Strasburg and his inning limit for this season. What would you do?

[jbhofmann]

Bob Gibson would have thrown a 4 seamer into his GMs sternum if he heard this nonsense.

Three greatest myths regarding MLB pitching: Pitch counts, inning limits, and blaming Dusty Baker

 

[homerun28aa]

Shutting down a pitcher at an arbitrary inning limit without considering the condition of his arm makes no sense at all. Obviously you monitor the situation every time he pitches, but your job as a franchise is to WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. If babying your stud pitcher when there is nothing wrong with himis more important than winning, then you should go find a different profession outside of competitive sports.

Also, pitchers pitch year round. Apparently that needs to be cleared up. They pitch at 100% even during the offseason to keep their arms in shape and to continue to improve. Shutting him down isn't like he suddenly stops pitching.

And making him a reliever is not a realistic option because that takes a completely different mindset, warmups, and arm condition. I'd almost argue that that would be worse for his arm because he's not used to that.

I'm not sure that the inning limit is something arbitrary the GM thought up in the shower. I think there is some science behind it. I agree though making him a reliever is just stupid; either he's out there as a starter or he's resting

 

[TheRealFrankL]

Nationals fan here:

The good news is there isn't a debate inside the organization. Rizzo calls the shot, and he will pull the plug when he's ready to do so.

For the record he's [Rizzo] never come out and said 160-70 innings, that's all speculation based on what folks are used to seeing out of other TJ players.

What folks lose track of is that, even though he is a great pitcher, he's not the only pitcher-and he's probably not the BEST pitcher right now on the Nationals. Shaky outting yesterday aside, Gio has been a better pitcher this year, and Jordan Zimmermann is no slouch. I'd put those two guys in a three man rotation against a lot of other teams. If you have Ross Detwiler/Edwin Jackson as your third starter you're not in awful shape at all-Det is probably the best 5th starter out there and would be the 3rd guy in a lot of rotations. EJax can have a really good outting too, including a complete game.

Stras is a kid who has only just over one full year under his belt. All his best years are (likely) ahead of him as he actually continues to learn how to pitch. Giving up your second best pitcher hurts, but it shouldn't affect their ability to make the playoffs-we're talking, at most, he misses 5 starts. Once they are there, anything can happen (ask the Cards).


Back when Grienke was looking like a good trade, I heard the idea of putting stras in the bullpen and pitching Gio, JZ and Zack, and then having an even more lights out bullpen. Of all the crazy theories I heard that one appeal to me the most, b/c the Nats would have a chance at signing Zach (who considered the Nats a few years ago) and they do have a deep prospect field to move pieces. Still not ideal b/c now ZG doesn't look like he did a month ago, and I'm not sure that Stras is built to do the nightly warm up-and as I'm not a doctor, I have no idea how that would affect the arm. It's a lot of stress on the arm just to get ready.

Ultimately I'm happy with the decision that is coming, and so is most of Natstown (in my unofficial twitter and email polls).

 

[Topnotchsy]

There's plenty of debate whether such an inning limit has benefits. Honestly from an outsiders perspective, looking at all the injuries and differences of opinion on what works and does not, I am skeptical.

That said, if the team believed that the limit is important, and it appears they did because they've mentioned shutting him down, I cannot see how the situation they are in would change that. Not worth risking the future (if you believe it is a risk) for a single season.

 

[moxacaine]

I think the staff is plenty good enough to take them all the way. And yes they never announced the inning limit so it makes me believe they've been monitoring him pretty closely all year. I would hope if they shut him down that the the team would still keep him on the roster through the playoffs though since it wouldn't be fair if they won the World Series and he didn't get a ring. Its wasting a spot on the roster but he earned it.

 

[Wes]

I think the staff is plenty good enough to take them all the way. And yes they never announced the inning limit so it makes me believe they've been monitoring him pretty closely all year. I would hope if they shut him down that the the team would still keep him on the roster through the playoffs though since it wouldn't be fair if they won the World Series and he didn't get a ring. Its wasting a spot on the roster but he earned it.

You don't have to be on the active roster to win a ring. Bengie Molina actually got a ring when the Giants won in 2010, even though he was on the losing Rangers. Nomar has a ring from 2004.

 

[moxacaine]

You don't have to be on the active roster to win a ring. Bengie Molina actually got a ring when the Giants won in 2010, even though he was on the losing Rangers. Nomar has a ring from 2004.

I did not know that. Thanks!!

 

[matchpenalty]

So a team that may make the playoffs for the first time and have shot at WS shuts down it's most important player during stretch run. Would be one of the dumbest things in history of baseball. When you have a shot you do everything to try and make it. If your worried about innings and injuries you might as well live in a bubble. I hope Nats shut him down, miss playoffs and get injury plagued and don't sniff the playoffs for another 10 years. What a joke if they shut him down. If team doesn't have the balls to go for it screw them.