Strasburg

Well I'm talking about Strasburg for 2 reasons. The first is that I have nothing else to write about, but I want to write. The other reason, is that I'm a little confused on the plan on how they were going to play and not play him as much as the same pitching coach did with Kerry Wood (which basically killed his career).
When Strasburg has his first start the things that really needed to be talked about were covered by the pure hype of how good this kid was supposed to be. So nobody asked if they were going to keep him with low pitch counts and if they were going to not have him on a regular rotation. They were just happy to have him pitching this season and as soon as he started pitching.
Now he is on the DL for the second time. Different injuries, but this isn't looking good. If you are a Nationals fan, or just love the game and like the talent that Strasburg has, that is not a good thing. The thing that confuses me is the fact that they were trying to monitor him so that he didn't end up getting injured. So obviously they are not doing their job very well if this is is second trip to the DL. I really feel bad for this pitching coach, though, because if Strasburg does end up failing because he overworked his arm, this guy will be blamed for ruining 2 pitches who had great talent and who could have become really great pitchers.
In the end, I think that pitchers usually end up being better if they are unknown. That way the hype and the overworking and possibly some phantom pain ends up hurting and then you develop a real injury. So this guy who has had all the hype in the world and was the number one pick might have more people getting on his back if he keeps getting hurt.

HE is back in action.

Everybody knows it by now, but I thought I would blog about it because there is nothing else to talk about. Strasburg is going to make his first start since late july and I can't wait. Part of me wants to see him do really well, but the other part wants to see him get a little sore and stay out. They should have him on a special rotation, which is not every 5 games but every 7. It might screw up their rotation, but they aren't going to win anything anyway and that way they are still playing him, but he isn't being over-worked to where he would hurt that shoulder again. Its a very smart plan, which is why I think they probably won't do it. I will be watching baseball tonight or something, though to see how he does. I do want him to succeed I just don't want him to blow his shoulder or elbow out in his first 3 seasons. I want to see Stephen Strasburg play until he is as old as Brett Favre. This kid has the potential to become AMAZING. But, if they overwork him, even though they think they aren't he will end up like Kerry Wood. The same pitching coach ruining both of them, he would become an outcast in baseball. As long as they slowly progress him into a normal pitching schedule he will be fine, they shouldn't rush him just because they want to make more money. The money will come when they see him possibly pitching complete games and every 5 days without him getting injured. The time for the Nationals is coming, its just not here yet, so they shouldn't try to rush it. It will come. I think he will get a no decision, but the Natinoals will lose and he will have 7 strikeouts. I will probably be wrong.

Strasburg out.

Almost everyone that pays any attention to sports or baseball knows that Stephen Strasburg is out for 15 days on the DL. He has an inflamed shoulder. That is not the big news. He is only going to be out for about three starts. Or is he? People are speculating whether or not they should just sit him for the rest of the year. They were already worried about innings and him getting injured. I understand that if he is injured now putting him back in too early could just ruin the rest of his career. But, the Nationals are desperate. Their ratings were up, when Strasburg pitched at home they sold tickets. Everybody wanted to see him. Their organization was on the rise finally, then you take away the reason and you are the same low team you were before. Ya, it may be wrong that people only go to Nationals games because he is pitching, but wouldn't you. They are doing whatever that can to bring people in. Strasburg is the savior of this team. If you don't let him pitch at all the rest of the year you are going to have a lot of mad people because they were going to go to Washington and see a Nationals game because they are on the rise and now Strasburg is out. They are the bottom again. I'm not saying that in 15 days to the date he should start. I'm saying maybe the last 2 weeks you give him a couple starts to make sure the shoulder is still okay. Just don't take him out for the rest of the season.

All-Star Game (cont.)

This is a longer version of the blog before about the All-Star game. (I may repeat some things but its been like 3 days. so i think you'll get over it)
10 thoughts and/or problems with the all-star game.

1. The way that they incorporate fans in the vote makes it so that tons of Yankees and Red Sox players are in and some deserving players are not. Players on teams like the White Sox, Royals, Mariners, Orioles. Just because their team may not be the most popular or the best team, doesn't mean that they are bad players. So many people are fans of the Yankees or the Red Sox that all the players from those teams always get voted in. If we have the fans vote, which I like because I can vote then the all-star game shouldn't have such big implications as home field advantage in the World Series. They should do the World Series like all other sports and have the best team getting the home field advantage. The all-star game will still be important and publicized, but the fans won't be voting blindly to have home field advantage.

2. I love the idea of the final vote. Sometimes there is a player that maybe was voted for a lot that deserved to get in, but they didn't. So, you give the fans another chance to get them in. Now in the American League there is always a yankee and a Red Sox player, but the other players have just as much of a chance. I think that even if you do take the fan vote away that they should keep the final vote in for fans. That way they don't feel completely left out in the all-star game.

3. Joe Girardi is kind of getting some crap from people for picking A-rod as his one pick over Kevin Youkalis. But, what do you think would have happened to Girardi if he had picked a Red Sox player over A-rod? Plus, A-rod had a good second half, and other than winning a championship there wasn't much reward to that. This is his reward for having a great post-season for the first time in his career. I think that Joe Girardi understood that and that is why he picked him. He probably also picked him because he didn't want to be mobbed by fans in New York.

4. Stephen Strasburg does NOT belong in this years all star game. I think that maybe next year if he plays well enough to get in he will deserve to get in. This year he just doesn't deserve to be in after only pitching six games. If he had started at the beginning of the year and kept the same pace, I think he would have been in the game, but he is new. He has only pitched SIX TIMES. Ubaldo Jimenez has more than twice as many wins as Strasburg has just starts. The point that some people try to make is that people will watch if Strasburg plays. People are going to watch anyway! They want to see the best players in the league whether or not Strasburg is there makes no difference. Yes, he is an amazing pitcher and probably exciting to watch. But, so is Jimenez. Just because Strasburg had tons of hype around him just suddenly makes him more exciting and a better pitcher. I admit that he has lived up to the hype, but that doesn't mean that he is better than Jimenez. So final answer he does not belong in the all-star game. this year. Next year is a different story.

5. Joey Votto. Yes, he is good. Yes, he got snubbed. That doesn't mean that everybody should freak out. At least he is on the final vote ballet. There is a guy that I can name that didn't make it to the all-star game and he isn't even on the final vote ballet. That is Alex Rios (more about him later). So everyone that freaked out when he didn't make it, just relax. He got so many final votes that he made it anyway. I personally did not vote for him. Not because I don't think that he is a great player. I didn't vote for him, because I picked someone who I thought deserved it.

6. This may not have that much to do with the all-star game, but the guy I'm talking about is in it. Miguel Cabrera. Yes, he is leading the AL in all three triple crown categories, but there is a reason that nobody has won the triple crown since 1967. (Jake Peavy won the pitching triple crown in 2007). Right now he is one of the best hitters, but it is hard to keep up that pace the whole year. If Albert Pujols one of the greatest hitters in this era couldn't do it, then I don't think that Miguel Cabrera will do it. He will probably get some kind of award, but I don't think that the triple crown is going to happen. If it does well then I'm an idiot, but we already knew that anyway.

7. Pauliewood. By now you cannot vote the final vote anymore, but I want to thank anyway that read my previous blog or saw my tweets and voted for Konerko. It means a lot to me. He is my favorite player and I really wanted him to get in. He deserved to get in. He carries the team and led them through a time when they were 10 games back to now they are only half a game back. Paulie is my favorite player of all-time maybe. I have a signed helmet, a bobble head, signed picture, a picture of his grand slam in the 2005 world series and a Jersey of his. Him getting into this all-star game would be just amazing to see that the white sox fans can really push their guy in if they have to. go paulie! and go white sox!!

8. The National League seems to have less controversy than the American League. They don't really have that many teams that are the "popular teams" that get all the votes and then people who's guys don't get the vote are upset. This year, though the whole Votto situation seems to be a little troubling for a usually calm National League all-star team.

9. Alex Rios snubbed! This was the biggest snub I have seen with the all-star game. Not only was he not on the original team, even though he deserved it, he also was not put on the final vote ballet. Instead, Matt Thornton, and Paul Konerko both either are on the team or have their chance. Alex Rios has been the best hitter on our team almost the whole year. He is probably going to win the comeback player of the year award. Yet, he didn't get a chance to play in the all-star game like he should have a chance. It makes me even more mad because he is on the White Sox. That would be like if I were a reds fan and Joey Votto didn't even get on the final vote ballet. It seems just ridiculous.

10. I don't really know what to say. I didn't really plan out each point. I just kind of aimed for 10 and made it, so ya. But I guess all that needs to be said now is that I'm going to watch the game, even though Stephen Strasburg isn't pitching. Number 10 is full of nothing. Yet, couldn't end on 9 because that is such a weird number with no significance. Ten is always a normal benchmark number. So, now I'm rambling just to make number 10 look like I'm talking about something important. By now you are probably bored because this is long. So you don't care anyway. So WATCH THE GAME!!

All Star Game

I have a few things to say about the selections in this year's all star game. First, lots of Yankees and Red Sox in the lineup like usual. Second, people are making a big deal that Stephen Strasburg should be in the All Star game. That idea is stupid, he has only pitched 6 games. There are guys out there who have won more than double that amount of games. I also think there were a few snubs in the AL, but I don't have time to write about that now so I will just say in the final vote, please vote for Paul Konerko he is deserving. One of his teammates not in the all star game is also deserving but won't get in. Do something good and VOTE FOR KONERKO!!

Ubaldo Jimenez.

This kid is amazing. Right now he has an ERA of 1.15. He also has a league leading 13 wins. He could become the first pitcher since Denny McLain in 1968 when he had a record of 31-6. Right now Jimenez has a record of 13-0. When Denny McLain did it he didn't have an amazing ERA, though. Jimenez is a very gifted pitcher. He has not been publicized a lot because he plays for Colorado where there aren't any good pitchers because of the elevation, but that's what makes this kid more special. Most pitchers that pitch in Colorado have terrible ERAs, but this guy has the best in the league and possibly could have the best ever at the end of the year if he keeps the pace up. This means that if he ever gets traded to some American League team in the midwest or east he could be an ultra awesome pitcher. Right now if he continues his pace he will get 30 wins or more. If you haven't even heard of him there is a reason. He plays in Colorado, there are so many other good pitchers getting no-hitters and perfect games. He did get a no-hitter earlier this year. Also, a young pitcher named Stephen Strasburg has stolen all the thunder for young pitchers. Just like we haven't heard very much about Lincecum anymore. Its old news now. Everything is about this new phenom Strasburg. To me, the best young pitcher in the league and maybe even the best pitcher in the league right now overall is Ubaldo Jimenez.