Strasburg

[702Celtics]

Why exactly are the Nats shutting him down? Is it because of the number of innings they want to limit him to?

[HMFFL]

He had Tommy Johns Surgery so they want to be careful with the amount of innings he pitches. They need him as rested and as healthy as possible for the playoffs.

[Dr Positivity]

On a grantland podcast they were talking that apparently they're going to shut him down in the RS and NOT play him in the playoffs, because their treatment of his arm has been extremely "building a routine"-centric, and shutting him down for a month and bringing him back would be out of the routine - this is also why they didn't have just have him skip starts throughout the year to get to the end. If I heard correctly, the only thing WSH is letting dictate their decision is Strasburg's health. The playoff run has no part in the decision.

[HMFFL]

That's interesting. So, they intend on not playing their best pitcher in the playoffs? I understand the reasoning behind it but I doubt they sit their best pitcher.

[sunshinekids99]

Really makes no sense what the Nats are doing. I understand not wanting to get him hurt, but this could be a once in a lifetime chance for these guys. They have a shot to win it all with Strasburg, Gonzalez, and Zimmerman.

[Rafael122]

I understand both sides to the argument, but it just seems like this is more of an issue with people outside of the DC area than it is for actual DC/Nats fans. The kid blew his arm out throwing a curveball last year. Regardless if he continues to pitch or not, he can get hurt at any point in time. Heck, and knock on wood that this doesn't happen, he can get hurt tomorrow in his next start. They did the same thing with Jordan Zimmerman and no one said a word.

[craig01]

I can see why the Nats are doing this.....I just wonder how they decided to settle on 160-180 innings as opposed to something less.....or what they would have done with bringing him back had Strasburg gone on the DL for 3-4 weeks during the season.

[Rafael122]

I can see why the Nats are doing this.....I just wonder how they decided to settle on 160-180 innings as opposed to something less.....or what they would have done with bringing him back had Strasburg gone on the DL for 3-4 weeks during the season.

Truthfully, I don't think the Nats brass expected the team to be this good this year. The whole thing was "wait until 2013" because by then Strasburg won't have an innings limit and they'd have a complete team by then. Now? On the verge of 90 wins, legit World Series contender. I think if Rizzo had a crystal ball and he saw this coming, he would have planned it out better, but what's done is done. You only need 4 pitchers in the playoffs anyway, and w/out Stephen, the Nats still have one of the top rotations in baseball.

[sunshinekids99]

The Nats go from NL favorites to basically a pickem with out their best pitcher. I think it's a terrible injustice to the fans of the Nats and to Strasburg himself. I don't see the difference between 180 and 200+ to be quite honest.

[bigboy1234]

Yeah, I wouldn't have shut him down either. They should have planned this better. Natinals gonna Natinals.

[Higga]

Stras isn't just coming off TJ surgery, he's a young guy who never pitched this many innings before. He's already pitched more innings this year then the last two years combined. Young arms need to be developed slowly. You don't immediately push a guy to 200 IP or you get a Prior/Wood situation. 160 innings was where we shut Zimemrmann down at last year who was coming off TJ the year before and he's been great this year, so they're following a similar template.

People who think shutting down Stras will immediately destroy the Nats playoff hopes are delusional. Since the All-Star break Stras has I believe the 4th best ERA...on the team. He's been EXTREMELY erratic, clearly because his arm is fatiguing having not pitched this much before. He was basically a 50/50 pitcher, every great start was followed by a terrible one. A guy like that is not reliable in the playoffs. The guy who replaced Strasburg in the rotation, John Lannan, is 3-0 with a sub 3 ERA this year.

This was the best move for the Nats organization. Next year we'll get a fully healthy and reinvigorated Strasburg who will absolutely dominate the rest of MLB. And even without him, the Nats still have one of the best rotations in baseball(probably 2nd to the Giants, 3rd if Philly makes it). Gio Gonzalez is a Cy Young candidate, Jordan Zimmermann would be too if he didn't have so many hard luck losses, and Edwin Jackson is a solid pitcher with playoff experience. Don't sleep on the kid Ross Detwiler either a former 1st round pick who is finally coming into his own. The bullpen is rock solid and the lineup top to bottom might be the best in the NL now that they're fully healthy(well the starting C is out for the year but everyone else is back).