It's finally over. Stephen Strasburg has made his Major League debut and what a debut it was. Seven innings, four hits allowed, two earned runs and 14 strikeouts and no walks.
The fourteen strikeouts were the third most in any Major League debut, the most in Washington Nationals franchise history and only five short of the nine-innning record. It's like Strasburg told the rest of the Nationals, "Listen guys, I really only need you for a third of the time I'm in there. You guys just get me an out an inning and I'll do the rest."
It's safe to say that Strasburg is good. We knew that when he mowed through the Minor Leagues but to do the same in the Majors is another thing. Strasburg is beyond good. I'm ready to call him very good, and if he does this for much longer, he'll be pushing great. All that's left to be seen is if he can continue to be this good consistently, but he's definitely the best pitching prospect ever.
I'm not sure how careful the Nationals will be with Strasburg's arm, but if he stays in the rotation, I could see Strasburg winning up to 14 games. That would be quite a feat for a pitcher that debuted as late as he did and for a pitcher on the Nationals. Not to mention only 21 pitchers recorded more wins then that last season.
Fourteen games is a lot and it almost sounds impossible, but if there was something Strasburg has taught us it's that impossible can be reached.
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