I saw a 20/20 (or 60 minutes or whatever) piece on this last year blaming it on the little leagues making kids pitch too often and for too long. The kids arms are all worn out by they time they come out of college.

I've heard that argument too. The travel leagues and the specialization of only playing one sport as a contributing factor.

Who knows? Throwing a baseball has never been, and never will be a natural thing for a human being to do.

The change up thing sounds plausible because it's not really the high heat that kills arms like Stras' it's the torque from the slider, the curve, and the motion on the change that puts pressure on the ligaments. And I agree with Shmoo, they're saying it's an almost routine surgery and recovery at this point, but I'd say odds are 50-50 whether he's ever worth a shit again.

is his rookie card still worth a lot?

But his $15 million is guaranteed no matter what, right? Fuck it, buy a Corvette, reenroll at SDSU and start plotting your Next Move. Things could be worse.

Gotdamn Cardiac Braves do it again today. This team is just too much.

The 2 series against the Phils next month are going to be EPIC.

drafting pitching phenoms early seems to be about like drafting QB's in the first round. maybe you just draft other positions and pick up your pitching/QB's in free agency.

Pretty good comparison although I've seen plenty of stud hitters come up and shit the bed as well.

Less likely to suffer catastrophic industry, though

It was shoulder injuries not elbow injuries that derailed the careers of Prior and Bedard. Shoulder injuries are much more serious and difficult to recover from than elbow injuries. Liriano still looks pretty great.

I'd expect that Strasberg will come back from this in good shape. The bigger issue is that most say his mechanics are terrible and he was an injury waiting to happen as a result. So do the Nationals mess with his mechanics now and if so what does that do to his stuff?



So what you are saying is that you'd rather have 4 more Barry Zitos than Tim Linecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez and whoever the last Giants last starter is? Ace starting pitchers are the hardest talent to come by. I think you try to get them however you can.

knew they'd fuck this up.

Phillies win!

Haha.

Still 4 more weeks left fucker.

we'll have a hell of a series coming up

I am thinking it's going to be a Twins-Phillies World Series. It will be decided by a vote of America's heterosexual women, gay men, & consenting lesbians as to whom is cuter, Joe Mauer or Chase Utley.

If it were decided on the field, though, I would think Halladay (NL Cy Young)-Oswalt-Hamels would trump Pavano-Baker-Slowey&/orLiriano.

Also: if Felix Hernandez doesn't take the AL Cy Young over CC Sabathia &/or Clay Buchholz -- looking at the numbers, apart wins, the King is more deserving than either, & possibly more deserving than last year's winner, Zach Greinke -- I am putting out a fatwa on Buster Olney. Fuck that shit-ass NY homer.

I'd bet on a Twins-Braves world series, although I would love to see a Reds-Rays matchup.

Twins will collapse to the Yankees.

I was with you until you said possibly more deserving than Zach Greinke last year. That said, I'd be shocked if Hernandez won. Too many people won't vote for him solely based on him not winning that many games. Never mind the fact that the Yankees score over 7 runs per game for CC and King Felix gets the least run support of any starter in the big leagues.

He's not more deserving than Greinke was though. Greinke had as good or better a year than King Felix had in a year with less competition for the award.

The Twins are to the AL playoffs what the Royals and Orioles are to regular season baseball. No chance they make the WS.

Padres - COLLAPSE MOFOS

I went to a Padres game a few weeks ago and the Phillies fans had practically overrun the place, which was far from sold out. It looked like things were ready for a sharp decline.

Rangers, too...fortunately, the A's don't seem to have the same stomach for the fight that your Giants do.

You'd make a good cubs fan.

The Reds aren't far behind after losing 4 of their last 5.

Brewers took two of three from the Lou. I think your Reds will be fine.

Sweet to see the Majors's two top Glenn Beck boosters go down in a ball of flames.