Nationals’ Stephen Strasburg Dazzles Dodgers In 2011 Debut

Then they said Stephen Strasburg wouldn’t pitch Tuesday night, because rains were supposed to blanket the DMV all evening long.

Slightly more than a year ago -- the 21st of August, to be precise -- Strasburg threw his last pitch in the majors before Tuesday night. Also slightly more than one year ago -- the 3rd of September, to be precise -- Dr. Lewis Yocum removed a ligament from Strasburg’s left leg and transplanted said ligament into Strasburg’s right elbow.

Pitching continues to evolve, as hurlers are always searching for new and better tools to use against hitters. In part because of this, strikeout rates that were considered average 25 years ago are considered poor today. In 1986, just 19 of the 80 pitchers who qualified for the ERA title struck out more than the 2011 league average. Of the 100 pitchers who qualify in 2011, 46 are above the 2011 league average, and 72 are above the 1986 average.

Back in 1986, six strikeouts per nine innings would get you the “league average” designation. Today, you need seven per nine to do that. There has been a gradual shift each year, with the last three seasons the only ones at or above seven strikeouts per nine, dating all the way back to 1871. Just two of the top 20 seasons all-time for strikeouts per nine occurred outside of the last 20 years -- and the fairly recent year of Strasburg’s birth, 1988, isn’t one of them:

Six innings. One hit. Three strikes for every ball. A fastball that reached near triple digits. And, according to various reports on Twitter, lots of offspeed pitches as well. If that sounds like Stephen Strasburg, that’s because it’s Stephen Strasburg, as if nothing ever happened.

Well, not exactly. He did stop at 70 pitches. Strasburg is still in the process of coming back from major surgery, so the stamina hasn’t yet built up. But he has been throwing more and more every time. His pitch counts for his six minor-league rehab starts: