Strasburg's debut

[WEFFPIM]

His curveball was one of the filthiest pitches I've ever seen.

[Dr Positivity]

The highlights blew me away far more than the 14 Ks 0 walks line. I've never seen pitches like that.

[Aventador]

what a beast

[KNICKS1970]

The highlights blew me away far more than the 14 Ks 0 walks line. I've never seen pitches like that.

The highlights don't really do him justice. There were at least 10 curveballs he threw that buckled the knees of the Pirates pitches. On his first strikeout, Milledge flinched like he was about to get hit by the ball. It was a curveball right down the middle.

[cmavswin]

One start means nothing lets see him do this against a team with a better than .236 team batting average.

[Jersey Generals]

One start means nothing lets see him do this against a team with a better than .236 team batting average.

This kind of thought completely flabbergasts me. Its not the game that you have to look at, its the stuff that he was throwing that you have to look at. His four seam averaged 98, his 2 seam and change up 91, his slurve 83. Seriously, if he wasn't Stephen Strasburg and he didn't have the hype that he has, people wouldn't be saying "one start means nothing." They would be looking at what he was throwing like they rightfully should be doing. Every pitcher has bad games, whether you're Todd Van Poppel or Walter Johnson, but not everyone has historic debuts, regardless of the opponent and to say "one game means nothing," completely misses the point.

Obviously, however, one game does not make a career, and until he pitches a full season, you really can't project what kind of career he's going to have. If he stays healthy though, and he should because he has the proper mechanics and the proper body-type, I think his potential is unheard of.

[jumanji]

The guy is the best pitching prospect i've seen come along maybe since Tom Seaver and Fank Tanana. The thing though is they have to become a winning team there and he needs to stay healthy. Everyone was Ga-Ga over Mark Pryor when he first started out and where is he now.

On an somewhat unrelated subject ESPN did a horrible job of covering the whole Strasburg debut. On the one hand they started their pregame about 4 hours before the first pitch and then basically went into blackout mode with their coverage on their main networks. I'm surprised they didnt show poker while the game was going on, that would have been fitting.

[jumanji]

One start means nothing lets see him do this against a team with a better than .236 team batting average.

His next 3 starts are against Cleveland, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City. There are enough patsies out there that he should continue to dominate from what i can see.

[Rafael122]

I'm not really sure why they had a Baseball Tonight at 3:30 in the afternoon. No one was home, and the park didn't open until 4:30. Our local station had it right, a one hour pregame show at 6 that led straight to the first pitch and you're right, ESPN dropped the ball big time on not showing the game, but it would have competed against the NBA Finals.

[studcrackers]

it was on mlb network if ya got it, im sure they both cant show the game


anyways i only watched the 1st 4 innings and saw the rest on highlights and holy hell was that a sight to see, it was jaw dropping stuff, especially that curve

i love the guy already

[jumanji]

I'm not really sure why they had a Baseball Tonight at 3:30 in the afternoon. No one was home, and the park didn't open until 4:30. Our local station had it right, a one hour pregame show at 6 that led straight to the first pitch and you're right, ESPN dropped the ball big time on not showing the game, but it would have competed against the NBA Finals.

Good point about the ESPN affiliation with ABC. They did put it on one of their other stations (ESPN 360/ESPN News) didnt they? I just thought the whole hype surrounding it (most warranted) sort of suggested it be aired so most folks could see it. He's pitching sunday, let's see if the turner network picks it up. I'd rather watch Strasburg pitch as opposed to seeing Boston play joe blow or whatever.

[craig01]

Strasburg was dynamic and overpowering to say the least.

But I'll save the hype after he's been around the league once or twice.

Phenomenal beginning no doubt.

I'll be watching for sure.

[jumanji]

Strasburg seemed a little uneasy with the mound in Cleveland and he didnt look like he got any help of some of those pitches on the corners from the ump behind the plate. If this was an off game for him then good luck on most nights trying to beat him.

The thing i like about the Nationals is they have shown that they can play good ball when the Ace is on the mound. It might not take as long as some think for this team to be a force in that division.

[craig01]

Strasburg seemed a little uneasy with the mound in Cleveland and he didnt look like he got any help of some of those pitches on the corners from the ump behind the plate. If this was an off game for him then good luck on most nights trying to beat him.

The thing i like about the Nationals is they have shown that they can play good ball when the Ace is on the mound. It might not take as long as some think for this team to be a force in that division.

True.

They've got some good pieces in place, especially the bullpen from the 7th inning on.

More depth and improvement defensively can win them some games. We'll see how they hold up as the season wears on, but all the signs for them are pointing in the right direction.

[HMFFL]

Here is the baseball from his debut

It sold for over $20k.

This dirt from the mound will also be sold.

[mike_miller]

^ that just seems ridiculous

[craig01]

Here is the baseball from his debut

It sold for over $20k.

This dirt from the mound will also be sold.

Could be brilliant, or could be speculation at it's dumbest.

[HMFFL]

^
The two men to the left in the photo are MLB Authenticators. They must witness the dirt going into the buckets, document it, and prepare to issues seals/holograms accordingly to how the dirt gets separated. The dirt probably gets auctioned off and or sold to card companies.

[jeff1624]

^
The two men to the left in the photos are MLB Authenticators. They must witness the dirt going into the buckets, document it, and prepare to issues seals/holograms accordingly to how the dirt gets separated. The dirt probably gets auctioned off and or sold to card companies.

... I understand Auctioning the ball off, but the dirt.. really?? Why not just cut the grass and auction that off too. Hey, get all the used gum, sun flower seeds, tobacco or whatever the players around Strasburg were chewing that day and sell it. Why stop at that, lets get the used underwear used by Strasburg, Ivan Rodriguez, the home plate umpire and everyone he struck out that day. Lets auction everything off!

[HMFFL]

^
The two men to the left in the photos are MLB Authenticators. They must witness the dirt going into the buckets, document it, and prepare to issues seals/holograms accordingly to how the dirt gets separated. The dirt probably gets auctioned off and or sold to card companies.

... I understand Auctioning the ball off, but the dirt.. really?? Why not just cut the grass and auction that off too. Hey, get all the used gum, sun flower seeds, tobacco or whatever the players around Strasburg were chewing that day and sell it. Why stop at that, lets get the used underwear used by Strasburg, Ivan Rodriguez, the home plate umpire and everyone he struck out that day. Lets auction everything off!

HAHA

Alex Rodriguez sells about everything he wears and that's related to the game. His jockstraps have been purchased by collectors during the past.