There are a few ways to look at it, as a Reds fan I’m happy the Nationals will have a cap on the innings Strasburg pitches this year. As a plan baseball fan I’m sad because the Nationals will probably go on to make the playoffs and watching him in the post season would be special. Another way to look at it is smart by the National brass to try to protect their ace pitcher but who pictured the Nats with a chance to make noise in the post season this year, we all know they are a year ahead of schedule. So, with that being said should the Nats scrap the cap on Strasburg?
Teams don’t have a shot to win the World Series every year unless you have unlimited resources like say the Yankees, Red Sox or the newly rejuvenated Dodgers, so why not go for the gusto and try to get that ring?
The magic number for Strasburg is 160 innings which could allow him around 4 more starts. He is a little over a year and a half removed from Tommy John surgery. Because of the surgery the brass want to make sure their star pitcher doesn’t get overworked. The Nationals don’t want to be in the same position they were in during the 2010 season.
The Nats still have a strong rotation but it won’t be as feared without Stras penciled in. Gonzalez, Zimmerman, Jackson, Detwiler and the newly appointed starter will have to pick up the slack especially in the playoffs. If the Nats go on to win the World Series nobody will point the finger at the higher ups but if they don’t and never make it back to this point people will always wonder what if? Yes, what if they didn’t shut Strasburg down. It’s a double edge sword because you have to protect your investment but you also play to win the big one, only time will tell if this was the right move.
