Being right around the corner from Nationals Park I feel compelled to touch on this Stephen Strasburg story. The Washington Nationals are terrible as expected. They invested some money this offseason on slugger Adam Dunn and I hate to say, but they actually have a solid nucleus of young positional players. Not that any of these guys are studs, but Lastings Milledge, Christian Guzman, Adam Dunn, Dukes, Zimmerman, etc...The Nationals actually don't put a poor product on the field.
The main problem is pitching. The staff is absolutely horrendous and they can't protect a lead, or get consistent starting outings from the pitching staff. The starting rotation for the Nats right now is John Lannan, Shairon Martis, Jordan Zimmermann, Ross Detwiler, and Craig Stammen (Scott Olsen and Kip Wells on the DL). A couple young arms in Lannan and Zimpeice, but not really a line-up that is going to win many series as evident in their 15-41 record (but hey, they are only 18 games back).
I have been to three Nats games this year, 2 against the bravos, and one against the cards. The only reason I went to those games is because I am a braves fan, and my buddy is a cards fan. I am convinced that no one goes to the stadium unless the opposing team interests you. The two braves games I went to I sat right behind the braves dugout for a combined price of $5 dollars for two nights. Night number one, no one was at the ballpark, slight rain delay, and by the time the game started we were able to sit down first row. I got some good reactions out of Timmy Hudson as I kept mentioning to him the peice he did with Eddie Perez. The 2nd night some drunk guy outside the stadium gave us lower level seats for free after he tried to scalp them for us for $40 bucks, we said no, and he said okay just take them. The guy was an expert salesmen.
Back to the point of this peice, the Washington Nationals made a huge potential boost to their future and pitching staff by selecting Stephen Strasburg number one overall in this years MLB draft. The stats as mulldog eluded to are unreal on paper. 13-1 record, 1.32 ERA, 65 hits allowed, 16 earned runs, 19 walks and 195 strike outs. There is never a sure thing, especially in the MLB draft which is so hit and miss. Thought scouts have never been so in love, and hyped up someone as much as this kid. The main problem comes in signing this pitcher to a deal. For those of you who weren't aware, last year the Nats picked pitcher Aaron Crow with the 9th overall pick. In a similar situation they failed to sign Crow, who decided to play a year in an independent minor league for the year, re-entering the draft, and being selected this year 12th overall by Kansas City (Tough draw for Crow, nationals then KC....aich). If the Nats aren't carefull they will wind up in a similar situation
As if things weren't going to be hard enough to convince this prospect to sign with the Nationals, the front office has the unfortunate task of dealing with agent Scott Boras. Boras has mentioned that Strasburg will command somewhere in the ballpark of $50M. That is obviously a huge overestimate as the previous highest deal for a Pitcher was $10.5 for Mark Prior back in the day. Ultimately I think this comes down to what Strasburg wants to do. I think that come the end of the signing period he will be looking close to a $15M deal in the face (maybe $20M) but I have a hard time thinking they are going to shell out any more for a guy who has never thrown a major league inning let alone did not even play in one of the best college conferences.
I have heard a rumor that he could test the market out in Japan, sort of what NBA players are doing with Europe. If he could get a crazy Japanese team to put up $30-40 mill for this guy it might be to hard to pass up. The Japanese team would be banking him having a great year and then having MLB teams get into a bidding war as they did with Dice K just to post the rights to attempt to deal with him. Though Strasburg would be at the mercy of signing only with the team that had his rights, it would most likely be a big market team like the Sox or Yankees who can spend that type of money.
Nats front office members better hope they find a way to sign this kid for the mere chance that is adds some buzz around the Potomac, because right now, the only way I am getting dragged to the game is if I have free tickets or a good team is in town.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Stephen Strasburg, you're the next contestant on the price is right...
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True / False - Strasburg is the best pitcher RIGHT NOW in the Nationals organization?
ReplyDeleteIf they sign up, does he pitch a game in the minors? If so, how long before he's brought up?
I'm offended that you left my boy Nick Johnson, probably the Nationals second best hitter, arguably best player, off the list of their nucleus (though there is trade talk surrounding him to about every team in the majors).
Interesting idea on Japan.
Steve Philips doesn't think Washington will get a deal done and feels Strasburg will be back in the draft next year. He also said he doesn't think he's near ready to pitch at the major league level, claiming he throws a lot of balls that college hitters can't lay off of that major league hitters will...of course listening to Steve Philips talk about baseball is the MLB equivalent to NBC forcing us to listen to Matt Millen's thoughts on the NFL.
I did hear an interview from Tony Gwynn. Gwynn is the coach at San Diego St for those of you who don't know...and all the Fredonia St baseball players should be well familiar with that as former Fred St Fall Baseball standout Ben Levine claimed to have been in contacts with Gwynn about transferring to SDSU, apparently having garnered interest after showing an inability to play a number of positions such as catcher, third base and left bench during his campaign at Ludwick Field in the Fall of '04. I could continue, but back to Gwynn on Strasburg - he seemed a little pessimistic about him..most former managers gush about their players ability, but Gwynn said there would be a learning curve for Straburg and that "If you throw 150 MPH and it's down the middle a major league hitter will turn it around, I can assure you of that." Maybe Gwynn just wants him to stick around another year, you couldn't blame him I guess.
Heard an interesting piece on the radio this morning. Basically saying that Major League teams are going to start to have a hands off style with Boras and that the Nats should do what the Dodgers did with Manny. The dodgers put up insane 2 year money and told Boras and Manny take it or leave it but we are not negotiating anything longer than 2 years and 25 mil a year. The dodgers won that battle (unfortuantly for them). I think the Nats can do the same type thing. Offer a record breaking deal in the neighborhood of 20 mil max 22 mil. Then get on the airwaves and publicize it, make it look good for them if the kid turns it down. If the kid turns it down he and Boras will look like idiots for refusing a record breaking ROOKIE deal. I like the japan angle but I dont see it happening in this economy, those Japanese teams hurt more than MLB teams and would be cautious about 30-40 mil.
ReplyDeleteGo to Japan and youll never hear from him again. I think its pathetic that this guy or anyone can get these deals when they havent faced major league talent yet. Im not paying a guy that kind of money to play in the minor leagues, and she sure is hell isnt ready for the majors. How can you justify that deal. Plenty of guys have been signed on potential and a majority of the time it doesnt work. 50 million here is a terrible investment in my eyes. Only teams that do this are the Yanks and Redsox to try and out do each other. Have fun with the Fort Worth Rivercats Strasburg or wherever Aaron Crow was all last summer. You havent heard anything on him since being a top pick last year have you?
ReplyDeleteThe Nat's are pewch. Yea they have alot of young talent, but with no inability to grow any of it, since the difference between their minor league pitchers and their major leaguers is the location in which they play the game. Compare Boston's worst farm hand to Josh Beckett, then compare the Nat's worst farmhand to whomever you deam the ace of the Nat's staff. Is their really a huge difference?
ReplyDeleteClearly development is killing that ball club. Pittsburgh, Kansas City, San Fran, Texas(who is getting much much better with Nolan running his show) their development is pewch. Oakland, Boston, Tampa, LA, all great development programs, all quality teams as of late. New York of course being the extreme example of screw development, we have more money then god.
Say they do end up signing Strasburg. He is the most MLB ready prospect in recent memory. It's clear that appeasing Scott Boras and paying the man is a priority to get this kid on a fast track to the show where he can put asses in seats. Thats really what its all about.
ReplyDelete^good point, from a business perspective alone, the investment (maybe not 50 M, but 30 maybe?) in Strasburg should pay dividends as everyone will want to see the phenom throw.
ReplyDeleteMatt Tone, SUNY Cortland pitcher 13th round to the Minnesota Twins? Wonder what Palisin's thoughts are. Pretty interesting. Anyone else from the local area drafted?
Dusty Odenbach, McQuad pitcher from Uconn drafted to the Royals. Some HS CF from Orchard Park must have slipped out of CP's grasp and went to the O's at 836. From UB Zach Anderson went to the Jays at pick 880... Tomorrow well prolly see some more familiar names if teams decide to use their picks.
ReplyDeleteTone surprised? Did he expect to go that high? Seems real high, I recall many Cortland players being drafted, but not that high? Could be wrong.
ReplyDeleteWhen is carlson's name gettin called? Stats alone should get him a job over some of these flakes.
ReplyDeleteI tried to attend the Big Unit's attempt at 300 last week. I was pretty excited due to the rumors that RJ could be the last 300 game winner. I was also excited because it was a guaranteed lock for his 300th W. However, the effing Nationals still screwed this up by have a 2 hour rain delay followed by postponed game. Suffice it to say, Johnson wins 300 the next day while I am sitting at work.
ReplyDeleteThe Nats are Pewch. They should change their name to the Washington Pewches or Pewch Patrol. Something along those lines.
However, there is a bar next to the stadium now...so at least you can be drunk before you watch the semi-professional game.
Washington Pewches has a nice ring to it...
ReplyDeleteThe bar next to the stadium is huge...they need to keep building that area up...if they get a good amount of stuff around the stadium you can actually convince people to go to a game and then just hang out in the area afterwords...