Stephen Strasburg & Rickie Fowler: Overpromise & Overdeliver

40,315 people crowded a typically empty venue in southeast Washington, DC, last night in the hopes that they would truly see something they had never experienced.  Stephen Strasburg, the Nationals' and overall number one pick in last year's MLB draft, was to make his pro ball debut after completely mowing down competition at the minor league level.  With a 7-2 record, ERA under two, and a little more than a strikeout per inning, it just seemed the right time to put the former San Diego State pitcher in a bigger sandbox.

Bolstering a triple-digit fastball, unreal curveball, and Kerry Wood-esque breaking pitch, the hype for Strasburg's first start was through the roof...and out of the doors of the stadium.  The Nationals sold standing-room-only seats for the game.  MLB Network trotted out Bob Costas to call the debut.  ESPN set up its road studio - on a Tuesday night - in Nats Park.

If that's not pressure, what is it?

Strasburg responded.  7 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB, 14 K.  He struck out the side in his last inning of work.  The only reason he gave up any runs is because his 91 MPH change-up is like an average fastball in the majors.  The Nationals said they would limit their future to 90 or so pitches.  He downright embarrassed fourteen batters in 94 pitches.  Short of a Greg Maddux complete came in under 90 pitches, has there been a more efficient use of hurls than that?

Needless to say, Strasburg exceeded the hype.  It will begat even more hype.  Costas was sure that Strasburg would be a first ballot hall of famer by the end of the second inning.  Tim Kurkjian of ESPN was practically choked up describing the historical significance of devastating the AAAA Pittsburgh Pirates.

The thing is: Strasburg earned that.  He never downplayed expectations.  He merely accepted the challenge and displayed his talent.  The gushing praise from all corners of the sports world was one thing.  Another was instant credibility with his teammates.  As is apparently tradition for the '10 Nats, the hero of the game has to do the post-game interview on local sports net MASN in a wig that is a cross between Elvis Presley's hair and the ceremonial locks of an 18th century judge.  He's officially in the club.

It struck me last night that Rickie Fowler has been able to meet and exceed the lofty expectations place on him prior to his two-season rookie year on Tour.  Having been a can't miss talent for years, Fowler performed tremendously in his short college stint at Oklahoma State.  (They could have used him last weekend against Augusta State.)  While still in college, Fowler nearly won an event on the Nationwide Tour - the equivalent of the kind of man-child performances that Strasburg turned in while in the minors.

Don't worry about ridiculous headwear, Fowler has that covered, too.

Fowler turned pro and took his stab at qualifying for the 2010 PGA Tour in just seven events.  He nearly did it.  Losing in a playoff to Fall Series stud Troy Matteson and USC standout Jamie Lovemark, Fowler made it evident that he was ready to win now.  So far this season, Fowler has exhibited that he could win on any given week.  At two very distinct venues, in Scottsdale and the Memorial, Fowler nearly did just that.  Yeah, he came up short.  But at just 21 years old, he has as many top tens as innings Strasburg pitched last night.

The Orange Wonder made a crucial mistake that cost him the Memorial in a way that Strasburg's unintentional power cost him a couple of earned runs.  Fowler was too aggressive on the par 3 12th, which led to a double bogey and killed his chances at that matchstroke win.  Had Strasburg not given up his home run in the 4th, it would have been a nearly perfect performance.

Baseball and golf are kind of similar in that there is often so much hype applied to up-and-coming talents.  The developmental period for players in both sports just seems to be so much longer, nearly lifelong, that names resonate for years in the consciousness of the sport before they ever appear at the highest level with the combination of talent and maturity to deliver on all of the promises they never made.

Both Rickie Fowler and Stephen Strasburg have demonstrated that they are willing to accept the pressure of cashing checks written on their behalf by their hype machines just as much as they are to deposit ones written to them by sponsors and fans.  Each has only been more than a figment of our imagination for a very short period, and who knows what is yet to come.  Still, in a world where hype often seems to drive the culture more than actual performance, it is great to be able to talk less about upside and more about reality.