The Nats Thread (old thread link inside, too many load issues)

[Warhead36]

Another win.

Interleague is cake.

[DCranon21]

Break out the brooms again. Sweeping the trash in the AL East

[Sticksboi05]

Most wins through 61 games EVER for this franchise. Great things are happening. Cannot wait for Storen and Werth to return.

[GoSkins0721]

Lidge looked really good. His slider as sharp as I've seen this year.

[Buford]

Nice. Now Yanks, Boston, Minny, and Tampa can win tonight, it'll be extra special.

[Sticksboi05]

Regarding the 160 innings, while all innings are not equal in terms of pitch count, I think over the course of a season it'll all balance out. The quick 10 or fewer pitch innings will be balanced out by the long 20+ ones. 160 innings sounds good. Last thing we want is to burn Stras out early like Wood/Prior.

Kerry Wood burned out because he didn't change his mechanics in time. Mark Prior just got unlucky. His pitching form was fantastic. Still got hurt. Some pitchers can handle the stress, some can't. Maddux could. Lincecum can and he's a twig. There's no great science to preventing pitching injuries. Stras was coddled and still needed Tommy John surgery.

Really, the only annoying thing to me is the people who act like because we are having a good season thus far and have good young players, we are entitled to be in this good a position for the next like, ten years. In the modern sports world, you better win when you have a chance or you'll end up like the Rangers. It's not just having a good team, sometimes, things fall into place during a certain year for you to win.

I'm not saying this should make us push Stras more than necessary but we are in the business of winning now, not hopefully in three years. Barry Larkin said as much on BBTN.

Either way, he'll be shut down (99.9% chance) so there's really no point in talking about it until we approach the arbitrary limit.

Let's enjoy this winning streak!!

[Tulane Skins Fan]

Oh, and the Phillies are officially 10 games out of first place.

[DCchillin89]

Lincecum can and he's a twig.

Lincecum is falling apart before our very eyes. Splitting hairs, but something to keep an eye on, as Strasburg has a funky delivery as well. More AB's for Moore, the dude hits at every level.

[GoSkins0721]

Oh, and the Phillies are officially 10 games out of first place.

...and 11 in the Loss column

[Forehead]

Kerry Wood burned out because he didn't change his mechanics in time. Mark Prior just got unlucky. His pitching form was fantastic. Still got hurt.

This actually may not be true. Also it's a common misconception that Prior had Tommy John; he just had a ton of shoulder problems. Prior's mechanics are often called fantastic because of how smooth and effortless he looked while still achieving high velocity and great control. However, you might be interested to read the following link, where Prior's mechanics are discussed as possibly having contributed to his issues.

http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/...rspective.html

[Sticksboi05]

Lincecum is falling apart before our very eyes. Splitting hairs, but something to keep an eye on, as Strasburg has a funky delivery as well. More AB's for Moore, the dude hits at every level.

Well, for him to go 200 innings as many seasons as he did was incredible given his frame. Wouldn't write him off, just yet.

[ffxdrummer]

Really, the only annoying thing to me is the people who act like because we are having a good season thus far and have good young players, we are entitled to be in this good a position for the next like, ten years. In the modern sports world, you better win when you have a chance or you'll end up like the Rangers. It's not just having a good team, sometimes, things fall into place during a certain year for you to win.

I'm not saying this should make us push Stras more than necessary but we are in the business of winning now, not hopefully in three years. Barry Larkin said as much on BBTN.

As you well know, see: Washington Capitals.

[Sticksboi05]

As you well know, see: Washington Capitals.

Bingo. And it had nothing to do with injuries. Their star players randomly faded. Their coach left. And the rest of the East got much better.

[ffxdrummer]

Bingo. And it had nothing to do with injuries. Their star players randomly faded. Their coach left. And the rest of the East got much better.

I, admittedly, don't know nearly as much about baseball as most people in this thread, but I fall on the side of keeping Strasburg throwing as long the Nats are clearly contending. Maybe they try to get him out of games a little earlier like today to save some wear and tear, but if he is going to help us win and make a legitimate push in the postseason, I'd hate to see him shut down. Of course, if he starts feeling soreness or tightening up, or the team starts to slide badly, shut him down. I could be wrong though, it's happened before.

[Sticksboi05]

I, admittedly, don't know nearly as much about baseball as most people in this thread, but I fall on the side of keeping Strasburg throwing as long the Nats are clearly contending. Maybe they try to get him out of games a little earlier like today to save some wear and tear, but if he is going to help us win and make a legitimate push in the postseason, I'd hate to see him shut down. Of course, if he starts feeling soreness or tightening up, or the team starts to slide badly, shut him down. I could be wrong though, it's happened before.

It's basically protection against a worst-case scenario which is another injury. It's an absolutely legitimate reason to shut him down but man, it's tough to decrease your chances in today's sports landscape where winning a title is so difficult.

Again, it'll be the same talk over and over until we approach August so nothing will change between now and then.