DUGOUT: Strasburg’s strong start not a fluke

In one of the most anticipated debuts in sports history, Stephen Strasburg made an impression that won’t easily be forgotten.

Striking out 14 opposing batters in his first major-league game, Strasburg lit up the radar guns with his blazing fastball and wowed on-lookers with his unhittable slider and curveball. Even when you take into account who Strasburg was facing (the offensively inept Pittsburgh Pirates were hand-picked for Strasburg’s debut), his performance was certainly impressive.

While Strasburg’s start seemed like a once-in-a-generation event, there have been other pitchers with highly anticipated major-league debuts.

On May 22, 2002, Mark Prior threw six innings, giving up two runs while striking out 10 in a performance that might have even made the Twins second-guess their decision to draft Joe Mauer first overall in the 2001 MLB Draft.

Prior had an outstanding handful of seasons in the Cubs’ rotation until his arm (almost) fell off.

Hopefully Strasburg’s career doesn’t end in a similar manner, but there are quite a few similarities between the 21-year old righty and Prior.

Both coming out of California colleges, Strasburg and Prior were touted as strikeout pitchers with enough polish to fly through the minors. Strasburg made 11 minor-league starts before reaching the major leagues. Prior made 17.

What I find most remarkable about Strasburg’s major-league debut, though, is that he actually exceeded the hype that he was receiving.

Not only did Strasburg sell out Nationals Park on a Tuesday, a feat that some considered impossible, he turned in one of the most impressive pitching performances of the year.

Strasburg didn’t walk an opposing batter in his first start, which was perhaps even more impressive than his 14 strikeouts. A few butterflies are allowed in the stomach of any young pitcher, especially one making his major-league debut.

Instead of struggling to find the strike zone, though, Strasburg mowed through Pittsburgh’s lineup while averaging just 13 pitches per inning.

The week prior to Strasburg’s debut was filled with enormous expectations and enough hype to make me embarrassed for Washington. I knew Strasburg was a good pitching prospect -- maybe even one of the best -- but there was no way he could fill the gigantic shoes the baseball world had given him, was there?

As it turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Strasburg took the mound with enough poise to make any 15-year veteran jealous.

For a few hours last Tuesday, Strasburg was the best pitcher in baseball.

The young pitching phenom from San Diego State followed up his incredible debut with another strong outing against the Cleveland Indians last Sunday.

Although Strasburg wasn’t as efficient with his pitches, he reached the sixth inning after having given up just one run on two hits. He struck out eight, though his walk total ballooned to five.

Through his first two starts, Strasburg is 2-0 and is averaging 16.1 strikeouts per nine innings, which is simply incredible.

Maintaining that strikeout clip would be a Herculean task, though to expect an average north of 10 per nine innings wouldn’t be unrealistic. Strasburg’s appeal to fantasy baseball players can’t get any higher.

The Nationals have been very cautious with Strasburg’s pitch count so far this year, though who could blame them? To Washington, Strasburg’s right arm could literally be made of gold. Overworking Strasburg would make many heads roll, and another Prior-esque situation is the last thing the Nationals need.

Pitching a baseball is one of the most violent actions in all of sports, and injuries will occur even to the most skilled of hurlers.

Washington has a clear limit on how long they will allow Strasburg to pitch, at least this first season: six innings, or 95 pitches. Whichever comes first.

That limit is arbitrary, and I haven’t seen any evidence that suggests that 10-15 pitches over a limit is especially harmful to the pitcher, but I can certainly appreciate Washington’s desire to err on the side of caution.

As much as I would have liked to see Strasburg whiff at least 18 batters over nine innings, it’s not going to happen this year.

Strasburg’s strong start has given credence to what some have been saying for months now: Strasburg doesn’t just have the potential to be an outstanding pitcher. He could be one of the best pitchers in baseball right now.

Not many pitchers in the National League have an arsenal as impressive as Strasburg’s. His 100-mph fastball, deadly slider, and knee-buckling curve are each capable of striking out anyone.

When dealing with young pitchers, terms like “has the potential” and “needs some polishing” are thrown about quite often. In the case of Stephen James Strasburg, though, no more refinement is necessary.

If you’ll allow me this one clich�©, the future is now for the Washington Nationals.

The Nationals have found a player to grow their franchise around. With a little more talent and the right allocation of resources, there is every reason to believe Washington has a bright future.

Baseball fans in the nation’s capital could be in for an exciting ride.

Andrew� Kneeland� is a junior at the Arizona Virtual Academy. He is an intern at the Green� Valley� News.