Strasburg Is Human

San Diego State’s Stephen Strasburg finally lost a game today against Virginia in an NCAA Regional game. Strasburg gave up two runs, both earned over 7 innings in the Aztecs’ 5-1 loss.

Strasburg didn’t do much to persuade the Nationals not to take him with the first pitch in the draft, though. Although Strasburg gave up 8 hits and threw two wild pitches, he struck out 15 and didn't walk anyone.

Through tonight’s game, here are his season stats:

W   L   ERA   IP   Hits   BB   K

13  1   1.40  116  73     19   210

The last two numbers are correct: 19 walks and 210 strikeouts. Unbelievable!

One interesting number is that while he has only 19 walks, he now has 13 wild pitches.  That makes me think his stuff is wicked, and his college catchers just can’t handle it.

Does anyone remember the kind of ridiculous breaking pitches Kerry Wood threw when he first came up before all the arm injuries? Sometimes the stuff broke so sharply there wasn’t much his major league catchers could do.

Wood had the best stuff of any young pitcher I can remember, going back to the late ’70s or early ’80s. I’m mainly a National League fan, though. Anyone remember any body comparable?

One has to think that if he stays healthy and signs a professional contract by the August 15, 2009 deadline, Strasburg will be pitching in the major leagues for good no later than September 2010.