Mr.Strasburg, or should I call you Stephen because of your very childish acts of late,just take the money and get to work. Tell your agent, Scott Boras, to take your record-setting deal, and go to whatever level of the Nationalsorganizationthey put you in. I know you want 50 million dollars, so does everyone else, but almost as many would take 20 million. Don't go over the top here, because the Nationals are not going to give you that much money because of a few of my friends. Let me introduce them to you.
One example is Mark Prior. Having pitched with USC and declared the best young pitcher in the country hands down, the Cubs signed Prior to a huge deal before he ever pitched a game. While it looked for a flash as if he may have very well lived up to expectations, his career was dealt a crippling blow as he was hit with injures. Injuries from which he's never been able to recover.
Or remember Ben McDonald? An Olympic pitcher in 1988, the most anticipated college prospect out there, and a first overall pick. Almost as hyped then as you are now. What did McDonald do? Pitched mediocre baseball during his nine year career.
Then, more recently, there's Rick Ankiel. Touted as an exceptional pitcher and the next big thing in baseball a few years back, everyone believed that Ankiel was a lock for some Cy Young awards and probably more.
Ankiel had all of the same qualities that you do today. The Cardinals signed him to a record-breaking deal (but still one much smaller than yours) and he ended up entirely losing his stuff in the minors. He was lucky enough to carve out a role in the outfield, but I wouldn't count on the same for yourself.
There's also a long list of names outside of baseball. There's Ryan Leaf, Brian Bosworth, Tony Mandarich, and most recently Jamarcus Russell in football and Kwame Brown, Darko Milicic, Sam Bowie, and Michael Olowakandi in basketball.
In finishing, Stephen, take the money where you can get it. Then, if or when you live up to this greatest prospect of all time billing, cash in when you hit free agency, landing a mega-deal from the Yankees or Red Sox. 20 million from the Nationals, or whatever record amount their offering, is a lot of money, especially for a 21 year-old that has never thrown a pitch in the big leagues. Now, go have your first (celebration) beer, buy yourself a super fast car and a huge house, then get to work preparing yourself for your MLB debut that the Nationals will, no doubt, rush you to.
Hopefully you'll grow up and be happy with what you're getting. It's more than most athletes make in a lifetime.
One example is Mark Prior. Having pitched with USC and declared the best young pitcher in the country hands down, the Cubs signed Prior to a huge deal before he ever pitched a game. While it looked for a flash as if he may have very well lived up to expectations, his career was dealt a crippling blow as he was hit with injures. Injuries from which he's never been able to recover.
Or remember Ben McDonald? An Olympic pitcher in 1988, the most anticipated college prospect out there, and a first overall pick. Almost as hyped then as you are now. What did McDonald do? Pitched mediocre baseball during his nine year career.
Then, more recently, there's Rick Ankiel. Touted as an exceptional pitcher and the next big thing in baseball a few years back, everyone believed that Ankiel was a lock for some Cy Young awards and probably more.
Ankiel had all of the same qualities that you do today. The Cardinals signed him to a record-breaking deal (but still one much smaller than yours) and he ended up entirely losing his stuff in the minors. He was lucky enough to carve out a role in the outfield, but I wouldn't count on the same for yourself.
There's also a long list of names outside of baseball. There's Ryan Leaf, Brian Bosworth, Tony Mandarich, and most recently Jamarcus Russell in football and Kwame Brown, Darko Milicic, Sam Bowie, and Michael Olowakandi in basketball.
In finishing, Stephen, take the money where you can get it. Then, if or when you live up to this greatest prospect of all time billing, cash in when you hit free agency, landing a mega-deal from the Yankees or Red Sox. 20 million from the Nationals, or whatever record amount their offering, is a lot of money, especially for a 21 year-old that has never thrown a pitch in the big leagues. Now, go have your first (celebration) beer, buy yourself a super fast car and a huge house, then get to work preparing yourself for your MLB debut that the Nationals will, no doubt, rush you to.
Hopefully you'll grow up and be happy with what you're getting. It's more than most athletes make in a lifetime.
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