Replacement Referees

The Debacle Heard ‘Round the World

Alright, I will be perfectly honest. I was ready to pass out midway through the 4^th quarter of last night’s game. I retired to my room (which has no TV), so I was not able to witness the events that took place in real time. However, in my barely conscious state, I heard all of my housemates erupting with screams that obviously pertained to Monday Night Football. “Holy shit! Holy Shit!” And, “What the fuck?!! Are you kidding me??!!” were the most popular ones. I figured: Wow, in a game where the outcome has no personal value to any of my friends, what could the possible uproar be about?

The beauty of today’s social media allowed me to re-live the final seconds of the 4^th quarter this morning, and during my 8 a.m. class which lasted about an hour, I spent roughly 50-55 minutes reading articles, watching video, and examining the tweets that resulted from the egregious officiating displayed by the replacement referees. Packers' offensive guard TJ Lang's happened to be my personal favorite.

We all know what occurred. A debatable defensive pass interference call, an even more debatable roughing the passer call, setting up a Russell Wilson forty-yard, last second hail mary.Russell Wilson forty-yard, last second hail mary. Golden Tate blatantly shoves a Packer defender out of his way, and Packers’ safety M.D. Jennings clearly intercepts the ball. Tate was able to put a hand on the ball while in Jennings’ possession, and then subsequently wrestled him to put two hands on it—even though the ball was still clearly nestled in Jennings’ chest, Tate bare hugging him in desperation. Touchdown. Game over. Seattle wins.

Alright, so here’s my take:

Officiating an NFL game is an extremely challenging, demanding, happening-at-incredible-speed task. There is no room for hesitation on decisions that affect millions of people. It’s hard.

Us fans sit here in our living rooms with cold beverages on the table, chips in our laps, and burgers on the grill. We see things on TV at angles that the refs don’t have the privilege of utilizing unless a play is reviewed. Not to mention, they have the duty of managing freakishly large athletes with armor, who have intentions of severely harming their opponents. It’s very easy for us to criticize them.

That being said, referees perform at an extremely high level given the circumstances.

Up until this weekend, the replacement referees have been performing adequately given their circumstances. Sure, they have made a barrage of questionable calls. Sure, their control of confrontation throughout the game has been suspect. But don’t forget that the real refs make plenty of mistakes too. Remember how poorly officiated the NFC championship game between the Giants and Packers was last season? Remember when Ed “The Most Recent National Hero and Savior” Hochuli blew an obvious fumble call which cost the Chargers a game in 2008?

However, the last night changed everything. The bubble has burst. The wall has been torn down. If Sunday Night’s primetime game between the Ravens and Packers wasn’t enough—an inconsistently called game that concluded with a questionable game winning field call…then last night was. Everybody saw both games.

I do feel bad for these replacement refs. They are sitting ducks. Unless we find out that a Golden Tate fantasy owner paid off last night’s officiating crew…they are doing the best they can. But the fact is, their level of adequacy just isn’t good enough. They aren’t qualified to regulate games that impact so many people, and the fate of a franchise’s season.

Now comes the concern moving forward. It’s Tuesday, the Browns and Ravens play on Thursday night. What’s going to happen to these guys if they officiate this game? All of the players know what happened last night. All of the coaches saw it. These refs are going to be terrified. Can you imagine trying to regulate a game where everybody participating is infuriated by your presence? Where everybody in the stadium is just waiting for the chance to bellow the most of maniacal profanities and chants in your direction? If these guys are still around for Thursday night’s game…I’m scared for what may transpire. The NFL should be too.

Roger Goodell, it’s time. It’s time to save this season before the integrity of our nation’s most popular spectacle diminishes any further. It’s time to restore order. It’s time to make the players feel safe. Swallow the ego, swallow the cash, bring back the real National Football League referees. Not tomorrow, not next week...right now.

-Chris Collins

Follow Chris and PJ on Twitter @IceBathReport

Follow Chris @ChrisCollins127

PJ's NFL Sunday Thoughts

Only hours before this past NFL Sunday began, my housemates and I decided to invest in the NFL RedZone channel. If you are not familiar with RedZone, it flashes to whatever NFL game has something exciting about to go down. AKA, it is the greatest invention since the wheel.  Anyway, I fully utilized the $9 a month that is going towards RedZone by not moving from the couch for 10 hours straight and getting nothing productive done whatsoever. Therefore, I figured it would be a good idea to stop being a piece of shit columnist and share with you all what I thought about every NFL game that just went down, since I watched them all.

Bears – 23, Rams – 6:

God the Rams suck. Jeff Fisher has given this team some inspiration and a nasty attitude, but they just aren’t good at the sport of football. The Bears’ offense got lucky that their defense completely shut down the Rams’ offense. I’m still hating on this uber-hyped Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall reunion.

Bills – 24, Browns – 14:

You gotta feel for CJ Spiller. Things finally started to go his way for the first two games of this season and then he goes and bangs up his shoulder in this game. Still, the Bills played smart football and pulled out a nice win. Although Brandon Weeden clearly isn’t the long-term answer at quarterback for the Browns, they have to give him some receiver help. It’s actually comical how bad the Browns’ receiving corps is. Greg Little couldn’t catch a cold if he was ass-naked in Antarctica.

Cowboys - 16, Buccaneers – 10:

Just one of those ugly games where both teams probably deserved to lose. Tony Romo is lucky that he walked out of the stadium alive. After one hit he took I could have sworn that he was down for the count. Sadly, he got up.

Titans – 44, Lions – 41:

Probably the most random yet entertaining game of football that I have seen in years. Honestly Sportscenter could do a Top 10 just using plays from this game. The Titans scored on a throwback pass on a punt return. They scored on a kick return. And a fumble return too. But still, the biggest surprise for Tennessee was when Chris Johnson finally ran for a fucking first down (I’m an angry Chris Johnson fantasy owner). Even though they lost, you have to give the Lions some credit for not giving up even when they were without Matt Stafford and down two touchdowns with 18 seconds left. The last second Hail Mary to Titus Young Sr. (which by the way, only makes him look like more of a dumbass for actually wearing Senior on his jersey) was absolutely incredible. Personally, I would have gone for the two-point conversion and the win after that play. You somehow got to that point, I say fuck it and go for it. Instead, the Lions failed on a quarterback sneak on Fourth and 1 in overtime and the game ended anticlimactically.

Jaguars – 22, Colts – 17:

Maurice Jones-Drew is a freak. Shows up days before the season starts and is still shredding defenses. That Andrew Luck guy is going to be pretty damn good. Some of the throws he makes just make your jaw drop. Aside from those two observations, I’d really rather not talk about this game anymore.

Jets – 23, Dolphins – 20:

Dammit. Not only did I want the Dolphins to win this one, they should have won this one. They gave their kicker a chance to win it in overtime and he choked. Not only that, they actually blocked the Jets’ game-winning field goal attempt but their coach iced the kicker right before it happened. Which leads me to this: at what point will coaches realize that icing the kicker NEVER ends well? Anyway, I’ve realized that watching the Jets play is only bearable if you root for Tim Tebow to score a touchdown on every play. Spoiler alert: he won’t do it. That’s all I got on this one. In the words of Tebow, “Matthew 19:26.”

Vikings – 24, 49ers – 13:

Very cool upset. The 49ers couldn’t even last one week holding the title of the NFL’s best team. Christian Ponder played his ass off, the Vikings’ defense was great, and they completely deserved this win. I know the 49ers will be fine, but don’t assume this win by the Vikings was a fluke. Even in a very tough NFC North, I wouldn’t surprise me if they contended for the rest of the season.

Chiefs – 27, Saints – 24:

If anyone wants proof that a head coach can make or break a team, then look no further. This team just isn’t the same without Sean Payton. Yes, the Saints can make a reasonable argument that they lost because of the refs. But in the end, they let Jamaal Charles run for 233 yards and didn’t score when they needed to. Also props to Matt Cassel for actually looking like an NFL quarterback in the second half. Even though we’re only three weeks into the season, a division title already looks out of hand for the Saints.

Bengals – 38, Redskins – 31:

Another wacky game. The first play was an 80-yard touchdown pass…by a wide receiver. I was deeply saddened to see one of the cooler streaks in sports end when BenJarvus Green-Ellis fumbled for the first time EVER. Still, the main thing that I took out of this game is that while Robert Griffin III is electrifying and fun to watch, he still needs a lot of work. Also that AJ Green is one of the five best receivers in the NFL.

Cardinals – 27, Eagles – 6:

I really just don’t get it. How the hell does this Cardinals team win? I know they play good defense and have Larry Fitzgerald, but that shouldn’t be enough to be 3-0. However they are doing it, they’re finding ways to win and look like a legit team. The Eagles on the other hand do not look so legit. Mike Vick is in the early running for Least Valuable Player. It’s pretty shocking how badly he’s playing. Even with the new defense, Nnamdi Asomugha still looks out of his element. It’s looking like the Eagles were just a bad fit for him.

Falcons – 27, Chargers – 3:

These Dirty Birds are terrifying. They are firing on all cylinders right now. The offense can’t be stopped, and the defense can’t be scored on. Last time I checked, you’re probably going to do pretty well when that happens. As for the Chargers, this is one they’d like to forget about. After looking like he had moved on from last year in the first two games, Philip Rivers reverted back to his mediocre play. As his fantasy owner, let’s just hope it was an off day.

Texans – 31, Broncos – 25:

If I had to pick the last team that I would want to play against, I would pick the Texans. They are that good. There are no holes at any position. If they stay healthy, then they are easily the AFC favorites. By the way, I predicted a Falcons-Texans Super Bowl, and that’s looking pretty realistic right now. As for the Broncos, Peyton played OK, and he appears to be a good but not great quarterback now.

Raiders – 34, Steelers – 31:

One of those games where whatever team had the ball last was going to win. That turned out to be the Raiders. Carson Palmer and Darren McFadden both played very well, and Sebastian “The Polish Cannon” Janikowski kicked the game-winner. If you ever have any free time, read Janikowski’s Wikipedia page. Talk about living the dream. Anyway, the Big Rapist (Roethlisberger) played great, but this day belonged to the Raiders. On a serious note, let’s hope that Darrius Heyward-Bey is in good health.

Ravens – 31, Patriots – 30:

Dear NFL: just pay the fucking refs. It’s really just a shame. On a night that should have 100% belonged to Torrey Smith’s incredible performance, the majority of the postgame talk was about the horrible officiating. Aside from the blind zebras, after two full years the Ravens finally realized that if they run with Ray Rice a lot that they’ll probably win. For the Pats, I just don’t get the decrease in Wes Welker’s role. I get that the guy demanded more money in the offseason, but come on. Just because Julian Edelman is white and undersized too doesn’t mean that he can do what Welker can. I’m positive that if Welker started these past two games that the Patriots would either be 2-1 or 3-0 instead of 1-2.

Well it’s almost 2 AM and I have a long week of school in front of me. #bedtime

-PJ Moran

The Boss

I am a Bruce Springsteen fanatic. He accounts for over one-third of iTunes library. I can probably identify every song he has ever recorded within 2-3 seconds. He is a fellow Jersey-ian and I have seen him several times working out or just around Jersey. The last time I saw him he was right next to me looking at a shirt in American Eagle. I was like a teenage girl who just got a kiss on the cheek from Justin Bieber. Ok that sounded a little weird but you know what I mean. And no I didn't say anything to him because I was so star struck.

I have probably seen Bruce ten times or so in concert. Every one is better than the next. He is the greatest live performer rock and roll has ever seen. Someone try to argue with me. Nobody has sustained his level performance for as long as he has. He has been going strong since 1973, that's 40 years of rock and roll mastery. Who else plays 30+ songs, and over three hours of non-stop pandemonium? Nobody. The man will be 63 years old this week but somehow still plays like he is twenty-five. He shows no signs of slowing down.

So last night me and my buddies made the impulse decision to buy tickets and go to the concert at Giants Stadium (still refuse to call it MetLife), and although the setlist was different and definitely not one of his best...the show was still awesome. Although this list usually fluctuates, I have attempted to rank my top 10 favorite Bruce songs.

1. Thunder Road

Album: Born to Run

Don't run back inside darlin, you know just what I'm here for.

Someday I am going to drop that line as I pick up a girl and then we are going to kiss in the pouring rain (and maybe do other things) just like they do in Dear John. Yea...I've seen it. Not ashamed! Anyway, "Thunder Road" just has a special place in my heart. One of my favorite things to do: blast this song down Ocean Ave (for all of my New Jersey-ian's out there. A part of Bruce's coming out album. Powerful lyrics, Bruce's opening harmonica, and the Big Man's soothing work on the sax make this pure mastery.

2. Badlands

Album: Darkness on the Edge of Town

All men wanna be rich,
Rich men wanna be king,
And the king ain't satisfied til he lose everything

Goddamnit that's good. How does he do it? The ultimate anthem of Bruce. Once he finishes, nobody leaves. They sing the "Badlands" anthem and beg him for one more song. Many times an opener, once you hear that guitar intro...you know it's on baby.

3. Racing in the Street

Album: Darkness on the Edge of Town

I met her on the strip three years ago,
In a Camaro with this dude from LA,
I blew that Camaro off my back,
and drove that little girl away

A true hidden gem that doesn't often get mentioned in the elite. In my opinion, no song of Bruce is more musically graceful and elegant. If you had to tell me that the only piece of music I could listen to for the rest of my life was this five-minute outro...I would be perfectly content. Roy Bittan is in flawless form with his brilliant piano work in both the intro and outro.

4. Backstreets

Album: Born to Run

We swore forever friends on the backstreets until the end,
Hidin' on the backstreets, hidin' on the backsteets....

"You have two songs from Born to Run in your top 5 and none of them are the actual song "Born to Run!!" Yup, I do. As a die hard Bruce fan, I tend to appreciate the songs that aren't necessarily everybody's top choice. Don't get me wrong, "Born to Run" is awesome and extremely symbolic of Bruce's story, but it's also the most played and most recognized. For a guy that has an endless library of classics and hits...I tend to go in other directions. "Backstreets" is a tale of friendship highlighted with a passionate and climactic chorus which is absolutely epic when performed live. ^^As shown above.

5. Jungleland

Album: Born to Run

That's now three on the Born to Run album and none of them are actually "Born to Run!"

Barefoot girl sitting on the hood of  a Dodge...drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain. 

I want to experience that image once in my lifetime as well. Except I see it as me offering her a cold beer (preferably Miller Lite) instead of warm, and then joining her on the hood of a dodge when we share our life stories and then make out as it rains (common theme here). This song is top 5 based on Roy Brittan's work alone. I have always wanted to direct a movie with his opening piano as the ending soundtrack. And of course, may he rest in peace, Clarence Clemons is at his absolute best in this song--with prolonged saxophone work so gripping your body goes numb in concert. The world seems to stop when he takes over the stage.

6. Out in the Street

Album: The River

I tried coming up with an explanation on why I love this song and I couldn't really get past this: it's just downright fun. One of the best songs to hear in concert. Innate ability get the crowd involved and just a fun sing-a-long.

7. Born to Run

Album: Born to Run

Baby this town rips the bones from your back,
It's a death trap, a suicide wrap,
We gotta get out while we're young 
'cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run!

Fine. I give in. This song means so much to Bruce as a person and performer--and also is his first hit that made him a star.

8. I'm Goin Down

Album: Born in the USA

The first song I mention from the album, an album that brought Bruce from stardom to super-stardom. This is another one of those songs where I can't really put my finger on why I like it so much, but damnit I love blasting this bastard.

9. No Surrender

Album: Born in the USA

We made a promise we swore we'd almost remember, No retreat, baby, no surrender. 
Like soldiers in a winter's night with, with a vow to defend, no retreat, baby, no surrender. 

Shit, that's brilliant. A song about friendship, a song about following your dreams. I actually prefer it performed acoustically and slower like he does in concert as opposed to the more fast-paced record version.

10. My Hometown

Album: Born in the USA

Last night me and kate, laid in bed, talked about getting out.
Packing up our bags maybe heading south
I'm thirty-five we got a boy of our own now
Last night I sat him up behind the wheel and said son take a good look around,
This is your hometown

Probably the best father-son bonding song from Bruce. Everyone has a special place for their original hometown. I hold my hometown in such high regard, this song just hits home (no pun intended) with me.

It's funny how many hits I left of this lest. Truly speaks to the volume of Bruce's library. He has songs that are throw aways for him, songs that would be huge hits for anybody else.

Songs like that: Lion's Den, Man at the Top, Janey Don't You Lose Heart, Car Wash, County Fair, Cadillac Ranch, Back in Your Arms

Honorable Mentions: Land of Hope and Dreams, The Promised Land, Rosalita, Hungry Heart, Dancing in the Dark, American Land, Lonesome Day, Waitin on a Sunny Day, Mary's Place, You're Missing, Wrecking Ball, We Take Are of Our Own, The River, 10th Avenue Freeze Out

Fireside Chats: Volume 1

Chris and Pj unleashed. "CC" will represent Chris, and "PJ" will obviously represent PJ. The following conversation is uncensored, and viewer discretion is advised.

CC: So Pj, I like the rest of our readers would like wonder the following...where the hell have you been?

PJ: Busy with an even mix of schoolwork and masturbation, but my schedule is freeing up. I apologize for my absence though.

CC: There's a lot of that going around. You happen to be watching the most boring, poorly officiated Monday Night Football game of all time?

PJ: Indeed I am. It's hitting the point where I'm about to mortgage my own home to 
contribute to the Pay the Real Fucking Refs Fund. 

If a corner breathes on a receiver they'll flag him for pass interference.

CC: Is there room on that train for one more? But you want to know what I miss most?

Ed Hochuli's biceps. Shit! That should have been my fantasy team name!! I blew it.

PJ: Now we know not to take any refs for granted. I would do anything to get these middle school teachers and construction workers off of the field.

CC: I think the announcers should say what the refs do in their other lives. For example...lets go to Johnny Richardson, a McDonalds cashier in Topeka, Kansas, for the call. (In Jon Gruden's voice of course)

PJ: That would be great. In other news though, this game tonight seems symbolic of Matt Ryan taking Peyton's place in the group of elite quarterbacks.

CC: I am going to be perfectly honest. This game just hasn't grabbed my attention and I have been barely watching. But I do get that sense that this is Matt Ryan's season. While we are on elite quarterbacks...Tom Brady...the New England Patriots...losing to the Arizona Cardials??? At home??

PJ: They aren't the same Patriots. I don't where the hell Wes Welker has been. One of the best weapons in the league and he's not even starting.

CC: I get the sense that this is the beginning of the end of the Welker-Patriots marriage. The Aaron Hernandez injury is a real stinger too.

Moving on...how good are these 49ers?

PJ: Very good. Defense is top 3 I can remember.

Still don't like them to win the NFC. This is still a quarterbacks league and while Alex Smith doesn't suck anymore he isn't near the top class.

CC: I can't disagree with that logic. I just have this memory stuck to my head of the entire unit making Aaron Rodgers looking like a mediocre quarterback. NFC favorites in my mind.

O, and I am thinking of ordering a Justin Tryon jersey. Do you think I should go blue or white?

PJ: Don't even get me started. Eli Manning absolutely bailed out a god awful secondary performance.

If we don't make some kind of move soon we are going to get burnt.

CC: You know when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers score 34 points, there are major problems.

I also really appreciated half of the Giants fan base abandoning Eli Manning in the first half, a two time Super Bowl champ if I may add.

PJ: I just don't pay attention to those "fans" anymore.

Eli is a stud, and that won't change for years.

CC: Couldn't agree more. In an era where I would rather watch a turtle crawl from the beach into the water instead of the Mets, Manning is probably my favorite athlete in sports right now.

PJ: Same with me. Cruz and Nicks also looked uncoverable. All of those Cruz haters from last week look like dumbasses too.

CC: Maybe the best WR combo in the league. 1-2 in receiving yards through 2 weeks. Alright winding down here (I'm exhausted), would you like to give our readers a monologue on your fantasy season through the first two weeks?

If you don't, I understand.

PJ: I will only if you go fuck yourself.

CC: You mean my 2-0 record!!

PJ: Well I invested a first round pick in Chris Johnson who has less rushing yards than Brandon Weeden (I'm not kidding). But I'm still optimistic. I spent an early pick on Ryan Mathews who will help a shit ton, and I'm confident that the Pats will wake up and throw Welker the ball more.

CC: I am just going to continue to soak in the satisfaction I get from watching "The Great One" fail.

CC: On that note...good night?

PJ: Sure. My bedtime is approaching as well.

Make sure you follow @IceBathReport on Twitter.

Also, follow Chris @ChrisCollins127 and PJ @PEEJ9493

Chris' Study Zone: Volume 1

We are approaching 4am here...and just so I could further deteriorate the grade I will receive on my Environmental Science exam tomorrow, I figured I would share with my readers the things I have done in the past three hours besides studying, and some of the thoughts that come to mind. I got in my "Study Zone" at about midnight. This is what the Study Zone has consisted of this evening:

-Going through multiple girls Facebook photos at my college and just thinking: 1) I'm not always as intoxicated as I may seem when you see me at the bars. 2) Therefore, you should at least slightly consider talking to/hooking up with me. 3) What would your mother think if she saw the photos you post and seem to be proud of on this website? 4) Better yet, what would your father do? 

-Wait...Sammy Sosa is white now???!! He pulled a Michael Jackson??!! How did I miss this??!! This should have been front page stuff! When did this happen??!! Too funny. So yea, I went through a lot of pictures and just laughed harder at each one.

-Going through all of my tweets in the last two months and attempting to give myself a Twitter grade. I tried to concoct some sort of algorithm to complete such a hefty task, but I instead tried to get a general sense of how often I am re-tweeted and/or favorited, and also my general satisfaction from tweets. I also factored in my current 158 followers, and compared that to many of my friends my age that don't have big boobs and a nice ass. I gave myself a B with potential for an A. I would like to think I am an asset to Twitter, but I also thought that the Red Sox would make the playoffs this year. 

-Which reminds me, does anybody else click the trending topics on Twitter just to see all of the funny shit ghetto people say? It's up there with one of my top 30 favorite activities. 

-O, you can follow me @ChrisCollins127!!

-I had this thing where my head was telling me: "Watch the Kate Upton cat daddy video or forever hold your peace." This is not the first time this has happened. So of course, I abided by my head's commands, which sometimes leads to a few Sunday morning apologies, and proceded to watch the best one-minute piece of media since...I can't think of anything. It's late.

-There's a solid chance I have listened to 50 different Bruce songs and I have enjoyed every single one of them. I can't say the same about another artist for 10 songs except maybe Sammy Adams and Mac Miller. Just kidding. I would rather be in a dark room listening to Maria Sharapova's scream on repeat. Not even kidding this time.

-Wait, I am going to see him at Giants Stadium (refuse to call it MetLife) this weekend! I will be giddy all week! I am more excited than a kid seeing his first pair of cans on Cinemax. He is the greatest live performer ever. Someone argue with me! By the way, can't take credit for that line. Have to dish that out to my good friend Ron. 

-No, I am not gay.

-Not that there's anything wrong with that.

-Where has Pj been? 

-Just looking at my Fantasy Football scoreboard and just admiring how much my team kicked ass today. Just ordered my RG3 jersey. I'm on board baby!!!

-Looking at the Giants schedule and just saying "fuck" several times. Maybe a few "goddamnits" mixed in there. Which are my two favorite curse words by the way, I also love combining them into one word. I do this in many different ways.

-I honestly just feel awful for this Gerry Sandusky guy. No not the real one silly!! Gerry Sandusky is a radio broadcaster for the Ravens. I can't imagine the explaining he must do.

-Which also reminds me...is the real Jerry Sandusky still alive? What is his current status? I think the Vegas line was like 7.5 on days he would last in prison. I took the under.

Alright. It's almost 3:40. I guess I will go study. Good night my readers. Keep spreading the word, tell your friends, and more importantly: keep living the buzz.

-Chris Collins

Collins Corner: Week 2 Picks

Welp, it's a good thing my bookie called out sick last week. I took a beating. I did have Green Bay on Thursday night who covered, so at least I can chalk up one in the win column to start this week.

Week 1 Record: 5-11

Overall Record: 5-11

Week 2 Picks

Cleveland +6.5 at Cincinnati
Oakland -2.5 at Miami
Kansas City +3 at Buffalo
Minnesota -1.5 at Indianapolis
Tampa Bay +7 at New York Giants
New Orleans -2.5 at Carolina
Arizona +14 at New England
Houston -7.5 at Jacksonville
Baltimore +2.5 at Philadelphia
Dallas -3 at Seattle
Washington -3 at St. Louis
Tennessee +6.5 at San Diego

Sunday Night

Detroit +7 at San Francisco

Monday Night

Denver +3 at Atlanta (Best Bet)

Take my 5-11 record for what it's worth...

Stephen Strasburg

Shame on You Mike Rizzo

Stephen Strasburg is a freak of nature, a brand of physical prowess that the game of baseball has not seen in decades, maybe never in its history. His fastball sits in the high 90’s with relative ease. His curveball falls off a cliff and leaves batters staring in awe. His changeup registers harder than many pitchers’ fastballs, yet still leaves batters in a stymied trance. In his senior season at San Diego State he finished with a 0.63 ERA in conference games, and once struck out 23 batters in a game. He came into the 2009 Major League baseball draft as the most highly touted player to ever come out of college, and maybe the most coveted prospect in an entire generation of baseball, maybe the most coveted prospect ever. The Washington Nationals selected him with the first overall pick.

Strasburg made his debut on June 8, 2010. He gave up two runs, and struck out 14 batters and walked none. How many people have accomplished that feat in their debut? Zero. Nobody has ever done that before.

He went on to make eleven more starts in 2010, finishing with a 2.91 ERA and striking out 92 batters in 68 innings. In 2011, Strasburg made five starts, recorded a 1.50 ERA, and made Major League hitters look inept at the age of 22. He left his fifth start with discomfort in his right arm, discomfort that snowballed into the infamous appointment with Dr. James Andrews for Tommy John surgery.

After missing the rest of the 2011 season, remarkably, Strasburg was ready to pitch the season opener, an opener in which he befuddled the Cubs for seven innings, allowing one run and striking out five. Strasburg has racked up fifteen wins with only six losses, accumulated 197 strikeouts in 156 innings, recorded a 3.16 ERA, and compiled a legitimate CY Young resume. He is the ace on baseball’s best pitching staff and best team. Strasburg would be scheduled to make his next start tonight against the Mets—but instead, under the orders of general manager Mike Rizzo, Stephen Strasburg has been shut down for the rest of the season.

Shame on you Mike Rizzo.

Before the season had even begun, in attempt to assure Strasburg’s future safety in light of his surgery, Rizzo had said that Strasburg would pitch this season under a strict innings limit—roughly between 160 and 180 innings. He figured: We are probably one or two ways from seriously competing for a championship, why risk Strasburg’s health this season? Mike Rizzo’s worst nightmare has developed right before his very eyes.

Not only have the Nationals proved that they were ready to compete this season--they are the best team in baseball. They are coasting to the conclusion of the regular season with baseball’s best record and a seven and a half game lead on Atlanta. All five starters have ERA’s under four, with both Jordan Zimmerman and Gio Gonzalez under three, Strasburg just slightly behind. They have outscored their opponents by 130 runs. Nobody thought they would be this good, especially not Mike Rizzo.

Shame on you Mike Rizzo.

Our nation’s capital does not deserve this. Baseball has been played in Washington whether it be the Senators or Nationals for a combined total of 78 years. They have been to the playoffs three times. Three times. The last being 1933. How can he do this to them?

What makes the decision to shut down Strasburg even more infuriating, there is no scientific evidence that limiting Strasburg to precisely 160 innings will make a positive impact for him in the future. Where did he get this magic number of 160 from anyway? Injuries are unpredictable. By limiting Strasburg’s innings there might be benefits to his right arm, but who’s to say he may not develop a bulging disk in his back next year? Maybe he tries to save a ground ball up the middle with his bear hand and breaks a finger. Anything can happen.

Shame on you Mike Rizzo.

Even more agonizing, Rizzo is caught so caught up in a self-indulged arrogance that he is ignoring the simplest of facts: They may never be this good again. The Washington Nationals have an opportunity that they may not receive again for a long time. Every season is unpredictable. They are succeeding in a year of baseball steeped with parity, a year where seventeen teams are still in the playoff hunt, a year where there are no dominant teams except themselves. The Yankees are hobbling to the finish line, the Red Sox can’t get out of their own way, the Angels have disappointed, the Phillies cleaned house, this is their time. If there was ever a chance to pull off something improbable and magical as the Washington Nationals winning a world series this year, after eight straight miserable seasons as a franchise, there chance is now. They need Strasburg.

Shame on you Mike Rizzo.

Perhaps the most important aspect of this mess that is about to ensue—the impact on Strasburg himself and the players. This kid has carried a staff to prominence, carried a team from the gutter to significance, and now he has to watch his team go on to the real battle without him. It would be like the captain of the squadron taking the trip to Normandy but then staying in the boat during the invasion. This is going to kill the kid’s psyche.

Shame on you Mike Rizzo.

What about his teammates? “Sure guys, I know you have worked hard all year to become the best team in baseball, but we are shutting down our best pitcher. Although there is no evidence that this will work, we think it may help him in the future.” Is that what manager Davey Johnson (who you can tell isn’t on board with this decision) has to say to his players? Is that what the Nationals are supposed to say to the 2,078,208 fans that have attended their games this year?

Look, can the Washington Nationals win a World Series without Strasburg? Absolutely. Their pitching staff will still be very good without him. They are still a very good team without him. However, there are ways that the Nationals could have avoided this. If Mike Rizzo was so dead set on Strasburg not exceeding 160 innings, why not start him in the bullpen for the first month or two of the season? Why not skip his turn in the rotation once a month? Why not put him on the 15 day DL after the all-star break, when they finally knew just how good they were and had already jumped out to a four and a half game lead? Why not shut him down now and bring him back in the postseason? Any of those would have sufficed…anything but this.

Shame on you Mike Rizzo, shame on you.

-Chris Collins

Follow Chris on Twitter  @ChrisCollins127