Stephen Strasburg‘s final minor league start did nothing to dim the hype. (By the way, SeatGeek.com says the average ticket price for his June 8 start is $105.87, more than double the typical game).
However, it also showed some holes that major league hitters could expose. Well, maybe not those in Pittsburgh or Cleveland (his first two starts) but, you know, other real major league hitters.
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Strasburg dominated Buffalo, holding it to no runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out five, and four were on called strikes. The kid has guts: The first three times on a 3-2 count, he struck out hitters on two curves and a change-up.
But look inside the numbers, and if he pitches in the majors as he did Thursday, he’ll have a much more difficult time. Of the 37 times batters swung the bat Thursday, only four times did they swing and miss. Even the pitcher, in two at-bats, swung four times and fouled it off each time. But they were caught looking at his breaking pitches; will major league hitters simply foul those off and force him to throw many more pitches than desired?
Though Strasburg only walked 13 batters in 11 starts, he did go to seven full-count situations Thursday. Too often he was working from behind. In the minors, his talent is good enough to overcome any situation. What will happen in the majors?
But the impressive thing about Strasburg, which he showed again Thursday, is that he doesn’t need to strike out batters to be effective.
And now, on to the show. Finally.
