Okay, we get it already. Stephen Strasburg is more unstoppable than a gushing oil leak.
He’s the biggest sensation since Beanie Babies.
We might as well waive the mandatory five-years-removed-from-baseball clause for Hall of Fame induction and put the overpowering 6’4” righty in now.
Hell, let’s start building a new wing on the place dedicated to Strasburg and Strasmas and all other things Stras-related.
I’ve got news for you: slow your roll people.
Now, don’t get me wrong, last night was incredible, and the stats speak to just how much.
His 14 strikeouts were the second-most all-time in a debut—trailing only flamethrower J.R. Richard (1971) and Karl Spooner (1954), who both had 15—and he became the first rookie to begin his career with more than 11 K’s without a walk.
Strasburg threw 94 total pitches (65 strikes against just 29 balls), surrendered just three hits, and struck out each Pirate batter at least once.
All of which is even more impressive when you consider Strasburg’s start was more highly anticipated than the iPad.
The No. 1 overall pick from last summer was the recipient of the biggest signing bonus in MLB history (over $15 million), and he cruised through the minors like Danny Almonte against a bunch of 12-year-olds, posting a 7-2 record with a 1.30 ERA and 65 strikeouts in his 11 Double-A and Triple-A starts.
However, one start does not make a career—especially when that start was against the Pirates.
In order for Strasburg to sustain a similar level of dominance for a long time to come, there are certain aspects to his game he must improve or develop.
Here are five of them.