers could have two spots to fill in the rotation.
• Troy Renck of The Denver Post writes that the Rockies have money to spend and they shouldn't be gun-shy this winter.  Their payroll situation is helped largely by Aaron Cook's $9.25MM deal coming off the books.
• Mike Gonzalez already feels comfortable with his new club, writes Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com.  On Thursday we learned that the Brewers were also in on Gonzalez before he was dealt to the Rangers.