Future Cy Young winner or next Mark Prior?
I have to say I'm looking forward to his start ALMOST as much as I was to the Jimenez/Lincecum matchup a week or so ago.
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He is already selling seats at Nationals Park.
And the expensive seats at that!
And the expensive seats at that!
quote:Originally posted by waphtuoS:
Future Cy Young winner or next Mark Prior?
It's too bad it has to be one or the other. I'm hoping he has a nice long successful career.
Same for Mr. Harper. I'm worried he's so young but, as a baseball fan, how can you wish him anything less than all the best?
Well said papi, it seems like everyone's not giving Strasburg a chance to just be good, instead putting the organization on his (and Harper's too) shoulders and hoping for the best......Whether he dominates or struggles, I just hope he stays in the league long enough to be remembered. There are too many arms blown out early in their careers, it would be a shame if this guy went the same way.
quote:Originally posted by waphtuoS:
it seems like everyone's not giving Strasburg a chance to just be good, instead putting the organization on his (and Harper's too) shoulders and hoping for the best......Whether he dominates or struggles, I just hope he stays in the league long enough to be remembered. There are too many arms blown out early in their careers, it would be a shame if this guy went the same way.
When you take a truckload of loot without ever throwing one pitch in the majors and making a name for yourself, you gotta produce. Just being good don't cut it. Otherwise, settle for less money up front and go after a big payday after you prove you can produce. Time to earn the dough...With a 102 MPH fast ball and good secondary pitches, he should be a big time pitcher in MLB.
I'm talking about right from the get-go, I don't think anyone would realistically turn down a big offer like that and tell someone to wait till they've proven themselves. I agree that if he's getting millions he **** well better earn it, but I wouldn't mind if he was OK for a season or two and then showed up.
The Strasburg ere has started witha bang--14 K's through 7 innings--zero walks, just dominant stuff!
I see a shaving cream interview just around the corner. 
What a dominant performance, I would have killed to see that one in person.....
While he will have some struggles at times just like any pitcher, he is a stud and with good health there will be even more dominant performances down the road.
As I stated in the TX Forum I watched J. R. Richard's 15K debut in the 1970's but it was much more of a struggle as he walked many more batters and was truthfully kind of wild. Believe he K'd Bobby Bonds 4 times in that game.
As I stated in the TX Forum I watched J. R. Richard's 15K debut in the 1970's but it was much more of a struggle as he walked many more batters and was truthfully kind of wild. Believe he K'd Bobby Bonds 4 times in that game.
Now that's the kind of performance I was expecting from this kid. He earned his loot tonight.
All I can say is WOW! Very impressive.
He might have his bad games and facing the Yankees will be a test but his secondary stuff is filthy. Unless he can't throw strikes (65 of 94 pitches went for strikes tonight), or goes mental or something, I don't know how he will struggle in the majors.
Yea, it's only the Pirates who are nobody but that was still an impressive debut.
All I can say is WOW! Very impressive.
He might have his bad games and facing the Yankees will be a test but his secondary stuff is filthy. Unless he can't throw strikes (65 of 94 pitches went for strikes tonight), or goes mental or something, I don't know how he will struggle in the majors.
Yea, it's only the Pirates who are nobody but that was still an impressive debut.
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Had the privilige to watch him in college a few times from the first row behind the catcher...
...simply magic.
44
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Had the privilige to watch him in college a few times from the first row behind the catcher...
...simply magic.
44.
We were at the Twins vs. Royals game tonight but watched Strasburg's first few innings on the big screen before our game started.
Wow. If you're gonna brush a batter back with an inside pitch early in the game, 100 mph is a nice speed for that pitch. And his breaking pitches were amazing - dropping and darting. Really good stuff, fun to watch.
Julie
Wow. If you're gonna brush a batter back with an inside pitch early in the game, 100 mph is a nice speed for that pitch.
And his breaking pitches were amazing - dropping and darting. Really good stuff, fun to watch.Julie
quote:Originally posted by observer44:
.
Had the privilige to watch him in college a few times from the first row behind the catcher...
...simply magic.
.
I was in Vegas last year watching Strasburg and SDSU take on UNLV sitting in between the Radar Guns behind home plate. Who knows O-44, we could have been sitting next to each other? He is definitely fun to watch!
Did we pick a good name for our collegiate summer team or what:
The Strasburg Express
If our shirts came in red, I'd beat feet down to DC and sell 'em today.
www.strasburgexpress.com
The Strasburg Express
If our shirts came in red, I'd beat feet down to DC and sell 'em today.
www.strasburgexpress.com
quote:Originally posted by waphtuoS:
Future Cy Young winner or next Mark Prior?
since he beat my Pirates, I am a hoping not to be a little biased, but he sure had the stuff last night.......
On the other hand, Im not ready to anoint him as the next Nolan Ryan yet.......
What's most impressive is 14Ks and only throwing 94 pitches
A friend's son played with Strasburg in AAA. He said he's never seen anything like him. Aside from talent he's composed and confident. He's offended but not affected when hitters succeed off him.
Has anyone in the majors ever been younger in years than he has had strikeouts in a game? Seems like Strasburg has a shot at it. 
It was amazing. After 2 innings I remember thinking that I had not felt that way watching a game since watching Hank Aaron vs. the Dodgers when he hit #715... the buildup that day and game (it was his 2nd ab i'm pretty sure) you just knew it was so historical.
Thanks to a rainout I got to watch it on MLB network... one of the very, very, few times I've welcomed a rainout.
Thanks to a rainout I got to watch it on MLB network... one of the very, very, few times I've welcomed a rainout.
quote:Has anyone in the majors ever been younger in years than he has had strikeouts in a game?
Maybe we should look up Johnny Vandermeer's rookie stats?
What's most impressive to me is, zero walks. How many power pitchers can go 7 innings with zero walks? To do that in your first MLB appearance, with the whole world watching -- WOW, what poise.
I would invite any of those who thought he wasn't worth $15 million last year to revisit that topic now. Add up how much he is meaning to the Nationals in ticket sales, TV ad revenues, and sales of things like Nationals jerseys with his name and number on the back. He's probably already approaching the breakeven point for the Nats.
He's going to be a Godsend to that franchise. I just hope he stays healthy, as opposed to so many phenoms who have gone before (Prior, Wood, Taylor, and a few others come to mind).
I would invite any of those who thought he wasn't worth $15 million last year to revisit that topic now. Add up how much he is meaning to the Nationals in ticket sales, TV ad revenues, and sales of things like Nationals jerseys with his name and number on the back. He's probably already approaching the breakeven point for the Nats.
He's going to be a Godsend to that franchise. I just hope he stays healthy, as opposed to so many phenoms who have gone before (Prior, Wood, Taylor, and a few others come to mind).
Due to today's inferior batting skills and intellect, Strasburg may run off a string of perfect games each season he pitches.
Walter Johnson's Debut
"I hardly saw the pitch, but I heard it," he wrote in his autobiography. "The thing just hissed with danger."
"There was only one answer left to his incredible, overpowering speed," Cobb wrote. "We bunted. Sure enough, the boy hadn't handled many bunts."
Cobb reached on one in the second inning, then raced to third on another bunt before scoring on a sacrifice fly, to put Johnson in an early 1-0 hole.
Washington tied it in the sixth, but Detroit retook the lead in the eighth on a solo home run by Sam Crawford. Johnson was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the frame, and the teams traded runs in the ninth, giving the Tigers the one-run victory. The rookie had been impressive in the loss: giving up six hits and one walk (compared to four hits and no walks for Strasburg).
"Scrambling all the way, we finally beat him, 3-2, but every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ballpark," Cobb recalled.
Walter Johnson's Debut
"I hardly saw the pitch, but I heard it," he wrote in his autobiography. "The thing just hissed with danger."
"There was only one answer left to his incredible, overpowering speed," Cobb wrote. "We bunted. Sure enough, the boy hadn't handled many bunts."
Cobb reached on one in the second inning, then raced to third on another bunt before scoring on a sacrifice fly, to put Johnson in an early 1-0 hole.
Washington tied it in the sixth, but Detroit retook the lead in the eighth on a solo home run by Sam Crawford. Johnson was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the frame, and the teams traded runs in the ninth, giving the Tigers the one-run victory. The rookie had been impressive in the loss: giving up six hits and one walk (compared to four hits and no walks for Strasburg).
"Scrambling all the way, we finally beat him, 3-2, but every one of us knew we'd met the most powerful arm ever turned loose in a ballpark," Cobb recalled.
Midlo Dad-- VanderMeer's rookie strikeout totals are nothing unusual in his rookie year as eleven was his best in 1937. Later on, in the early and mid 1940's he fanned 14 three times, once in 15 innings.
Texas-Husker--Bob Feller struck out a Major League record tieing 17 batters at age 17 in his rookie year of 1936.
Quincy--I was thinking today at work of the exact passage you quoted as this was in Ty Cobb's autobiography. Very similar reactions to two great pitchers.
Texas-Husker--Bob Feller struck out a Major League record tieing 17 batters at age 17 in his rookie year of 1936.
Quincy--I was thinking today at work of the exact passage you quoted as this was in Ty Cobb's autobiography. Very similar reactions to two great pitchers.
I have seen him pitch and impressed, lots of composure and has been groomed to perfection. Midlo is correct, it was a great investment.
The Nationals are pretty smart, this has been planned for a while, to pitch against one of the worst teams in baseball, it didn't happen by chance. The better hitters he sees the more patient, and then the strike zone he was allowed will get a bit tougher.
This is a great thing for baseball, this is a great thing for the Nats, who have had poor attendance records. They deserve this attention.
However, IMO, it's not about the first game you play but the last, longevity will make him famous, and I do hope that he has a long and successful career.
Will be interesting to see if he goes into the famous sophmore slump many young pitchers seem to have. That happens after those better hitters figure you out.
Now strike out against Albert a few times and you got me convinced 100%.
The Nationals are pretty smart, this has been planned for a while, to pitch against one of the worst teams in baseball, it didn't happen by chance. The better hitters he sees the more patient, and then the strike zone he was allowed will get a bit tougher.
This is a great thing for baseball, this is a great thing for the Nats, who have had poor attendance records. They deserve this attention.
However, IMO, it's not about the first game you play but the last, longevity will make him famous, and I do hope that he has a long and successful career.
Will be interesting to see if he goes into the famous sophmore slump many young pitchers seem to have. That happens after those better hitters figure you out.
Now strike out against Albert a few times and you got me convinced 100%.
I believe the ESPN folks said six players have K'ed 14 and walked none....since 1900. I cannot recall a more dominant outing. I watch alot of baseball and I am old.quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
Has anyone in the majors ever been younger in years than he has had strikeouts in a game? Seems like Strasburg has a shot at it.
quote:Originally posted by Dad04:I believe the ESPN folks said six players have K'ed 14 and walked none....since 1900. I cannot recall a more dominant outing. I watch alot of baseball and I am old.quote:Originally posted by Tx-Husker:
Has anyone in the majors ever been younger in years than he has had strikeouts in a game? Seems like Strasburg has a shot at it.
No doubts at all about the magnificance of Strasburg's talent. Overwhelming talent. I am looking forward to him versus Jason Heyward.
IMHO, Bob Feller was Strasburg before Strasburg. He struck out 15 while still a junior in high school and in his first MLB game.
What the ESPN folks said was that there have been six players that have K'd 14 and walked zero "IN 7 INNINGS OR LESS", not 9 innings.
ClevelandDad--The 15 K's by Feller was actually in his seventh Major League appearance and first major league start.
Just for information:
Feller 15K's first start--seventh appearance--1936
Karl Spooner 15K's, 3 walks, 3 hits vs. a NY Giants team that pulled regulars after 2 AB's due to already clinching pennant. First Major league game and start.
J. R. Richard 15 K's, three walks, seven hits vs Giants in first major league game and start.
ClevelandDad--The 15 K's by Feller was actually in his seventh Major League appearance and first major league start.
Just for information:
Feller 15K's first start--seventh appearance--1936
Karl Spooner 15K's, 3 walks, 3 hits vs. a NY Giants team that pulled regulars after 2 AB's due to already clinching pennant. First Major league game and start.
J. R. Richard 15 K's, three walks, seven hits vs Giants in first major league game and start.
Oops I forgot to say Spooner's feat took play in Sept. 1954 and Richard's in 1971.
By the way, all these stats are available in RetroSheet which now has all box scores from 1920 to 2009 as well as every player of those years game by game stats.