Johnny Holliday

Strasburg, Nationals will only get better with time

by Johnny Holliday

Stephen Strasburg was tagged with his first loss as a professional baseball player over the weekend when the Harrisburg Senators lost to the Altoona Curve.

I think I will go out on a limb and predict that the Washington Nationals' number one pick in last years draft may lose a few more games before his playing days are over.

It amazes me to hear how many die hard fans were shocked at Strasburg's outing! One of the primary reasons the Nats' brass sent him to Double-A was to gradually work his way from Double-A Harrisburg to Triple-A Syracuse and then on to the big stage at the major league level.

Strasburg will be the first to tell anyone within earshot, he's got so much to learn, and each and every time he takes to the mound is a learning experience.

There had been some talk over the weekend that perhaps the start against Altoona would be Strasburg's last for Harrisburg. Next up, Syracuse. Now with a record of 3-1, an ERA of 1.64, and 27 strikeouts in 22 innings, those numbers have caught everyone's attention.

Just when is the right time for Mike Rizzo to make that decision? The answer is when Mike thinks it's the right thing to do. It's gonna happen - maybe not as fast as some fans want it to happen - but I'm guessing sometime in the middle of the summer, Stephen Strasburg will have completed his apprenticeship at Harrisburg and Syracuse and will be filling Nationals Park with fans that won't believe their eyes as to just how good this kid is.

He's humble, gifted, and talented beyond description, and will only get better with time. So will the Washington Nationals.