Anyone else think the Strasberg hype is a tad ridiculous?
by Hobbes2d on Jun 5, 2009 2:48 PM PDT
Email
Print
OMGZ! BEST! PITCHING! PROSPECT! EVAR!!!
He throws 102 MPH!!!! His curve is filthier than Lincecum! He would be a team's #1 starter right nowz!
I mean I don't have a strong feeling about Strasberg one way or the other, but the hype is starting to get really nuts. Granted the numbers are impressive and his stuff and all that. But the hyperbole being used to describe him is really disconcerting and almost makes you WANT him to fail so that they can just shut up about the guy, which is sad really that that happens.
Does anyone out there feel he isn't worth the hype and might end up being a colassal bust? Either with some kind of proof or gut feeling? I mean we all saw what happened to Mark Prior. And when you're talking about pitchers NOTHING is ever certain. They can pull a Steve Blass, or they can pull a Zito, or they can get hurt all the time. Or even go the Jeff Allison route and become a hardcore drug user. I'm sure Scott Boras will trick the Nats into paying him 50 mill though, they seem pretty desperate.
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
58 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Yeah
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
I am looking forward to him pitching, hopefully by the end of the year though
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
That would be exciting but it doesn’t sound likely that he would go right into their rotation, just because his negotiations will probably go to the deadline, and then he will have not pitched in awhile. Maybe he could make an appearance like Detwiler did a few years ago, but I think Detwiler signed pretty quickly iirc.
Yeah the cover of Sports Illustrated jinx will hit him soon!
Proud leader of the Lunatic Fringe breaking off from the Lunatic Fringe of McCovey Chronicles
From all the tail he’s probably getting on-campus at State, the SI jinx may be the least of his worries come some uncomfortable feeling or phone call.
Since the football team uses the “Aztec Angels” to secure recruits, I guess that makes Strasburg God…or Dog to a dyslexic.
It's always Noonan somewhere.
On one hand no, because he is ridiculously good. I don’t doubt that he’d be major league ready very soon.
On the other hand yes, because his stats are inflated to me as he played in a weak conference. I’ve read some stuff saying his mechanics are setting him up for catastrophic injury. And the price tag/Boras circus shit is beyond stupid.
When he fails, and he will inevitably fail because everyone does in this game, then what? Will the same people who were creaming their jeans today be slinging arrows and stones at him? Probably.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jun 5, 2009 2:57 PM PDT reply actions
To be honest in the past I have been really annoyed by Giants fans creaming their pants over Lincecum while hating on Cain, but that seems to have changed because Cain has figured out how to WIN! lawl. It’s like umm they’re on the same team dummies.
I don’t get that either. Come the fuck on, people. Cain and Lincecum is like having pie and cake; both are awesome and you’d damn well better be happy to have them.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jun 5, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions
BUT WE HAVE TO KNOW WHICH ONE WE LIKE MORE
Just like a mother has to choose which of her children she loves the most!
GROUGTHINK ALERT
Chatterbalks dot com: Still with jokes. Now with updates.
That's what Mrs. Traynor would say!
FIRE BRIAN SABEAN... UNLESS HE KEEPS DRAFTING WELL. .. AND SIGNS UNDERRATED PLAYERS LIKE AFFELDT OR PHELPS. .. OR ALRIGHT WHO'S PLAYING WITH THE ALIEN MIND-SWITCHING RAY?
-------
PARPG- Indy post-apocalyptic roleplaying game currently in early planning stages.
what if the Giants’ clubhouse catches fire and the fireman can only save one of the two? Which one would you save? People, this could really happen!!
Proud new dad of Edgardo errr Edgar Renteria!!!
I’d save Brian Wilson
Robby Thompson "hey Hinshaw, let me see your hat for a minute."
Alex HInshaw "Why?"
Robby Thompson ,"You'll see...."
But you have to love the irony though. Saving… The closer…
"Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."
Saving the fireman from a fire?
lawlz
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
If the irony were strawberries...
We’d all be drinking lots of smoothies right now.
by AmorVincitOmnia on Jun 8, 2009 11:38 AM PDT up reply actions
Yes, when combined with the hype over Bryce Harper. I’m sure they’re both very good, but it seems like they’re getting an added bump to their alleged greatness due to the increased attention being paid to the mlb draft and milb. Really, the press gets paid to write stories that sell, and “OMG 12th BEST PROSPECT IN THE LAST 50 YEARS!!!” just doesn’t sell that well. I think that baseball is getting ready to have its share of Kwame Browns.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
btw… I’m not saying that Strasburg isn’t very, very, very good… I’m just saying that he is benefiting from a hype machine that wasn’t really there for players in the past. That is inevitably affecting our perception of him.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
Yeah I know what you mean. But at the same time, I think even with the lesser amount of news coverage years ago, there still would be a strong amount of hype. Especially since everything was in print, and they were trying to sell news. It’s really no different then it is now, the medium that reaches people is just not the same with the advent of 24 hour news television and the internet.
I think Harper is a different animal because he’s so young and everyone is of the consensus that he’s a really special talent. In that Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays mold. And good god no I’m not saying Harper is that good, just that for his age he seems to ooze a shitload of potential the same way the Uptons, Griffey Jr, A-Rod did. And those guys were in line with some of the special players of the past who I think would have had similar hype if they had been exposed to the same kind of hype frenzy that occurs now. Though I’m pretty sure both did receive their fair share of hype. Especially playing in NY.
I see what you’re saying. But honestly, it seems like there are more people following the draft more intently than there were even 5 years ago. It just that judging by the tenor right now, the two greatest prospects ever might just come out 2 years in a row. I’m just having trouble really believing all that.
OTOH, I might just be more aware of the hype because I am paying more attention.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
“Be in the Hall of Fame, definitely,” says Harper when asked by Verducci about his goals. “Play in Yankee Stadium. Play in the pinstripes. Be considered the greatest baseball player who ever lived. I can’t wait.”
Holy crap I hate this kid
I only have a signature because I recognize everyone else by their sigs, not their usernames..
He’d better get comfortable in red, white, and blue.
Judgment Day is coming
comics | art | Nattowear
Yes. Harper too
Granted they are both great talents and I hope they do live up to their potential, but I don’t really see them as being that much better than everyone else. For example, put a 21 year old Madison Bumgarner in a weak college conference. Is he going to dominate and put up goofy video game numbers? Of course, he is dominating AA at the age of 19. Or take Angel Villalona at the age of 16, give him an aluminum bat and put him against average high school pitching. I’m pretty sure he would have crushed the ball 570’ too.
Seriously, has anyone seen my adopted brother?
Mark Prior wasn’t really a bust though, probabilistically speaking
"he walked 18; new league record! Struck out 18, another new league record! He also hit the sportswriter, the PA announcer, the bull mascot twice..."
Nah, but his going down in flames was pretty epic.
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jun 5, 2009 3:57 PM PDT up reply actions
True. But considering some people thought the Twins were dumb for taking Mauer and took the cheap route instead of taking Prior….I’d say the Twins won that one.
Am I wrong in thinking Dusty Baker killed Prior? Were his mechanics off enough that he would’ve failed with a lower pitch count under the Twins? Was his basic injury-proneness due to his workload? I remember that one collision with Marcus Giles, that was just bad luck. I think I would have picked Prior and be pretty pleased in my alternate universe.
by lincypoo i wuv u on Jun 5, 2009 9:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Remember how Steve Bartman is blamed for losing the Cubs’ playoffs? If you’ll recall, that entire collapse occured after Baker had left Prior in for 130+ pitches!
Merkin Valdez? Manuel Mateo? A rose by any other name...
Prior also took a rocket off his pitching elbow in ‘05 and fractured it, so that didn’t help.
Then again, his “picture perfect” mechanics were just that: he was some sort of frankenstein composed of pitching coach positions and sayings (towel drill, inverted W, tall-and-fall, etc). The bottom line is that when his front foot landed, his hand wasn’t anywhere near the power position, and he torqued the crap out of his shoulder. (Driveline Mechanics did an article last year about him).
I’m just a monday morning pitching coach, but I see a resemblance between Prior and Strasburg in that Strasburg appears to put a ton of pressure on his shoulder as he delivers. I don’t really buy the “he’s so talented, he can make up for the bad mechanics” argument, because he’s prolly gonna be on the patient list for doctors like Jobe and Andrews within the next 5 years.
But if you’re the Nationals, you have to take him, so you become relevant for like 30 seconds.
"Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we're going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don't know, I don't know if we'll have enough time."
Yes
Aaron King is still my homeboy... iffy mechanics and all
If Dustin Pedroia played in Seattle, not many people would be talking about him.
I don’t. From a scouting angle, he’s the type that comes around every 10 years or so. What he’s done is pretty amazing.
+1
I totally agree with that. I guess my point was that it seems like he’s getting more hype than what would be expected for an every-10-year guy. I’m half expecting Strasburg to be like Tiger Wood. But again, I don’t have the perspective of having paid attention to this sort of stuff for a long time.
Psycho killer, qu'est-ce que c'est?
who were the last 2 10 year guys? Was Prior one?
by lincypoo i wuv u on Jun 5, 2009 9:47 PM PDT up reply actions
HO LEE SHIT
I predict teams are going to deliberately lose to get this guy. From what I saw of him on youtube he could already hit in the majors. He might not be a great hitter, but he’d be better than many. His bat is lightning fast. The dude has two years of high school left. The hype for him is going to be absolutely immense in two years.
It’s kind of sad for whatever team that drafts him. They only get him for six years and then he is off to the Yankees. Kid has already said he wants to be a Yankee. How strange. I really hope Boras isn’t his agent as he is going to be expensive.
by positiveuphemism on Jun 7, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Just to follow up. Next years worst team is going to get him. Knowing that he is the reward for being awful, who can say that a team is not going to just fuck off an entire season, knowing that they have no chance of a playoff run, just to get him.
by positiveuphemism on Jun 7, 2009 11:27 PM PDT up reply actions
kind of
Also, for the amount of money he’s asking for, I’m not sure it’s worth it. Pitching prospects are just so risky.
Less arm, more talk. Raisingcain is a GAMER.
Adopted Giant: Henry Sosa
From Jayson Stark:
“He’s [been called] a once-in-a-lifetime player,” Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said of Strasburg. “But that’s what they said about Big Ben McDonald in 1989, and a lot of pitchers since then. Hey, he’s a terrific right-handed pitcher. But David Price was a terrific pitcher coming out of college. Matt Morris, coming out of college, was that kind of guy. Mark Prior. The list goes on and on and on.”
And what do all those phenoms have in common? Well, let’s put it this way: Strasburg would be the 14th pitcher — and 11th college pitcher — taken with the overall No. 1 pick. The previous 13 have combined for no Cy Youngs, no 20-win seasons and no 200-win careers. And remember, that’s a track record that’s held up for over four decades."
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=4227655
Matt Morris
oh
Supporting San Francisco Dugout since 2005 and Manny Burriss since 2006, and bringing you all your California League needs since 2009.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jun 6, 2009 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions
If you really think Strasburg is what people say he is, then the history of pitchers taken at the #1 pick shouldn’t affect your decision in any way whatsoever.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
PABLO SANDOVAL AM STEAL DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.
I wasn’t following the draft in 1989, but it appears that Ben McDonald was getting similar hype as far as skills and potential, although much less publicized due to the limitations in media outlets at the time.
If Ben McDonald is Strasbergs only realistic comparable, then it’s unfair to compare him to just one person. But if you associate him as another #1 overall pitcher picked, then why not include history in the comparison?
I’m not saying they shouldn’t pick him—they absolutely should. But they’d be silly not to consider history when assessing his monetary value and offering him a contract.
if they assess history in any way shape or form, then the only conclusion they can come to is to not pick him. Boras is the agent, and he’s absolutely going to demand the richest draftee contract in the history of the game by far. If they think that Boras is going to listen to their Ben McDonald and Todd Van Poppell comparisons and lower his price, they’re just kidding themselves. Boras will have no problem putting Strasberg back into next year’s draft.
Proud new dad of Edgardo errr Edgar Renteria!!!
I think it would be pretty awesome if Rizzo just gave a giant middle finger F-U to Boras and took Ackley.
I doubt that would have any affect on Boras, as it would just mean that Boras would demand the same amount from the team that picks Strasburg.
The best thing they could do is to draft him and not pay him what he wants. Then if they don’t settle on a contract, the Nats would get the #2 pick next year (I think) and it would delay Strasburg getting to the majors this year, or the beginning of next.
Boras
If you’ve gotta negotiate with Boras, it’s best to do it over draftees, where his only leverage is to hold the guy out or send him to Japan. Not good cards there.
"[Greg] Vaughn is in a funk so deep, George Clinton wearing a miner's helmet couldn't find him."
- Jim Baker, ESPN.com, May 2002
Yes..
But only b/c he is the first super-amateur prospect to come along in the Interblog era. I agree with other posters that uber-hyping amateurs is here to stay, I just really really hope that the MLB draft does not become anything similar to the NFL draft. That would make me verrrrrryyyyy sad.
Minor White > Ansel Adams
You don't like 4 months of speculation and hype and then 24 full hours of coverage?
Remember, the NFL draft is only 7 rounds but baseball’s is like 60. Imagine the marketing possibilities. Instead of Tom Brady at pick #200 you could show Mike Piazza at pick #14,326.
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
