Stephen Strasburg's first ST outing
by St. Baztadd on Mar 9, 2010 3:12 PM EST
Email
Print
2ip, 2h, 0er, 0bb, 2ks.
According to MLB.com, his fastball velocity was awesome, never hitting lower than 96 on the gun. His curveball had awesome bite and travelled at 80-81mph. He even struck out Miguel Cabrera on a curveball-curveball-98 mph fastball combo.
I think this is great news for all the Nats fans out there. The kid handled the pressure of being under the microscope fairly well. Even though his overall performance was very positive and tells us that the best of it lies ahead, I wouldn't quote MLB.com's writer on saying it was dazzling.
Very early to say, since he only logged a couple of innings, but by extrapolating some better, some badder outings out of his ST, do you think he starts the season in DC?
45 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Sample size not small enough
Who loves orange soda?
Vince Mazzaro dreams he had Strasburgs stuff though...
"When Justin Upton faces Lincecum, I think Christ might appear in the heavens, and the world will end." -JakeFree
stras...
In no way should he start in DC, it hurts nothing at all to give him a month or 2 in the minors. Also his outing wasn’t as sharp as the numbers/write up will tell you. Don’t get me wrong he looked awesome and he should be great, but his control was a bit erratic overall. That said neither of the hits were that solid and he got 4 GO’s which I thought was the best sign from his outing.
Personally I would keep him down for two weeks and get the 7th year.
I honestly believe he could pay for his Super-2 contract this year with gate sales. He’s getting absolutely huge publicity. I just don’t feel like the minors will teach him anything. He’s got stuff to learn, but it’s how to adjust to major league hitters, not how to pitch.
Tools Whore
Agreed
When it comes to a pitcher, I say start him as early as you can… many, many pitchers have a short shelf-life and why waste it in the minor leagues, especially with a guy who can draw fans in droves to a stadium that desperately needs it.
I would handle Heyward differently, even though I think he’s most likely ready now. But he’s a hitter and has a much better chance of being healthy and productive in 7 years than Strasburg does.
by jc3 on Mar 9, 2010 4:04 PM EST up reply actions
I’d rather make sure 100% he is as ready as he can be before tossing him into the spot light. He has amazing stuff, but that doesn’t mean he won’t need to transition from a poor conference in college to the majors. I’ll play it safe when a kid of easily the face of the franchise, Heyward at least has other people to take the pressure off. Just my personal philosophy of sorts I guess, though I think he would manage enough with less time … but I’d see more of an adjustment period.
+0.5
It does hurt one thing to keep him in the minors; ticket sales.
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him."
-Jonathan Swift
by King Billy Royal on Mar 9, 2010 7:10 PM EST up reply actions
+1
Only good things will come out of him staying down on the farm for the first couple months. Let him grow like a somewhat normal prospect, even if he’s not one. The Nats surely aren’t going anywhere this year, so why start his clock early?
The wind is in the buffalo.
In other news
Hellickson – 4 batters faced, 4 strikeouts.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
I think he's in the minors til June
If nothing more than to stall service time.
Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com
Service time really isn't all that relevant.
If they call him up in Mid-April or Mid-June, they’d still have him under team control until 2016, the only thing calling him up in June delays is his arbitration. If he’s called up in mid-April, he’d be a Super-2.
Tools Whore
Avoiding Super 2 Status should be a priority for Washington
I expect them to be better, but they’re not playing for anything this year.
There not exactly a small market team though.
And if they feel he can gain more developmentally by being in the show than in the minors, super-2 shouldn’t be a huge deal. Plus, there is the theory that he’ll pay for his super-2 raise just by increasing attendance and marketing.
Tools Whore
Why?
He’s under a 5 year contract anyway. If he stays in the bigs, only his last season won’t already be paid for.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Unless I'm just misremembering
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Never mind, I see the error of my ways
Because he’s down for 2 weeks, they’d get him for 7 years, not 6. However, I’m not sure the difference between 60% and 80% for his year 5 season won’t be made up in additional ticket sales this year.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Prospect Smackdown idea
Chapman vs Ynoa vs Strasburg
I’d be interested in thoughts on each. Obviously all 3 are on different progression paths at the moment. But if all reach it, their upsides are huge.
I’m looking forward to John’s post about what he’d do with Chapman/Strasburg.
by Jordan Tuwiner on Mar 9, 2010 8:12 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I’m looking forward to John’s post about what he’d do with Chapman/Strasburg.
by Jordan Tuwiner on Mar 9, 2010 8:17 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Ynoa is a myth
Much like the Sasquatch or Loch Ness Monster.
Until I see definitive proof that he exists, he doesn’t belong in the same conversation as Chapsburg.
Hellickson
Any thoughts on when he gets into the rotation?
Waiting for the first "snow game" in Minnesota.....
first strained elbow
For in depth fantasy analysis be sure to visit the Hawk Fantasy Sports site @ www.HawkBall.com
No earlier than the all-star break
Unless he just continues to blow guys away now and Sonnanstine struggles early in the year. Sonnanstine is the injured starter insurance though.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Stras
I’m sorry my prediction on him is that is bombs this year. I really think he is overhyped…I don’t quite get why everyone thinks he is going to do so well this year. Maybe its just me… I’ve never had a good feeling about Stras.
by kershaw_equals_stud on Mar 9, 2010 11:52 PM EST reply actions
Right
Judging from your name, maybe you equate good feelings with 30 pitch innings and 100+ pitches through 5 IP.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Mar 10, 2010 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
“I don’t quite get why everyone thinks he is going to do so well this year.”
seriously? it’s not that hard to figure out why.
baseball rules.
I just wanted to say that
That way when he does suck I will find this comment and the replies and post a big “I TOLD YOU SO” post…. Actually now one of you will probably do the exact same to me if he kicks ass:-)
by kershaw_equals_stud on Mar 10, 2010 9:18 AM EST reply actions
You know...
this kind of against-the-grain type predictions are far more useful if there were some rationale behind it.
For instance, when people on this board predicted Delmon Young’s struggles, there was plenty of evidence and reasoned debate. Or like when I defend Bumgarner, and others attack him as a prospect, there’s a rationale and reasons for both sides.
Is there some reason why you think he’d struggle? The description of his stuff in his first outing was just as advertised, as was the reports from the AFL. Or are you just predicting he’ll do poorly because everyone else is predicting greatness?
Poster formerly known as artie
Against the Grain Predictions
Though KES pales in comparison to the Project Prospect doofuses in that regard. If you believe them, Strasburg should reseve time on the operating table in 2012. Or sooner.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Mar 10, 2010 1:17 PM EST up reply actions
They rated him the #4 overall prospect in the game
And the top pitcher overall. They think he will be dominate when healthy, but he’ll struggle handling full season workloads and eventually succumb to arm problems that will keep him from being an ace that eats innings later in his career. They have gone through their reasoning why they think he is more susceptible to injury and they’re making a prediction and going out on a limb in doing so. Its unfair to judge them before we see how their methodology for predicting pitcher injuries works out.
Thanks
But no. He guaranteed that he’ll have arm problems in two years which no reputable scout, pitching coach or anyone who knows anything about the game would do. If they really believed that, then he should be much, much lower than #4. Otherwise what they’re saying is that this is an incredibly weak class of prospects and there will only be 3 better players than a sore armed pitcher who only had one good year. Personally, if I had such inside information, I’d put a guy who’s guaranteed to only have one good year around 50 or 60.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Mar 14, 2010 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
No you're twisting their words
Saying someone will have arm problems doesn’t mean their career will automatically end or that they will stop having any sort of success. It simply means that they will miss time with injury, likely struggle to maintain a starter’s workload, and possibly lose something in terms or raw stuff. Say Strasburg turns into Kerry Wood, wouldn’t you agree that would make the PP guys right for knocking him because of injuries while keeping him high because he will still be productive for the most part when healthy?
The PP guys are making a prediction based on their theories regarding pitching mechanics. We really can’t get any information about whether or not their theories are correct without them making recorded predictions about what they think will happen. Maybe they couldn’t be any more wrong, but why don’t we wait a few seasons before we shit all over them for making a legitimate attempt to forward the study of pitching mechanics and injury.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Minor League Ball
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
