The Washington Nationals have two chances to get it right in Tuesday’s Major League Baseball draft.
The first overall pick is a no-brainer even if it costs a king’s ransom. And that’s what it should be called because San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg could cost the Nats $50 million. Beer just went up a buck at Nationals Park.
The second selection at No. 10 is trickier, but it should be a college pitcher ready to join the staff in 2010. Maybe North Carolina right-hander Alex White or Missouri righty Alex Gibson, if either slide to them.
No matter what, the Nats need two pitchers out of the top 10 selections. The 50th overall pick can go for the best positional player. Washington needs Strasburg in the majors by season’s end if just for show and the second hurler no later than 2011.
Washington must draft smart to encourage fans that are greatly wavering. Taking someone who should go late in the first round with the 10th pick will smack of being cheap. Fans are already frustrated by the owners sometimes looking like paupers. It stinks that Strasburg will be overpaid and take money from the 10th pick, but the Nats need to do it and hope it’s a solid long-term investment.
The empty seats dominating Nationals Park in just its second season scream to the team that baseball is not an automatic sell in town. The sport can’t leave for a generation and expect to be heavily supported by younger fans who didn’t grow up with the game.
It’s going to take longer than expected to develop loyalty, and a crummy team isn’t helping. The Nats could lose 100 games again this season when a .500 year was expected. It’s one thing to have everyone hurt to justify last place, but the Nats simply can’t play defense or pitch consistently. There’s no blaming departed general manager Jim Bowden anymore for the team’s ills. This front office needs to fix it now with the draft.
Strasburg and his sidekick will bring hope, which is all the Nats are playing for nowadays. Hope the team’s five-year plan will blossom by year six or seven. Otherwise, Washingtonians will move on.
Strasburg is exciting. Someone who fills seats for at least a season or two before either developing into an ace or bust. The Nats needs a win Tuesday or they lose remaining credibility and fans.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
