# Stephen Strasburg **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 17, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554 "2012-07-17T19:06:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/1 "2012-07-17T19:06:51Z")
How should the Nats handle him? Play for now, or the future? ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/2 "2012-07-17T19:21:48Z")
I would like a third option of rotating him in every 6 games until the playoffs. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/3 "2012-07-17T19:23:07Z")
1. They are winning now, and he hasn’t gone past 7 IP all season. 2. They have an excellent bullpen - if they need to yank him earlier as the season goes on, they can afford to. 3. With a second wild card team in the mix, there’s more of a cushion. 4. The 160 IP limit is still a myth - no one has come out from the Nationals organization and stated it exists. It did for Zimmermann, and it appears to be the case for Strasburg, but nothing has been confirmed. Personally, I think they need to keep him on a short leash, especially in September, but allow him to pitch in the post-season should they make it. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/4 "2012-07-17T19:23:13Z")
The Nats have the best record in the NL. If not now, when? If they’ve got an extremely comfortable lead with 10 games remaining, go ahead and sit him down for his last couple starts, maybe. Maybe give him more days of rest between starts, I don’t know, but the end goal is a World Series. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/5 "2012-07-17T19:34:51Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > but the end goal is a World Series. Maybe, maybe not. “Creating a dominant dynasty” is also a very valid end goal. So is “putting as many butts in the seats as possible for as long as possible”. Strasburg’s an amazing pitcher - but he’s not going to single-handedly win them a pennant. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/6 "2012-07-17T19:49:37Z")
> [@sitchensis](#): > > I would like a third option of rotating him in every 6 games until the playoffs. Agreed, keep his innings down as much as possible until the playoffs, then throw the chains off. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/7 "2012-07-17T20:01:56Z")
Shut him down as planned. Reducing his innings or fiddling with the rotation isn’t going to help much. ---
**Author:** ![markdash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@markdash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markdash)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/8 "2012-07-17T20:06:14Z")
Baby him, but keep starting him. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/9 "2012-07-17T20:16:39Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Maybe, maybe not. “Creating a dominant dynasty” is also a very valid end goal. So is “putting as many butts in the seats as possible for as long as possible”. Strasburg’s an amazing pitcher - but he’s not going to single-handedly win them a pennant. Eh? “We’re not going to do everything we can to win the WS this year so that we can create a long term dynasty.” I do not think this goes over well with fans. Neither does “he wasn’t going to win it single handedly!” Strasburg is not going to self-destruct after 160 IP. Just keep an eye on him, make sure he feels well and do what you can to win baseball games. Keep his outings short or give him an extra day of rest if appropriate, but I think shutting him down completely is a bad strategy and sends a bad message. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/10 "2012-07-17T20:19:01Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > 1 > 4. The 160 IP limit is still a myth - no one has come out from the Nationals organization and stated it exists. It did for Zimmermann, and it appears to be the case for Strasburg, but nothing has been confirmed. Rizzo said it before the season, and has stuck to his guns. So yeah, it’s been confirmed. > **[MLB](https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb)** > > Find all the latest MLB news, live coverage, videos, highlights, stats, predictions, and results right here on NBC Sports. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/11 "2012-07-17T20:30:15Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > I do not think this goes over well with fans. Got any examples to back that up? Hell, the Cubs have all but completely ignored the “dynasty” part, and they sell out every game. > [@](#): > > Neither does “he wasn’t going to win it single handedly!” [Speaking of the Cubs…](http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/priorma01.shtml) ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/12 "2012-07-17T20:34:54Z")
> [@diku](#): > > Rizzo said it before the season, and has stuck to his guns. So yeah, it’s been confirmed. > > [MLB Baseball: News, Videos, Stats, Highlights, Results & More - NBC Sports - NBC Sports](http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/12/stephen-strasburg-on-nationals-innings-limit-theyre-going-to-have-to-rip-the-ball-out-of-my-hands/related/) That doesn’t have a quote from Rizzo, and there are plenty of [quotes out there from him that contradict it] ([Nationals GM Mike Rizzo says Stephen Strasburg’s 160 innings limit is a media creation - Yahoo Sports](http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/nats-gm-mike-rizzo-says-stephen-strasburg-160-200345159.html)). There is more than likely an innings cap - but there is absolutely not any concrete verification of it. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/13 "2012-07-17T20:45:01Z")
Problem with Strasburg is that his form is so bad that he will be prone to injury for his whole career. If they don’t limit his innings, and then he gets hurt, the GM will be blamed for ruining the career of the next Cy Young. Management will bench him because of the career risk, theirs and not his. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/14 "2012-07-17T20:47:21Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > “Creating a dominant dynasty” is also a very valid end goal. They’d be right to think about Strasburg’s health beyond this year, but even if they do, nothing is guaranteed, much less “a dominant dynasty.” In fact I think Strasburg’s going to get hurt again because of his pitching motion, and sooner or later he’ll lose his effectiveness. But my impulse with him this year would be to keep pitching him and try to keep his innings down without removing him from the rotation or running him out for ludicrous starts of just a couple of innings. I remember how badly the Yankees fucked up their handling of Joba Chamberlain. Basically the Nationals should study what the Yankees did and just do the exact opposite. > [@Munch](#): > > Got any examples to back that up? Hell, the Cubs have all but completely ignored the “dynasty” part, and they sell out every game. The Cubs didn’t move to Chicago 10 years ago. The Nationals are only beginning to have success drawing fans. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/15 "2012-07-18T00:33:54Z")
I’m not really convinced this 160-inning limit is a good idea to start with. I’d argue they are much better off limiting his pitches on a start-by-start basis, not limiting his innings on a season-wide basis. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/16 "2012-07-18T00:35:39Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Eh? “We’re not going to do everything we can to win the WS this year so that we can create a long term dynasty.” I do not think this goes over well with fans. Neither does “he wasn’t going to win it single handedly!” If I were a Nats fan and they were letting him throw over 110 pitches at any time before the playoffs, I would be livid. Game 7 of the world series, that’s different. But they have the chance to build something very special for years to come, and you don’t piss that away chasing one division title. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/17 "2012-07-18T00:42:48Z")
Flags fly forever, and injury-prone pitchers get injured. As long as we’re not talking abuse, I see no reason not to let him pitch out the season. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/18 "2012-07-18T15:17:10Z")
Mark Prior (and Kerry Wood, too, for that matter) pitched well over 200 innings in '03 for the Cubs. Strasburg won’t get there, shut down or not. He’s not even averaging 6 IP per start. I think realistically the difference for Strasburg will be shutting down at 160 IP or letting him go to about 175 in the regular season. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/19 "2012-07-18T15:47:17Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Mark Prior (and Kerry Wood, too, for that matter) pitched well over 200 innings in '03 for the Cubs. Strasburg won’t get there, shut down or not. He’s not even averaging 6 IP per start. I think realistically the difference for Strasburg will be shutting down at 160 IP or letting him go to about 175 in the regular season. And Dusty Baker will forever be remembered by some fans as the manager that “ruined them”. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554/20 "2012-07-18T17:05:41Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > And Dusty Baker will forever be remembered by some fans as the manager that “ruined them”. And if the Cubs had won the WS that year I bet nobody would give a damn. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-strasburg/628554.md?page=2)