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Few major points the writer of the article glossed over:
Of course Strasburg would have helped, but the real issue was the offense. Prior to Game 5, the team had scored a combined 9 runs in 4 games. When you are leaving double digit runners on base each game and not coming through in the clutch, it doesn't matter who is pitching, you won't win.
Stephen Strasburg last two starts were awful. Some would say that the shut down was a distraction, but I would point to the fact that perhaps he was just tired. He has never pitched this many innings in his life and on a surgically repaired arm, is it realistic for him to pitch at the same level as he did prior to the season starting?
Ross Detwiler, who replaced Strasburg, pitched 6 innings and gave up 1 run, which was unearned. How can you do much better than that?
Even though Zimmermann and Jackson struggled, Strasburg pitching had no effect because those two pitchers would have pitched in the series as starters regardless.
The point of Orel Hershiser is apples and oranges because had already pitched through several seasons prior to have that surgery.
When the Nationals announced that they were shutting Strasburg down for the remainder of the season, it didn't occur to me that they meant any possible appearances in the playoffs as well.
However tired he might have been after pitching as many innings as he did in 2012, deliberately keeping him out of the playoffs is a decision that will haunt the Nationals for a long, long time.
When the Nationals announced that they were shutting Strasburg down for the remainder of the season, it didn't occur to me that they meant any possible appearances in the playoffs as well.
However tired he might have been after pitching as many innings as he did in 2012, deliberately keeping him out of the playoffs is a decision that will haunt the Nationals for a long, long time.
It has proven that shutting down young pitchers and re-starting them isn't a good idea, so you either have to keep him going or shut him down, there is no in between.
Is there a creative way to do that? Not really. I don't think there is. MOD CUT
"Of course, it would be possible to simply have Strasburg take a break for, say, six weeks right about now. Let him rest his arm, then come back strong when the games count most. It would be possible, but it wouldn't be smart."
Said former Braves and Orioles pitching coach Leo Mazzone: "You know what the hardest thing on the arm is? Starting and stopping. So now you're going to lay it up for two weeks or whatever and then crank it up again? It doesn't make any sense."
Kerrigan agreed.
"I think the risk of injury would be high to shut him down like that," he said. "Then you restart the arm up. I just think that's risky. Very risky. The arm's been on that pace. Throwing every five days. MOD CUT
It's basically the same risk you would take if not worst than continuing to pitch him.
Last edited by NewToCA; 10-25-2012 at 07:30 AM..
Reason: too much of a copyright protected article
It has proven that shutting down young pitchers and re-starting them isn't a good idea, so you either have to keep him going or shut him down, there is no in between.
Quote:
I've heard it said a number of times on TV
So, to prove my theory about Elvis shooting JFK, all I need is for someone to say it on television?
From the linked article:
Quote:
Then you shut him down and you start him up again, you don't know how the arm's going to react."
Perhaps you should vet your witnesses a bit before calling them to the stand.
The Nats could have used him, but they could have won Game 5 (and that series) without him.
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