I’ve seriously considered an internet intervention for myself recently as the Stephen Strasburg hype built to volcanic proportions leading up to this afternoon’s highly anticipated first start in spring training. I even found myself getting (*gasp*) sick of only hearing “Strasburg, Strasburg, Strasburg!” nonstop. Cue Brady Bunch, “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” – that is if you’re not too young to remember that. That felt very non-fan like and completely un-MissChatter-like to consider giving up the internet, covering her head from the constant bombardment, particularly after championing more interactivity between the team and fans. I think part of the problem is participating in multiple social platforms serving as massive echo chambers, repeating one small tidbit so often with occasionally varying pitch, the frequency grows to an ear-piercing scream in my brain. Heh.. I said pitch! And that’s really the point, right? (Pitching, pitching, eh, you get the idea)
So yeah, that’s what it was all about today – pitching! Would the young phenom live up to all the hype in his first time on the mound facing major leaguers in a Nationals uniform? Ignore the big elephant in the room depicted in numbers involving a lot of sixes. 6-0 record so far into spring training for the Nationals. Before today’s game 67 runs allowed to opponents by Nats pitchers. Fans’ desperation grew with each pummeling and a lonely Nats Town nation raised hopeful eyes to today’s debut. I tried to keep a cool head and maintain reasonable expectations, but it was hard not to get swept along with the Strasburg wave.
MASN rushed the Nats TV crew there earlier than initially planned. National (and Nationals) baseball writers crammed the press box. Curious onlookers crowded Space Coast Stadium seats. All to ogle the young man on the mound with the live arm. All thinking, “Dear God, let that arm stay live!” I had to wonder how all that affected Strasburg, who appears to be a bit shy and introverted. I could only hope he knew to stay off the internet and newspapers and just focus on himself and preparing for today, tuning out the rest. But what if he bombed? What if he was just so-so? The world seemed to expect a lights-out two-inning outing.
So I held my breath through the top of the first inning, which was thankfully very quick. (exhale). While he did throw a few first and second pitch balls and the k/b ratio wasn’t too hot (7 pitches, 3 strikes), he sailed through the inning with three groundouts peppered throughout the infield. 1-2-3 shazzam! The top of the 2nd wasn’t quite as smooth or speedy, but Strasburg still escaped unscathed and retained his glorified status in fans’ eyes. We did get to witness a wicked breaking ball (for those of us lucky enough to watch live – hello new Slingbox!). After quickly getting the first two outs of the inning with a strikeout to Miguel Cabrera and a groundout, he then allowed two singles and had to pitch out of the stretch and out of the jam. He did. Quite niftily with a strikeout looking to end his outing.
Now the debate will rage on over whether Strasburg should start the season with the major league club or in the minors. Start his arbitration clock or try to squeeze more cheap (really, is $15 million cheap?!) labor out of him as long as possible? Play the kids or the vets? Let the spring stats decide or development plans? If he’s a groundball pitcher, should the team be concerned about the defense behind him? I say let’s see a couple more outings. I’m specifically interested in the potential start on March 19th, which would be his third time out if they keep him on schedule. It will also coincide with my first spring training game, camera in hand! So yeah, there is that! Until then, I will probably be quiet unless something really strikes a need in me to exercise my creative writing muscles (which are a bit flabby, I’ll admit). I’m going to try to reduce the signal to noise ratio for a while and as many of you know, I’m going through a pretty big transition at work of which I’m a key player, so I’ve been a wee bit swamped lately.
Tags: strasburg
