With the exception of Hudson Oaland pitchers don’t do as well and break down once they leave Oakland usualy because to begin with their mechanics were not good.

I agree with your suspicions about Strasburg possibly having a short career. Might have mentioned my own inkling came when watching a discussion by of his pitching motion on MLB Network. As he goes into his windup he bends his pitching arm across his back instead of keeping it in level with the shoulder. I believe this shot-put delivery gives him that extra forward momentum to really let lose with a hard whip to fire that ball in but, at the same time, what gives him that devastating fastball and curve could also build up tremendous strain on his muscles, elbow and shoulder which could also be the source of limiting his career.

I’m not sure but I think it was Larry Bowa presenting this observation.

Jackson, Gio and I think Zimm have pitches quite a few innings but Strassberg and Detweiller will be the difference but they do have Laman, I think that is his name, in minors if not traded.
I think Nats will shut down Strassberg when he hits his pitching limit cause they are planning for future.

Anyway enough with the niceties, I have a dislike for Nats cause their announcers, along with Dibbs before he left, are so homer’s, as bad as Marlins that it’s like scratching the chalk board with your nails.

Hopefully down the road Harvey, Wheeler, Groski and Familia will be our mother loade to allow us to compete pitching wise.

Niese, Gee, Mejia, Harvey, Wheeler…Our time is coming….

Were you willing to give up Harvey & Niese?

They ranked 3rd, 4th, 9th on the Nats Top 10 list.

So you’re talking about Familia, Mejia, and a catching prospect they don’t have and another arm.

You could maybe say Familia, Mejia, Flores and an arm.

Plus, isn’t Stras on some kind of team-imposed innings limit this year? Could swear I saw someplace that he is ony going to be allowed to throw something like 150 maybe?

We don’t know if any of the four players he got in return for Gonzalez in the long term will make this trade appear good for both sides. Two keys, of course, are A.J. Coles and Tommy Milone.

Some considered Coles Washington’s top pitching prospect. So far he is being rocked in A+ but it will still take two years in the minors to really access him.

Tommy Milone, who made his debut pitching against the Mets last September, is with the big club now and though he has a fine 1.118 whip he also sports a 4.42 ERA pitching with all that foul territory that batters hate at Oakland. Part of that has to be due to giving up five home runs in his first six starts (36 innngs or an average six innings per start).

The other two seem like throw ins.

Derek Norris is starting his sixth year in the minors and even though he is hitting .297, five seasons in the minors makes one wonder if he doesn’t have the mechanics for the big leagues. Brad Peacock is 3-1 with a .3.24 ERA in triple A, but like Norris, he is also starting his sixth year in the minors.

Just heard that the Mets will annouce Thole will be put on the seven day concussion disabled list.

I think Gio is good. He is on a ridiculous pace though, so I am expecting his numbers to calm down a bit.

If he threw 202 innings (2011) his pace is to allow 112 hits, 72 Walks, 230 K. He’s not going to keep that pace.

He’s good though, but I think the Nats were in a different spot than the Mets were this winter. We can’t pretend they were.

I will say, I still believe Strasburg will have a short career. I think that is 1 reason why Wash is in “go for it now” mode.

They are a nice team though. They are playing with a chip on their shoulder and frankly, if the Mets cannot win the division, I’ll be happy to look at the top and see Washington’s name in lights over Miami, Phil, Atl.