So what does this rainout mean for Baseball Jesus's big-league debut?

(Stephen Strasburg still has a few things to work on in AAA. *wink* *wink*. Photo by AP via Daylife.)

"What more can we ask him to do in the minor leagues that he can't do in the major leagues?"
(Mike Rizzo, on Drew Storen, via Nationals Journal, 5/18/2010)

This much we know: tonight's rainout in Rochester gives Strasburg an extra day of rest; pushes everything up by one day. Strasburg will pitch the second game of tomorrow's day-night doubleheader for the Chiefs, then Monday May 24 vs. Toledo instead of Sunday, followed by a Saturday May 29 start vs. Scranton W/B at home in 'Cuse. And then?

Does tonight's rainout make it less likely the team will give him another extra day of rest, which would now be required to line him up for a debut in Washington on June 4? We think yes. But Dave Sheinin says things are still lined up perfectly for a June 4 debut. Now we're confused.

We're thinking Rizzo keeps him on a strict 5-day track from here -- meaning one additional AAA start on the road in Buffalo June 3, lining up his debut with the Nationals at home on June 8.

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Comments

[cass]

Before, he would have needed 2 extra days rest to make the 4th. Now, he'll just need 1. Not sure how this makes the 4th less likely... I'd say more. If there's another rainout, the 4th will still be possible, while the 8th would not. The 4th is the more stable date.

[bdrube]

Why would they give him an extra AAA start? And on the road no less? They need him to pitch in DC as much as possible. That means the 4th.

You also have the attendance factor. The biggest jump is going to be those first two games. After that interest will still be elevated but will die down a lot.

They need for him to make two starts during that early June homestand.

[The Nationals Enquirer]

@cass: Just given that they're handling him with kid gloves, we're guessing Rizzo probably doesn't want to mess w/his schedule too much, keep him going every 5th day. Even in the event of another rainout pushing him up another day, he could still go the 9th. Rizzo says he has a "window" probably not a fixed date.

@@bdrube: again, if they're worried about him sticking to a routine, then the extra day allows him to keep going every 5th day. Not saying we agree with him getting an extra AAA start, we're just trying to guess what Rizzo's thinking along with everyone else.

You're right: the attendance factor is huge. Disagree that interest will die down all that much. The June 4 date allows him to make 3 of his first 4 starts at home, where June 8 makes it only 2 of 4. You're probably on to something there.