OT: Lets Go Bucs

[GagneFire12]

Pretty sweet debut by Strasburg. Hard to believe that the M's were last overall with 3 games to play 2 years ago and swept Oakland to let the Nationals have him. The Mariners can't even lose right...

Was that really necessary?

 

[Destroydacre]

Was that really necessary?

You should be happy. Kept Strasburg out of the division.

 

[elocomotive]

I'm not much of a baseball fan these days, but that was a really enjoyable game. I hate when guys get tons of hype, but Strasburg looks like he has ALL the stuff. That was an incredible game. Here's a good stat from an article on the game...

"Only five other pitchers since 1900 have had a 14-strikeout, zero-walk game in ANY game, at any point in their careers, in which they went seven innings or less. Those five: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Javier Vazquez, Mike Mussina and Brad Penny. We're guessing you've heard of them."

Rare a rookie phenom debut lives up to expectation, but I think Strasburg more than exceeded it. Good for the Nats.

 

[naslundfan19]

I'm not much of a baseball fan these days, but that was a really enjoyable game. I hate when guys get tons of hype, but Strasburg looks like he has ALL the stuff. That was an incredible game. Here's a good stat from an article on the game...

"Only five other pitchers since 1900 have had a 14-strikeout, zero-walk game in ANY game, at any point in their careers, in which they went seven innings or less. Those five: Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Javier Vazquez, Mike Mussina and Brad Penny. We're guessing you've heard of them."

Rare a rookie phenom debut lives up to expectation, but I think Strasburg more than exceeded it. Good for the Nats.

Elo, I think that's what impressed me the most in his debut tonight. His command was outstanding tonight.

 

[elocomotive]

Elo, I think that's what impressed me the most in his debut tonight. His command was outstanding tonight.

Yeah, and the variety of pitches he already has at his age. Definitely the real deal.

The only thing that confused me is that his change up is about 90mph. Isn't the point of a change up to be drastically different in timing so the batter is off balance. I would think he'd want to be in the low 80s there. Is there a reason a faster change up would be an advantage?

 

[Destroydacre]

Yeah, and the variety of pitches he already has at his age. Definitely the real deal.

The only thing that confused me is that his change up is about 90mph. Isn't the point of a change up to be drastically different in timing so the batter is off balance. I would think he'd want to be in the low 80s there. Is there a reason a faster change up would be an advantage?

No there really isn't unless his fastball is 100 which I'm assuming it's not (I honestly don't know for sure). I suppose it's possible that the announcers could have been calling his slider a change. But I don't know for sure. If he really is throwing his change at 90, I'd imagine as he gets older he'll be able to take some speed off of it.

 

[naslundfan19]

Yeah, and the variety of pitches he already has at his age. Definitely the real deal.

The only thing that confused me is that his change up is about 90mph. Isn't the point of a change up to be drastically different in timing so the batter is off balance. I would think he'd want to be in the low 80s there. Is there a reason a faster change up would be an advantage?

Not sure about that. I know Jamie Moyer's fastball and changeup are only 5-6 mph apart, and his fastball only gets to 82-84 mph. But that's just an example of another guy whose fastball and changeup aren't all that different in regard to velocity. I never played baseball, so I don't know the advantages and disadvantages of it.

 

[naslundfan19]

No there really isn't unless his fastball is 100 which I'm assuming it's not (I honestly don't know for sure). I suppose it's possible that the announcers could have been calling his slider a change. But I don't know for sure. If he really is throwing his change at 90, I'd imagine as he gets older he'll be able to take some speed off of it.

John, I think he hit 101 a couple times tonight, according to the Nats' announcers.

 

[elocomotive]

John, I think he hit 101 a couple times tonight, according to the Nats' announcers.

They flashed 103 on the TV at one point, but I think that is the poor speed gun they use. According to Jayson Stark, he had 34 pitches at 98mph or higher including two at 100 mph. His last pitch of the night was a 99mph fastball.

 

[Gooch1034]

yea he hit 100+ a few times. I sure as hell hope this kid can stay healthy because he will be fun to watch for years to come.

 

[Destroydacre]

They flashed 103 on the TV at one point, but I think that is the poor speed gun they use. According to Jayson Stark, he had 34 pitches at 98mph or higher including two at 100 mph. His last pitch of the night was a 99mph fastball.

Ok well that makes a little more sense then. Most baseball people will tell you that you want about a 10 mph difference between your fastball and your off speed pitches, so 90 for a change up would be about right.

 

[Gooch1034]

Ok well that makes a little more sense then. Most baseball people will tell you that you want about a 10 mph difference between your fastball and your off speed pitches, so 90 for a change up would be about right.

Good to know. i was thinking a changeup should be 15-20 mph slower but I will take your word for it.

 

[pixburgher66]

he was ridiculous. now i'm just thrilled that the buccos called up Lincoln AND Tabata for today's game. it's gonna be awesome!

 

[evolver115]

he was ridiculous. now i'm just thrilled that the buccos called up Lincoln AND Tabata for today's game. it's gonna be awesome!

Yea, hopefully Lincoln can repay the favor.

 

[pixburgher66]

Yea, hopefully Lincoln can repay the favor.

i just want him to have a solid outing, ya know? he's not strasburg...his stuff is not that nasty, but he has some good stats. i just wanna know that he could be good at the front of the rotation. if he can solidify himself there, he'll get some help in a few years with the solid core of pitchers they've assembled in the minors...there's some very good possibilities down there.

 

[pixburgher66]

Pedro Alvarez, the future and number 1 prospect of the pirates, has gone 3-3 today (against a LEFTY) with a 2 run homer, a triple, and a double. and it's the top of the 6th...the game is on MLBN and i've never been more excited waiting for a player to be called up.

 

[pixburgher66]

what the heck MLBN...they said that the best homer of all time was the shot heard round the world...THAT WAS THE PENNANT! how the heck is maz's world series winning, bottom of the ninth, game 7 shot not better?

 

[HonusWagner66]

Strasburg was nasty last night.