Washington Nationals? Stephen Strasburg: I'll Pass

The Washington Nationals are a bad baseball team. This is something nobody can dispute.

The Washington Nationals made a huge mistake by drafting Stephen Strasburg. This is something that other's will not like to hear.

If you have not heard of Stephen Strasburg, you probably live under a rock. The right-handed flame thrower has been a buzz around baseball for the past year.

Strasburg has had his fastball clocked at 103 miles per hour. That's not a typo. He is also the owner of a 23 strikeout complete game; one that ended in nine innings.

San Diego State has had this phenom for two seasons, and he has not disappointed.

His 2008 season statistics: 8–3, with a 1.57 earned run average, and 133 strikeouts in 97-and-a-third innings.

His 2009 season statistics: 13–0 with a 1.32 ERA, 19 walks and 195 strikeouts in 109 innings.

With all of this, how could the Nationals lose? The answer comes in two parts: Scott Boras and history.

Scott Boras

Strasburg has had Scott Boras as an "advisor" for about a year now. Boras, if you didn't know, is a Super-Agent. His clients include Alex Rodriguez ($33 million/year) Manny Ramirez ($25 million/year) and Albert Pujols ($15 million/year). Broas looks for money, and that is what he expects.

Currently the "magic number" to sign Strasburg is six years and $50 million dollars. If you try to beat Boras in negotiations his client will wait out the year and move on.  Want proof?

Let's look at current Kansas City Royal Luke Hochevar. Hochevar a Boras client was drafted out of high school by the L.A Dodgers (39th rd.) He chose to go to college and was drafted again by the Dodgers (First rd. Sixth overall).

Hochevar and Boras would not sign with the Dodgers, so Hochevar began his career in the Independent Leagues. Hochevar would be picked by the Kansas City Royals and sign finally, two months later.

The J.D. Drew saga of 1997 would not have happened had Boras not demanded over $10 million for his client.

What will Starsbug do? Well don't expect him to sign his name easily. Boras has hinted that his client is so good, that he could simply skip the minor leagues. Don't buy into this. Strasburg is no Dave Winfield.

The Washington Nationals will be hard-pressed to find the money necessary to satisfy the greed that is Scott Boras. If you are a National's fan, you might want to be looking to next year's draft for a sign-able first round pick.

History

History has not been very good to first round, first overall draft picks. Since 1965, 13 pitchers have been drafted first overall: Let's look at their numbers:

• David Clyde: 5 Year Career: 18-33, 4.63 ERA
• Floyd Bannister: 15 Year Career: 134-143 record, 4.06 ERA. 1 All Star Appearance (1982)
• Mike Moore: 14 Year Career: 161-176, 4.39 ERA. 1 All Star Appearance (1989)
• Tim Belcher 14 Year Career: 146-140, 4.16 ERA.
• Andy Benes: 14 Year Career: 155-139 3.97 ERA. 1 All Star Appearance (1993)
• Ben McDonald: 9 Year Career: 78-70 3.91 ERA
• Brien Taylor: Never Made the Majors
• Paul Wilson: 40-58 4.86 ERA. Free Agent since March 2007
• Kris Benson: 68-73 4.32 ERA.
• Matt Anderson: 15-7 5.19 ERA. Hasn't played in Majors since 2005.
• Bryan Bullington: 0-5 5.08 ERA.
• Luke Hochevar: 6-14 5.64 ERA.
• David Price: 1-0 2.20 ERA.

The fact is that all of these guys on this list had/have not reached their potential. For whatever reason, the pressure of being first overall led to mediocrity at best.

Stephen Strasburg is a tremendous college baseball player. He needs to realize that the climb to professional success takes more than an advantageous draft position.

If Strasburg is smart, he'll sign for an amount that is fair to both sides. The longer he holds out for money, the more likely that he will be another person added to my list.

Strasburg's style of pitching is also a concern. Any player who relies on his fastball as heavily as he does, reminds many of Kerry Wood. In order to succeed in the majors, you must learn to pitch.

Nationals fans may soon realize that when teams pass on Scott Boras clients, its for the best for the entire franchise. Strasburg has been considered a "once-in-a-lifetime" player. Fear not Nationals fans, so were all the previous pitchers listed above.