Yahoo Dumps CEO, Strasburg Makes Pitching Return: Daily Scoop

Yahoo dumps its CEO, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg makes a triumphant return, and comedian Eddie Murphy is set to host the Oscars in Wednesday's Daily Scoop.

Yahoo Dumps CEO

Yahoo surprisingly dumped its chief executive, Carol Bartz, over the phone on Tuesday. Bartz, 62, had been with the company since January 2009, but faced mounting pressure that she wasn't doing enough to turn around the business.

Bartz had more than a year left on her contract and wasn't expecting the move, according to The Wall Street Journal. She sent a brief email to employees after the phone call, but didn't respond to requests for comment by multiple news organizations.

I am very sad to tell you that I've just been fired over the phone by Yahoo's Chairman of the Board. It has been my pleasure to work with all of you and I wish you only the best going forward.

Tim Morse, Yahoo's chief financial officer, will fill the void while the company searches for a new CEO. Yahoo's shares jumped more than 7 percent in Wednesday morning trading.

Strasburg Makes Long-awaited Return

After missing more than a year while recovering from Tommy John elbow surgery, Stephen Strasburg finally returned to the mound for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

Strasburg allowed only two hits in five scoreless innings on the mound, but the Nationals ended up losing the game 7-3 to the Dodgers once Strasburg left the game.

The former No. 1 draft pick in 2009 became a national phenomenon in the summer of 2010 with fastballs hitting upwards of 100 mph and strike outs galore.

Strasburg struck out four Dodgers, but left the game after only 56 pitches as the Nationals try to ease him back into the mix. The last thing the team wants to do is lose its most valuable prospect and marketing opportunity to another arm injury.

Eddie Murphy Will Host Oscars

Comedian and actor Eddie Murphy will host the 84^th Academy Awards in February. Murphy helps the Oscars get back to its tradition of hiring comedians as the award show's host.

Last year, the awards show tried to court younger viewers with James Franco and Anne Hathaway as co-hosts, but the two actors fell flat. The last comic to host the show alone was Jon Stewart in 2008.

Murphy, 50, who is the father of eight, is expected to be a hit.

Eddie is a comedic genius, one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever, said Oscars producer Brett Ratner said in a statement. With his love of movies, history of crafting unforgettable characters and his iconic performances -- especially onstage -- I know he will bring an excitement, spontaneity and tremendous heart to the show Don and I want to produce in February.

Ratner is directing the comedian in his upcoming film, Tower Heist, which will be in theaters Nov. 4.