The first pick within the 2009 MLB Draft, previous San Diego State ace Stephen Strasburg is ready to challenge Major League hitters with his 103 mph fastball, 90 mph slider and off-speed pitches. He’s the kind of pitcher a team can conceivably build around, as outlined by scouts. Now Stephen Strasburg could have the chance to prove that he can make hitters look bad on the big stage. His first start could be at 7:05 p.m. Eastern tonight against a Pittsburgh Pirates that is no pushover. According to MLB.com, the game has been sold out ever since the Nationals announced Strasburg’s debut date a month ago.
Stephen Strasburg: Really good, but not reality-altering
A humorous blog post on The Washington Post website suggests that 21-year-old Stephen Strasburg has pitches that defy physical laws. Legend goes that Stephen Strasburg’s pitches can freeze in midair or blink out of existence and instantly appear behind the hitter’s hindquarters. . Yet all 200 of the press crew at tonight’s Stephen Strasburg start are equally to blame for how far this has gone.
The numbers tell a tale of domination
Stephen Strasburg blossomed under Tony Gwynn at SDSU: 13-1, 1.32 ERA, 195 K and only 19 BB in 109 innings. The performance merited a Golden Spikes Award. After college, Stephen Strasburg was snatched up by the Nationals and kept on rolling at Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse, places that 2010 MLB Draft pick Bryce Harper will see soon.
Innings can be limited, but not expectations
Nationals coaches could have Stephen Strasburg on a strict pitch count, but media and fans remain liberal in their expectations for the hurler. A sea of Strasburg T-shirts will no doubt fill the stands at Nationals Park. It may be that cash advance with instant approval can be on the minds of fans who want to construct their own elaborate Stephen Strasburg shrines. Let’s hope Stephen Strasburg won’t drown in this river of infinite expectation. Strasburg has the stuff in his arm, but give him room to discover the stuff in his head. Maybe someday he’ll take the place of Sidd Finch and throw a fastball that – like his legend – simply arrives.
Citations
voices.washingtonpost.com/achenblog/2010/06/stephen_strasburg_debuts_for_n.html
mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10913962&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
