Sunday, February 21, 2010

First impression

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VIERA, Fla. -- Well, Stephen Strasburg's first bullpen session is complete. According to people far more dedicated than me, he threw 37 pitches over nine minutes. Derek Norris was his catcher. A phalanx of fans, reporters, photographers and team officials packed the bullpen area.

And after all this, I think I can say with 100 percent certainty that Stephen Strasburg will win 300 games in the major leagues.

(Editor's note: There may have been a hint of sarcasm in the previous statement.)

10 comments:

Andrew said...

Mark Zuckerman said...And after all this, I think I can say with 100 percent certainty that Stephen Strasburg will win 300 games in the major leagues.

Man, I fixated on that statement for a few seconds before I read your next sentence. Mark, you had me at 300 games!!!!

Mark Zuckerman said...
(Editor's note: There may have been a hint of sarcasm in the previous statement.)


Not fair to tease some of us that are so starved for expert opinion! Good punking, thanks! LMAO

Chico Harlan (off to Japan) said...

http://www.baseballlibrary.com/columns/column.php?id=38

“`Our Second Founder, the late Reverend Tokuchika Miki picked golf as a method of spiritual teaching,’” explains Tatsumi Yano, a Perfect Liberty Minister in New York, adding that `PL is a practical religion, and we focus on how to live life happily and meaningfully rather than talking about previous or next lives, or ‘What is God?’ issues.’

“The core teaching of PL is that “Life is Art.” Golf is an art of special esteem, and self-expression through golf is wildly popular among PL members.

“`Golf is very good training for us in learning how to control our emotions, change our points of view, and accept various daily situations positively while making our best efforts at each moment,’” Yano says.

Anonymous said...

Mark: The real question from that battery is how many pitches either handcuffed or got past Norris?
BinM.

peric said...

C'mon BinM,

Its too early for that ... aren't they still "limbering up"?

The big question appears to be about Bruney and Brunett ... especially Bruney ... attitude is everything. In the end it is the one thing you can always control under any circumstance influencing most any endeavor.

NatsGirl said...

Andrew: What's *really* not fair is to tease those of us who are starved for some WINS!

JayB said...

Mark,

Was this the first time you have seen SS pitch in person?

If so did you have any non tongue in check response for us?

Mark Zuckerman said...

Not the first time I've seen him in person. I saw him pitch five innings in an AZ Fall League game in October, one in which he carried a no-hitter into the fifth. As for today's session, you really can't get too much out of these things. But Derek Norris, who caught Strasburg, said he was particularly impressed with his two-seam fastball: "His sinker has a lot more action than it did about a month ago. It's just incredible. It's almost like a lefty's slider."

I'll have a more detailed posting about Strasburg's entire day, including quotes from him, in a little while.

JayB said...

For now he is the story it seems....thanks Mark....I am loving all the indications that Riggs is going to push the details from the ground up and "outwork" the other 29 teams.

Did Grissom get a job anywhere?

peric said...

Mark seems to make a point about Norris catching Strasburg ... I wonder if they will team the two up in the minors this spring ...

Mark Zuckerman said...

Peric: My hunch is that both Strasburg and Norris will open at Potomac. Gotta believe Strasburg will advance quicker through the system, but they should get at least a little time together before ultimately reconnecting in D.C.

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