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With a Playoff Appearance on the Line, Should the Nationals Sit Strasburg? 
Posted on July 9, 2012 at 11:52 AM.
The Washington Nationals have put themselves in an interesting situation. Win now (possibly risking the best piece in the organization), or wait for the future?
The club with the National League's best record heading into the All-Star break, declared at the start of the season that ace pitcher, Stephen Strasburg, would be held to a strict limit for pitching in the 2012 season. The number: 160 innings. The expected date: early September.
But what if the Nationals are in the playoff hunt when the not-so-magic number of innings pitched is reached?
Some say let him play, others "take no chances."
Strasburg's recovery from Tommy John surgery has gone well so far, and for many pitchers the procedure has been a career enhancing one. Even though history may be on his side and his progression has gone well, the Nationals are playing a difficult guessing game.
Mark Prior was thought to have perfect mechanics with small chance for injury, and Justin Verlander was a trainwreck waiting to explode at the shoulder. History has proven both cases wrong, but Washington doesn't want to take a chance that their young flame-thrower could be another example of what went wrong.
When October comes knocking the Nationals hope they get the chance to answer the debate, and by then may have come up with some unique ways to keep him in the roation. The club could have Strasburg skip every other start or put him on pitch number limitations. Regardless of their decision, it would be tough to see the run of the Nationals end due to caution over concern for one player's health.
With a playoff spot riding on the line, do they sit their best arm or go for the prize?
Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.
# 1
MFarrer74 @ Jul 9
As a Nationals fan, I hope they do shut Strasburg down. He is an important part of the franchise and I'd like to see him around for a long, long time.
# 2
mikemj23 @ Jul 9
I said it last week. If they do sit Strasburg in the midst of a pennant race it's either the ballsiest or dumbest things I've ever seen.
I think you have to pitch him. May not get the chance at the playoffs again.
I think you have to pitch him. May not get the chance at the playoffs again.
# 3
JWaLL @ Jul 9
^^^^ May not get the dance at playoffs again? thats just not true.
But i do think that you have to pitch him. The 160 innings is just a random number thrown up in the air that is supposed to work. I understand why they would do it and i can actually see them winning the NL pennant without him. But in the World Series, when you have to play either Texas or NY. You need a guy that can flat out dominate a game for 7,8,9 innings and Strasburg is that guy. You mean to tell me that Ross Detwiler will be a good starter with all the pressure on him? think again
But i do think that you have to pitch him. The 160 innings is just a random number thrown up in the air that is supposed to work. I understand why they would do it and i can actually see them winning the NL pennant without him. But in the World Series, when you have to play either Texas or NY. You need a guy that can flat out dominate a game for 7,8,9 innings and Strasburg is that guy. You mean to tell me that Ross Detwiler will be a good starter with all the pressure on him? think again
# 4
Sigma4Life @ Jul 9
They may never again have a team playing as well as they do now. When you have the best record in the NL at the all star break you can't take for granted that you'll be this good again. Go for it all.
If they were scraping by trying to get the last wildcard spot then I'd say shut him down. The team has a legit shot at winning it all and that opportunity may not come again.
If they were scraping by trying to get the last wildcard spot then I'd say shut him down. The team has a legit shot at winning it all and that opportunity may not come again.
# 5
Redskinsfan26 @ Jul 9
As a nationals fan, you have to play him. After watching this team struggle since there arrival in DC, I feel like this team as a legit shot at least making some noise in the postseason, which is enough for me to say play him. It make come back to haunt us, but at least we will know we put our best guys out there.
# 6
mikemj23 @ Jul 11
@JWall
What's not true? There is ZERO guarantee the Nats will be in this position again next year, the following year etc. If they have the chance to make a deep run in the playoffs I think you have to pitch Strassy.
100% agree with Sigma : "The team has a legit shot at winning it all and that opportunity may not come again."
What's not true? There is ZERO guarantee the Nats will be in this position again next year, the following year etc. If they have the chance to make a deep run in the playoffs I think you have to pitch Strassy.
100% agree with Sigma : "The team has a legit shot at winning it all and that opportunity may not come again."
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