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Stephen Strasburg, Meet Tommy John

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I'm not sure what to say here, but as you've likely heard by now, Stephen Strasburg has blown his elbow ligament and will have to have Tommy John surgery. This is a blow not just to Strasburg and the Nationals franchise, but to baseball itself. Strasburg is special....it is unfortunate that we now have to add the caveat "when healthy" to that statement.

I know that some analysts had concerns about his mechanics, but arm injuries can happen to any pitcher. Tommy John surgery is at least easier (in many cases) to come back from than shoulder problems. There will now be recriminations that he was handled badly by the Nationals and should have been shut down earlier, but all it takes is one bad pitch.