Stephen Strasburg should pitch wednesday

Great game! Lobos are hanging tough. Strasburg just left the game leading 1-0 with 2 out bottom 8.

7.2 IP 3 hits, 1 BB, and 6 Ks for Strasburg.

To the bottom of the ninth we go. Aztecs 2, Lobos 0

Aztecs held off the Lobos, who gamely put four base runners on with two outs in the bottom of the 9th. 2-1 final.
Strasburg left the game in the 8th with an injury. Didn't seem serious from the radio account. Hope he's OK.

The Lobos stage a 2-out rally in the bottom of the 9th, scoring 1 and ending the game with a foul fly with bases loaded.

The nation's top hitting team almost got the best of Addison Reed, the nation's top closer with 17 saves thus far this season. Quite exciting!

Apparently he got cramps from not being hydrated enough.

Sure hope SDSU gets an invite so he can pitch again for the Aztecs. I'd love to see him pitch against an ACC or SEC team.

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Originally posted by total1096:
Sure hope SDSU gets an invite so he can pitch again for the Aztecs. I'd love to see him pitch against an ACC or SEC team.

Looks like you got your wish. SDSU vs Virginia

A Strasburg-Hultzen matchup could go scoreless well into the game.

But UVA is a far better hitting team than what you see in the Mountain West, and UVA's bullpen is perhaps the best around. We will definitely find out how well Strasburg holds runners and defends the bunt, because UVA will not sit back and wait for the HR to happen, that's for sure. This will be a great game to watch, and it should be on TV nationally (ESPNU) Friday night. Play ball!

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But UVA is a far better hitting team than what you see in the Mountain West

You're not saying Strasburg hasn't been tested yet are you Midlo? UVA is no doubt a great offensive club, but the fact is that New Mexico had the #1 offense in the land this year. That said, Strasburg faced them twice, and he shut them out twice.
Also in the MWC, UNLV hit it around a little this season (#23 in bat. avg). Strasburg beat the Rebels, but probably only because Kyle Kretchmer didn't play
I would love to be in Irvine with Bullwinkle and PBonesteele this weekend to watch. Should be a 4 way war.

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While Strasberg is human, and will likley lose a game at SOME point this year...and while I understand the pride and talent of the "power" conferences and their clear superiority...and I would agree that the hitters are much better in those conferences...and I understand that Stasberg will likley get knocked around the park this weekend and be "found out"...

..Don't underestimate his talent...or his accomplishments this year even in a weak league against weak hitters.

While we might downgrade his conference, the MWC, in some respects(lack of talent) it is hard to argue that it is not a fairly decent offensive conference with conditions that make it very hard on pitchers.

If you ask any coach who recruits for it,(or against it) if it has any limited standing at all (only 3 teams into the regionals) it is primarily as a hitters/offensive conference. When mine were recruited the first thing that other coaches used for and against it was "You do NOT want to pitch in that conference"

The extreme altitudes, dry air, strong winds that blow out in virtually every ballpark, the resulting unpredictability of those factors, as well as the fact that conference coaches sell hitters on that fact...simply make it a pitchers graveyard.

Frankly playing in the MWC accomplishments/statisitics make Strasbergs acheivements all the more remarkable. It is very common for very good pitchers to give up double digit runs (even against its weak hitters) on days when the ball flies which is most any day. To lead the country in ERA, fewest runs allowed, K's, or BAA in that conference is pretty darned remarkable, no matter how weak it is. Put Strasberg in a conference that offers conditions more "fair" to pitchers and he would arguably have a season that might move him up in the draft standing.

I've told this story before last year I was told by a Coach that they declined to host a regional bid simply becasue they did not want to risk facing a well rested, pumped up Strasberg in a regional.

Reagrdless of how he does it will be a great regional!

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When son was being recruited to ASU we were told that it would be in his best interests to pitch in the east in a pitcher's league, which the ACC is known for. Some due to dryer conditions, others due to it being more of a hitters league.
UVA may have the advantage of seeing better pitching, but they also are used to cooler/dryer climates not always found in the league they play.
IMO, it's going to come down to the pitcher's game management and with men on base, coaching stragedy.
I also agree, going to be one exciting regional in Irvine, CA.

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Put Strasberg in a conference that offers conditions more "fair" to pitchers and he would arguably have a season that might move him up in the draft standing.

I don't think there's any more "up" for him to go. If he's not the first pick it'll only be because the Nats don't want to meet his price tag, and in any event his price tag will likely shatter records even during our current recession.