SB Nation DC - Stephen Strasburg To Pitch Sunday Vs. Astros, Plus Two More Home Startshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2011-09-09T17:48:24-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/13553312011-09-09T17:48:24-04:002011-09-09T17:48:24-04:00Stephen Strasburg's September Pitching Schedule Laid Out, First Four Starts At Home
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<p><span>Stephen Strasburg</span>'s pitching schedule for the month of September was laid out by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> manager Davey Johnson in a pre-game press conference with reporters Friday. Strasburg has already made one start, and Johnson said that his next three starts will occur at home.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/stephen-strasburgs-schedule-planned-will-start-his-first-four-games-at-nationals-park/2011/09/09/gIQAHNWkFK_blog.html">Via Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post</a>:</p>
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<p>The Nationals have planned Stephen Strasburg's scheduled so he will make his four starts back from Tommy John surgery at Nationals Park, at which point he will either make one road start on the season's final day or conclude his major league season.</p>
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<p>Those four starts are as follows.</p>
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<li>Last Tuesday vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>.</li>
<li>September 11 vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> (this Sunday)</li>
<li>September 17 vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/teams/florida-marlins">Florida Marlins</a>
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<li>September 23 vs. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Atlanta Braves</a>
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<p>Strasburg could then start on the road against the Marlins on September 28 on four days rest if so inclined. That decision would ultimately be up to the Nationals.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/9/2415405/stephen-strasburg-pitching-schedule-washington-nationalsMike Prada2011-09-07T09:15:45-04:002011-09-07T09:15:45-04:00Stephen Strasburg On His Return To The Major Leagues
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<p>Stephen Strasburg pitched in a major league game for the first time in over a year on Tuesday, but if you didn't know that, you might have thought he was pitching effectively in the major leagues this whole time. Strasburg allowed just two hits over five scoreless innings while striking out four Dodgers. But his stuff looked electric, and his location looked better than I would have expected in his first start back. You can find video of Strasburg's reaction to his start <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/strasburg-talks-about-comeback-start/2011/09/07/gIQAfBL18J_video.html">here</a>, but we'll provide a transcript.</p>
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<p>It was awesome. I mean it felt like such a long time since I've been able to go out there and play with these guys up here. Going out there, and not much has changed. Still 60 feet six inches.</p>
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<p>Strasburg has always been a relatively unassuming character, so it's not surprising to see him downplay the whole significance of this. But he has been working extremely hard to get back here and must be revealed to be back on a major league mound. But how about the stuff?</p>
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<p>It was pretty good. They were swinging the bat early, I was able to throw the ball down in the zone and get some weak contact. There's always room for improvement, curveball was kind of hit or miss, and that's to be expected. So I'm just going to try and work on that for next time.</p>
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<p>Here is my analysis of how Strasburg pitched. the fastball looked good in terms of velocity, and I as pretty amazed with his ability to keep it down in the zone when he wanted to. The new two-seam fastball was terrifyingly good, particularly in one instance where he ran it inside against MVP Candidate Matt Kemp and forced his knees to buckle. That pitch was a <i>called</i> strike, at 97 mph. The curveball had good movement but needed better location. The changeup was devastating. Strasburg isn't all the way back, but it is pretty scary to think how much he could improve considering he just gave up only two hits in five innings.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/7/2409953/stephen-strasburg-return-reaction-nationalsJordan Ruby2011-09-06T21:07:14-04:002011-09-06T21:07:14-04:00Stephen Strasburg Pitches Five Spectacular Innings In First Game Back From Tommy John Surgery
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> couldn't have asked for more from starter <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> who just finished up in his first game back from Tommy John surgery. The young smokethrower on Tuesday night sometimes made the visiting <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> look foolish, almost as if he never left the mound for 368 days like he did. With a five inning performance he is in line to garner the win Tuesday night as the Nationals lead the Dodgers 3-0.</p>
<p>Strasburg gave up two hits, zero runs, issued no free passes and struck out four. He threw some impressive 80 mph curveballs and 90 mph change ups that caught a couple Blue Boys swinging and blew up batters with a fastball which peaked at 99 mph. He pitched 56 pitches, 40 for strikes. No. 37 averaged just 11.2 pitches per inning Tuesday night, fewer than in any of his 12 starts last season.</p>
<p>The Nationals ace looked great. He went after batters, had great control, his pitch speed was searing. For now it looks like all systems are go. Natstown is going to be quite the scary place for visiting teams when manager Davey Johnson gives Strasburg the green light to completely unleash the red. Strasburg was on a 60-pitch limit.</p>
<p>Strasburg pitched despite really stormy weather that has covered most of the East Coast since yesterday.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/6/2409199/washington-nationals-stephen-strasburg-first-game-back-spectacularAndrew Kinback2011-09-06T13:26:05-04:002011-09-06T13:26:05-04:00Stephen Strasburg Returns To Majors As Nationals Take On Dodgers
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<p>Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his return to the majors on Tuesday when the Nationals take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. That is, of course, if the weather cooperates.</p> <p>The day is finally here. <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> is finally returning to the majors, just over 12 months to the day that he underwent Tommy John surgery following a breakout rookie season. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Nationals</a>' phenom dazzled then, and the team hopes he will dazzle again in a brief September callup, starting with Tuesday's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>.</p>
<p>Strasburg was dominant in most of his rehabilitation starts, save for one unfortunate outing in his third start for Single-A Hagerstown. He was especially good in his final starts for AAA-Syracuse and AA-Harrisburg. The Nationals moved him up and down the system in an attempt to ensure he would pitch in a home-field environment in each of his starts.</p>
<p>Inclement weather may postpone Strasburg's start for at least a day. The forecast calls for heavy rains in the Washington D.C. area, which would mean his return would have to wait.</p>
<p><i>For more on Strasburg and the Nationals, visit <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/6/2408105/stephen-strasburg-start-return-washington-nationals-gameMike Prada2011-09-05T13:31:02-04:002011-09-05T13:31:02-04:00Rain May Push Stephen Strasburg's Return To Nationals Back A Day
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<p>Just when you thought you were safe buying tickets for <span>Stephen Strasburg</span>'s return start on Tuesday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, Mother Nature (maybe) got in the way. The weather forecast for Tuesday calls for it to rain all day long, so the game could very well be postponed. Even if it isn't, Strasburg may not pitch.</p>
<p>Manager Davey Johnson told reporters that the team might just sit Strasburg one more day in the event of a long rain delay. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/post/the-nationals-plan-for-stephen-strasburg-even-if-it-rains/2011/09/05/gIQANzgE4J_blog.html">Via Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post</a>:</p>
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<p>"If he warms up and it rains, we'll probably have to do it another day," Manager Davey Johnson said. "If there's a delay, it's something you don't want, whether it's Strasburg or any other starter to go through any kind of rain delay. Hopefully, we'll have no rain. He'll get his work in, and we'll move on. I don't like those negative kind of questions. Can you give me a better forecast or something?"</p>
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<p>Well, that would be unfortunate. And yes, I'm bitter because I have tickets. How did you know?</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/5/2406151/stephen-strasburg-return-start-washington-nationals-rehabMike Prada2011-09-03T16:36:36-04:002011-09-03T16:36:36-04:00Stephen Strasburg Will Make Four Home September Starts For Nationals, According To Report
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> organization was extremely careful in managing pitching phenom <span>Stephen Strasburg</span>'s minor league recovery, so it should come as no surprise that the team will also keep Strasburg in the best possible situations when he returns to the big leagues on September 6. <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/washingnats/status/110084901272956928">William Ladson of MLB.com tweeted</a> that Strasburg will make four September starts, all at home. </p>
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<p class="bbpTweet"><a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Nats" title="#Nats" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#Nats</a> RHP Stephen Strasburg will make four starts during the rest of the season. All of them will be made at Nats Park. <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23MLB" title="#MLB" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#MLB</a><span class="timestamp"><a title="Sat Sep 03 20:21:00 +0000 2011" href="http://twitter.com/#!/washingnats/status/110084901272956928">less than a minute ago</a> via <a href="http://ubersocial.com" rel="nofollow">UberSocial for BlackBerry</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=110084901272956928"><img src="http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png"> Favorite</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=110084901272956928"><img src="http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png"> Retweet</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=110084901272956928"><img src="http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png"> Reply</a></span><span class="metadata"><span class="author"><a href="http://twitter.com/washingnats"><img src="http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1221223830/BillLadson_TwitterPic_1__normal.JPG"></a><strong><a href="http://twitter.com/washingnats">William Ladson</a></strong><br>washingnats</span></span></p>
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<p>Strasburg made all six of his minor league appearances in the home ballparks of National's affiliates, so this certainly makes sense from both a baseball perspective and also a revenue perspective. <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/8/31/2395964/stephen-strasburg-tickets-nationals-vs-dodgers-september-6/in/1355331">As has been previously noted in this space</a>, the Nationals have no qualms charging quite a bit more when Strasburg takes the hill than any other member of the Washington rotation.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;">Pending any game cancellations, Strasburg would start on </span>September 6, 11 and 16, with his fourth and final start most likely occurring September 23 or 24 against Atlanta.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/3/2402951/stephen-strasburg-four-home-september-starts-washington-nationalsT.J. Doyle2011-09-01T21:20:36-04:002011-09-01T21:20:36-04:00Stephen Strasburg Dominates In Six Innings In Final Rehab Start
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<p>Yup, <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> is ready to return to the majors. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>' phenom was even more dominant than usual in his final rehab start for Double-A Harrisburg, firing six scoreless innings and allowing just one hit. It was the clearest sign that he is fully recovered from last September's Tommy John surgery.</p>
<p>Strasburg, pitching against the Portland Sea Dogs, made quick work of all his opponents until the sixth inning. He retired the first 14 batters in order, striking out three before allowing the 15th hitter to reach on a hit-by-pitch. He allowed a leadoff double in the sixth inning, but was able to get out of the jam with a strikeout and a lineout. All in all, he threw 71 pitches, 55 for strikes.</p>
<p>Strasburg is expected to make his return to the Nationals on Tuesday against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> at Nationals Park.</p>
<p><i>For more on Strasburg's rehab start, visit <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball</a></i><i>.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/9/1/2399248/stephen-strasburg-rehab-start-harrisburg-washington-nationalsMike Prada2011-08-31T12:54:36-04:002011-08-31T12:54:36-04:00Unsurprisingly, Tickets To Stephen Strasburg's Return Are Going Fast
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<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/701329/StrastburgTwoWeekTrend.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Strastburgtwoweektrend_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/701329/StrastburgTwoWeekTrend_medium.png" height="189" width="290"></a> <br id="1314809274192"></p>
<p>Want to get tickets to see <span>Stephen Strasburg</span>'s return? You might want to hurry. Our friends at TiqIQ sent along this graphic, which shows the price hike in the average ticket for the September 6 game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>. As of last night, the average ticket cost $76.39. That price has gone down a bit to $71.84, but that's still pretty expensive.</p>
<p>It's not quite as insane as the ticket spike for Strasburg's debut last season, which averaged $86.72 <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/ticket-prices-soaring-for-strasburgs-return/2011/08/31/gIQAdxH3rJ_blog.html">according to Dan Steinberg</a>, but it's still pretty large.</p>
<p>So yeah, you better hurry to get these things, <a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/Tiqiq/SingleEvent.aspx?BrandID=tiqiq&PublisherID=83145&EventID=1133493678&zoneids=3">especially because the cheapest ticket on TiqIQ right now is $50</a>. That's as of 1 p.m. on Wednesday, or about 16 hours after Davey Johnson confirmed that Strasburg would start on September 6 barring any setbacks.</p>
<p>It remains to be seen how much of a draw Strasburg is going forward, but this should provide all the evidence needed that his mere presence is a draw right now.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2011/8/31/2395964/stephen-strasburg-tickets-nationals-vs-dodgers-september-6Mike Prada