Overprotective Nationals Send Rookie Phenom Strasburg Straight to DL

The Washington Nationals placed rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg on the 15-day disabled list last week, leading many baseball fans to begin drawing comparisons between Strasburg and an oft-injured former pitching phenom - Mark Prior.

Not fair.

Yet, anyway.

Let's be clear, even if you throw Mark Prior into this discussion, there hasn't been a pitcher enter the big leagues with Strasburg's stuff since...well...ever.

He's as polished as a career All-Star, and most thought there was no way a 21-year-old (he turned 22 on July 20) could live up to the hype that surrounded his Major League Baseball debut.

He didn't.

Strasburg far surpassed it.

The rookie struck out 14 with no walks, four hits and two earned runs in his seven-inning debut victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 8, 2010.

Since then, he's compiled a 5-2 record with a 2.32 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with 75 strikeouts against just 15 walks.

So why do I say it's unfair to begin comparing Strasburg to Prior? To begin worrying about injury issues?

Because the Nationals are like a new mom with this kid - they're being overprotective, almost to a fault. And it's tough to blame them. Strasburg is as unique as pitching prospects get, and the team has a record $15.1 million rookie contract invested in him, so they've paid for the right to exercise caution.

They've insisted all along that Strasburg will pitch a total of only 160 innings this season, and not a frame more. Oh yeah, and that includes the 98 innings he tossed at the minor league level before his June call-up.

That meant 62 innings of major league work his rookie season, leaving fans and fantasy baseball managers frustrated, sure, but displaying Washington's commitment to Strasburg's long-term career.

Many asked: what happens if the Nationals are in a pennant race? Will they still decide to shut down their best player for the stretch run?

Thankfully for them, as they sit 14.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East through July, it doesn't appear the Nats will have to confront that issue.

So they'll kick Strasburg off the mound after he's hit the 160-inning mark (let's hope he's not in the midst of a no-hitter when that happens; those are spreading like wildfire this season, after all) and let him rest and begin preparation for his sophomore season.

Which leads us to this 15-day DL stint.

Strasburg went out to warm up for his scheduled start against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, July 27, and he felt a little bit of tightness in his throwing shoulder. It just wouldn't quite loosen up, some minor inflammation that's common in the majors.

What did the Nationals do?

They scratched the kid from his start (leading to a chorus of boos at Nationals Park) and scheduled a battery of medical tests, including an MRI.

All came back negative, but the Nats remain positive they're doing the right thing.

They're protecting their investment.

"If he's 90 percent healthy, we shut him down," Washington manager Jim Riggleman told The News-Herald. "He's got to be 100 percent."

Sources:
Baseball: Nationals place rookie Strasburg on 15-day DL, The News-Herald
Stephen Strasburg Bio, Yahoo! Fantasy Sports