Stoddard looks forward to seeing Sox battle Strasburg

Posted June 17, 2010 11:00 pm

Scot Gregor

Tim Stoddard has seemingly done - and seen - it all.

Northwestern's pitching coach for the past 17 years, the Palatine resident is one of only two athletes to play in an NCAA Final Four (he was a forward at North Carolina State) and a World Series (Orioles).

The 6-foot-7 Stoddard was a reliever for the White Sox in 1975 and he pitched for the Cubs in 1984.

He also played the part of a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1993 movie "Rookie of the Year."

Stoddard will be looking for recruits Friday during a showcase at Stevenson High School, but he'll be in front of the TV at night when Washington Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg makes his third major-league start, against the Sox at Nationals Park.

"You always have guys that you want to watch pitch," Stoddard said. "(Greg) Maddux was always that one for me, just the complete craft he had for pitching. I'd tell my kids to watch him when he pitches. (Strasburg) is another one of those guys. I've told my kids to watch him whenever they can, just to get an idea of how you are supposed to pitch."

Watching Strasburg is one thing. Trying to emulate the 21-year-old right-hander is quite another.

Stoddard has been around the game of baseball for nearly a half century, but he had a tough time finding an answer when asked for a Strasburg comparison.

"You see guys come out like him every once in a while, but not very often," Stoddard said. "I can't really think of anybody who he reminds me of. Not too many guys throw 100 miles an hour and command three pitches (fastball, changeup, curveball), you know? There are guys that have thrown 100. Nolan (Ryan) didn't get a changeup until late in his career. He was a fastball-curveball guy.

"Not too many guys have walked out with three pitches and that type of command."

Northwestern never played San Diego State when Strasburg was tearing it up for his hometown college.

But Stoddard was very familiar with the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder when he was learning his craft in high school.

"His name was out there and you knew about him," Stoddard said. "As for recruiting him, yeah, that would have been a pretty good one to get. I hate to say it, but at Northwestern we know pretty well that guys like that are going to go to schools known more as baseball schools.

"Getting a kid to come North and play at an academic school, we get them every once in a while, but not usually guys of his caliber."

As for the White Sox' gameplan against Strasburg - who is 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 12 1/3 innings against the Pirates and Indians - Stoddard offered some advice.

"You've got to go up there and be aggressive," Stoddard said. "He mixes his pitches good, so that's going to be tough. But he's still a young guy and his fastball, he's going to feature it. The fact that he throws so many strikes, you've got to go up there ready to swing."

For the White Sox, that might be easier said than done.

"He's really fun to watch," Stoddard said. "I know he had some control trouble his last time out (with 5 walks at Cleveland on Sunday), but he can really pitch and he's doing it under a lot of pressure from (the media) and pitching in front of 50,000 people for the first time.

"A lot of guys, when you throw the ball that hard, the ball doesn't move that much. He's got good movement on the ball. And he's got the other two pitches. He's got the power and he's got the command."

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg. Associated Press

Scouting report

White Sox vs. Washington Nationals at Nationals Park

TV: Comcast SportsNet today and Sunday; FOX Saturday

Radio: WSCR 670-AM

Pitching matchups: The Sox' Gavin Floyd (2-7) vs. Stephen Strasburg (2-0)

Today at 6:05 p.m.; TBA vs. J.D. Martin (0-2) Saturday at 3:10 p.m.; Freddy Garcia (7-3) vs. John Lannan (2-4) Sunday at 12:35 p.m.

At a glance: All eyes will be on Strasburg tonight. The star rookie makes his third start and the White Sox are going to have their hands full. Jake Peavy, who reportedly has some fluid in his right shoulder, was originally scheduled to oppose Strasburg. Peavy might take the mound on Saturday, or he might head to the disabled list and be replaced by Daniel Hudson. The Sox played the Nationals in 2004 and were 1-2. They were also 1-2 vs. Washington in 2002. The Nationals are coming off three straight losses at Detroit, they've dropped five or six and they are last in the NL East.

Next: Atlanta Braves, Tuesday-Thursday at U.S. Cellular Field

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