MLB Roundup: Strasburg done for season, McCarthy still hospitalized
Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg will be shut down for the rest of the season after Friday's poor start, according to multiple reports.
Manager Davey Johnson made the announcement Saturday morning and blamed the media, in part, for the team's decision.
"He's had a great year," Johnson said. "And I know what he's going through the last couple weeks. This media hype on this thing has been unbearable."
The team has faced much scrutiny for its well-publicized decision to limit the young ace to 175 innings this season. But Washington decided to cut the cord even sooner after he allowed five runs in three innings of the Nationals' 7-5 loss to the Miami Marlins in 10 innings. Strasburg did not factor in the decision. It matched the shortest outing of his career.
"Davey saw what I saw yesterday," general manager Mike Rizzo said. "We are hand and glove in this situation, as we are in all situations. We discuss everything and we are in total agreement (to shut down Strasburg)."
Johnson said Strasburg's recent struggles have been more mental than physical. The pitcher told the manager last week that he was having difficulty sleeping because of the impending shutdown, according to MLB.com.
"If you are not there 100 percent mentally ... he is a gifted athlete and velocity can still be there," Johnson said. "But I don't see the crispness, I don't see the ball jumping out of his hand. I'm a firm believer that this game is 99 percent mental. He is only human. I don't how anybody can be ... mentally concentrating on the job at hand with the media hype to this thing. I think we would be risking more sending him back out."
Strasburg was not available for comment.
Strasburg finished the season at 159 1/3 innings over 28 starts. He went 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA with 197 strikeouts.
Strasburg, 24, missed most of last season after having Tommy John surgery.
"We have a history on these type of rehabilitations, surgeries and how they get back to play a year after the Tommy John surgery," Rizzo said. "We followed the protocol. We had a parameters set in mind. After yesterday's start, we just figured that mentally and physically Stephen looked like he was fatigued. We decided, what's the difference of 159 1/3 innings or 163, 4 or 5 1/2 innings? We said, 'Let's pull the plug today and we move on with the season and try to finish the season off positively.'"
John Lannan will take Strasburg's spot in the rotation. He will start Wednesday at the New York Mets.
---Oakland Athletics pitcher Brandon McCarthy is still in a hospital recovering from a head injury he sustained he when was hit by a line drive earlier in the week, but is back to tweeting.
Less than three days after having surgery at a Bay Area hospital to repair a skull fracture and an epidural hemorrhage on the right side of his head, McCarthy took to Twitter early Saturday morning.
"Crazy about this children's tylenol, can't believe they give it to kids," he wrote at 1:45 a.m. PT
At 10:24 a.m., he tweeted: "The good news in all of this, is that I set up my fantasy lineups beforehand. So there shall be no excuses at this point."
McCarthy was struck by line drive Wednesday afternoon against the Los Angeles Angels.
The A's medical staff said McCarthy was progressing well and was stable, but remained in serious condition when it was last reported.
Team trainer Nick Paparesta said Friday that the first three days after sustaining such an injury are crucial. McCarthy was able to sit up in a chair and eat solid foods and drink liquids without complications.
