Okay, I was wrong about the Washington Nationals, they stuck around to have one of the best records in the National League. With the conversations going on about a Stephen Strasburg shutdown, in order to protect his arm due to Tommy John surgery, I don't think the Nationals thought they would be in the hunt either.
I think it is a wise move. The Nationals do have depth in their rotation. They can compete in the playoffs with or without him. Why risk doing further injury to your golden child's arm for the sake of one season when the Nationals, who've drafted well and made some good off-season moves, can work on competing in the long road. If Strasburg gets hurts and the Nationals don't get a ring, then it was all for nothing, right?
With all of the money they're paying Strasburg, I think they'd like to have him around for more games in 2013 and years to come. Davey Johnson is making the right move.
What if they shut him down and Nationals miss the playoffs? 1) That probably won't happen 2) If they do, the only people that are going to be upset are the radicals fans in DC.
We expected Washington to be a better team this year, but some may have not expected them to be running away with the NL East.
Keep the arm healthy and strengthen it up more in the offseason and he'll be better than ever in 2013. No need to risk a career for the sake of one playoff run.
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