Every GM's Worst Nightmare.

(Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff. The Peoria Javelinas celebrate the 2009 AFL championship by jumping on top of each other.)

The good news is, the photo above isn't a picture of Espinosa, Storen, Marrero, et al. in a dog pile, jumping on top of each other like they just won the World Series. Because, you can get injured jumping into a dog pile. Then again, you can get injured shagging BP fly balls; just ask Strasburg.

And so, in the wake of a heartbreaking loss by the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the AFL championship game, here's the key takeaway from the 2009 Arizona Fall League for Nationals fans:

Weird shit just happens sometimes.

A bunch of healthy 20-something year old athletes can hit, run, and throw for nine innings day after day for over a month of meaningless development league games, then jump around on top of each other at the end on the pitcher's mound after winning a meaningless trophy; and everyone walks away healthy.

Or a healthy, 20-something year old athlete with a $15 million paycheck burning in his pocket can stoop for a ground ball while playing long toss during batting practice before a meaningless development league game, and with a single pop of the knee can put an entire organization (not to mention, fanbase) on edge. Dave Sheinen captured the moment over at Nationals Journal:

According to Rizzo, the injury occurred while Strasburg and a teammate were playing long-toss in the outfield during batting practice before the Phoenix Desert Dogs' regular-season finale Thursday. Strasburg apparently went to field a ground ball that had been hit near him when his cleats caught in the outfield grass. Witnesses said Strasburg immediately crumpled to the ground and reported hearing a "pop" in his knee

Weird shit just happens sometimes.

The good news is, no surgery required for Strasburg after his latest little bump in the road. And if, in this post-Jimbo world, we really can trust what we're being told by the organization (it certainly seems like a safer proposition, nowadays!), then Strasburg's left knee really does look okay; there's nothing for Nationals fans to worry about with regards to the patellar subluxation suffered by the guy we're not supposed to call the Savior of the Franchise. Let's move on and start worrying about more pressing matters: like the 2010 rotation.

Meanwhile...

More good news for the Nationals on the injury front: According to MLB dot com's Bill Ladson, Nyjer Morgan's hand is 100%, and he's open to the idea of changing his slide approach:

While he hasn't talked to general manager Mike Rizzo or manager Jim Riggleman, Morgan expects to be told to slide feet-first into the base instead of going headfirst like he did against the Cubs.

"If I have to make the change, I'm definitely prepared to make the change," Morgan said. "But I'm not going to stop my aggressiveness on the base paths. I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing out there. If I have to change my slide for team's sake, I will. We have something brewing and it will be special. I just want to be on board with everybody."

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Comments

[johnDC]

"And if, in this post-Jimbo world, we really can trust what we're being told by the organization (it certainly seems like a safer proposition, nowadays!), then Strasburg's left knee really does look okay; there's nothing for Nationals fans to worry about with regards to the patellar subluxation suffered by the guy we're not supposed to call the Savior of the Franchise."

You're right. The Nats really have a different feel about them these days, like a major league baseball team!

[DMan]

In Rizzo we trust.