LITTLE ROCK — Even though it isn’t likely to happen often in the near future, let the record show that the Washington Nationals astonishingly bailed out their phenomenal rookie pitcher last week, rather than vice versa.
When Stephen Strasburg was promoted to the majors June 8, the assumption was he could anchor the Nationals’ pitching rotation as a sure-fire “stopper.”
Eventually, probably yes. At the present time, not exactly.
The No. 1 pick of baseball’s 2009 draft throws fastballs clocked at 98 to 101 mph; change-ups in the 90 mph range and vicious curves in the 80s. He struck out 14 batters and walked none in seven innings while winning his big-league debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
After his first three Washington starts, he was 2-0 plus a no-decision, and various print and electronic commentators were trying to lobby him into the major league All-Star Game after only 19 1 /3 innings.
Of course, those were 19 1 /3 fairly decent innings: 32 strikeouts, 5 walks, 4 runs, a 1.86 ERA.
The Nationals neglected to score a run for him in his first loss, 1-0 against the Kansas CityRoyals on June 23, when he struck out nine and walked none in six innings.
Last week, he faced the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets, No. 1 and No. 2 in the National League East Division. By the weekend, the 13 National League All-Star pitchers had been picked by players and managers.
Strasburg? Cooler heads had prevailed.
“He got quite a bit of consideration,” said Philadelphia Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel, also manager of the NL All-Stars. “He is going to be an All-Star for a long time. ... I just felt, leave him alone and let him get used to the major league level.”
The Braves usually draw 20,000 to 30,000 at home, but 42,889 fans showed up June 28 for a look at the Nationals’ phenom.
Strasburg’s previous sharpness was missing against the Braves that evening. He didn’t seem to have command of anything except his remarkable change-up, which earned him most of his seven strikeouts.
He reached the seventh inning 0-0 against Atlanta’s Tim Hudson, but he put two runners on base before shortstop Ian Desmond booted an ideal double-play grounder. Strasburg eventually was charged with four runs, three earned, in a 5-0 loss.
(Oh, we apologize for an oversight. We neglected to tell you that the Nationals often suffer from a low-scoring offense and an exceedingly shaky infield defense.)
Seconds after Desmond’s bobble, a TV camera zoomed in on Washington Manager Jim Riggleman in the dugout. The former Arkansas Travelers player and manager looked haunted, but not shocked.
Starting as bench coach and winding up as interim manager for the 2008 Seattle Mariners and the 2009 Nationals, Riggleman served teams that suffered through 61-101 and 59-103 seasons. The Nationals won their final seven games last year, which may or may nothave been a key factor in retaining Riggleman.
The current Washington club, only 1 1 /2 games out of first in the NL East with a 20-15 record May 14, has traveled at a 16-32 rate since then. They start this week last in their division, 12 1 /2 games out with a 36-47 record.
At home against the Mets on Saturday, Strasburg walked three batters in the first inning, setting up the only two runs he allowed. On a pitch count allotment in the 90s, he left with five strikeouts in five innings.
The Nationals tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth, taking Strasburg off the hook, but the Mets got to the ninth with a 5-3 lead. The Nationals startled and delighted a crowd of 39,714 with a 6-5 comeback victory.
They victimized star closer Francisco Rodriguez with a two run double by Adam Dunn and a conclusive RBI hit by Ivan Rodriguez.
In his four starts at home, Strasburg is averaging close to the Nationals’ 41,000 stadium capacity. This is the most excitement the Nationals franchise has generated since it bailed out of Montreal.
Sports, Pages 14 on 07/06/2010