Washington Nationals: No More Windup for Stephen Strasburg?
By Tim Haberin
Stephen Strasburg didn’t throw from the windup at all in his first spring outing, and the Washington Nationals hurler might continue to do so in the regular season.
The Washington Nationals are counting on Stephen Strasburg to give them a healthy, effective season in 2017. This spring, the talented right-hander has a new idea about how he might achieve that. According to an Associated Press report on ESPN.com, Strasburg is considering not pitching from the windup this year.
Strasburg pitched exclusively from the stretch during his spring debut on Friday. It certainly didn’t appear to hinder him: He tossed two shutout innings against the Cardinals, allowing only one hit and striking out three. Strasburg finished his day in 23 pitches (16 strikes).
For the 28-year-old hurler, the change is an effort to make things less complicated heading into a crucial season for both himself and the Nationals. Per the AP story:
"“I’m not trying to reinvent myself, but just trying to simplify things as much as I can and be able to repeat my mechanics,” Strasburg said“I feel like as I’ve gotten older, for whatever reason, the windup’s just been an issue as far as getting that right feeling of staying on the mound, not drifting too much toward [the] first- or third-base side on my leg kick, and sticking the landing a little bit better.”"
If the windup had been bothering Strasburg in the past, it was hard to tell, especially in the first half of last season. The former number-one overall draft pick came out on fire, posting a 15-1 record, 2.63 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 4.24 K/BB ratio over his first 20 starts. Had he finished the campaign in that fashion, he would have surely been a leading Cy Young candidate.
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Unfortunately, injuries – specifically elbow soreness and a flexor mass strain – thwarted Strasburg’s final two months. Over his last four outings of 2016, he surrendered 20 earned runs on 26 hits in 14 innings (12.86 ERA). If there was any bright spot, it was that he continued to strike hitters out at a high clip, notching 22 K’s in that same span. Strasburg made his final start of the year on September 7. He hoped to return in the postseason but was shut down for good after an unsatisfying bullpen session.
While abstaining from the windup is more typically seen in relievers, Strasburg says he was inspired to give it a try from fellow starters Yu Darvish and Carlos Carrasco. Not bad pitchers to emulate, though they’ve also had their health issues. Switching to the stretch full-time probably won’t be the difference between an injury-free or injury-marred season, but Strasburg believes it will put less stress on his arm, which will benefit him in the long run.
Logging a full campaign has been somewhat of a struggle for Strasburg since his 2010 debut. He made at least 30 starts in back-to-back years in 2013 and ’14, eclipsing the 200-inning mark in the latter season with a robust 215 frames. Since then, he’s made 23 and 24 starts in the past two seasons, respectively.
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The Nats have as reliable a workhorse as you can find in Max Scherzer to lead their staff (eight straight seasons and counting with 30+ outings), but knowing they can pencil in Strasburg for a full slate as well would be a major lift to the club’s 2017 chances. Perhaps the mental edge, as much as the physical one, gained by simplifying his routine will lead to good things in the months ahead.