The Other Debate in Washington
Beyond the presidential race, Washingtonians are keeping a close eye on another race this summer -- the pennant race. Several days before the All-Star break, the Washington Nationals boast a 4.5 game lead in the National League East. The Nationals owe their surprising success to their outstanding pitching rotation led by young Stephen Strasburg.
This being Washington, of course, success hasn't come without controversy. Strasburg, who only recently returned from Tommy John elbow surgery, is on a strict innings count that will end his season in early September. As the final innings of Strasburg's season slip away, a debate has emerged among fans: Would the upside of pitching Strasburg longer outweigh the possible risk to his elbow?
Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell, the best pundit in a city of pundits, recently framed the debate as an issue of right versus wrong.
Perhaps the most important issue is the simplest: Exploiting Strasburg’s enthusiasm (and he’d pitch until he drops) is just plain wrong.
If the Nationals take such a callous risk with Strasburg, especially after saying they wouldn’t, everybody in baseball will take note. Sign with the Nats, or sign a contract extension as a Nats pitcher, and you know the team policy: If the stakes are high enough, you’re just red meat.
What team would risk the career of a pitcher who might someday stand with the greatest? What kind of club would stress to the max a pitcher who already may have a pitching delivery that works against the health of his arm? What wouldn’t such a team do?
Count me convinced. The short-term benefits for the team don't outweigh the long-term risk to a player whom baseball fans should hope enjoys a long and successful career.
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Comments:
May '11
Re: The Other Debate in Washington
No argument from this Mets fan.
Re: The Other Debate in Washington
Well, not every team can have R.A. Dickey.
Jun '11
Re: The Other Debate in Washington
Washingtonians will demand that the innings ceiling be raised. Can't Davey and Rizzo just borrow some from next year?
Jul '10
Re: The Other Debate in Washington
As a Mets fan, I hope he pitches until his arm falls off. I am given pause about all the furor over pitch counts, though, when someone like Nolan Ryan calls modern pitchers "babied" and thinks the rash of arm injuries is precisely because they don't pitch often enough.
Re: The Other Debate in Washington
One of my favorite comments ever.
May '11
Re: The Other Debate in Washington
Jonathan Horn:
The act pitching naturally works against the health of any arm. I remember years ago hearing about how Mark Prior the young Chicago Cubs phenom would have a lengthy career because of his perfect mechanics. A few arm injuries later he was out of the league. Determing how to best preserve the arms of young pitchers is an inexact science. Nothing more precarious than the arm of a baseball pitcher.