Mazzone calls Strasburg plan 'pathetic'

The innings are ticking away.

With Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg taking the mound today against the San Francisco Giants, he will undoubtedly inch closer to his innings limit.

Strasburg, who is facing Tim Lincecum in a star-studded matchup, sits at 133 1/3 innings and is approaching the imposed shutdown mark of 160 to 180 innings.

Former Atlanta Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone is the latest to chime in and calls the Strasburg plan 'pathetic.'

"I think it's absolutely pathetic, to be honest with you," Mazzone, now a sports-radio host, told ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike Wednesday morning. "If I'm Strasburg, here's what I'm saying, I'm saying you take the ball away from me and I'll save my arm for some other team to pitch for. 

"I think it's absolutely ridiculous. I think that it's been 79 years since Washington's gone to a postseason. And you know what, you think of the Adam LaRoches of the world. These guys have a shot, they have a legitimate shot — with the best rotation in baseball with Strasburg in it — to go to the World Series. And to shut this down like this is absolutely ridiculous.

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