Strasburg will wear No. 37 when he takes the mound for the Syracuse Chiefs
Washington Nationals pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg knows a thing or two about numbers ” combinations like 1 and 2, 0 and 2, and a contract totaling $15.1 million. And then there ‘s his uniform, 37, a prime number.
The numeral his opponents should keep in mind, however, is five.
That ‘s the number of pitches in Strasburg ‘s arsenal.
Though ballyhooed as a fireballer, the right-hander from San Diego State actually throws a wide array of pitches, from sinkers to sliders.
Strasburg, 21, will likely make his first Triple-A start here with the Syracuse Chiefs, at 7 p.m. Friday, May 7, versus the Gwinnett Braves, at Alliance Bank Stadium. Syracuse ‘s International League team is the Nationals ‘ top farm club. After his first major-league spring training with the Nationals this year, Strasburg began the season with the Double-A Harrisburg Senators. He made five Eastern League starts, going 3-1.
Filthy fastball
While fans focus on his 98 mph fastball (despite the hype, he rarely hits 100), Strasburg insists he ‘ll throw his 80 mph curve “any time in the count. And here ‘s another reason for hitters to quake in their cleats: Strasburg likes the tightly wound baseballs he ‘s now using.
“My changeup ‘s been really good ever since [I ‘ve been] playing with pro balls with these smaller seams, Strasburg told ESPN on April 23. “You know, [my changeup] ‘s just gotten a lot better. And then I ‘ve definitely been throwing my sinker a lot too, you know, that ‘s kind of an easy ground ball out right there.
Considering that Strasburg went 13 “1 last year at San Diego State with a 1.32 ERA, 59 hits allowed, 19 walks and 195 strikeouts in 109 innings pitched, an improved changeup is a scary thought.
Nobody ‘s perfect
While his velocity and variety of pitches are undeniable, Strasburg can certainly benefit from more seasoning. His pitching line Sunday against the Altoona Curve in Harrisburg was downright mediocre: 4 2/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K. For the season, he threw 22 innings, allowed 13 hits and six walks and struck out 27. His ERA rose from 0.52 before Sunday ‘s game to 1.64.
More than just an L on his record, the May 2 game revealed a thin crack in Strasburg ‘s character. He confronts umpires.
After a series of close calls in the second and third innings, the phenom stared down at home plate ump Jon Byrne, who answered by gesturing as if to say, “What ‘s your problem, man?
His simmering anger maybe a welcome sign of competitiveness, but ” at this level and the next ” Strasburg ‘s going to have to learn to keep his temper in check.
Chiefs host Braves, Tides
After its first 24 games, the 2010 Syracuse Chiefs have 14 wins and 10 losses.
The Gwinnett Braves invade ABS at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday May 6-7, at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 8-9. The Norfolk Tides roll in for 7 p.m. games Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, May 10-12. Alliance Bank Stadium is on the city ‘s North Side, just east of the Regional Market, at Tex Simone Drive (First North Street). Single-game tickets cost $11 for field-level seats, $8 for kids and seniors; $8 for second-tier seats, $4 for kids and seniors; and parking costs $4 per vehicle; 474-7833.
