Comments on: Stephen Strasburg returns

By: natstowngreg

natstowngreg — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:30:24 +0000

Strasburg threw 56 pitches in 5 innings. He pitched the 5th because he had thrown so few pitches through the first 4 innings. then he was replaced. There was roughly zero chance he was going to be abused in his first start.

By: Tim's Neighbor

Tim's Neighbor — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:18:21 +0000

We should all throw like Europeans so we can stay healthy.

By: Alex K

Alex K — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 18:11:52 +0000

I just don’t see a reason to change the delivery that had worked for him when there is no proof doing so would have prevented him from getting hurt. Guys with awful deliveries don’t always get hurt. Guys with great delivereis don’t always stay healthy. But changing his mechanics could alter his stuff and control/command (see Matzek, Tyler)

By: obpedmypants

obpedmypants — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 17:07:20 +0000

Ideas don’t need proof before preventative action should be taken–especially when the cost of mitigating this risk is so low, the value of the player is so high, and the perceived correlations are indicating that pitching with the ‘inverted W’ (why not M?) leads to more injuries.

http://www.drivelinebaseball.com/2010/09/04/strasburg-the-inverted-w-and-pitching-mechanics/

By: Alex K

Alex K — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:33:03 +0000

I don’t think the “inverted W” you’re talking about has been proven to increase risk of injury. I said it before….pitchers get hurt. It’s just how it goes.

By: obpedmypants

obpedmypants — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:07:33 +0000

Do you know how many times last year Stras went over 7 innings? Zero.

I completely disagree with you that they’ve overworked him in the past. The only criticisms I think are fair is that they are bringing him back too quickly this year for what amounts to no reason other than a few juiced ticket sales at the end of the year. And also, they should have taken the time to see if they could adjust his delivery. Last year, he threw with a corked motion where his elbow goes above his shoulder and hand, and it’s becoming somewhat evident that doing this with 95mph+ fastballs is a recipe for repeated DL stints.

By: ss

ss — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 15:50:59 +0000

PY – So your issue is with his velocity late in games? Do you not want him to throw fastballs in the latter innings? If he was throwing 94 from the fifth inning on, would that be better? I just don’t understand your argument. His fastball is just superduper fast. That’s how fast it goes when he throws it.

You haven’t shown how the “Nats handling of him was awful last year.” You’ve just said it. Which is something, but not a real argument. This isn’t Mark Prior throwing over 110 pitches 19 times his second year in the league, and throwing over 130 three times that season. By everything I’ve see he’s been handled responsibly.

By: Alex K

Alex K — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:39:30 +0000

I don’t agree that he was handled poorly, phuckyouk. Pitchers get hurt. A guy can be abused like a rented mule and be fine, or he can be handled with kid gloves and blowout. There is no reliable way I’ve ever heard of to make sure a guy stays healthy.

By: nolanwiffle

nolanwiffle — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:27:34 +0000

When he takes the mound he’s still being paid to get major league hitters out…..let him do what he does.

By: phukyouk

phukyouk — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:18:40 +0000

man i truly wish people would actually read what i wrote before responding. i never said he threw 100 pitches i said he threw 100MPH late in the game.
he threw in the high 90′s ptich count wise at least 2 x and it was 100MPH fast balls when his pitch count was that high. its not a good idea. the Nats handling of him was awful last year and if they allow him to do it again it will be just as bad.

By: ss

ss — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:09:40 +0000

The Nats have kept him on a perfectly normal schedule in his return from TJ. You know how many times he threw 100 pitches in a game last year? Zero. They’ve handled him about as well as anyone could hope and his elbow popped. It happens. The Nats deserve a good amount of derision for quite a few things they’ve done, but not for their handling of Strasburg.

By: phukyouk

phukyouk — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:36:56 +0000

I wish this kid all the luck in the world.. i truly truly do. i would love to see him become the next (i think they compared him to smoltz?) or Doc or whatever. BUT if the fu*king idiot Nats allow him to go 7,8,9 innings again throwing well into the 100MPH late in the game he is going to end up back on the DL again and again and again and you will have yourself another Prior. seriously.. i get the whole Gate and ticket sales and all that but the Nats are not going to be making the playoffs for, oh lets say 2 yrs Min, so get your ticket sales but be smart about it.

By: acheron2112

acheron2112 — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 13:09:36 +0000

Actually it’s probably going to rain tonight. Even if the game’s not postponed, if there’s a delay or anything then the Nats aren’t going to put him in. So Strasmas may have to wait.