The Pressure of Being Stephen Strasburg
Stephen Strasburg made his spring training debut for the
Washington Nationals and the 2009 first overall pick did not
disappoint. Strasburg pitched two innings of scoreless ball,
giving up two hits, and punching out two Detroit Tigers, including one
of baseball's best hitters, Miguel Cabrera. He showed great
velocity, a nasty breaking ball, and the ability to handle the pressure
on the field and, more importantly, off the field.
The
hype and expectations surrounding Strasburg is immense. He came out as
a junior for San Diego State and has some great experience at a very
competitive level, a fact that should actually help him succeed in the
majors. Strasburg is 21-years-old, just married, and the
owner of the biggest contract ($15.1 million) ever given to a draft
pick. Oh, and if that isn't pressure enough, he's also being
looked at as the Nationals' savior.
So,
it's only appropriate after him doing well in, for all intents and
purposes, his MLB debut, to try and relate the pressure Strasburg is
feeling to other things of about the same degree of
heart-pounding, chest-clutching, and beads of sweat dripping down the
side of your face pressure as seen through the world of movies and television:
- * Going in for your first pelvic punch on the whispering eye... at 40-years-old.
- * Facing a group of German terrorists led by Severus Snape... with no shoes on.
- * Only having ten seconds to disarm a bomb... and your name is McGruber. Not Hans (see what I did there).
- * Getting called up to the board as a testosterone-filled seventh grader... after
daydreaming about Apollonia. Did this embarrassment only happen to me?
- * Being able to see dead people, but trying to lead a normal life... and having
that aforementioned shoeless terrorist fighter constantly over your shoulder.
- * Having a movie come out... and you're M. Night Shyamalan.
- * Going through basic training... and you're Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket.
- * You have to serve detention on a Saturday... and you're either the most popular girl in school, on the wrestling team, a nerd, a weirdo, or a rebel.
* Jack Shephard, anyone?
- * Being a fat high school lineman... and your quarterback is Dawson from Dawson's Creek.
- * Having big hairy feet, a "friend" named Sam, a constant swirling of estrogen... and trying to get rid of a cursed ring.
- * You are the worst actor in the world... and you have to decide between the red pill or the blue pill.
- * You are Jenna Haze's crotch area.
* Being King Kong... and trying to have something on Denzel Washington.
