It's Official, Nationals Shut Down Ace

SP Stephen Strasburg has been shut down for the remainder of the season

In a move that has long been rumored, discussed, confirmed and debated far and wide across Major League Baseball by fans and analysts alike the Nationals announced Saturday that Stephen Strasburg is done for the season. It's a move the Nationals have maintained they would make all along to protect their young ace returned from Tommy John surgery.

Many people acted as though the decision would be incredulous if and when the Nationals made it. That time has arrived.

Sitting pretty in first place in the NL East, a position they've held for the majority of the season, the Nationals will now have to survive the remainder of the season and the entire playoffs without their best pitcher. The Nationals have a prime opportunity to compete for a World Series Championship and they are willingly taking, arguably, their best player off the roster.

Currently they Nationals own the best record in baseball (85-53) and own a 6.5 game lead over the Braves. So suffice it to say their is talent elsewhere on the roster and an extended playoff run isn't impossible, or even improbable. However without Straburg it's going to become a little more difficult.

The Nationals need only look at last years Champion St. Louis Cardinals for inspiration. Last season they lost their best pitcher, Adam Wainwright, to Tommy John in Spring Training. We all know how their season turned out.