I talk for a living, but the one time I sat next to Stephen Strasburg for three hours on an airplane ride, I couldn't think of a single thing to say.
I was the play-by-play voice of the 2009 San Diego State baseball team and Strasburg was the reason that the team had a voice in the first place. As one of the top pitchers in all of college baseball, Strasburg's presence demanded that the 2009 season be broadcast over the airwaves. So here we were, flying to some road game, and I'm tongue-tied. I mean, I knew this guy was someday going to be a superstar major league player, and what a chance I had to create a fun conversation and a memory that would last a lifetime.
Nothing.
For his part, Strasburg -- though far from being off-putting -- didn't have a whole lot to say, either. Knowing what we know of him nowadays, he was probably focused on his next starting assignment. So we just kind of went along together, an empty seat between us and an even larger gap in the conversation.
Strasburg has never had a lot to say, except when he expresses himself on the mound. Through a flurry of fastballs, curves, change-ups, and splitters he has spoken especially loud during this 2019 baseball postseason, helping pitch the Washington Nationals to their first-ever World Series appearance. Loudly and proudly, he has established himself as one of the better clutch postseason pitchers of all-time, putting together a resume that would even catch Madison Bumgarner's or Bob Gibson's attention.
The numbers speak for themselves (which is good because Strasburg likely would be uncomfortable speaking about them). In four playoff appearances against Milwaukee, Los Angeles and most recently St. Louis, Strasburg has allowed only four earned runs in 22 innings. He has struck out 33 batters and walked only one. He was the winning pitcher in the series-clinching victory over both the Brewers and the Dodgers (both elimination games).
And though I failed to carry on much of a conversation with him on that lazy weekday afternoon flight, I knew enough then about this right-hander to know that what I'm seeing now is not a surprise.
Strasburg always has been clutch. He once struck out 23 batters in a single game against the University of Utah. Keep in mind there are only 27 outs in a game. He did that his sophomore season after Aztec coach Tony Gwynn had realized that he was basically wasting Strasburg as a freshman closer and had moved him into the starting rotation. After that performance, all eyes were on him -- and he didn't disappoint.
During the season I called the games, he was lights out from nearly Day One, attracting as many scouts as the stadiums would allow and attracting more fans than even his great Hall of Fame coach. When we would all get off the bus for a game, there were two big crowds always there waiting for autographs. One for Strasburg, those who wanted to get a glimpse of the future, and one for Gwynn, who wanted to get a glimpse of the past. The Strasburg gathering was always larger. (And Gwynn used to always smile, appreciative that he wouldn't have to sign as many autographs as usual).
In the end, it all came down to one final game for the Aztecs' ace: his final career college regular-season start on a Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium against Air Force. A team that normally drew about 700 fans for a game, drew 3,700 on this night, people packed like sardines into the tiny ballpark to get one last look at him. Strasburg, predictably, rose to the occasion. And then some.
He pitched a 5-0 victory, striking out 17. Oh, and just for fun, he thrilled the large throng by throwing his only career college no-hitter. Anyone there, including the guy who called the final out, would never forget it. ("Strasburg....into the wind-up....the 1-2 pitch....slider, called strike three!...a no-hitter!....And the man who has re-written the record books at San Diego State has just capped it off with a final chapter for the ages.").
Soon after he would become the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB draft by the Nats, and he has continued to write history ever since. His career postseason numbers heading into this year's World Series now read this way: 4-2 record with a 1.10 ERA. In 42 playoff innings of work, he has allowed only five earned runs and 32 hits, striking out 57 while walk only five.
It all really seems worthwhile to talk about.