There was a time, not terribly long ago, when the sight of Stephen Strasburg taking the mound was a confidence boost for the Nationals, not to mention a daunting prospect for the opposition. He was an intimidating presence on the mound, with a repertoire that left batters quaking in their spikes and fans on the edge of their seats.
How that version of Strasburg has morphed into this version of Strasburg — the guy who was roughed up once again Saturday by the Phillies during an 8-1 loss at Nationals Park, intimidating no one, looking like he had given up — is the greatest mystery facing this franchise right now.