Comments on: Why Stephen Strasburg is destined to be the next Mark Prior http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior The #1 Sports Videos Website Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dustin http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-882 Dustin Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:48:49 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-882 @Dolemite I understand that, but we don't know how long it will be until the Nationals bring him up. And even when they do, the Nationals don't have a bad offense. I think people write them off just because they are the Nationals, but their line-up is far from terrible. @Dolemite

I understand that, but we don’t know how long it will be until the Nationals bring him up. And even when they do, the Nationals don’t have a bad offense. I think people write them off just because they are the Nationals, but their line-up is far from terrible.

]]> By: Dolemite http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-886 Dolemite Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:40:34 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-886 @Dustin, the Nationals franchise does have a big impact on a pitcher. If a pitcher doesn't have the proper run support and is losing games because of his squad his confidence will most likely dip (especially if they're young). Confidence dips, next thing you know his skill dips right along with it. @Dustin, the Nationals franchise does have a big impact on a pitcher. If a pitcher doesn’t have the proper run support and is losing games because of his squad his confidence will most likely dip (especially if they’re young). Confidence dips, next thing you know his skill dips right along with it.

]]> By: Bob http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-885 Bob Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:28:35 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-885 @Dorn, I don't see Roy Halladay miss his spots too much @Dorn, I don’t see Roy Halladay miss his spots too much

]]> By: Dorn http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-880 Dorn Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:03:03 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-880 So much bad information in this article, it's laughable. Pretty sure scouts have raved about his slider and how he's able to put it where he wants to. Yeah, he misses with it now and then, but what pitcher outside of Maddux doesn't miss his spot? His changeup is a work in progress, but has still been said to be a major league changeup at this point. Emotion on the mound? He's had that in check for a while now. As someone already pointed out, in high school and his first season with the Aztecs, he had problems with it. Not so much anymore. He's matured, and he knows it. Gwynn has said he's seen a huge improvement in him. His pitching coach has said the same thing. And last I checked, Prior didn't really have elbow problems. Only problem he had with his elbow was taking a Brad Hawpe line drive off of it. Everything else was his shoulder, which was initially damaged after running into Marcus Giles. After that, bad surgeries plagued him. But hey, nice try at attempting to care them and write off Strasburg as a flash in the pan before injuries cripple him. So much bad information in this article, it’s laughable. Pretty sure scouts have raved about his slider and how he’s able to put it where he wants to. Yeah, he misses with it now and then, but what pitcher outside of Maddux doesn’t miss his spot? His changeup is a work in progress, but has still been said to be a major league changeup at this point.

Emotion on the mound? He’s had that in check for a while now. As someone already pointed out, in high school and his first season with the Aztecs, he had problems with it. Not so much anymore. He’s matured, and he knows it. Gwynn has said he’s seen a huge improvement in him. His pitching coach has said the same thing.

And last I checked, Prior didn’t really have elbow problems. Only problem he had with his elbow was taking a Brad Hawpe line drive off of it. Everything else was his shoulder, which was initially damaged after running into Marcus Giles. After that, bad surgeries plagued him.

But hey, nice try at attempting to care them and write off Strasburg as a flash in the pan before injuries cripple him.

]]> By: Dustin http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-879 Dustin Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:55:32 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-879 Secondary pitches: His secondary stuff is great. His slurve is ungodly. His change-up is average, but any change in speed is good when you throw 98 consistently. Mental make-up: He hasn't had a breakdown in two years. His breakdowns were in high school, and he went undrafted because of it. Nationals franchise: If he fails, it won't be because of who he was drafted by. That's such a terrible argument. The draft is a crapshoot from the beginning. Strasburg would have the same chances of succeeding or failing with any team, no matter who drafted him. Inverted W: It's hard to argue against this, because the Inverted W does have me worried about him, but, mechanics aren't a science. It's a guess. Nobody knows whether his body will hold up or not. It differs from person to person. I agree with you saying he's not a sure thing yet, but the arguments that you used were incredibly poor. Secondary pitches:
His secondary stuff is great. His slurve is ungodly. His change-up is average, but any change in speed is good when you throw 98 consistently.

Mental make-up:
He hasn’t had a breakdown in two years. His breakdowns were in high school, and he went undrafted because of it.

Nationals franchise:
If he fails, it won’t be because of who he was drafted by. That’s such a terrible argument. The draft is a crapshoot from the beginning. Strasburg would have the same chances of succeeding or failing with any team, no matter who drafted him.

Inverted W:
It’s hard to argue against this, because the Inverted W does have me worried about him, but, mechanics aren’t a science. It’s a guess. Nobody knows whether his body will hold up or not. It differs from person to person.

I agree with you saying he’s not a sure thing yet, but the arguments that you used were incredibly poor.

]]> By: Sasskuash http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-884 Sasskuash Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:31:37 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-884 I think the "history" of showing emotion on the mound is highly overblown. He did show emotion as a high school pitcher, but since then he has shown that he matured and can handle himself calmly and professionally. Being a Nats fan (go ahead, laugh, I understand) I've read as many articles as I could find about this kid. He did show emotion on the mound in high school. At that time, he was overweight, did not train properly and did not focus on strengthening his body. These are some of the reasons he was not even drafted out of high school. Since then he has completely transformed his body through an intense training program and strict diet. As a freshman, he was a successful closer for San Diego State. This is a high-pressure situation and I never read any problems with him losing his temper. He was the only college player on the USA olympic baseball team, and pitched very well at that high level, without showing undue emotion. He handled this past collegiate baseball season under intense scrutiny of major league scouts from every team and the national media. I cannot imagine many more intimidating or stressful conditions for a 21 year old to face. He did not show any signs of emotion or immaturity. He got into jams and pitched out of them calmly and without needing coaches visits to cool his head. I just think that he has done more than enough to rid himself of the reputation that may have carried over from when he was a teenager. Since then he has shown incredible mental toughness, maturation and discipline to get him where he is today. I do share your concerns about injury. I pray he can stay healthy and become 1/2 of what his hype suggests he is. I think the “history” of showing emotion on the mound is highly overblown. He did show emotion as a high school pitcher, but since then he has shown that he matured and can handle himself calmly and professionally.
Being a Nats fan (go ahead, laugh, I understand) I’ve read as many articles as I could find about this kid. He did show emotion on the mound in high school. At that time, he was overweight, did not train properly and did not focus on strengthening his body. These are some of the reasons he was not even drafted out of high school. Since then he has completely transformed his body through an intense training program and strict diet. As a freshman, he was a successful closer for San Diego State. This is a high-pressure situation and I never read any problems with him losing his temper. He was the only college player on the USA olympic baseball team, and pitched very well at that high level, without showing undue emotion. He handled this past collegiate baseball season under intense scrutiny of major league scouts from every team and the national media. I cannot imagine many more intimidating or stressful conditions for a 21 year old to face. He did not show any signs of emotion or immaturity. He got into jams and pitched out of them calmly and without needing coaches visits to cool his head. I just think that he has done more than enough to rid himself of the reputation that may have carried over from when he was a teenager. Since then he has shown incredible mental toughness, maturation and discipline to get him where he is today.

I do share your concerns about injury. I pray he can stay healthy and become 1/2 of what his hype suggests he is.

]]> By: Dolemite http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-881 Dolemite Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:12:33 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-881 Either way, I'd like to see him a Natti's uni as soon as possible. Either way, I’d like to see him a Natti’s uni as soon as possible.

]]> By: YouKnowWho http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-883 YouKnowWho Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:19:50 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-883 Not only do you have to groom a kid, but aside from a boost in attendance, what possible positive impact could this kid have if brought up immediatly? This team isn't going anywhere anytime soon...might as well let him work on those secondary pitches in the minors for a few years. Anthough I think late in the season you could possibly bring him up for a spot start to help gauge how close he is to being "big league ready." Not only do you have to groom a kid, but aside from a boost in attendance, what possible positive impact could this kid have if brought up immediatly? This team isn’t going anywhere anytime soon…might as well let him work on those secondary pitches in the minors for a few years.

Anthough I think late in the season you could possibly bring him up for a spot start to help gauge how close he is to being “big league ready.”

]]> By: Dolemite http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-878 Dolemite Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:41:22 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-878 There's no way that the Nattie's should bring this kid up yet. They better or not or I'm going to be pissed. You gotta groom a kid. There’s no way that the Nattie’s should bring this kid up yet. They better or not or I’m going to be pissed. You gotta groom a kid.

]]> By: America'sPastTime http://www.bareknucks.com/why-stephen-strasburg-is-destined-to-be-the-next-mark-prior/comment-page-1#comment-874 America'sPastTime Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:53:08 +0000 http://bareknucks.com/?p=1419#comment-874 Agreed. Strasburg has a lonnnnng ways to go. As we've seen in the sporting world, raw talent doesn't equate to success. It takes a level head and mental toughness. This kid might let all the hype get to his head. Another important factor is the team's organization. It takes talent in the front office to mold raw talent such as Strasburg into an all-star, and it's pretty apparent the Nationals organization is one of the worst. He's got a lot to live up to, and given the organization and mental questions with him, I don't see him doing it. I think the only player to truly live up to all the enormous hype is Lebron James, and he is a different breed. In regards to Strasburg developing into the next Mark Prior, I wouldn't doubt it. It'll be interesting to see how this kid handles the situation. Agreed. Strasburg has a lonnnnng ways to go. As we’ve seen in the sporting world, raw talent doesn’t equate to success. It takes a level head and mental toughness. This kid might let all the hype get to his head. Another important factor is the team’s organization. It takes talent in the front office to mold raw talent such as Strasburg into an all-star, and it’s pretty apparent the Nationals organization is one of the worst. He’s got a lot to live up to, and given the organization and mental questions with him, I don’t see him doing it. I think the only player to truly live up to all the enormous hype is Lebron James, and he is a different breed. In regards to Strasburg developing into the next Mark Prior, I wouldn’t doubt it. It’ll be interesting to see how this kid handles the situation.

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