The Nationals are making the wrong choice with Stephen Strasburg

For those that don’t know, here is the skinny on Stephen Strasburg. The Nationals have placed an innings restriction on stud pitcher Stephen Strasburg, and have even gone so far as to say Strasburg will not be pitching in the postseason when and if the Nats make it.

That is just plain silly talk, right?

Let’s pretend, for a moment, that there was bona fide science to assert that that an innings cap had anything to do with a pitchers’ long term health (and legitimately, maybe the Nationals have seen something I haven’t), but from the Nationals’ perspective, what is the benefit to keeping him under contract long term?  Strasburg is under a 4 year contract, and after that, he will hit arbitration for a few years. Give it 5 more years, after this one, if my math is correct.

OK, so you are saving him for those 5 more chances? When was the last time the Nationals/Expos made the playoffs? 1981! The franchise has never made it to the World Series (the only other team with that mark on their resume is the Seattle Mariners). These chances are precious few, and the Nationals of all teams should recognize that.

Oh, I know the Nationals have an excellent young team, and a core of high quality talent that should be with the team for a while. But what does that even mean? Since the strike, only the Yankees, Red Sox Marlins and Cardinals have won more than 1 World Series. Only the Yankees won World Series within 2 seasons of each other. Do you see what I am saying? Even with the best teams, following through with a championship is not something that is guaranteed, and especially not more than once. Unless, of course, you are the Yankees, and the Nationals are definitely not the Yankees.

Nothing given to you is promised tomorrow. The Nationals play in a division with Philadelphia, the Mets, the Braves and the Marlins. All but the Mets have won a World Series since 95, and even the Mets have made the World Series this century. Even if the Nationals are good, they still have to contend with what will be a difficult division. And they have to fend off teams from the central and western divisions if they need to try to claim a Wild Card spot.

You only have so many chances to earn glory, Washington. Don’t take them for granted. Try and win that World Series with the best possible team you can. And the guy with the 2.91 ERA is one of the best pitchers in baseball, so use him.