The biggest day in the history of Washington baseball, since 2005 at least, was witnessed by about 200 people and members of the media.
On the stage in shallow left field was No. 1 overall pick Stephen Strasburg. The pitcher on whom many fans pin the future of the Nationals ball club, though newly named GM Mike Rizzo says he’s not the savior of the franchise.
One reporter even went as far as to ask the young hurler what is was like to be the “face of the franchise.” That tag has been downplayed by most members of the management as unfair to bestow upon a player.
From my standpoint, until Strasburg proves his worth, Ryan Zimmerman will carry that mantle — and I’m not sure that Strasburg will easily replace him in that regard.
But I digress.
Strasburg appears to be a level-headed kid, not taking his position in life for granted. He gives the impression that he’s a well-rounded and grounded 21-year-old.
And for those who think they’ll be a fast track to the majors — not so fast my friend. Every time a reporter asked him a question about his timetable for reaching the bigs, he always deferred to the Nationals.
“That is definitely, completely, up to the organization,” Strasburg said. “I’m just coming in here, hoping to be doing what I’ve been doing at San Diego State and that’s helping my team win a ball game.”
Strasburg’s reactions to everything was almost too small-town to be true — especially coming from someone from the West Coast. While he’s watched games at several major-league parks, he’s only seen two intimately — PETCO Park (home of the Padres) and Nationals Park.
Despite the smaller crowds at Nationals Park this season (23,211/game), it’d probably be a big deal for Strasburg, in his eyes, to pitch even on an average night.
“It’s amazing,” Strasburg said of the crowd at the press conference, “… this is probably the amount of fans we get at one of our friday night games [at San Diego State].”
If he’s amazed by that, he has really seen nothing yet.
And nothing is what we’re likely to see out of Strasburg for at least a year or so.
Which is good.
He’s not ready to make the leap yet — and he knows it.
As Tom Petty song goes, “The waiting is the hardest part,” and, indeed, it will be.
But the reward has a good chance of being very sweet.
