Strasburg to Skip Game 4 Start

**bugatti** · Oct 11, 17, 10:17 AM

I thought this was fascinating.

Dusty had no clue how to handle that press conference. Not sure I would have either.

Stephen Strasburg and Nationals commit biggest error of the season - The Washington Post
Let’s review what we know for certain: The Washington Nationals face elimination Wednesday afternoon at Wrigley Field. They employ a pitcher who, at the moment, is throwing as well as — and likely better than — anyone in the game. He is on regular rest. He will not pitch.

Keep going: The Nationals knew Manager Dusty Baker would be sitting in front of the media after Tuesday’s National League Division Series game was postponed to announce that Tanner Roark, not Stephen Strasburg, would get the ball with the season in the balance. And they either did not properly prepare Baker for the importance of the message he was about to deliver, or Baker did not understand its importance, or both.

Now, just me: I’m betting on both.
This is a mess. It is viewed that way across baseball, and it is viewed that way internally within the Nationals. They are, by now, a classic one-step-forward-two-steps-back organization, with responsibility in nearly every department of the club.

**UKMustangFan** · Oct 11, 17, 10:34 AM

And now....

Jon Morosi‏Verified account @jonmorosi 4m4 minutes ago

BREAKING: Stephen Strasburg now likely to start for #Nats today in Game 4, source says. @MLB @MLBNetwork

**bugatti** · Oct 11, 17, 10:45 AM

What a disaster.

**ColonelCrazy** · Oct 11, 17, 10:46 AM

I have to believe this was an act of gamesmanship by the Nationals as opposed to complete dysfunction on all levels. Maybe not.

**bugatti** · Oct 11, 17, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by ColonelCrazy

I have to believe this was an act of gamesmanship by the Nationals as opposed to complete dysfunction on all levels. Maybe not.

No way.

**mountain ref** · Oct 11, 17, 10:57 AM

Isnt he supposed to be sick?

Was it all a ploy to fool the Cubbies?

**mountain ref** · Oct 11, 17, 10:59 AM

Nats manager Dusty Baker told reporters that he's sticking with Tanner Roark and that Stephen Strasburg is feeling "under the weather." Baker also said that Strasburg threw a bullpen session Monday, taking him out of the running to start Wednesday.

**HammerTime** · Oct 11, 17, 11:19 AM

What a mess they made that. No chance Dusty did that on purpose.

**mountain ref** · Oct 11, 17, 11:45 AM

He has or had the flu.

**plantmanky** · Oct 11, 17, 12:01 PM

Can someone clue me in on what is doing on here, the story is hard to follow.

**UKMustangFan** · Oct 11, 17, 12:03 PM

Confirmation:

Bob Nightengale‏Verified account @BNightengale 6m6 minutes ago

It's Strasburg

**00Rocket28** · Oct 11, 17, 12:39 PM

If this was a ploy, I hope it blows up in Dusty’s face. And if not, I hope Strasburg is off his game and is actually sick, that it blows up cause they made this into such a distraction by flip/flopping.