Strasburg’s First Start as Good as Advertised

Well, here it was, the event that everyone in DC (and some Baltimore fans) had waited for since that faithful night in April at the Verizon Center, Strasburg’s debut as a Washington National. After falling behind 2-0 in the count to lead off man Andrew McCutchen, Strasburg threw a 95 mph fastball that was hit right to the glove of SS Ian Desmond, then to end the inning, struck out former National Lastings Milledge. As if the first sellout crowd since the first game at Nationals Park didn’t have enough to cheer about, Ryan Zimmerman then hit a solo shot to right center coming through once again in a big moment at Nats Park. For those of you that don’t remember, it was Ryan Zimmerman who hit the walk off HR in the first game at Nats Park. Strasburg continued to use what we had seen in the minors this spring, his overpowering fastballs and changeups to this nasty breaking balls that seemed to only have drops thought possible in MLB the Show. Not only were his pitches as good as advertised, but so was his composure. Pitching in front of a sellout crowd did not faze Strasburg nor did anything else faze him as he was down 3-0 in the count and came back to strikeout the batter. Then, after giving up a 2 run homer to Delwyn Young in the top of the 4th, Strasburg proceeded to retire the next 10 batters. But that was not enough as he struck out the side in the 2nd, 6th and 7th innings.
Those events created an atmosphere in the park that could only rival the atmosphere of a Capitals game at Verizon. I even heard some of the same chants that are used at Verizon being used at Nats Park tonight, of course replacing Caps with Nats. Anyway, every time Strasburg got to 2 strikes in the count, the crowd would hold their breath as if Ovechkin was flying across the neutral zone on a breakaway in anticipation of something special about to happen. And that something special did happen, as Strasburg struck out 14 batters on the night setting a franchise record for most K’s in a game. Nine more K’s than what the Vegas odds makers predicted at 5 K’s. Obviously, like any other young player, don’t be surprised if Strasburg has a few bad games this summer; remember there was no major league scouting report on him now there is. Batters know what pitches Strasburg will throw and after a few starts, batters will pick up on his tendencies. Strasburg will then have to adjust to how batters approach him; if Strasburg is able to do that he will then have the great career that everyone is expecting him to have.
For the first time in a long time, the crowd at a DC baseball game had something positive to cheer about and for the first time in a long time, there is hope for a DC baseball team. This team is slowly but surely becoming a contender right now; 2 out of 3 keystones are in place with Zimmerman and Strasburg, the 3rd was just drafted yesterday in Bryce Harper. In the first 4 years as the GM of the Atlanta Braves, Stan Kasten has a winning percentage of around .400 after that the Braves reeled off 14 straight division crowns and one World Series championship. Kasten, so far in his 4th year as the Nationals GM, is also on pace for a .400 winning percentage. Sounds like a good sign, the stars are starting to align in Natstown. In a few more years, DC will have 2, possibly, 3, championship contenders every year with the Caps and Nats as the first 2 and possibly the Wizards with Ted Leonsis becoming owner of that team.
This night just maybe the top night in DC baseball history behind the first game back at RFK and the first game played at Nats Park, unless Strasburg throws a no hitter or perfect game which has a good chance of happening. Not only will this go down as one of DC’s top baseball moments, but as one of the top moments in DC sports history.