Posts Tagged ‘Stephen Strasburg’

The Redemption of Stephen Strasburg…and Dave Martinez

Saturday, November 2nd, 2019

by Gus Griffin

gus

 

 

 

 

Dmart2

Redemption stories in sports are like the biblical prodigal son.

The Washington Nationals winning the World Series gives us several from which to draw. Howie Kendrick as the journeyman who actually was the last out as a Dodger two years ago in the World Series against the same Astros. This year he was NLCS MVP and drove in the winning run in Game 7 of the World Series.

Then there is Gerardo Parra, who after being released by my Giants signed with the Nats at their lowest point, and by all accounts immediately became the spirit booster in the Nats clubhouse. His enthusiasm spread to the fanbase with the Baby Shark tune, which has become an anthem among some international protest movements. He supplemented that by being their most reliable bat off the bench.

There is Ryan Zimmerman, the Dean of the Nats, and the Washington franchise’s first ever draft pick in 2005. He was once compared to Brooks Robinson as a 3rd basemen. Then the injuries and throwing hiccups came, and while the bat has always remained formidable, his place as a potential all-time great was missed.

All good stories but for me the two that resonate most are those of Stephen Strasburg and Manager Dave Martinez.

Oct 29, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws a pitch against the Houston Astros  in the first inning in game six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Oct 29, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg throws a pitch against the Houston Astros in the first inning in game six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

I can remember the night of Strasburg’s debut in 2010. He was hailed as the franchise savior and lived up to every expectation that night, striking out 14 Pirates over 7 innings of work. It doesn’t always work out this way. For every Tiger Woods or LeBron James, both of whom met and exceeded their expectations, there are about a dozen Michelle Wie’s. While Strasburg clearly succeeded more than Wie, the narrative always seemed to be about what he wasn’t. That was compounded when the Nats shut him down in 2012, short of the postseason, and then a monumental collapse of pitching against the Cardinals led to their elimination. It was compounded when he would suffer the very arm trouble the team was trying to protect him from a few years later. Even I had added to the narrative by saying he just wasn’t mean enough. By that I mean to say that the power pitcher must be intimidating to maximize his capacity. Strasburg has a greater arsenal than Nolan Ryan ever had and the command of Roger Clemens. What he did not have was the intimidating presence of either. Ryan and Clemens were feared by hitters. Strasburg was not because he simply did not pitch inside enough. The intent need not be to hit batters but the thought that he might is in of itself a weapon and an advantage to the pitcher.

In 2017 he turned down a postseason start against the Cubs due to illness and the narrative about his “heart” ratcheted up yet again. Even tossing 7 shutout innings in his eventual start in Chicago in an elimination game to send the series back to Washington did not quiet the whispers.

Today, as the Washington Nationals prepare to take to the streets of our nation’s capital for their World Series victory parade, there are no more whispers and the narrative is clear and without dispute or subjective to interpretation: Stephen Strasburg is the World Series MVP and one of the greatest postseason pitchers ever. His 1.46 earned run average is top 5 for pitchers with at least 7 starts. When you are on any pitching list with Sandy Koufax, you no longer need to explain yourself to anyone. He is the evolution of the hype.

DMartI am as happy for manager Dave Martinez. For years, I have been playing softball with a group of rabid baseball fans, several of whom root for the Nats. A Sunday could not pass without second guessing his handling of the bullpen or bench. I might add that they had the same criticisms of previous managers Dusty Baker, Matt Williams, and Davey Johnson. Two of those 3 I believe have Hall of Fame cases. The point is that even though the managing changed, the results were still the same. So clearly managing was not the central problem.

The second guessing of managing and coaching is baked into the sports talk culture. Given that there are 162 games plus the postseason, its understandable that it be even more so in baseball. The two most common flaws in the criticism of managers or coaches are, 1) the assumption of knowing all the factors in the decision made, and 2) an analysis of choices without an analysis of options. The latter was precisely the burden of Martinez. For most of the year, the Nats had the worst bullpen in baseball. Doolittle was hurt and Hudson was in Toronto. Those were their only two consistently reliable relievers. Even when the team was 19-31, Craig Kimbrel, one of the best closers over the past 10 years, who played that role on the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox, was waiting for a call. Instead, the Nats chose Fernando Rodney. No disrespect to Rodney, who has led the league in saves and has been a 3-time All-Star, but he is 42.

Martinez stayed the course with what he had. He even endured a heart health scare. The bottom line is that if Martinez’ management of the team were as much of a liability as so many claimed, the team would have never won the title.

His critics should admit that they were wrong.

I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen. I will say that the best response to one’s critics in sports is to win, and being the 2019 World Series Champions is something that no one can ever take from either Strasburg or Martinez.

 

Gus Griffin, for War Room Sports

2013 MLB Top 10 Starting Pitchers

Monday, April 1st, 2013

by Ryan Kantor

 

 

 

 

Zack Grienke, was originally at #8, between teammates Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee.  The issue arose when he was recently shut down with elbow inflammation and although he seems to be fine, there’s just no sense in taking a risk.  There is so little deviation among pitchers in the 8-13 range.  If you’re taking a pitcher in this area, you just need a reliable ace, so Grienke drops out of the top 10 to 13th-ish.

10. CC Sabathia, SP, New York Yankees
Sabathia is as steady as they come.  He’s come back strong this Spring after an offseason elbow scope and although the Yankees offense won’t be as potent this year, he’ll still earn his share of wins.  He consistently posts 200 strikeouts, a low ERA, a solid WHIP, and 200 innings.  His injury doesn’t seem to be a concern and he’ll again lead a veteran Yankee rotation.  He’s now at the tail-end of his prime, but we can still expect very strong numbers.  Going in the 5th round of 12-team leagues, he’s a fair value too.

9. Jered Weaver, SP, Los Angeles Angels
Jered Weaver is already 30 years old.  That seemed to come so quickly… maybe I’m getting old.  He’s no longer just Jeff Weaver’s younger brother, he is a legit ace.  In his favor this year is Josh Hamilton’s arrival.  The Angels are one of the most hyped teams in baseball after Josh Hamilton’s offseason arrival.  Chasing wins is a tricky business, but Jered Weaver has a better chance to win 20 games than any other pitcher in the AL.  The only downside is the dip in velocity and strikeout rate over the past three seasons.  Despite tallying just 142 Ks in 2012, he allowed a minuscule 2.81 ERA. I’d expect both numbers to increase slightly and another very good season from the Angels’ ace.

8. Cliff Lee, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
Cliff Lee only won six games in 2012 and plays this season at age 34/35, so how can I put him in the top 10?  The low win total was flukey, not due to poor pitching.  He had 21 quality starts, the 12th most in baseball, and deserved to win many more games.  The Phillies don’t have a particularly bad offense and if healthy could provide plenty of run support this season.  He has adjusted to life in the National League beautifully after spending most of his career with Cleveland, Seattle, and Texas (save a short stint with Philadelphia before joining them for a second go-round) and can be counted on to post a low ERA and WHIP in the 3.00 1.10 area along with 200 Ks.

7. Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies
If Hamels is worth $144 million to the Phillies, he is worth a top 36 pick to me.  He is right in his prime at age 29, he strikes out 200 (214 last season) a year.  He’ll play in the National League and do it with a quality offense.  He has overcome the health issues that were troublesome early in his career and has become a reliable, dominant workhorse. He provides essentially the same numbers as the very top pitchers at a more reasonable cost.  I love Cole Hamels this season.

6. Matt Cain, SP, San Francisco Giants
I’m not quite sure how two-time World Series Champion, Matt Cain, has become underrated, but he usually isn’t spoken of in the same breath as the pitchers I have ranked ahead of him.  Cain, 28-years-old, doesn’t post quite the strikeout totals of those being drafted ahead of him (193 last year, but expect around 175), but is every bit as dominant. He has posted three straight seasons with a WHIP under 1.10 and at his age, in AT&T Park, with a very good team around him, he’s a safe bet to have a big season.

5. David Price, SP, Tampa Bay Rays
One could make a fair argument that David Price is the best pitcher in baseball.  He won the AL Cy Young last season, besting Justin Verlander.  The Vanderbilt product won 20 games in 2012 and 19 in 2010.  2011 was a bit of down year though, as he posted a 3.49 ERA with only 12 wins.  That may be depressing his draft stock which can play to your favor. I’d be happy to take David Price in the third round instead of any other pitcher in the first or even the second round!  He plays in a severe pitchers park, but will face some of the best lineups in baseball in the rough and tumble AL East.  He’s talented enough to shut them down.  David Price is 27-years-old and is one of baseball’s emerging superstars.  Expect a sub-three ERA, 200 Ks, and a solid win total.

David Price

You won’t see me  draft anybody beyond this point for my fantasy team.  Getting these top four pitchers is just too costly, and in a standard 5 x 5 it just doesn’t make sense to pay the price they demand. While they are superstars in the same respect as Albert Pujols and Matt Kemp, quality pitching can be easily found in the 5-10 rounds with guys like Darvish, Sabathia, and Latos.

4. Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners

Seattle added a lot of offense (Morales, Morse, Bay), so the biggest knock on drafting King Felix, a lack of run support and “thusly” wins, goes out the window.  Although there was some injury talk when he was signing his extension, the Mariners pledged $175 million dollars so I feel fairly confident that he is not a serious injury risk.  If there is such a thing as a 220 strikeout lock, Felix is it.  There’s a case to be made for putting King Felix in the top three, but the tough lineups in the AL West put the kibosh on that.

3. Stephen Strasburg, SP, Washington Nationals
No more babying.  It is time to see one of the best pitching prospects in ages let loose.  He led all qualifying starting pitchers with 11.13 K/9.  He could deliver a Verlander-MVP type of season, he just doesn’t have a long track record which makes drafting him where he is being taken a bit foolish.  This guy is certainly one that I look forward to watching this season.

2. Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers
Some might argue that he is the best pitcher in baseball, but entering his age 30 season with over 700 innings pitched over his past three seasons, I’m no longer crowning him the top starter in baseball and wouldn’t consider burning a first round draft pick on him (which is what it’ll take).  Nonetheless, Verlander is one of the few modern day pitchers to win the MVP and dominates the American league like no other.  He may be the most talented pitcher in baseball and still has a few more years left of his prime.

1. Clayton Kershaw, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
While many are ranking Justin Verlander as their top starting pitcher (and he is phenomenal), Clayton Kershaw gets the nod for me.  Both play in pitchers’ parks, but a deciding factor is that Kershaw pitches in the National League, while Verlander has the more challenging task of facing the DH.  Clayton Kershaw has posted four consecutive sub-three ERA seasons (back-to-back ERA leader).

I believe we’ll look back and be amazed at just how great a pitcher we had.  I hope to watch him pitch a bit more this season (tough on the opposite coast), as he is an extremely special talent.  Oh, and Kershaw is 24, yes only 24-years-old. The best is yet to come.

Clayton Kershaw

 

Ryan Kantor of “Reading Between the Seams”, for War Room Sports

Ryan Kantor is an author at Reading Between the Seams. He is a life-long Yankees fan and a proud Clemson alumnus, residing in North Carolina, where he works in marketing research. For more stories like this, you can visit his personal blog at RyanKantor.com and follow him on Twitter at @Ryan_Kantor.