A day doesn’t pass without a society raving about what sort of flowers Martha Stewart planted in her garden, what the future holds for the outrageous and craziness of Lindsay Lohan, or whether it’s relevant to elect baseball’s top phenom to start in the All-Star Game.
It’s another debate, I suppose, an endless fuss revolving around Stephen Strasburg, 21, the gifted right-hander who has a lethal fastball, a nasty slurve, a mean curveball and a hitless changeup.
It feels like baseball is amid a resuscitating stage, the one moment we never imagined in the wicked era of baseball, an age known as the Steroid Era.
This is the beginning of a renaissance, putting aside all the deceptiveness and torment that stained credibility with all the malign and insults, slowly ruining the purity of a commendable sport.
As the midsummer classic approaches, we are accustomed to Strasburg’s imposing debut when he almost completed the perfecto by finishing with no walks and 14 strikeouts at Nationals Park, the spacious creation that opened last season.
His presence alone sells out a crowd, watching for the improbable, gazing at his spectacular performances, and cheering on a triumphant mound appearance, to brace the future and savior of the Washington Nationals.
All this hype has evoked a sense of flirtation in baseball, impelling conversations near the water cooler within the workplaces and jacking up television ratings instantly for the 100-mph fastball that Strasburg throws effectively, able to influence viewers with his unbelievable flame throwers.
And if he continues to throw charmingly from the mound, he could someday run for president, be elected in office, and reside on Pennsylvania Avenue at the White House, a luxurious estate in the town of the nation’s capital.
He essentially darkens the facades, during a decade when drug emporiums tainted clubhouses and when Bud Selig, an irresponsible commissioner, was apathetic in asserting a performance-enhancing drug raid.
But it’s a fair assessment for the good people to elect Strasburg into the All-Star Game, a unique commodity that seems rare in sports. In addition, he has earned the credit to be worshipped as a premier pitcher of the league, currently with a 2.27 ERA and 48 strikeouts in five starts.
More importantly, he should be named as the starter in the midsummer classic, an exhibition for the fans that features the greatest and popular players in the game.
If this is a game for the fans, upon seeing well-deserving stars snubbed and disrespected by the fans selections, its only rationale that he should be participating in the upcoming festivities.
And if he isn’t voted in, it’s a travesty that will change how we judge the disorganized sport, bothered with ruthless calamity and empty seating in the majority of ballparks.
It is, at last, revising as a family event and an afternoon outing at the ballpark when the average family is willing to enjoy a three-hour game, despite all the deceit and controversy that positioned the facet of the league.
But in the name of Strasburg, there’s a concept that baseball is on the verge of making progress and visualizing aspiration in the growth and emergence of the sensational Strasburg.
This development is gratifying exposure as he has ballooned as the main attraction, putting all the ills to rest and restoring positivity among an attenuated sport. He was unbelievable in the minor leagues, and pitched in a historic major-league debut, releasing evidence that he really belongs in the midsummer festivities.
In a way, he’s the best young prospect we’ve seen in a long time and his popularity has skyrocketed since lifting the atmosphere within a helpless franchise.
All we care about is witnessing the best athletes polish in the game fans cast their votes, waiting for their favorite stars to dazzle at a moment the fans are watching closely after selecting well-suited players. If this is a game to appease the fans, on a night when all the top-tier sluggers and pitchers represents their franchises and features at the same ballpark, then shouldn’t the fans implore that the majors add Strasburg to the list of all-stars?
It’s fair, not to mention that he’s the hottest prospect in the game, that he’s worthy of starting in the midsummer meeting during the All-Star break, a moment the prize-winning players are represented.
Although it’s believed that he had an excellent first-half of the season and have became the focus of attention, drawing all the viewers across the country, he’s been ignored because he is still considered unproven after he merely pitched for the first-half of the season with no postseason experience.
This is a modern time when none of it matters, as a legion of pitchers and sluggers have appeared in the All-Star game without having any postseason experience. Whether you find it unanimous or not, it’s a no-brainer that he’s fittingly worthy of starting in the much-publicity setting, even though he pitched in the big leagues for less than a month.
But I’d like to speculate that it will invoke a controversy and would be considered an insult to the participants. If nothing else, he merits a spot on the NL roster with the big-name stars, proving to be a prolific name in the first-half.
It’s very telling that he’s the most inspiring recipe in the majors, shifting the texture of a sport upstaged by football and basketball, and appeases the population with his artful mechanics that has been a resource in consolidating reliance and trustworthiness.
There’s a written rule stating that every team must have a player representing their franchise which means Ryan Zimmerman, who is having an outstanding season and the frontrunner for the Nationals by hitting a mere .290 with 13 homers and 37 RBIs, shouldn’t be the top choice as fans and voters must turn the favor to Strasburg.
In the yesteryears, the majors have tried to resuscitate the relevancy of the midsummer classic, but it’s a game weakened and ignored each summer, despite adding implications to the event and made it meaningful unlike before when it was viewed as a pointless showpiece.
But if Strasburg’s name is suddenly announced as a starter and participant, he could make an immediate impact on the event and be a remedy in baseball.
He may provide the importance and excitement, but he’s on pace to appear in at least 10 All-Star Games in the future, if he isn’t entitled to a bid. By all accounts, given that he hasn’t pitched an entire first-half, he’s not being anointed as much as Ubaldo Jimenez and David Price, a pair of skillful stars with monstrous numbers and proven attributes.
But either way, a national audience desires witnessing the hottest and best athlete at the time or a young prospect, and that happens to be Strasburg.
As we debate whether he belongs in the game, I’d say he gets my vote.
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