Strasburg, Pelfrey, and Davis, Oh My!

Hey everyone, a few quick hits for you today as I'm short on time:

First things first. I didn't watch Stephen Strasburg's major league debut last night, but I've seen a good amount of highlights by this point.

At the risk of saying something I'll regret for the next however many years before Strasburg signs with the Yankees, as I watched the highlights of his performance I found myself feeling really happy for Nationals fans last night.

It's only one game (against the Pirates*, no less), but Strasburg didn't just look like he belonged last night, he looked like he was ready to dominate the league.

It wasn't just that he had 14 strikeouts, it was the way the ball exploded out of his hand and into the glove on his fastball, the way it cut mercilessly down on the curve (I didn't see it, but I'm sure the changeup was good, too).

It was a masterful performance, and it appears that the Nationals will now have the kind of big-time talent to make them relevant, both in terms of drawing attendance (great to see them sell out last night), and, potentially, in terms of the NL East.

You don't want to get ahead of yourself. Again, it's only one start. And even if Strasburg can match this effort against better teams, you still never know if he'll go on to be Tom Seaver, Mark Prior, or something in between... Doc Gooden maybe.

That's it on Strasburg; promise never to gush about him again.

* * * * *

Awesome win for the good guys last night. You know, say what you want about Strasburg, but right now Mike Pelfrey's the kind of pitcher I'd be jealous as shit about if he were on one of those other teams in NL East.

What more can you say about the effort last night? It was nice to see him settle in last night after getting touched up a bit early. I wish we'd been able to get him a win to show for his 9-inning gem, but as Pelfrey said afterward, sometimes the other guy just matches you.

If it had been Johan Santana on the mound, I'd have probably slipped into a deep depression for him on account of another brilliant outing with no W to show for it, but Pelfrey's had run support (or at least he can't complain compared to Johan).

* * * * *

Anyway, it took 11 innings but then Ike Davis ended it with a no-doubter to right field. After the obligatory home-plate celebration, he spoke with Kevin Burkhardt and got his second shaving cream pie to the face.

Now, question here. I remember shaving cream pies getting thrown in rookies' faces after their first game winning hit. But since A.J. Burnett made a habit out of it for the Yankees last year, the Mets seem to have adopted the practice of shaving cream pieing anyone who get a walk-off hit.

It reminds me of when the Mets started playing Sweet Caroline at Shea Stadium, in a blatant rip off of the Red Sox. Only this is worse because now we're ripping off the Yankees.

It occurs to me I could be wrong about this -- have people always gotten shaving cream pies in the face after game winning hits?

* * * * *

Know what was the best part of Davis' post-game interview? The way he answered the question everyone's been asking. Why is this team so good at home, Burkhardt asked.

"Because of these guys," Davis said, looking at the fans. "Because of the fans. Thanks everyone, good night!"

I'm paraphrasing a bit there, but that's the long and the short of it. It's the best and only answer you can give.

* * * * *

That's all I got. Now let's get Johan some runs tonight.

- A.F.O.M.G.

* Know what else would make me really happy? If Lastings Milledge starting wearing his hair like Lil Wayne (Free Weezy!); from the looks of it he's on his way.