The Chalk Talk with Dan and the Dawg

On June 8th, 2010, Washington Nationals' right-hander Stephen Strasburg debuted before a raucous home crowd of 40,315 fans. The excitement surrounding the young prospect was electric; Sports Illustrated deemed the San Diego State product as being "the most hyped and closely watched pitching prospect in the history of baseball." Given his pedigree and history of collegiate success, it should come as no surprise that Strasburg did nothing but dazzle in his first major league start. Strasburg's fourteen strikeouts over seven sparkling innings seemed to be a proverbial turning of the corner for a franchise that had spent much of the 2000's as perennial cellar dwellers. However, it wasn't supposed to be this way. Five years prior to Strasburg's debut, there was another right-handed power pitcher who took Washington D.C. by storm and seemed set to become the face of the new Washington franchise. John Patterson: the face of the new Washington franchise. ...