Strasburg Dominates in MLB Debut

Washington Nationals rookie SP Stephen Strasburg made perhaps the most anticipated debut in the history of the MLB on Tuesday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He didn’t disappoint. In fact he was nothing short of brilliant and dominating. Strasburg hurled 7 very strong innings with the only blemish being a 2-run homer on a good piece of hitting by Delwyn Young of the Pirates. Other than that one pitch I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a guy pitch as well as Strasburg did. He allowed on 4 hits over 7 while striking out a somewhat ridiculous 14 hitters and walking none. Strasburg finished his start by striking out the final 7 batters he faced and by the end of his outing they didn’t even stand a chance.

Last season Strasburg’s college coach, HOF player Tony Gwynn, said he thought Strasburg could have been an All-Star right then (a month before he was the number 1 overall selection). I immediately dismissed that idea as one of those hype-building statements coaches and scouts like to make about athletes to increase their exposure. After watching a single Strasburg start I realize I was wrong. Very wrong.

Strasburg has four terrific pitches: a 100 mph 4-seam fastball, a mid- to high-90s 2-seam fastball (that moves more than most MLB sliders), a changeup that he can throw any time for a strike and a power curve that has sharp, late movement. Strasburg can get a strikeout with any of those 4 pitches and to make matters worse for hitters has impeccable control of all of them.

Now obviously once there’s enough tape hitters around the league will have a better idea of what Strasburg is trying to do on the mound but then again there’s plenty of tape on guys like Roy Halladay and Tim Lincecum and that hasn’t seemed to stop them from winning Cy Youngs. Stephen Strasburg is simply the real deal. Period. Unfortunately this guy now pitches in the NL East and the Mets will have to face him multiple times a season for years to come. This guy has 4 “out” pitches and again can throw any of them at any time in the count, that’s is a rare talent, Nolan Ryan-like talent.

Stephen Strasburg has arrived, MLB hitters beware.