Strasburg and National's Future Starts Tonight

Stephen Strasburg makes MLB debut tonight vs the Pirates

So since when did anything in Washington become relevant in sports? Draft night. No, not this months NBA draft when the Wizards are expected to take Kentucky's John Wall, but last year when the Nationals drafted Stephen Strasburg #1 overall and paid him a record $15 million contract.

Strasburg's first major league appearance will be marked by a sellout in D.C. This is a team that draws 17,000 a game and to make matters even worse it's against the lowly Pirates - they're expecting 41,000.

Why not? Strasburg already set records during his trip through the minor leagues. Alliance Bank Stadium, the home to AAA affiliate Syracuse Chiefs, broke an attendance record with 13,000. The Nationals have filled 187 credentials for the media and Strasburg has created more buzz for a city that hasn't had an above .500 team since the 1960's, than any other prospect in history.

The Nationals will be careful with their projected ace though, limiting him to 90 pitches, 100 innings, and only throwing once every 5 days. On that fifth day the Nationals hope their presumed ace can fill expectations and with that, the seats of the ballpark.