With Losses, Nats Could Stand to Gain Strasburg

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In the past, Johnson might have sent an early message, courtesy of Strasburg, in this game. But you don't do that with a 20-year-old.

"Going to flip the first guy?" I asked.

"I'd like to," Johnson said, laughing.

But he has mellowed. Instead, Davey ground his teeth as the Cubans pranced out their four home runs.

"They have a lot of fun. They do a lot of things we don't condone in the U.S.," Johnson said. "But it's over."

It is for Strasburg, at any rate.

"This was a major learning experience and something I'll remember for the rest of my life," he said.

Does he ever look at the big league standings and wonder where he'll be this time next year?

"It's not my number one goal to be taken number one overall," he said, maybe fibbing. "I want San Diego State to go to the College World Series."

Strasburg may pitch in a different kind of Series someday. Could it be for a Washington team that's lousy now? With the Nats' luck, it might be Seattle, Washington.

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