Wait a minute – Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg lost a game Monday night?
How could this be?
The Braves beat him 5-0, scoring four times in the seventh inning. Strasburg threw 100 miles-per-hour fastballs and 89 mph change-ups at Atlanta hitters, but didn’t feature much of a curveball.
These are the big leagues. The Braves finally timed him. That development, along with his total lack of support from hapless teammates, doomed Strasburg.
He is now winless in last three starts. Who knew the kid was fallible? Fawning media accounts suggested otherwise.
Strasburg has been packing stadiums at every stop. He is a one-man merchandising phenomenon. He already has a hamburger named after him in our nation’s capital.
“That’s something you never see in baseball,” Nationals president Stan Kasten told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “That’s something you see in the NBA . . . That happens to (Michael) Jordan.”
Unfortunately, Strasburg plays for a terrible baseball team. Actually winning games with this bunch is a challenge.
“If this keeps up,” wondered CBSSports.com scribe Danny Knobler, “will we keep watching? If he doesn't win, is he still must-see? He's still so good that you don't want to take your eyes off him. But his team is so bad right now that your eyes hurt at the sight of them.”
Braves pitcher Tim Hudson had some empathy for Strasburg, who is playing under arguably the brightest spotlight even focused on a rookie.
“It may seem weird to say I feel sorry for him, but it’s unfortunate that a rookie can’t stay under the radar forever,” Hudson told reporters. “Every team is coming at him with their ‘A’ game. He’s the hot rookie who’s supposed to beat you.”
MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
Questions to ponder while wondering if we’ll ever see Tigers flamethrower Joel Zumaya pitch again:
Can anybody blame Dan Haren for wanting to pitch for the Cardinals again? How can he keep his spirits up pitching for THAT team?
Are British sports fans going to make it through this very dark period in one piece?
Why can't the FIFA officials get anything right at the World Cup?
Has the Kentucky basketball program misplaced its priorities under John Calipari?
Can't Tiger Woods get anything right back on the homefront?
Who says Landon Donovan can't finish?
Why do pro athletes insist on rapping even when they aren't especially good at it?
QUIPS ‘R US
Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:
Jay Mariotti, FanHouse: “Always a sucker for red, white and blue love, America tried to wrap its arms around a peculiar bedfellow this month. And for a while there, we fell hard for soccer, setting records for TV ratings, Internet hits, bar hours and watercooler talk. But for the romance to generate any long-term momentum, it was paramount that the U.S. team carry its joyride deep into a World Cup that actually seemed winnable, what with the tragicomic struggles of England, Italy, France and other elite football nations that view the sport as half religion, half psychosis. Typically, inevitably, the American effort fell flat. Whatever impact was made in South Africa, it wasn't nearly enough to change our lukewarm attitudes about soccer as anything but, oh, a way for Bill Clinton to feel relevant again.”
Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Many Americans became hooked on soccer during the U.S. World Cup run and turned into ardent, lifelong fans. The other 90 percent of you can now go back to ignoring the sport. We will see you again in four years. Good night.”
Gene Wojciechowski, ESPN.com, on Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano’s suspension: “Zambrano needs professional help. You know it. The Cubs know it. Zambrano knows it. His legendary meltdowns were great theater years ago. But then he pummeled a teammate in the clubhouse in 2007. And got suspended six games for berating umpires and going berserk in the dugout in 2009. And on Friday, in the worst in a long conga line of incidents in which Zambrano unfairly shows up his teammates, he blamed, among others, first baseman Derrek Lee -- the old-school, pro's pro who was playing, without complaint, with a bad back -- of not trying hard enough on a ball down the line.”
Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “The Pirates fired their pierogi - a man who dresses like a piece of Polish fried meat-filled dough and races other 'foods; at the ballpark - because he criticized the team's general manager and manager on his Facebook page. The Pirates should have just sent him down to the minors for more seasoning. I've heard baseball teams criticize ballpark food, but never the other way around.”
MEGAPHONE
“It never gets easier. Of course I'm going to be [ticked] off when I wake up tomorrow. I mean, if you got fired from your job, you probably wouldn't wake up the next day in a great mood.”
Andy Roddick, after falling to 82nd-ranked Yen-hsun Lu of Taiwan at Wimbledon.
ELSEWHERE ON STLTODAY
Experts love what the Blues did in their draft.
The visiting Diamondbacks graciously handed the Cardinals a much-needed victory.
