Comments on: Wang gets stay of execution with latest “injury” http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352 "... the reason you win or lose is darn near always the same - pitching.” -- Earl Weaver Wed, 22 May 2013 02:01:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5099 Todd Boss Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:31:23 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5099 I've tired quickly of reading Strasburg shutdown opinions, and have held off with my own. At least this one gave the Nats some credit. Most don't. Most are just "the nats are idiots" type pieces. I’ve tired quickly of reading Strasburg shutdown opinions, and have held off with my own. At least this one gave the Nats some credit. Most don’t. Most are just “the nats are idiots” type pieces.

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5098 Todd Boss Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:29:24 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5098 I wonder about Boras' relationship with Rizzo. Yes of course they've done a lot of business together but I think its underselling Rizzo and his capabilities to say that "Boras influences Rizzo" or that (as seen elsewhere in the blogosphere) that "Boras owns the Nats." http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/agencydatabase is a player-agent database out there. By this database here's Boras clients w/ the Nats right now: Espinosa, Mike Gonzalez, Harper, Edwin Jackson (who just signed with him this season, after the Nats signed him last off-season), Strasburg and Werth. Plus notable minor leaguers Goodwin, Meyer, Rendon. He also had former Nats Pudge rodriguez and Ankiel. So 6 active players plus 3 key prospects. I guess that's a lot for one team. I wonder about Boras’ relationship with Rizzo. Yes of course they’ve done a lot of business together but I think its underselling Rizzo and his capabilities to say that “Boras influences Rizzo” or that (as seen elsewhere in the blogosphere) that “Boras owns the Nats.”

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/agencydatabase is a player-agent database out there. By this database here’s Boras clients w/ the Nats right now: Espinosa, Mike Gonzalez, Harper, Edwin Jackson (who just signed with him this season, after the Nats signed him last off-season), Strasburg and Werth. Plus notable minor leaguers Goodwin, Meyer, Rendon. He also had former Nats Pudge rodriguez and Ankiel. So 6 active players plus 3 key prospects. I guess that’s a lot for one team.

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5097 Todd Boss Wed, 22 Aug 2012 20:22:33 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5097 I think Wang is 100% an injury insurance policy for one of the other four starters after Strasburg. Lannan becomes the 5th starter when Strasburg gets shut down, then gets left off the post-season roster. Both get non-tendered in the off-season. In fact, i'd almost say that the team would prefer Duke or Maya at this point over Wang. Almost. Lets just cross fingers and hope for no injuries between now and the divisional series. I think Wang is 100% an injury insurance policy for one of the other four starters after Strasburg. Lannan becomes the 5th starter when Strasburg gets shut down, then gets left off the post-season roster. Both get non-tendered in the off-season. In fact, i’d almost say that the team would prefer Duke or Maya at this point over Wang. Almost. Lets just cross fingers and hope for no injuries between now and the divisional series.

]]> By: clark17 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5096 clark17 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 18:07:13 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5096 Also, Wang got crushed again yesterday. Does he even make it as a September call-up? If so, he does only because of his contract and the team's multi-year investment in him. He certainly hasn't earned a call-up. Also, Wang got crushed again yesterday. Does he even make it as a September call-up? If so, he does only because of his contract and the team’s multi-year investment in him. He certainly hasn’t earned a call-up.

]]> By: clark17 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5095 clark17 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:27:00 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5095 A bit late for this thread, but I thought you'd enjoy this article from the NY Times, of all places: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/sports/baseball/stephen-strasburg-is-a-long-term-commodity-for-nationals.html?pagewanted=all A bit late for this thread, but I thought you’d enjoy this article from the NY Times, of all places:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/sports/baseball/stephen-strasburg-is-a-long-term-commodity-for-nationals.html?pagewanted=all

]]> By: Myrubberarm http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5091 Myrubberarm Sat, 18 Aug 2012 21:19:08 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5091 Apparently Scott Boras is a strong influence on Rizzo's decision re Strasburg's shutdown. Boras likes Rizzo's concern w/player health issues and each wants the relation between the two to endure. Boras has 7-8 players w/Nats? Apparently Scott Boras is a strong influence on Rizzo’s decision re Strasburg’s shutdown. Boras likes Rizzo’s concern w/player health issues and each wants the relation between the two to endure. Boras has 7-8 players w/Nats?

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5089 Anonymous Sat, 18 Aug 2012 11:51:51 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5089 And after Rizzo does the right thing with Strasburg AND wins the World Series, we'll all have to take turns carrying him around in a sedan chair :) And after Rizzo does the right thing with Strasburg AND wins the World Series, we’ll all have to take turns carrying him around in a sedan chair :)

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5084 Todd Boss Fri, 17 Aug 2012 21:24:58 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5084 One Solution: shut down Strasburg, win World Series anyway. :-) I wouldn't mind that solution one bit. One Solution: shut down Strasburg, win World Series anyway. :-) I wouldn’t mind that solution one bit.

]]> By: clark17 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5082 clark17 Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:01:25 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5082 It's also worth noting that Tommy John re-injuries apparently tend to take place the first FULL season back (without innings limit). For Stras, that's next season. And for Z'mann, that's right now. So Z'mann's success this season is yet another reason for Rizzo to replicate his treatment of Stras. You're right, this is a no-win for Rizzo, because once he shuts Stras down, no one will ever know if Stras would have gotten hurt if he hadn't been shut down. So I don't envy Rizzo's position, but I think he's doing the right thing. It’s also worth noting that Tommy John re-injuries apparently tend to take place the first FULL season back (without innings limit). For Stras, that’s next season. And for Z’mann, that’s right now. So Z’mann’s success this season is yet another reason for Rizzo to replicate his treatment of Stras.

You’re right, this is a no-win for Rizzo, because once he shuts Stras down, no one will ever know if Stras would have gotten hurt if he hadn’t been shut down. So I don’t envy Rizzo’s position, but I think he’s doing the right thing.

]]> By: Todd Boss http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352&cpage=1#comment-5081 Todd Boss Thu, 16 Aug 2012 16:21:44 +0000 http://www.nationalsarmrace.com/?p=4352#comment-5081 Every know it all pundit who is questioning this shutdown would be ALL OVER Rizzo if Strasburg pitched a full workload this year and got injured next. You'd be hearing the exact reverse of all the current columns, decrying Rizzo for overworking Strasburg and endangering a young kid in the simple pursuit of a single playoff appearance. I guarantee it. Rizzo just cannot win in this situation. So he has done the best he could; follow a path as recommended by the doctor who performed these surgeries (not some anonymous doctor who expresses his own opinion but has no knowledge of the injury or the surgery performed but who likes getting his name in the paper). That path has led to a fantastic 2012 season for Zimmermann despite shutdown at 160 innings lastyear, and hopefully will lead to the same for Strasburg in 2013. Every know it all pundit who is questioning this shutdown would be ALL OVER Rizzo if Strasburg pitched a full workload this year and got injured next. You’d be hearing the exact reverse of all the current columns, decrying Rizzo for overworking Strasburg and endangering a young kid in the simple pursuit of a single playoff appearance. I guarantee it.

Rizzo just cannot win in this situation. So he has done the best he could; follow a path as recommended by the doctor who performed these surgeries (not some anonymous doctor who expresses his own opinion but has no knowledge of the injury or the surgery performed but who likes getting his name in the paper). That path has led to a fantastic 2012 season for Zimmermann despite shutdown at 160 innings lastyear, and hopefully will lead to the same for Strasburg in 2013.

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