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Originally Posted by Chico23231
Interesting take on how the Braves handled Kris Medlen's tommy john surgery innings limit:
ATLANTA -- The Braves say their spring training decision to have Kris Medlen start the season in the bullpen was based on the right-hander's innings limit in his return from elbow surgery.
That decision has allowed Medlen to emerge as the most dominant starter on the staff in the most important part of the season.
Medlen struck out a career high 12 to win his sixth straight decision and lead Atlanta to a 6-1 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
Medlen (7-1) allowed five hits without a walk in his second complete game of the season.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez said Medlen had the same innings limit as Washington's Stephen Strasburg.
Strasburg has thrown 156 1/3 innings and has only two more starts. Medlen has thrown only 104 innings and will be available if the Braves, the NL wild-card leader, make the playoffs.
"It was all limits to innings," Gonzalez said Monday when asked about the decision on Medlen's role. "It was basically the number that Strasburg is facing right now, 160 to 170, because they both were coming off the Tommy John surgery.
"Where do we want that 160 to 170 to end? Do we want it to end in October or do we want it to end in August?"
Medlen appeared in 38 games in relief before moving into the rotation on July 31. He is 6-0 with a 0.54 ERA in seven starts. He spent most of 2011 on the disabled list recovering from elbow ligament-replacement surgery on Aug. 18. 2010.
Maybe the Nats shoulda done the same?
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Hindsight is 20 20. Did the Nats leadership really think they would be this good?