You have to hand it to the Nationals...

[Auggie]

Pitching phenom Stephan Strasberg debuts against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with a team batting average of about .236, the lowest in baseball, and strikes out 14.

Strasberg's second start will be against the (drumroll please...)


:o

CLEVELAND BASEBALL CLUB, with a team batting average of about .244, among the lowest in the A.L.

Talk about a way to introduce a rookie into the league and build his confidence...

Great timing. Brilliant.

----------

In a related story, Strasberg's start will help attendance-challenged Cleveland. From ESPN:

Strasburg's next start helps Indians

"With rookie sensation Stephen Strasburg set to make his second major league start in Cleveland, the Indians, ranked last overall in attendance, have experienced a surge in ticket sales for Sunday's game against the 21-year-old, who struck out 14 in his dazzling debut.

His appearance is giving a needed attendance bump to the Indians, who are in last place in the AL Central and only averaging 15,527 fans at home game. An Indians spokesman said the club had sold 4,000 tickets since last week, when it appeared Strasburg would face Cleveland in his second game. The Indians have sold another 1,000 tickets in the past 24 hours.

Strasburg's stop in Cleveland is expected to draw the Indians' second-largest crowd this season, along with 91-year-old Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller, whose entrance into the majors as a 17-year-old in 1936 created a similar national stir.

The Indians, who once had 455 consecutive home sellouts, were only sold out on Opening Day this season. Their second-biggest crowd was 25,531 in the 43,000-seat ballpark.

LINK: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5267868

[madinmaryland]

1. Hmmm...

:tinfoilhat:

:D

[TZ]

2. Zero walks, 14 strike outs

if he pitches like he did last night even the Yankees won't hit him. His control is fabulous. How many people can hit a 90 mph change up? That curveball of his might be unhittable.

[Auggie]

3. Yeah, but these teams make it a tad bit easier...

[JonLP24]

4. The sports media said

it took Nolan Ryan 160+ games to get 14 K's and no walks in a single game. :)

[Kingofalldems]

5. Okay so your team's best pitcher shouldn't be allowed

to pitch against crummy teams by your logic. Strasburg was brought up along with about four other rookies league wide because a certain contract related date has passed. The fact they are playing these two teams is purely coincidental.

[Auggie]

6. ?

Logic? It's an observation. Jesus, chill out. And best pitcher? He's a rookie. It was his first start. A great one, but his first start.

People are so touchy around here...

[Kingofalldems]

8. I am chilled. I just answered your post.

Did you not want an answer? BTW, I want to see what Kearns does against Strasburg. :hi:

[flvegan]

7. Very impressive young man.

Great first outing. Can't really blame them for sending him out against a couple minor league teams. I think a debut against the Phillies or St. Louis (Steve, enjoy pitching to Mr. Pujols) would have been a rough induction.