Evolution of Strasburg coverage

29. Oct, 2009 0 Comments

The Stephen Strasburg hype will strike a major milestone today when he is selected first in Major League Baseball’s draft. In the media, it has been a steady buildup that has been credible, notable and, in some cases, predictable.

The constant news cycle — grouped with sports media’s tendency to overanalyze and the necessity to out-do each other — was made for stories like Strasburg, the San Diego State pitcher championed by some as the greatest college prospect of all time.

We’ll see.

What’s most fascinating about the Strasburg coverage is the intelligent way in which sports media has sought to temper itself, especially over the last few months. First it went crazy over him, then it addressed the hiring of his agent, Scott Boras, then the money and, ultimately, the benefits and dangers inherent in a pick like Strasburg.

Sure, there was excess, but there always is. Overall, coverage of Strasburg has been fair and reasonable.

A very, very abridged timeline of Strasburg coverage:

March 2007: Strasburg is little more than a roundup item in the San Diego Union-Tribune.

February 2008: And only a season ago, although many recognized his potential, he was still getting knocked around a little.

April 11, 2008: Strasburg launches himself to a new level by striking out 23 batters in a nine-inning game. Baseball America dubbed him a “hulking ace.”

June 2008: Dave Cameron of USSMariner.com — Next Year’s #1?

July 2008: By the summer, the hype machine had hit a new gear. That tends to happen when you top 100 on the radar gun and couple that with decent control. Wrote Jay Posner of the Union-Tribune:

“We’ve all heard of New Year’s resolutions. It’s time for all local media members to take an All-Star break resolution: no more references to the Padres having any chance of contending in the NL West this season. It’s not happening. The only race about which anyone should be talking is the one for SDSU’s Stephen Strasburg, next year’s potential No. 1 draft pick.”

Posner obviously wasn’t the first — or even among the first 10 — to trumpet Strasburg. Yet the blurb at the bottom of his media column was indicative of the underground sensation Strasburg was to become before jumping into the mainstream.

August 2008: Seattle Times — Last will be first … in MLB draft.

August 2008: Baseball Prospectus blog — Stephen Strasburg – Thanks Insomnia!

August 2008: Washington Post — With Losses, Nats Could Stand To Gain Strasburg.

Jan. 17, 2009: Union-Tribune — Aztecs ace Strasburg may top wish list.

Feb. 4: Baseball America — San Diego State’s Strasburg works his way up to becoming “Next Big Thing.”

Feb. 8, 2009: Washington Post — New Ace May Be In Play For Nats

Feb. 21: Associated Press (via Fox Sports) — Fireballer Strasburg a big hit for Gwynn’s Aztecs.

March 24: The Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell advises the Nationals to not pick Strasburg in “Armed, but dangerous.”

March 24: Yahoo’s Steve Henson delivers “Strasburg is on the all-time fastest track.”

March 25: Wall Street Journal blog — Will Boras Upend the MLB Draft With College Pitcher?

March 25: Sports Illustrated — Stephen Strasburg Is Ready To Bring It.

Apri 10: USA Today — SDSU’s Strasburg plays it cool, pro scouts drool over pitcher.

April 10: NBC — The Next Big Thing: Stephen Strasburg.

April 26: L.A. Times — Kurt Streeter’s Stephen Strasburg brings the heat.

April 28: Sportsline — Strasburg’s price tag doesn’t turn off future teammates.

May 2: College Baseblog — Could Strasburg go straight to the majors?

May 3: ESPN — Gwynn has high praise for Strasburg.

May 6: ESPN’s Rob Neyer — When drafting pitchers, beware.

May 7: Union-Tribune — Strasburg stands among the greatest.

May 10: A nugget from SI’s Jon Heyman:

“He is expected to shoot for $50 million after the Nats surely pick him first, and while no one’s had a bad thing to say about him (supposedly, he could have gone to Harvard), the history of allegedly extraordinary high school and even college pitching prospects is fairly spotty, including David Clyde, Matt Harrington, Brien Taylor (who got hurt), Todd Van Poppel and many other alleged can’t-miss prospects who missed.”

May 18: MLB.com — Nats have faith they can sign Strasburg.

May 19: Yahoo’s Jeff Passan — Strasburg won’t see D.C. this season.

May 30: Henson drives the coverage forward with “Strasburg should get used to struggle.”

June 5: L.A. Times blog — Never mind campus: Stephen Strasburg to hold news conference at Scott Boras’ office.

June 8: ESPN — Hefty pricetag on Strasburg’s talent.

June 8: Fox Sport’s Michael Rosenberg, a solid writer, with an outdated angle on the eve of the draft. SCOTT BORAS IS EVIL!!! — Boras everything that is wrong with amateur draft.

June 9 (but filed June : The Washington Post’s Thomas Boswell again says the Nats need to watch what they pay Strasburg, but that the talent is undeniable. Strasburg Is The Pick, If The Price Is Right.