Stephen Strasburg Likely To Start 2010 in Minors Despite Strong Spring Training

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote that I thought the Washington Nationals would send phenom Stephen Strasburg down to the minors to start the season. Now, it’s looking more and more likely that thought is going to come true.

According to Jim Duquette of the Sirius XM’s MLB Home Plate show, Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo is leaning towards sending Strasburg to the minor leagues to start the season. While nothing is yet set in stone, this would be a pretty smart move.

Strasburg has been impressive this spring. He has allowed four hits, walked one, and has four K’s in five scoreless innings of work. There is no doubt Strasburg has the talent to pitch in the majors now, but what’s the rush?

The Nationals aren’t going anywhere this year, and starting Strasburg right away could only do more long-term damage than good. The Nationals don’t want another David Clyde on their hands.

For those of you who are not familiar with Clyde, he was the first overall pick in the 1973 Draft by the Texas Rangers. Clyde didn’t pitch an inning in the minor leagues and was rushed to the majors because the Rangers’ owner at the time, Bob Short, wanted to sell tickets.

The Rangers burnt out Clyde and he lasted only five years in the major leagues, compiling an 18-33 record with a 4.63 ERA. I doubt the Nationals will be as careless with Strasburg as the Rangers were with Clyde, as Rizzo seems to have a pretty good grasp on the situation.

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