Washington Nationals: Talking Stephen Strasburg.

Last week it was the uncomfortable attempts at humor in Jim Bowden's GM's Corner video at FOXSports.com that were the topic of conversation, this week it's Stephen Strasburg on everyone's minds. The former DC GM has the current Nationals' general manager Mike Rizzo on his show to talk about Washington's '09 no.1 overall pick and provide a scouting report for the 21-year-old right-hander:

Mike Rizzo: "Strasburg is the prototypical power pitcher. He has a power delivery, utilizes his lower half, and as you've seen him in the past, Jim, from the waist down, he's built like a horse. He's got the lower body of the Nolan Ryan's of the world, and he really utilizes his lower half to generate arm-speed and that's where he gets that terrific velocity from. In college, he was an 80 fastball velocity guy, but what separated him from just about every other college pitcher that I've ever seen, is he compliments the 80 velocity with plus plus command of a fastball and fastball command is really the thing that separates a 20-year-old kid at the time from a lot of his peer group. You know, he had power stuff with command, he's got a wipe-out curve ball he's got a plus slider..."

Future-Hall-of-Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez made the same Nolan Ryan comparisons after catching Strasburg during an early Spring Training bullpen session, when he and Nationals' Pitching Coach Steve McCatty discussed the young starter in front of Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell who quoted the exchange in an article entitled, "Nats' Rodriguez terms Strasburg 'amazing'":

"'Is his stuff like [Justin] Verlander?' asked McCatty, knowing Rodríguez caught the A.L. strikeout leader in Detroit.

"No," said Rodríguez. "It's like Nolan [Ryan]."

Fans of the Washington Nationals will get a chance to watch Stephen Strasburg for themselves a week from today when he makes his first start of the Spring against the Detroit Tigers in a game that will be broadcast live on MASN and MASN HD. Is there any way Stephen Strasburg can live up to the hype? Baseball Prospectus' writer Kevin Goldstein thinks Strasburg's, who's ranked no.1 overall in the organization, of course, "...lived up to every expectation before signing a record deal as the top pick," but if there's one flaw, Mr. Goldstein writes, in his article this past weekend entitled, "Future Shock: Nationals Top 11 Prospects", it's that, "There are some minor makeup concerns, as he has seemed overwhelmed at times, if not downright uncomfortable with the media spotlight that his talent has generated." Strasburg's presence in the Arizona Fall League drew attention that few before him have generated. Every pitch he's thrown this Spring has been painstakingly detailed by a number of media outlets. Now, his first start of the Spring will be televised...

Is the hype too much for the young pitcher? Should the press allow him to develop like any other pitcher in camp with the Nationals? Is Strasburg getting overexposed? Is there any way you're going to miss Strasburg's first start of the Spring?