Scott Boras on Strasburg

In case anyone missed this from the morning, over on ESPN radio Mike & Mike talked to Scott Boras about his client, Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg.  Here is the link.
 
Boras said everything you would expect from an agent.  He brought up several past examples of pitchers who threw a lot of innings at a young age, most notably Steven Avery.

Boras also confirmed the fact that everyone already knew, Strasburg wants to pitch.  He also said that the reputations of Nationals organization was on the line, and mentioned if the team puts winning over his player's health that it could negatively impact the ability of Washington to attract players in the future.

Maybe it's just me, but this doesn't seem as open and shut as Boras wants to make it.  Sure putting Strasburg in jeopardy could make the organization look bad in the eyes of potential future stars. 

However, potentially sacrificing a chance to end the season as the number one team in baseball and make a run at the World Series without any concrete data saying that letting Strasburg pitch will lead to injuries or a shorter career seems like it could also injury the organizations reputation in the eyes of players, current and future.

Later in the show, Mike Golic brought up C.C. Sabathia, who threw a ton of innings in his youth, but hasn't shown any negative effects as a counter to Boras Avery example.

The future reputation of the National's organization in the eyes of players is a new wrinkle to the Strasburg story that I hadn't considered yet.  I'm still not sure which side of the argument I fall, and would love to here your thoughts in the comments or over on twitter @dru90. 

Stephen Strasburg: 160 Becomes 180 Becomes ???

Back in April, with Stephen Strasburg coming off Tommy John surgery, it was assumed that the Nats ace would be on a strict innings count of 160 innings.  During the previous year another Nats pitcher, Jordan Zimmermann, had the same issue and was limited to that 160 number.

As the season went on and the team improved, Washington Nationals GM Mike Rizzo started to act like the concept of a defined innings limit came out of nowhere, and said that he would use an "eye-test" to decide when to shut down Strasburg.

But was Rizzo telling the truth?  Did he change his mind?  Is he trying to throw off the fans?

Now, a report out of Nats Town from Bill Ladson have produced a new number, 180.  Ladson tweeted the following:

According to a source, it is not set in stone that #Strasburg would pitch 160 innings this year. It could go up to 180 innings
— William Ladson (@washingnats) July 24, 2012

Management for the Nationals has to balance the following factors:

• Stephen Strasburg's health/future (if he gets hurt he could miss seasons)
• Stephen Strasburg's feelings (he isn't gonna want to sit)
• Fans (they want a World Series)

So what number will it be next month?  200?


It is going to be very interesting going forward with the MLB putting the Nats playoff chances around 90%.  No matter what the number is now, or what they are claiming it will be, one thing is for sure.  If Stephen Strasburg gets injured in inning 161, Mike Rizzo is going to be in trouble...

Rizzo The Great Makes Strasburg's Innings Limit Disappear

In 1983 David Copperfield performed one of his most famous illusions of all time.  he made the Statue of Liberty disappear.  It was a pretty cool trick...even after I read how it was done.

Well now it's time to check out a new trick from a new magician; Rizzo The Great!  The magician from DC's latest trick was making Stephen Strasburg's innings limit disappear!

The following Rizzo quote comes from ESPN:

"There is no magic number," Rizzo said. "It will be the eye test. (Manager) Davey (Johnson) won't decide and ownership won't decide. It will be the general manager, and that's me."'

Originally, Rizzo stated there was going to be an innings limit, but did not specify a number.  The media presumed that Strasburg would follow the Jordan Zimmermann model, who's 2011 pitching limit was 160 innings following Tommy John surgery.

Now, Rizzo is saying that the team is not following the JZ pattern.  Instead he is going to make a decision based on what he sees.  But is the Nats GM really going to base his decision on sight, or is he going to base his decision on the World Series itch that is most likely getting stronger every day that the Nats remain in first place?

Whether Rizzo had the 160 number as his original plan or not, one theory is that Rizzo is at least considering straying from "the plan".  Or is it all part of the long-con, the big illusion?  Is he just using some slight of hand to keep the fans and media off his back?

Strasburg pitches tonight against the Braves and he sits at 106 innings

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Let us know in comments if you think Rizzo is considering changing his plan, or if you think he is just lying so the fans so they don't get upset before the shutdown happens.