1. For The Post of May 23, I wrote this column about the potential for this year’s rookie class. And after watching Stephen Strasburg’s debut last night at Nationals Park, I believe even more strongly that we are witnessing an historic group.
Strasburg and Atlanta’s Jason Heyward are potential generational talents. Mike Stanton made his debut for the Marlins yesterday, as well, and was overshadowed by Strasburg, but he went 3-for-5, and he also has a chance to have a special career.
Cincinnati’s Mike Leake is 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA and is likely to make the All-Star team despite being the first player since Xavier Nady in 2000 never to spend a day in the minors.
There is an excellent next group of rookies, as well, and Ike Davis is right there at the forefront. His walk-off homer yesterday was just another indicator of his value and talent.
2. I am glad I was at Nationals Park to witness Strasburg’s debut last night and write this column. The last time I was at a regular-season game that was gigantically hyped and matched the drama and the passion and the storyline was on July 12, 1997 when Roger Clemens returned to Fenway for the first time as a Blue Jay.
Now, in retrospect, we have – at the very least – chemical suspicions about that game. But in the moment, Clemens returning to the place of his greatest triumph after then Boston GM Dan Duquette described Clemens as “in his twilight” was tremendous theater.
Clemens was dominant in allowing one run in eight innings, walking none and striking out 16. He fanned the side in the eighth and his final inning, and as he left the mound he took a quick glare up at Duquette’s box.
But in my memory bank, that night now falls well behind last night. And not just because of the steroids we later learned about. But because Clemens already was an established star. He was doing this on the though by the end he had the Fenway crowd firmly on his side.
Last night was Strasburg’s debut. He was at home, but the home has not been a baseball city. But in one seven-inning outing Strasburg transformed the present and the future for the organization.
Think about it: This was Tuesday night. It was in Washington. It was Pirates vs. Nationals. And it was as must-see as any baseball game you are going to watch this year. And now Strasburg is that. He is already like Mark Fidrych in 1979 or Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 or Dwight Gooden in 1984-85. You just feel like you already must clear out your schedule and make sure you are in front of a TV for his next start. That would be Sunday at Cleveland.
3. On the subject of not missing Strasburg, the Mets play a four-game series at Nationals Park from July 1-4. But if the Nationals use all their starters in order and there are no rainouts then Strasburg will actually not pitch in that series despite it being a four-gamer.
But keep in mind that the Nats have two off-days between now and then, and have promised to work to try to keep Strasburg to between 100-110 major league innings this year. So perhaps there will be some manipulation of the rotation.