Strasburg will make $2.5 million in 2011, when even conservative projections have him pitching like an All-Star. Barry Zito will make $18.5 million.
Tommy, that last statement did nothing to prove your point. If anything, it serves as a counterargument. Pitchers are unbelievably risky investments, and Zito (who was a solid pitcher for years in Oakland before an admittedly ridiculous contract was offered by the Giants) goes to show that throwing huge amounts of money at them is not the way to make a sound ball club. If you're counting experienced players like Zito as huge busts, how about we consider all the top ten draft picks from the last decade or so that have amounted to precisely dick as an explanation for why the Nats weren't exactly eager to dole out huge money for Strasburg.
@MarkKelsosMigraine: then the Nationals will draw barely any fans to their new ballpark, finish in last place on a regular basis, and fire managers at a rapid rate. Or basically, the exact same shit that will probably happen anyways.
Brien Taylor was fantastic in the minors until he got hurt. He had 1.16 K/9 in high A ball (I believe) as a 20 year old. Bullington and Bush were awful picks at the time - picked for signability, not because they were the best player. Most people at the time thought BJ Upton was the best player in that draft (he went #2). Ditto with Justin Verlander in 2004.
The real point is that Strasburg is the best pitching prospect to come around since Mark Prior, who was also excellent prior to getting hurt.
Michael Olowokandi was shitty. So was Kwame Brown. The fact that they were #1 overall picks didn't impact whether or not, say LeBron or Derrick Rose would succeed.
@Kid Canada: But that is why they need a true slotting system. Drafting someone because you can afford them versus talent. System is broken. All players should be subject to the draft as well, not just the American and Canadian kids. He definitely has the talent to succeed.
That's a different issue entirely. The fact that players can be drafted out of high school, decline to sign and go to college is also a huge, strange difference. I don't disagree at all that the draft should be worldwide and subject to a hard slotting system. Which would have to be negotiated as part of the CBA, and is clearly not something the owners have ever pushed back very hard about.
08/31/09
08/31/09
The seats were then given supplemental picks in next years draft.
08/31/09
08/31/09
08/18/09
Tom Coburn also tried to convince the public that Obama will be personally shooting the elderly, so I'm not putting much stock in what he says.
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
Tommy, that last statement did nothing to prove your point. If anything, it serves as a counterargument. Pitchers are unbelievably risky investments, and Zito (who was a solid pitcher for years in Oakland before an admittedly ridiculous contract was offered by the Giants) goes to show that throwing huge amounts of money at them is not the way to make a sound ball club. If you're counting experienced players like Zito as huge busts, how about we consider all the top ten draft picks from the last decade or so that have amounted to precisely dick as an explanation for why the Nats weren't exactly eager to dole out huge money for Strasburg.
/dick joke
08/18/09
08/18/09
What's absurd here is that the draft remains the biggest bargain in the game
The point he's making is that even at $2.5 million, Strasburg will likely be a huge bargain, notwithstanding the inevitable moaning about Boras.
08/18/09
08/18/09
08/18/09
Yes, yes they did.
08/18/09
08/18/09
Brien Taylor was fantastic in the minors until he got hurt. He had 1.16 K/9 in high A ball (I believe) as a 20 year old. Bullington and Bush were awful picks at the time - picked for signability, not because they were the best player. Most people at the time thought BJ Upton was the best player in that draft (he went #2). Ditto with Justin Verlander in 2004.
The real point is that Strasburg is the best pitching prospect to come around since Mark Prior, who was also excellent prior to getting hurt.
Michael Olowokandi was shitty. So was Kwame Brown. The fact that they were #1 overall picks didn't impact whether or not, say LeBron or Derrick Rose would succeed.
08/18/09
08/18/09
That's a different issue entirely. The fact that players can be drafted out of high school, decline to sign and go to college is also a huge, strange difference. I don't disagree at all that the draft should be worldwide and subject to a hard slotting system. Which would have to be negotiated as part of the CBA, and is clearly not something the owners have ever pushed back very hard about.
08/18/09
"Don't worry Barry, I can loan you a few bucks if you're short."
-Vernon Wells
/Jays didn't sign 3 of their top 5 picks.
08/18/09
07/03/09