SB Nation DC - Stephen Strasburg Shutdown: Pitcher 'Not Too Happy' About End Of His Seasonhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48897/dc-fave.png2012-09-13T12:12:52-04:00http://dc.sbnation.com/rss/stream/30517682012-09-13T12:12:52-04:002012-09-13T12:12:52-04:00Dr. Lewis Yocum: 'I Wasn't Asked' About Stephen Strasburg Shutdown (UPDATED)
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<p>And the drip-drip-drip of sophisticated, knowledgeable information about the circumstances surrounding <span>Stephen Strasburg's</span> departure from the Nationals rotation continues.</p>
<p>Now this, from the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/lat-sp-sn-stephen-strasburg-nationals-shutdown-20120913,0,6916702.story">Los Angeles Times</a>:</p>
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<p>The doctor who performed elbow surgery on Stephen Strasburg said he did not tell the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> to shut down their ace pitcher.</p>
<p>"I wasn't asked," Dr. Lewis Yocum told the Los Angeles Times.</p>
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<p>Now this, <a href="http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/08/16/holden-danny-rizzo-says-it-was-doctors-call-to-shutdown-strasburg/">from Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo's appearance on the Holden and Danny</a> Show on 106.7 The Fan from about a month ago:</p>
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<p>"We're looking at the long term health of the franchise and for Stephen Strasburg," said Rizzo. "We've got a plan, we've got a blueprint of how to do this. This isn't Mike Rizzo's plan, he didn't go to Medical school but Dr. Lew Yocum did and Dr. James Andrews did. We're taking their recommendations and putting them into place."</p>
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<p>And one more time, over to you, Dr. Yocum.</p>
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<p>"There's no statistic as far as studies," Yocum said ... "It's based on Mike's experience," Yocum said. "Mike is extremely confident. His track record speaks for itself. Zimmermann did extremely well."</p>
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<p>Something tells us the anti-shutdown crowd got a little more ammo to go with their white paper that we've posted just below this one.</p>
<p>You'd think that the least everyone involved in this could do is get their stories straight. It's a good thing Rizzo's the general manager of a baseball team and not a head of state, because at this point, there might be the stirrings of a no-confidence vote in the air.</p>
<p><b>UPDATE: </b>Yocum released the following statement Thursday afternoon. Again, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-strasburg-yocum-nationals-shutdown-20120913,0,5407151.story">via the <i>Los Angeles Times</i></a>:</p>
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<p>"I would like to correct the misimpression generated from today's L.A. Times article, that I have not been a participant in discussions with the Washington Nationals regarding the recovery strategy for pitcher Stephen Strasburg. In fact, I have been contacted repeatedly and have had numerous discussions with the Nationals GM Mike Rizzo and the team's medical personnel, as recently as mid-August. While the final decision was up to the team, as is standard practice, I was supportive of their decision and am comfortable that my medical advice was responsibly considered."</p>
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<p>So which is it? We've given up trying.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/13/3326882/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-dr-lewis-yocum-i-wasnt-askedSamuel Chamberlain2012-09-08T19:56:03-04:002012-09-08T19:56:03-04:00Stephen Strasburg Shutdown: Pitcher 'Not Too Happy' About End Of His Season
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> announced Saturday they would be shutting down <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/9/8/3302922/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-effective-immediately/in/3051768">effective immediately</a>, one start prior than the team's original plan. Manager Davey Johnson said that after Friday night's lackluster outing, he felt it was time for Strasburg to be shut down for the season, and <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3303370/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-mike-rizzo-comments/in/3051768">general manger Mike Rizzo agreed</a>. Asked after Saturday's 7-6 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a> about the shutdown, Strasburg admitted to being 'not too happy' about his season being over. <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP/status/244578283566551040">Via Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post:</a></p>
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<p>Strasburg showed some fire. "Honestly, I'm not too happy about it. I want to keep pitching out there."</p>
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) <a data-datetime="2012-09-08T23:29:41+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP/status/244578283566551040">September 8, 2012</a>
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<p>Stephen Strasburg angry at shutdown: "I don't I'm ever going to accept this."</p>
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP/status/244577444965789696" data-datetime="2012-09-08T23:26:21+00:00">September 8, 2012</a>
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<p>Veteran lefty <span>John Lannan</span>, who spent much of the season pitching for Class AAA Syracuse, will replace Strasburg in the rotation, beginning Wednesday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Nationals, head over to <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball </a>and continue to check out<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> SB Nation DC</a> for the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3303994/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-pitcher-not-happyT.J. Doyle2012-09-08T16:43:17-04:002012-09-08T16:43:17-04:00Stephen Strasburg Shutdown: Mike Rizzo Addresses Whether Debate Became 'Distraction' For Nationals
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<p>The debate over the shutdown of <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> has raged all season, picking up in intensity since the All-Star break. But Strasburg's season came to an end last night, with an unremarkable home start that lasted just three innings.</p>
<p>After the game, Davey Johnson said he thought the shutdown debate had worn down Strasburg mentally and was a distraction on the hill last night.</p>
<p>Johnson had also indicated that the discussion over the shutdown had become a distraction for the team, a notion that GM Mike Rizzo dismissed on Saturday (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/2012/9/8/3303185/washington-nationals-gm-mike-rizzo-on-the-decision-to-shut-stephen-strasburg-down">via Patrick Reddington of Federal Basebal</a>l):</p>
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<p>The GM hadn't yet spoken to Strasburg though he said Davey Johnson had extensive conversations with the 24-year-old pitcher. Though the Nats' skipper said he thought it had become a distraction for the team, Rizzo did not. "I don't think it became distraction whatsoever," Rizzo said, "This team is battle-tested. They're a terrific major league ballclub with great makeup and guys that know how to prepare for the games and you could tell by the product on the field that this had no lingering effect whatsoever."</p>
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<p>Rizzo <a target="_blank" href="http://www.federalbaseball.com/2012/9/8/3303185/washington-nationals-gm-mike-rizzo-on-the-decision-to-shut-stephen-strasburg-down">addressed the media with several candid comments on Saturday</a>, defending the organization's decision to end their ace's season. While they seem to disagree about the distraction issue, Rizzo and Johnson are certainly on the same page about the shutdown and are comfortable with their decision.</p>
<p><i>For more on the <a href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nationals</a>, head over to <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball </a>and continue to check out<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> SB Nation DC</a> for the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3303630/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-blog-reaction-mike-rizzo-davey-johnsonBrendan Porath2012-09-08T15:02:51-04:002012-09-08T15:02:51-04:00Stephen Strasburg Shutdown: John Lannan To Replace Strasburg In Rotation
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<p>With the news Saturday that <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> righthander <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> would be shut down for the rest of the season, a game earlier than expected, it is officially time for the team to implement Plan B and replace a 15-6 record and 3.16 ERA in the starting rotation. That task falls to veteran lefthander <span>John Lannan</span>. <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkZuckerman/status/244455672752783360">Via Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider:</a></p>
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<p>John Lannan will take Strasburg's spot, start Wednesday at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">Mets</a>.</p>
— Mark Zuckerman (@MarkZuckerman) <a data-datetime="2012-09-08T15:22:28+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/MarkZuckerman/status/244455672752783360">September 8, 2012</a>
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<p>Lannan spent much of the season at Class AAA Syracuse after being passed over for a starting rotation spot out of spring training. He went 9-11 with a 4.30 ERA for the Chiefs, but ended the year on a high note with back-toback complete game shutouts. Lannan also made two spot starts for the big league club during early season doubleheaders.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Nationals, head over to <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball </a>and continue to check out<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> SB Nation DC</a> for the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3303393/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-john-lannan-replaces-strasburgT.J. Doyle2012-09-08T14:35:17-04:002012-09-08T14:35:17-04:00Stephen Strasburg Shutdown: General Manger Mike Rizzo Comments
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<p>Saturday morning, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> manager Davey Johnson announced that <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> would be <a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/9/8/3302922/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-effective-immediately/in/3051768">shut down for the remainder of the season</a>, effective immediately, one start earlier than expected. Johnson made the decision after seeing the young right-hander struggle through his Friday night start against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Miami Marlins</a>. <a href="http://www.natsinsider.com/2012/09/strasburgs-season-over.html">Mark Zuckerman of Nats Insider </a>has general manager Mike Rizzo's response to the shutdown decision:</p>
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<p>Rizzo said he agreed with the decision, citing both the physical fatigue he saw from Strasburg over the second half of the season and the mental fatigue he saw last night.</p>
<p>"I think the accumulation of the focus problems and the physical fatigue took its toll on him," Rizzo said. "I think what the doctors had prescribed for him, the innings parameters, were right on. It was a prudent time to pull the plug. It was a plan we had since Feb. 1. I don't think too many people should be surprised by it."</p>
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<p>Lefthander <span>John Lannan</span> will take Strasburg's spot in the Washington rotation.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Nationals, head over to <a href="http://federalbaseball.com/">Federal Baseball </a>and continue to check out<a href="http://dc.sbnation.com/"> SB Nation DC</a> for the latest news and updates.</i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/8/3303370/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-mike-rizzo-commentsT.J. Doyle2012-09-08T11:21:43-04:002012-09-08T11:21:43-04:00Stephen Strasburg Shut Down 'Effective Immediately'
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<p>Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson announced Saturday morning that right handed ace Stephen Strasburg has been shutdown, effective immediately. </p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a> manager Davey Johnson announced Saturday morning that ace right-hander <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> <a href="https://twitter.com/masnKerr/status/244451500145930240" target="_blank">has been shut down, effective immediately</a>.</p>
<p>Initially, it appeared Strasburg would make one additional start, but Johnson made the decision to end his season<a href="http://twitter.com/AdamKilgoreWP/status/244456048021356544" target="_blank"> after Friday's game</a> against the Marlins.</p>
<p>Strasburg allowed five runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out two in just three innings of work. Without question, it was one of Strasburg's weakest showings of the season.</p>
<p>After Friday night's contest, Strasburg has pitched 159 innings on the season. It had been believed all along that the Nationals would shut down Strasburg at around 160 innings. </p>
<p>Strasburg ends the 2012 season with a 15-6 record in 28 starts. Strasburg struck out 197 batters, while walking 48, and limiting opponents to an average of .230.</p>
<p>The decision to shut down Strasburg was one of the most hotly debated topics of the past month, as the Nationals continue to push toward an NL East crown and postseason play.</p>
<p><i>For the latest Nationals news, <a href="http://www.federalbaseball.com" target="_blank">check out Federal Baseball.</a></i></p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/washington-nationals/2012/9/8/3302922/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-effective-immediatelyJP Starkey2012-09-04T18:35:57-04:002012-09-04T18:35:57-04:00PHOTO: Robin Ficker Passes Out 'Let Steve Decide' Signs At Nationals Park
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<p>Robin Ficker has hit the trifecta of the despised professions in his lifetime: lawyer, politician, and sports team heckler, most prominently with the then-Washington Bullets back when Abe Pollin was still alive and the team played in Prince George's County.</p>
<p>In recent months, Ficker's glommed on to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>, and like everyone else, he has an opinion of <span>Stephen Strasburg's</span> pending departure from the rotation (scheduled for Sept. 12). Here's how he expressed that opinion <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dc-sports-bog/post/robin-ficker-plans-to-protest-strasburg-shutdown/2012/09/04/8130b19e-f6ba-11e1-8253-3f495ae70650_blog.html#pagebreak">to Dan Steinberg</a>.</p>
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<p>"He knows his body - he's been in it longer than anyone. He knows how he feels. And I think <i>he</i> should make the decision, rather than have people outside his body make it for him."</p>
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<p>Those "people outside his body" would, we're assuming, include medical doctors. You know, like the one who suggested that Strasburg's innings be capped in the first place.</p>
<p>Anyway, Ficker got 500 "Let Steve Decide" posters printed up and is handing them out in front of Nationals Park prior to Tuesday night's game with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>, as this photo from <a href="https://twitter.com/dcinwashington">@dcinwashington</a> shows.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1335143/A1-w1qBCMAAqjSW.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="A1-w1qbcmaaqjsw_medium" class="photo" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1335143/A1-w1qBCMAAqjSW_medium.jpg"></a> <br id="1346797930998">We'll just state right now that if you accept anything from a man wearing those shorts and those socks, you have nobody to blame but yourself.</p>
https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/4/3292451/photo-robin-ficker-let-steve-decide-signs-washington-nationals-stephen-strasburg-shutdownSamuel Chamberlain2012-09-03T14:46:09-04:002012-09-03T14:46:09-04:00Stephen Strasburg Shutdown: 'I'm In It With These Guys ... I'm Going To Fight With Them Til The End.'
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<p>Nationals GM Mike Rizzo took the "shutdown" decision out of Stephen Strasburg's hands because he knows the pitcher would take the ball. </p> <p>"Stephen, a lot has been made of the innings limit," Jim Bowden said, meandering into a question for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.federalbaseball.com/">Washington Nationals</a>' '09 no.1 overall pick <span>Stephen Strasburg</span> in an interview on MLB Network Radio during the All-Star festivities in Kansas City in July, "And I'm sure you've been asked it 50 million times, so I'm not going to go there, but just make sure I know, you're going to be pitching Game One of the World Series if the Nationals get there aren't you?"</p>
<p>"Well they're going to have to rip the ball out of my hands, that's all I can say," Strasburg responded, laughing with the hosts as he said it.</p>
<p>The same week that the 24-year-old right-hander uttered those words, he appeared on <a href="http://www.stationcaster.com/player_skinned.php?s=65&c=428&f=610951" target="_blank"><b>ESPN980's the Sports Fix with Kevin Sheehan and Thom Loverro</b></a>, explaining that he understood that the Nats' plans to shut him down would would be widely debated, but although he knew, "Everybody's going to read into and everybody's going to have their opinion," he was also aware, "... that [the Nationals] have my best interest at heart."</p>
<p>Which quote has been repeated more often? Which makes for a better attention-grabbing headline?</p>
<p>Sunday afternoon, after Stephen Strasburg held the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> to two hits in six scoreless in which he struck out nine to leave him (15-6) with a 2.94 ERA, 2.63 FIP, 45 walks (2.59 BB/9) and 195 K's (11.23 K/9) in 27 starts and 156.1 IP, Davey Johnson told reporters that after two more starts the Nationals will be taking the ball out of his hands. "I think two starts," the Nats' skipper said, "Unless I let him pitch 10 [innings] in the next one out, which I'm not going to, so I think his last start will be on the 12th." September 12, 2012 vs the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.amazinavenue.com/">New York Mets</a> in Citi Field. Strasburg's 2012 campaign ends.</p>
<p>Nationals GM Mike Rizzo confirmed the news when he spoke to reporters shortly after Davey Johnson's post game, telling reporters including the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2012/09/02/stephen-strasburg-will-make-two-more-starts-final-one-on-sept-12/" target="_blank"><b>Washington Post's James Wagner</b></a>, "'We had our parameters in place at the beginning of the season, we had our philosophies and our protocols,'" and two more starts like Johnson mentioned, "'That seems like the right number of innings to end his season.'" If Strasburg pitches like he did Sunday he'll be going out as <span>Jordan Zimmermann</span> did last year, fully healthy and arguably the Nationals' best starter. The Nats' manager was impressed with what he saw from Strasburg against St. Louis after a rough start against Miami in his previous outing.</p>
<p>"He was going strong," Johnson said, "I've been hooking him little early all year because of the innings count. I think he had another inning in his tank, but also didn't want to run it up and maybe cost him a start. But he was outstanding. He really didn't use his changeup that much, just spotted his fastball and used his curve ball. Had a good feel for those. But he was vintage Strasburg today."</p>
<p>Asked if he thought his pitcher would fight the decision, Rizzo told reporters as quoted in the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2012/09/02/stephen-strasburg-will-make-two-more-starts-final-one-on-sept-12/" target="_blank"><b>Washington Post's Mr. Wagner's article</b></a>, "'I don’t think he’s going to fight me on it, I think he’s going to be unhappy about it, I know he’ll be unhappy about it. He is an ultimate competitor, but we’ve taken that out of his hands."</p>
<p>Though the decision is being "taken out of his hands" as the Nats' GM explained,<a href="http://www.csnwashington.com/pages/v11_videodetail?PID=1iMLTB-r6LfYnrOtgVs0BuJuuP9_PexfnOCGPVe" target="_blank"> <b>when Strasburg was asked about the comments after Sunday's game</b></a>, even after the well-documented conversation with Davey Johnson on the way home from Miami in which he was informed he'd have 2 or 3 more starts, the pitcher still said, "I'm just focused on the next start, that's all I can really focus on right now, but we're going to have to sit down and talk here soon."</p>
<p>Asked if it was hard to block out all the discussion of his future, Strasburg said, "Not really, I just don't have anything to say. I'm in it with these guys, and we still got a long way to go, but I'm going to fight with them til the end." While several reports have framed this as a defiant statement on the pitcher's part, the context in which he says it, "I'm in it with these guys... I'm going to fight with them til the end," would seem to be more a statement that he's going to do all he can to help his teammates while he can rather than a preemptive challenge of the plan to shut him down following the September 12th start.</p>
<p>The "I'm in it with these guys" part is an important line of that quote, without it there's a defiant Strasburg, challenging the decision, with it, there's a player wanting to do all he can while he can to help a team that seems destined to bring postseason baseball back to the nation's capital for the first time since 1933. They'll have to rip the ball out of Strasburg's hand, yes, but as he said during the All-Star Break, he knows, "... that [the Nationals] have my best interest at heart." That reading of the comments is also more in line with what Strasburg has said before, telling <a href="http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/07/09/holden-and-danny-nationals-pitcher-stephen-strasburg-says-team-hasnt-informed-him-of-pitch-count/#.T_thvMB9l24.twitter" target="_blank"><b>106.7 the FAN in D.C.'s Holden Kushner and Danny Rouhier</b></a> during that All-Star Break that he knew then how the season would eventually end:</p>
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<p>"All I can do is keep pitching and keep helping this team win as many games as we can. When they think it's time for us to shut it down, then it's going to be their call."</p>
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<p>Maybe it's just that some want the pitcher to fight the decision, to force the Nationals to rip the ball out of his hands that's leading some to see Strasburg's comments as a sign of defiance, but that's why the decision has been taken out of his hands. Of course the pitcher is going to want to keep going. It's heartbreaking to imagine someone contributing as much as he has to the Nationals' growth not getting to participate in the postseason if the Nationals are in fact able to make it there, but as Mike Rizzo explained to Kushner and Rouhier last week, that's why the decision on what the GM sees as a "developmental" issue isn't left up to the player.</p>
<p>"If you've ever been around a player," Rizzo told the hosts when asked if Strasburg's opinion of his own health and desire to keep pitching would factor into the shutdown discussion, "They are the worst self-evaluators in the world.":</p>
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<p>"These guys are so ultra-competitive and so ultra-talented that they believe in their heart of hearts and in their mind that they are invincible and they can do anything [if] they set their mind to it. So, it's my job to look after the players and their well-being, because a player will always take the ball, because when you're talking about a player as talented and as competitive as Stephen Strasburg you will really have to rip the ball out of his hand, because that's how competitive he is. He's there to pitch. He wants to pitch, but I think that in the best interest of him and which means in the best interest of the Nationals sometimes we have to make decisions that are unpopular to the players for the well-being of that player and for the franchise."</p>
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<p>If you ask Strasburg if he can go he's going to say yes. The Nationals will have to rip the ball out of his hands. He's not going to be happy about it. But no pitcher would be, that's why the decision isn't left up to him. But there's no doubt in the mind of anyone who's followed this team and there shouldn't be in Strasburg's mind either, that every pitch and every inning he's thrown this year has led the Nationals to where they are now, even if his season ends next Wednesday, he's played an important role in getting the Nationals where they are going.</p>
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https://dc.sbnation.com/2012/9/3/3288721/stephen-strasburg-shutdown-feature-mike-rizzo-holden-and-dannyPatrick Reddington