Nationals have plan to shut down success

[Auggie]

Bruce Jenkins, San Francisco Chronicle / 7-14-12

You've probably heard about the Nationals' brilliant plan to kill their own pennant race. It sounds as if Stephen Strasburg, the guinea pig in question, isn't too thrilled with the idea. And wait until his teammates grasp the full consequences of this lunacy.

Here's the first thing to know about protecting pitchers' arms: Nobody knows anything about it, other than the fact that the pitch-count era, designed to have pitchers throw less, has seen a staggering increase in the number of injuries.

SNIP

The problem is that Strasburg is feeling just fine right now. The fact that he was allowed to pitch in the All-Star Game should give you some idea. The city of Washington hasn't known a baseball postseason since 1933, and as the Giants recently discovered, this Nationals team is exceptional.

Take away Strasburg in a National League overloaded with postseason contenders, and the entire season could be lost.

Former Giants pitcher Mike Krukow: "It may be the only chance they get for years. As a teammate, why am I running into a wall, or sliding headfirst into a pair of shin guards, if we're just going to quit? This is my time - screw his time. You think Aubrey Huff would have loved hearing that in 2010, that Tim Lincecum was pitching too many innings? You can't tell 24 guys that one pitcher is more important than they are."

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Nationals-have-plan-to-shut-down-success-3706515.php

[TZ]

1. Does no one outside DC know anything about this

Stras has NEVER pitched more than 120 inninings in a season. Asking 160 is actually I little iffy given his background. I'm sorry but keeping him healthy for his career is more important. Hey SF writer if he blows out his arm trying to do 200% of his previous work will you get the Giants to give us Cain? I'm really tired of this. JZ Gio and Detwiler are good and can carry the load

[Kingofalldems]

2. I think the Nats will make a move anyway.

[JonLP24]

3. Agree

Especially w/ paragraphs 2-5. A limit of 160 strikes me as arbitrary. If he's fine, why not take it one game at a time?

[hughee99]

4. On the one hand, how do you shut down a guy when he's pitching well

and you're at the top of your division just because of his innings-pitched. On the other hand, Mark Prior.

[JonLP24]

5. I remember reading that

Prior's mechanics are a cause for his injuries. Not sure it was a fatigue thing. Looking at his injuries most happened early in the season and mid-season.