WASHINGTON (AP) -Even on their biggest day of the season to date, the Washington Nationals couldn’t catch a break.
A blistering thunderstorm hit the nation’s capital about a half-hour before the Nationals made Stephen Strasburg the No. 1 overall pick in the draft Tuesday, sending everyone scurrying for cover. So much for having the stands full of cheering fans when Strasburg’s selection was broadcast on their ballpark’s huge outfield scoreboard at 6:15 p.m.
Instead, the seats were virtually empty, although a few cheers could be heard from the concourses when commissioner Bud Selig announced the San Diego State pitcher’s name. The start of the opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds was delayed by the storm.
While there was little doubt the Nationals would choose Strasburg – “We weren’t going to pass on the best player in the draft,” acting general manager Mike Rizzo said – the drama now begins as Washington attempts to sign him.
k has ever received, but Nationals president Stan Kasten declared last week that the club was “not going to rewrite the whole sport” just to sign one player.
“We’re optimistic about signing all of our draft choices,” Rizzo said. “We don’t negotiate through the media, so I’m not going to begin now. We’re going to begin the process, which I’ve begun already. I’ve spoken to Scott Boras on a congratulatory phone call. I also had a great and detailed conversation with Stephen Strasburg. He was elated to be drafted by the Washington Nationals, fired up to be the No. 1 pick and was having a great time there in California with the rest of his teammates at San Diego State.”
Even so, Rizzo did what could be perceived as the first bit of posturing when he was asked why Strasburg is considered a once-a-generation player.
“I don’t know why he’s called that,” said Rizzo, who went on to praise Strasburg before eventually conceding that Strasburg is “certainly in the team photo” of the best he’s seen.
The Nationals will forfeit Strasburg’s rights if they don’t have him signed by Aug. 15.
That’s what happened last year, when No. 9 overall selection Aaron Crow went unsigned. As compensation, Washington was awarded the No. 10 pick this year, which it used to selected right-hander Drew Storen from Stanford.
Strasburg was scheduled to speak to reporters on Wednesday.
ason at San Diego State and led Division I pitchers in strikeouts (195) and ERA (1.32). He has a fastball that has been clocked at 102 mph and was the only amateur on the bronze medal U.S. Olympic baseball team in Beijing last year.
The Nationals were 15-40 at the moment they chose Strasburg, easily the worst record in the majors. They’re on pace for a second consecutive 100-loss season and are near the bottom of the majors in attendance, even though their ballpark is barely more than a year old.
They’re badly in need of a break after a series of what-else-could-go-wrong memories from this year: the jerseys that were misspelled as “Natinals,” the sparse crowd that witnessed Randy Johnson’s rain-delayed 300th win, the temporary shutdown of game fireworks after debris happened to land on the city’s fire chief in the stands – just to name to a few.
It’s hoped Strasburg will lift some of that gloom, with even the manager buying into the once-in-a-generation hype.
“It’s a very important day for a team like ours that’s trying to rebuild,” manager Manny Acta said early Tuesday. “And everybody knows that the guy involved in the draft this year is one of those guys that comes along once in a lifetime.”
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