Strasburg pitched very well again today.

5 IP, 4 Hits, 1 Run, 1 Walk, 6 Strikeouts...

68 pitches, 43 for strikes.

the impressive stat: 9 groundball outs, ZERO flyouts. He is doing a good job of keeping the ball down- and batters are just beating it into the dirt.

The run he gave up was in the 5th, leadoff double, then 2 groundouts- 2nd groundout scored the run. He then recorded his 6th K on his final out.

I also saw that 4 of his first 5 pitches topped 100 mph... dunno about his heat after that- sounds like he is slowly getting into game shape.

good

Does he have a sister named Stella?

Ho hum... just another day at the office for #37... lol

the nats got no other players in that league or what?

Five others, four of which are playing well. Sean Rooney, the replacement for Derek Norris, is just overmatched. Pitchers Wilkie, Storen and Mandel are all doing well and Marrero is a true masher even if he may not have a position other than DH.

According to the exclamation point donk Stras is struggling. According to every meaningful stat, Stras is starting to really dominate the AA blue chippers. That's a very positive sign. I still want to see him start in AA in 2010. Give him a year there, with a probable promotion to AAA, and cap his innings at a reasonable number so that 2011 he can have a legit shot at a rotation spot in DC.

I can't see him starting anywhere lower than AA

Yeah, I just want him to get a legit year of five man rotation pitching in. Something around 25 starts, 150-160 IP. Then shut him down and give him a chance to get to 180 IP and the Nats rotation for 2011.

His next outing is the Rising Stars Game, on Saturday night...live on MLB.

What if Strasburg dominates AA hitters in April and early May (5-6 starts) and with a crisp fastball, slider and change? Do you keep him in Harrisburg, or would it be time for a promotion to AAA Syracuse?

Yes, you don't want to throw him to the wolves right away, but babying him is just as bad.

It will all depend on how he's progressing, just like how Storen breezed his way through Hagerstown, Potomac and Harrisburg in 2009.

Wherever Strasburg pitches in 2010, I agree that he should be shut down after Labor Day weekend, with an innings limit of 160-165. He can have his first 200-inning season for the Nats in 2011 if all goes well.

I think it is a forgone conclusion i he starts in AA and dominates for 5-6 starts he move sup to AAA

If he dominates AA, then move him to AAA and let him finish the year there. Maybe give him one token start in DC and then let him earn his rotation spot in 2011.

Take a second look at Storen. He leveled off a bit at AA, his K/BB ratio for example, compared to the A and high A stops. Even in the AFL, he's giving up a few too many hits right now. I wouldn't be surprised if Storen, Strasburg and Mandel, all doing well in the AFL this year, are all in AA to start next year.

>>"I think it is a forgone conclusion he starts in AA"

I seriously doubt there are any foregone conclusions yet, they will use the AFL outings and ST to evaluate how far along he is and act accordingly. That may be the loose plan as they think it will unfold, but what if, for example, he proves to be our best starter in ST, does he still go to AA, or straight to AAA?

I would say AA........ for a few starts especially the way teams use AA/AAA now adays...AA is for prspects and AAA for spare parts