Strasburg hits 103 mph

[padrefanforever]

Link

HOLY CRAPFIRE

[NYgiantsfan5689]

I CANNOT WAIT to see this kid pitch in the majors. That highlight reel made me say "Wow" in the middle of class multiple times. Unbelievable

[cjkalt]

Too bad he'll be stuck in Washington

[GiantsFanatic]

Go Derek Turnbow!!!

[DirtyKash]

How can’t he? The only pitch ever clocked faster than 103 mph was a 104.8 mph fastball by Detroit Tigers reliever Joel Zumaya on Oct. 10, 2006, in the American League Championship Series. Mark Wohlers and Matt Anderson are the only other pitchers known to have touched 103 mph on a radar gun, and each did it once.

If Strasburg knows anything about Zumaya, Wohlers or Anderson, he doesn’t let on. If he realizes that none of them accomplished much more than a record reading on a radar gun, he doesn’t say. Zumaya is out again with another injury in a never-ending string. Wohlers lost his control and flamed out quickly. Anderson, the first pick in the 1997 draft, lost his velocity and career to a bum shoulder.

Not a good sign.

[missionhockey21]

Too bad he'll be stuck in Washington

His signing could be a real turning point for Washington, on either side of the success coin. The Nationals fans haven't had a quality product to cheer for, have had to suffer under the reign of Jim Bowden, and seem to face disappointment more than the converted Expos fans once did. Strasburg, if he lives up the hype, could be the franchise savior. If he busts, after the hype and the money he will receive, it could be a huge blow to the fans as he will be viewed as their savior.

Eitherway, all eyes will be on Strasburg for quite some time. Pitching prospects like this do not come along that often.

[love_that_reefer]

Yeah I remember watching that Tigers game at the bar and we were just blown away at just how fast Zumaya was throwing. The bar just stood in awe and silence waiting for his every pitch. I hope that happens in Washington but like Dirty said, its not a good sign. Plus Boras is already asking for $50 million over six years. Young pitchers, especially ones that throw 103, are too big of a risk to give all that money up front.

I thought this was interesting that is somewhat related:

Since '65, 102 pitchers have been taken within the first five picks. Not one is going to the Hall of Fame. None is close. Only one won more than 200 games (Kevin Brown). Rounding out the top five -- Dwight Gooden (194 wins), Bill Gullickson, Mike Moore and Andy Benes. The only reliever of note: ex-Oriole Gregg Olson. Josh Beckett (89-62) may end up high on the list eventually. More than 75 percent of those 102 were wasted picks. Yet absolutely every one was hailed as a future star

[HollywoodLeo]

Quick Note: Stephen Strasburg - Driveline Mechanics

Strasburg reminds me a lot of Mark Prior - a truly dominant right-handed college pitcher with troubling mechanics: Bad arm action combined with slow tempo. I predict a steady loss of velocity over the first few years of his career leading to him dropping his arm slot and then a major shoulder injury.

[Porter]

Can Washington PLEASE pass on him!

Seattle could add him with Felix, Morrow, Roland Smith and co.

[padrefanforever]

DC could easily be scared off by the Boras demands......especially considering there are other very good pitchers in the draft that will be more signable and also project as top of the rotation guys

[HollywoodLeo]

After reading the Driveline Mechanics link I posted I'm thinking I'd rather not have Strasburg.

[padrefanforever]

So you don't want Peavy either ?

[padrefanforever]

of Strasburg......looks pretty frigg'n free and easy to me.....and is much more clear and larger than the video on Driveline

I don't see the "lazy glove" he's talking about at all.....but what I do see is a whip action at the very end of his release......my understanding is thats almost a back load of sorts on the elbow........BUT.......that exists with every pitcher......

What makes this guy unique IMO is that he doesn't look like he's "max effort" to hit those speeds.....if that makes any sense

[HollywoodLeo]

Done by a different guy, but the only criticism on Jake's mechanics by Carlos Gomez is that he doesn't bring his glove arm back to his shoulder when he's done, but otherwise he praises Jake's mechanics.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/ar...ort-mechanics/

I did find this, however, and Chris O'Leary seems to be concerned.

Pitching Mechanics Analysis - Jake Peavy

Either way, it's kind of irrelevant to the fact that direct comparisons to Mark Prior leaves me concerned about Strasburg.

[padrefanforever]

I think the comparisons to Prior are made more because he was an uber prospect also, more than anything.......their deliveries look nothing alike IMO