Jesus Saves Bullets

 

(Photo of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff. Stephen Strasburg finally gave up his first AAA runs Monday night.)

He's human.

Strasburg's line: 5.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 52 pitches-36 strikes.

52 pitches...Must be saving those bullets for bigger and better things? The Washington Post's Dave Sheinin points out:

He has now thrown 45 1/3 minor league innings. One more five-inning start, presumably this weekend in Syracuse, would put him almost exactly at the 50-inning threshold the Nationals targeted for him at the start of the season. (via Washington Post, 5/24/2010)

On that note, good luck buying tickets to a certain game at Nationals Park on June 4th. Plenty of good seats still available -- if you like dealing with scalpers and ticket brokers.

Meanwhile...

Carlos Maldonado to be called up from Syracuse to back up Wil Nieves. The thought of Carlos Maldonado catching Stephen Strasburg's Major League debut feels similar to Odalis Perez starting the first game ever at Nationals Park.

The Oswalt-for-Strasburg discussion is so dumb even we're refusing to acknowledge it. That doesn't count as acknowledgment, does it?

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Comments

[cass]

I'm guessing the club has their reasons for taking him out after only 52 pitches.

What I don't get is why they didn't inform Stephen of the plan. That seems nuts.

[Bote Man]

Thus spake Linus: "Behold, unto you is delivered your Savior. And you shall know him by his arm wrapped in swaddling clothing, to keep it warm. And the three wise men, Kasten, Rizzo, and Riggleman, bearing gifts unto him of Ben Gay, smelling salts, and rosin."

[The Nationals Enquirer]

@cass you're right, it seems crazy that the team is keeping Strasburg in the dark about their plan for him. And reading his comments after the game in the Post, it doesn't sound like he's too happy about it:

"It was kind of a shock to me. I'm not going to lie. But there's not much you can do. I don't want to create a big scene in the dugout."

@Bote Man: nice work, sir!