Stephen Strasburg.

Am i the only one hoping this kid gets bombed on tomorrow?

So utterly sick of hearing about him.

Nope, I hope he does as well as everyone thinks he will. When you have someone like Curt Schilling saying you're the real deal, you must be pretty dang good! I can't wait to see him pitch tomorrow!

The Pirates are still my team and I hope they crush him. He can do good against other teams after :P

Nope not at all. While I'm a D.C. fan, the Nationals are still relatively new and they need something to be optimistic about after the last couple of seasons being garbage.

There are only 3 categories of players I'd root against...

• someone playing against the Mariners
• someone playing for the Rangers, Angels, or A's
• Alex Rodriguez

Strasburg doesn't fit any of those descriptions. Unless, maybe, Mariners vs Nationals in October? Yeah, that'll happen.

Not really. Dudes from SoCal like me so i'm rooting for him. Now Bryce Harper on the other hand...

I'm sure no one cares, but Michael Stanton of the Marlins is also making his debut on the same day as Strasburg. Stanton is a beast of a player with an extraordinary amount of power. I'm glad Strasburg is getting all the attention though. Keeps the pressure off of Stanton. I hope.

he will throw a perfect game:P

You heard it here first

[spoiler] Although he probably will only get about 5 innings or get lit up [/spoiler]

Although he probably will only get about 5 innings...

Colin1192

He'll be on a strict pitch count for the remainder of the year.

Not really. Dudes from SoCal like me so i'm rooting for himCuDDKiDD

[QUOTE="Colin1192"]Although he probably will only get about 5 innings...

Oleg_Huzwog

He'll be on a strict pitch count for the remainder of the year.

ya it's kinda dumb. I mean sure you dont want him to get hurt, but he is a pitcher let him pitch. He doesnt have to throw 135 pitches a game, but hitting 110-115 is not going to kill him either

Although it is not like the Natinals are going anywhere this year

[QUOTE="Oleg_Huzwog"]

[QUOTE="Colin1192"]Although he probably will only get about 5 innings...

Colin1192

He'll be on a strict pitch count for the remainder of the year.

ya it's kinda dumb. I mean sure you dont want him to get hurt, but he is a pitcher let him pitch. He doesnt have to throw 135 pitches a game, but hitting 110-115 is not going to kill him either

Although it is not like the Natinals are going anywhere this year

Well, it's probably a good idea, especially for a team like the Nats who won't be contending. History has shown that overworking young pitchers doesn't end up well (Kerry Wood).

And really, why would you hate the kid just because he gets talked about? It's not his fault.

There are only 3 categories of players I'd root against...

• someone playing against the Mariners
• someone playing for the Rangers, Angels, or A's
• Alex Rodriguez

Strasburg doesn't fit any of those descriptions. Unless, maybe, Mariners vs Nationals in October? Yeah, that'll happen.

Oleg_Huzwog

I mean I hope he does well and comes out as everyone is touting him, but I mean calling him the best pitcher out there before he even steps foot on a major league mound is kind of going a little too far.

7 inn, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 14 K

Looking good, but lets see someone that isn't he PiratesX360PS3AMD05

Agreed but not bad for his first game. Funny seeing Nationals Park that loud.

[QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"]Looking good, but lets see someone that isn't he PiratesSeabas989

Agreed but not bad for his first game. Funny seeing Nationals Park that loud.

[QUOTE="Seabas989"]

[QUOTE="X360PS3AMD05"]Looking good, but lets see someone that isn't he Piratesxscrapzx

Agreed but not bad for his first game. Funny seeing Nationals Park that loud.

Yeah things are looking up for the Nationals after years of embarrassment.

In fact, D.C. sports in general are finally looking up after a year of disappointment and humiliation.

He's got some nasty stuff. That slurve is ridiculous.

I don't care if it was against the Pirates, 14k's is just plain ownage.

Wow :o. Heck of a first bow.

14 Ks and a win. didn't bomb :P

Man he ruined the Bucco's tonight :lol:

Pretty awesome stuff. I just hope he doesn't pitch that well against the Marlins :P

Again, no one will care, but Michael Stanton went 3-5 in his debut tonight. Of course the Marlins lost because they suck, but still a nice night for the kid.

I think the high salary teams can't wait to see this kid out of this "farm" system... :P I think he'll look good in pin stripes if he keeps this up.

I think the high salary teams can't wait to see this kid out of this "farm" system... :P I think he'll look good in pin stripes if he keeps this up.

feryl06

lol Thats why the MLB fails so much and nobody cares anymore.

When do the training wheels come off? I don't blame the Nats or anything, but it'd have been exicting to see him go for the benchmark 18 Ks, or even if he got real crazy, and got 20.

I think that Strasburg is overhyped and the media needs to let him have a full season before they make him the next Nolan Ryan. I think that Strasburg is going to start stumbling once he faces a real Major League team. Silver_Slugger

[QUOTE="Silver_Slugger"]I think that Strasburg is overhyped and the media needs to let him have a full season before they make him the next Nolan Ryan. I think that Strasburg is going to start stumbling once he faces a real Major League team. CleanPlayer

the kid has such a nasty curve. You haters better get used to him, he's going to be around for a long time. Just because he faced the Pirates and Indians doesn't mean he's not legit. What other pitcher this year threw 14 k's against the Pirates?andyboiii

I would not be surprised to see another pitcher to throw a 14k game against the Pirates. We are only through a third of the season. Silver_Slugger

[QUOTE="Silver_Slugger"]I would not be surprised to see another pitcher to throw a 14k game against the Pirates. We are only through a third of the season. andyboiii

Bravo he got lucky in his first start, looking at his second start he only had 8k's , 5 walks, 1 HR and you even saw him struggle. I am sure that by his first full season next year a lot of these major league hitters will figure him out. I will evaluate him after next season after he pitches one full season in the Majors. Silver_Slugger

A "lucky" pitcher gets a call his way, or gets his ass bailed out of a jam by a spectacular play from one of his fielders. Luck doesn't make pitches move like his.

[QUOTE="andyboiii"][QUOTE="Silver_Slugger"]I would not be surprised to see another pitcher to throw a 14k game against the Pirates. We are only through a third of the season. Silver_Slugger

Striking out 14 batters is not "luck", no matter how you slice it. In his second start, many of the walks were do to the condition of the mound. He was slipping nd losing his footing a lot. Of course, a few starts this year we'll see him get pounded. The sheer force with which he throws will generate some home runs. But he's already very, very good. Cleveland and Pittsburgh, despite their records, both have major league hitters on the roster.

The difference between Strasburg and a generic flame-throwing prospect is his mechanics and his control. Many top prospects with similar velocity rely only on that velocity. Strasburg has the ability to paint the corners and use his fastball like a scalpel. Even if he didn't have great control, a triple digit heater with an average of 4 inches of movement is going to miss a lot bats. His curveball is simply unbelievable. It's entirely unhittable, and he has the ability to throw it for strikes, as well as put variety of cuts on it. The "weak link" in his arsenal is the changeup which right now is only above-average. The average speed of his changeup is 90 (!) mph. He needs to take that down a couple of notches. Most of the time, he throws it with enough break that it doesn't matter, but if he's off for any reason, and average 90 mph changeup is very hittable.

he has the skill and strength. i hope he can maintain it, and not get injured.

he has the skill and strength. i hope he can maintain it, and not get injured.

oajlu

Injury or showing up to spring training 30 pounds overweight are about all that can stop him from having a solid 10-15 year career.

22 strikeouts in two starts and people think he's an overrated bust who's getting lucky, wow.:|

22 strikeouts in two starts and people think he's an overrated bust who's getting lucky, wow.:|

QuistisTrepe_

Yeah, and the guy has been under such tremendous pressure. Playing despite all of these expectations is very impressive, period.

There's no way he's lucky. Strasburg is legit. There's no way you pitch that well and get lucky.

he has 9 strikeouts against the White Sox through 5 inningsandyboiii

This dudes legit..