Throughout history, there are certain moments that shift how things are done, seen, and perceived as “normal”. Most of these moments are obvious and create an immediate, lasting impact. The birth of social media, for example, or the election of president O’Bama. However, some of these moments aren’t as noticeable and take time to make their impact. As a sports historian, I am always fascinated to analyze and uncover these impactful moments that change the sports world forever. Getting behind the psychology of the teams and front offices at the forefront of creating these shifts in how their respective leagues operate. A recent example is looking at how the Golden State Warriors changed how the NBA is managed, coached, understood, and played. Making the center position virtually obsolete, creating a modern game that virtually demands big men to be able step outside and knock down jump shots. Signaling the start of front offices aiming to construct a “death” lineup, where the strategy is to put your 5 best players on the court come crunch time regardless of position, or; the position-less basketball era. Utilizing athleticism and length to disrupt passing lanes in attempt to better defend the screen and roll offensive play style of the NBA today. Today, I want to dive into one of the most fascinating watershed moments in sports history. Happening back in 2012, what has transpired across the last 7 years has gone under the radar. Until now. “We’re going to run him out there until his innings are gone and then stop him from pitching,” said Nationals General Manager Mike Rizzo back in February of 2012. “Him” being young pitching phenom, Stephan Strasburg. And although you may not realize it yet, the MLB has never been the same since that day back in 2012 when Rizzo uttered these words.

Now, Rizzo saying the Nationals were going to hold their young ace to an innings cap wasn’t an irrational theory at the time. Over the decade before-hand, teams and leagues started realizing that it was detrimental to the future of young pitchers to over-use them in the beginning stages of their career. Not to mention Strasburg was coming off Tommy John surgery the year prior, and was the most highly touted pitching prospect since former Cubs pitcher Mark Prior. As such, the Nationals granted him with the most lucrative contract of any pitcher on their rookie deal. Making even more sense as to why they wanted limit the extraordinary young talent amid a time in the franchises history that didn’t come with much success. Bottom line- The Nationals were the doormat of their division, and wanted to preserve their young phenom that they were heavily invested in. The plan was simple: Strasburg would pitch every 5th day throughout the 2012 season until he reached 160 innings, then he would be shut down for the remainder of the season.

As previously mentioned, the Nationals had struggled mightily since moving the team to the nations capital from Montreal, finishing the previous 6 out of 8 years dead last in their division, and found themselves 21.5 games out from first after the 2011 season. But as we know in sports, the deplorable and most incompetent teams are rewarded the most for being, well, terrible. Thus, the Nats were able collect a plethora of young promising talent during their period of dreadfulness, including the likes of:  Jordan Zimmermann, Bryce Harper, Wilson Ramos, Ian Desmond, and Drew Storen. The collection of talent brought life to the nations capital, and the club planned to use the 2012 season to develop their young talent and allow them to come together and gel to set themselves to compete in the coming years. But… plans changed.

Skip ahead to August 2012 and the inning cap on Strasburg was the talk of the league. Since: 1.)Strasburg came off Tommy John surgery as a force to be recon with, dominating opposing offenses throughout the year. (He finished the season with a 30.2 percent strikeout rate, which would’ve led MLB starters if he’d thrown enough innings to qualify.) And, 2.) The Nationals were suddenly in contention: When Strasburg made his last start, they were 85–53, 6.5 games up in the division, and bound for their first playoff appearance since 1981. But on September 7th, 2013 Strasburg reached his inning cap, and GM Mike Rizzo followed through on his plan. Strasburg went from domination- to street clothes. This has become the norm for top pitching prospects, with teams taking the methodical approach and playing for the long game with their young pitching assets.

While the public innings limit is now routine, pulling Strasburg from a playoff race remains a unique occurrence. Teams have given inning caps to young aces, but abandon the plan when they find themselves competing. For example, back in 2015 Matt Harvey was coming off Tommy John surgery and was given a 180 inning cap, but the Mets bent that rule to allow him to pitch in the playoffs. Same went for Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez a year later in 2016 who ended up totaling 203 innings pitched after a lengthy playoff run. It’s fair to say that teams are more inclined to abandon prior plans when a shot to compete in the playoffs is on the line, it’s natural. But also because there is no math or science behind it. It’s just a logical theory bad teams have adopted in order to maximize the usage of the assets they have invested in. There is no magic number of innings to cap a pitcher at to avoid Tommy John. Just like there’s no math or science behind avoiding injury in any other capacity. We just have historical data to make educational guesses, but every case is different. Which is why it is so fascinating to discover how the GM of such a deprived organization and fanbase was able to resist not seeing through a surprisingly successful season, for some random number of innings he threw out there in February. Rizzo was committed to the future of the Nationals organization, and Strasburg was clearly the center of their future plans. The Nationals did end up making the playoffs in 2012, after winning 98 games and took home the division title for the first time since coming to DC from Montreal. But the fun was short lived, as the Nats fell to the St. Louis Cardinals in a winner take all game 5 of the ALDS. Could Strasburg have helped his team reach the NLCS? Probably. Would he ever get a chance to do it again, or was the innings cap just avoiding the inevitable? I think you know the answer.

Fast forward 7 years and here we are. Game 6 of the World Series. And the Washington Nationals are chasing their first ever World Series pennant. Although it will be no small task as they are matched up against the juggernaut of the league- the Houston Astros. The Nats came out firing on all cylinders, and took a commanding 2-0 lead behind brilliant pitching efforts from co-stars Sherzer and Strasburg. But after Sherzer was scratched for game 5, youngster Joe Ross took the mound. Ross was pulled after surrendering 4 earned runs in 5 innings of work. The Astros road the back of workhorse ace, Gerrit Cole, who pitched a gem, and added 3 insurance runs to coast to a 7-1 victory. So not only did the Nats lose, to fall from up 2-0 to facing elimination, but the Astros bats were hot and as confident as ever going into the potential closeout game 6. The Astros were on the doorsteps of another pennant, and you could feel the momentum shift completely to the Stros heading into game 6. Hell, even local mattress mogul, “Mattress” Mack was in attendance. But the Nationals had other plans, looking to secure a win in game 6, with their eyes on a game 7 for all the marbles. So, who was on the mound for the Nationals, on the road in Houston, facing off against the red hot Astros with elimination breathing down their backs? Stephan Strasburg. Yes, the now 31 year old veteran, who was shut down 7 years ago, games away from the playoffs, to save the young ace for the “future”. Well, the future is now. And Strasburg came out dealing. Despite 2 first inning runs, Strasburg wasn’t rattled. Surrendering just 6 hits in his 8 and a third innings of work. Stagnating the Astros loaded lineup much of the night, Strasburg brought that elusive dream back into focus, setting up a game 7 on Wednesday for the pennant. And as I sat there and watched this unfold, I couldn’t help but crack a smile for Strasburg. So the question remains: Was it worth it. Was it worth shutting down the most promising prospect in a decade, while on the doorsteps of relevance for the first time in years, all to save hope for one thing- The Future. It’s tough to speculate wether or not the inning cap, and the ultimate shut down of Strasburg back in 2012 played a hand in him continuing to dominate 7 years later with the same team, with a shot at the pennant. But I’d like to think so. And I’m sure the afore-mentioned Matt Harvey and Aaron Sanchez, who’s inning caps were abandoned, and for the most part, neither have not the same pitching forces since, would have something to say about the topic. But one things for sure- Nationals GM Mike Rizzo agrees with me.

This story has finally come full circle, but something tells me it’s not over yet. After last nights performance Strasburg was asked if he would be ready to come in, in relief duty in game 7. His answer? “You take it one day at a time…”. Which is ironic considering this all started with the forward-thinking process of preserving the ace for the future. So, don’t be shocked if the Nationals turn to the veteran in game 7 in relief duty, because after all these are the moments the organization dreamed of when they shut him down 7 years ago. The perfect “cap” to an even better narrative. Plus, as a sports fan, it would just be really fucking cool to see. So the question remains, what’s more important: The “Now”, or, The “Future”?

As the NBA Finals end, the off season is beginning to ramp up. After a block-buster trade went through this week, sending perennial all-star Anthony Davis to the Lakers to pair with Lebron, we are now in a full blown off-season frenzy. One with so many blanks to be filled in, and questions to be answered surrounding some of the leagues elite, the next 3-4 months will change the landscape of the league forever. But, we start with the NBA draft. And a very pulverizing one at that, with 3 Duke All-Americans atop the board with a mid-major superstar and much, much more. And although this draft has gotten labeled a “3 player draft”, I vehemently disagree. Yes, Zion, Ja, and RJ are head and shoulders above the other prospects, but it’s important to note that with how young and underdeveloped NBA draftees are in today’s league, some mid 1st-2nd round picks will develop into stars as well. Thursday night will be a very entertaining and interesting draft, with presumably a plethora of trades and surprises. Here is how I think things will shape up. (PS: my player comps are high end comparison. Best-case scenarios.)

1.) New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson, Forward, Duke

That was easy. I could sit here and lay out what makes Zion, well, Zion, but I don’t like wasting time. The once high school social-media dunking phenomena, Williamson displayed much more of a well rounded game with the nations eyes on him this year in Durham, North Carolina while playing for Duke. With the savvy David Griffin now running basketball operations in New Orleans, Zion will step into a great situation and hit the ground running. Surrounded by veterans like Jrue Holiday, and newly acquired young talent in Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans are in a much greater situation than most thought they would find themselves in during the Anthony Davis trade saga last winter. With Davis out the door, adding Zion and the 4th pick to this roster puts the Pelicans right back into the playoff race and opens the door for much more in the coming years. Next.

Comparison: Blake Griffin / Charles Barkley

Athletic freak. Ferocious rebounder. Matchup nightmare. Just a couple of adjectives that describe Zion, and help me make the connection to Chuck and Blake. Zion will make a living on the glass and in the passing lanes in the NBA with the upside to develop a complete offensive skill set and become one of the most unique players we’ve ever seen. With his freakish hops, combined with his alien-like wingspan, infectious smile and humble attitude, Zion has quickly become a super-star for fans across the globe. And his stardom will only continue to rise once he laces up in the NBA.

2.) Memphis Grizzlies: Ja Morant, PG, Murray State

That was almost as easy. After trading away Mike Conley yesterday, the Grizzlies all but confirmed what most have speculated when they landed the second pick: trade away Conley and build around Ja. The only other player ever truly in the conversation for the two pick, was Duke guard RJ Barrett. But the thought of pairing the explosive, relentless Ja, with last years 4th overall pick, big man Jaren Jackson, is very intriguing. Creating a headache for opposing defenses in the pick and roll with the smart and methodical Morant running the show. I think Morant is locked in to the Grizzlies at 2.

Comparison: Derrick Rose

I’m big on Morant. My personal favorite player in the draft and the player I expect to become the best overall pro. With jump off-the-screen athleticism and an overall natural feel for the game, Ja Morant will become an instant star given his exceptional basketball IQ and his ability to get to the bucket at will, while actively setting up everyone around him. Much like Rose, his shooting will need improvement at the next level. Although, I think that can be exaggerated at times, as he shot the 3-ball at a 37% clip in his final year at Murray State. I fully expect Ja to develop nicely and become a stud for the ailing, stuck Grizzlies.

3.) New York Knicks: RJ Barrett, Guard, Duke

This time last year, Barrett was deemed to be the prize of this draft. But after the transcendence of Zion and the emergence of Ja Morant, RJ has become the 3rd most sought after player in this draft, and quickly the most underrated. This is a dream scenario for the Knicks given that RJ’s game can be put alongside other elite NBA players, like Kevin Durant. But, can also be the center building block of a really good team if they were to strike out in free agency. RJ has great iso ability in offensive sets while also having great facilitation of the offense, and playing with Zion and Reddish has RJ going a bit overlooked. Not even the Knicks can mess this pick up.

Comparison: James Harden

Ok ok, ok. It’s easy to blow off this comparison when you think of James Harden the MVP, 35 point per game player. But, RJ is only 19 years old. So go back and look at Arizona State edition James Harden and revisit this comparison. RJ has the gifted isolation ability to get to his spot, and get his shot much like The Beard. The biggest similarity between these two is Barrett’s ability to get to the free throw line and control the flow of the game. He needs to refine his outside shot, and giving him a redshirt year and then pairing RJ with KD coming off an injury could be scary. RJ Barrett will join Ja Morant as two premier backcourt players in the NBA for years to come.

4.) New Orleans Pelicans: De’ ANDRE Hunter, SF / PF, Virginia

Jrue Holiday. Lonzo Ball. Zion Williamson. De’ANDRE Hunter. Good luck scoring on that team. And with how this roster has begun to fall into place, I think this is the direction and identity David Griffin and the Pelicans should embrace. Hunter was the best player for the Virginia Cavaliers during their championship run this past year. He can guard any position 1-4 and some 5’s. Having the ability to have a young player that you feel comfortable with guarding other teams top players is a great addition to any team. With a newly solidified backcourt and the addition of Zion, Hunter would step in and start from day one on the wing with elite defense and a consistent ability to knock down shots off the catch.

Comparison: Richard Hamilton

Much like Hamilton, Hunter is a smothering defender with an underrated ability to knock down shots and create off the dribble. Hunter does have some more weight to him but both players stand at 6’7 and had marginal success in college. The biggest key to the comparison is Hunter’s ability to have a key role in winning basketball, without having the ball in his hands. With the supporting cast in New Orleans, Hunter fits in perfectly.

5.) Cleveland Cavaliers: Cam Reddish, Wing, Duke

The Cavs need shooting. After taking Colin Sexton last year to be their guard of the future, it is imperative they surround the drive-first, attacking Sexton with shooters. Assuming they keep Kevin Love, having the versatility of Reddish’s shooting with Love’s offensive ability and Sexton driving to the rack creating open looks, this would be a good core to put into new coach John Beilein’s system. Cavs could look to go point guard here, but I think they will see the upside with Reddish as a shooter combined with the question marks surrounding Vanderbilt guard Darius Garland and go a different direction. It could be North Carolina’s Coby White, but I’ll go with Cam Reddish.

Comparison: Joe Johnson

Both having a pure outside game, with big frames and a “killer” mentality about them. Another reason this is a good fit for the Cavs is having a guy that can hit a big shot down the stretch. Reddish didn’t perform as expected in his lone year at Duke, but most of that can be attributed to playing with Zion and RJ. He has one of the highest ceilings in this draft, and I project him to be a Joe Jonnson type player at the next level.

6.) Phoenix Suns: Darius Garland, PG, Vanderbilt

The Suns experimented with the point- Booker last season by virtue of desperation. But getting Devin Booker back to his natural score/shoot-first shooting guard role is going to be a must for new coach Monty Williams. They will look at Coby White here, but I think they land on the upside of Garland and salivate at the mouth thinking of the explosiveness of that backcourt paired with Deandre Ayton.

Comparison: Kemba Walker

With great patience and exceptional knock down ability, combined with a rare ability to read screens and make the right play, Garland in the pick and roll with Suns center Ayton is intriguing. This also draws the Kemba comparison, having great pace off the dribble with crafty ability to step back and create space for jump shots given their smaller frames. If Garland plays an entire collegiate season he may be ahead of Morant, but he still goes top 7 because of his scoring ability and a great projection for style of play in today’s NBA. I believe him to be a high volume scorer and play maker with his natural passing ability to set up others.

7.) Chicago Bulls: Coby White, G, North Carolina

Having drafted two big men in the last two years in Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter, the Bulls will look to secure a point guard to pair with them and Zach Lavine to finally get this train back on track. White showed great maturity and composure when running Roy Williams offense at Carolina. Looked like a 4 year starter as just a freshman. His combination of a silky smooth outside shot, with an ability to score at the rim at his 6’5 frame, White will address an immediate need and the Bulls will look to move from Kris Dunn. Plus, the Bulls have a good history with Tar Heels.

Comparison: Gilbert Arenas

White is tough to garner a comparison for. His stature fits more of a shooting guard, but his play leans more towards a point guard. I think Arenas is a good comparison in terms of size and play. Although Arenas is a couple inches shorter, they both have more of a point guard play style with bigger frames. Both aren’t overly athletic but are very crafty handling the ball and controlling the offense, while having take-over offensive scoring and shooting ability. Both have great ability to attack the hoop and use their size around the rim against shot blockers. White will transition well to the next level and I think this is a great fit all around.

8.) Atlanta Hawks: Jaret Culver, SG, Texas Tech

After drafting Trae Young last year, adding the physical Culver to that backcourt who will provide more strength defensively in the backcourt will secure a point of emphasis for the Hawks who were very poor defensively last season. Culver isn’t going to ever put up more than 22 points a game, but that’s why he fits alongside the volume shooter/scorer in Trae Young. Culver will be a do-it-all, not great at anything type of player. He has a nice mid-range game but needs to improve his longball as he shot just 30% from 3 point land last year at Tech. Solid player who isn’t afraid to go get a bucket in crunch time. Culver fits here and he’s the top player left in this scenario. Hawks will go best available and be back up at 10 feeling good.

Comparison: Demar Derozan

Both long- athletic, two-way players that can be a great compliment to a scoring guard. If the Hawks get Culver, they have a Lowry-Derozan Raptors type backcourt, with more upside because of Trae Young. Culver is a lock-down perimeter defender who can be an efficient offensive player in the mid-range, although he and Derozan are both players who struggle being consistent from deep. I see Culver fitting in nicely in the NBA once he gets his jumpshot down and finds a role. Impressive in college this year but struggled against bigger defenders in terms of creating space and hitting shots.

9.) Washington: Sekou Doumbouya, SF, France

Between not having a GM or President of basketball operations, John Wall being out for the entire season with his achilles injury, and the uncertainty of the future of guard Bradley Beal, the Wizards find themselves in an awkward spot. However, this could be a diamond in the rough type pick. The mostly unknown long forward from France could be a solid addition to this roster. After trading away Kelly Oubre and Otto Porter last season, the Wizards could use another long forward who can handle the ball to play alongside Beal and defend the perimeter. If he is developed well, Sekou has great potential and for a team whose future is uncertain at best, this could be a good draft and develop spot.

Comparison: Pascal Siakam

Much like Siakam, Doumbouya is an under the radar player and mostly unknown, but for NBA teams and scouts he jumps off the highlight real. Excellent motor running the floor, creating off the dribble, and scoring in the post. He is a very versatile player whose length alone will be a huge boost for any NBA team with great potential shooting the rock from outside. Much like Pascal, if Sekou is developed right, he can pay huge dividends in the long run for the Wizards or whoever ends up taking him Thursday night.

10: Atlanta Hawks: Jaxson Hayes, C, Texas

I will preface this by saying I will be highly surprised if the Hawks end up drafting at both 8 and 10. But, I don’t do trades in mock drafts. This of course is the pick the Hawks got in the Trae Young- Luka Doncic trade during last years draft. So, in essence this pick and Trae Young is what the Hawks got for Luka. And if they stay here I think they can really use Hayes. A 6’11 young, still developing center who has extreme athleticism, and shot blocking abilities. He runs the floor nicely on both ends protecting the rim and getting layups and dunks on the offensive end. After a guard-heavy top 9, I think this is great value for the Hawks. Adding a big, versatile big to create a nice pick and roll action that the Hawks used a lot last year with Trae Young and Alex Len/Dwayne Dedmond, Hayes would definitely be an upgrade from those guys. Drafting a center will also allow young star John Collins to play more off the ball and stretch outside.

Comparison: Ben Wallace

Now, I’m not sure Hayes has the same level of toughness as a Ben Wallace, and he’s a bit taller, but his ability to block and change shots at the rim while not being a liability guarding the perimeter makes me think of Wallace. Similar offensive skill-set in terms of playing above the rim and having a knack for finding the open spots around the rim off of pick and rolls. I think pairing Hayes’s ability to get open off the roll with Trae Young’s feel for the game and passing ability would be a big boost for the Hawks on both ends of the ball.

Now, for the rest of the first round I will just be giving my picks as after the top 10 it becomes mostly a crapshoot. So here are picks 11-30:

11.) Minnesota Timberwolves: Nassir Little, North Carolina

12.) Charlotte Hornets: Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga

13.) Miami Heat: Kevin Porter Jr., USC

14.) Boston Celtics: PJ Washington, Kentucky (OR Tyler Herro)

15.) Detroit Pistons: Romeo Langford, Indiana

16.) Orlando Magic: Tyler Herro, Kentucky

17.) Atlanta Hawks (Don’t think they pick here): Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga

18.) Indiana Pacers: Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech

19.) San Antonio Spurs: Darius Bazley, USA

20.) Boston Celtics: Nic Claxton, Georgia

21.) Oklahoma City Thunder: Cam Johnson, North Carolina

22.) Boston Celtics: Ty Jerome, Virginia

23.) Memphis Grizzlies: Bol Bol, Oregon

24.) Philadelphia 76ers: Eric Paschall, Villanova

25.) Portland Trail Blazers: Keldon Johnson, Kentucky

26.)Cleveland Cavaliers: Matisse Thybulle, Washington

27.)Brooklyn Nets: Dylan Windler, Belmont(Flyer)

28.) Golden State Warriors: Carsen Edwards, Purdue

29.) San Antonio Spurs: Luka Samanic,International

30.) Detroit Pistons: Chuma Okeke, Auburn

To most, my intensity and affection towards following and analyzing sports is fascinating, and in most cases, seems over the top. To me, I couldn’t imagine life any other way. Let me give you some context. When I was six years old, while most kids were watching cartoons and playing with Legos, I was glued to ESPN. From listening to Mike and Mike chop it up every morning on the way to school with my dad. To becoming infatuated with the spirited debate, led by the Godfather of debate, Skip Bayless. Religiously watching him passionately debate, and defeat, whatever or whoever was sitting across from him, defending his thoughts and opinions (no matter how crazy) at all costs. Ultimately, my life began to revolve around sports at a very young age. And although I played 3 sports (Football, Basketball, and Baseball) throughout my life,  I always found myself enjoying watching, creating opinions on, and talking about sports a little bit more. Although one thing is forsure- playing those sports throughout my life created the intense competitive nature I have about myself, in which I utilize in displaying and articulating my sports opinions in debate. And this piece will take you through what lead me to creating this blog. And why no matter if I have 5, 500 or 50,000 people reading my work, I will have the same passion, energy and drive to write and talk about sports and the opinions/theories I create upon my analysis. 

When I was in the 6th grade, while most kids were goofing off or doing homework in study hall, I was compiling a list of my top 50 NBA players of all time. In 8th grade, when we did an english project about what we wanted to do/be when we were older, most kids said they wanted to be a cop, firefighter, rocket scientists, professional athlete, ect. Ya know, what most 12 year old kids aspire to be. Not me. I did a 15 slide power point about how I wanted to be a sports journalist/ analyst. I had broken down where I wanted to go to college, how I wanted to start at the Cleveland Plain Dealer, move to the Akron Beacon journal, work my way into a larger market news outlet like Chicago or New York, to ultimately end up at my dream destination like all the analysts I grew up admiring: ESPN. From the aforementioned Skip, to the likes of Stuart Scott, Stephen A. Smith, Chris Berman, and Chris Broussard- to name a few, watching these guys made working at ESPN my biggest dream. But just like the kid who wanted to be an Astronaut, life isn’t that simple or easy. And so, as I’ve gone from that 12 year old kid to a 20 year old college student majoring  in Finance and Analytics , I’ve learned two things. 1.) That working for ESPN isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, and working there was never really my true dream. And 2.) That I love money. And journalism majors just simply don’t make enough money out of college to warrant me investing tens of thousands of dollars on four years of college to obtain that degree. However, my love for sports and analyzing sports hasn’t faded in the slightest. Which is why I realized over the years that my true dream was never to work at ESPN, but it was the idea that I could watch, analyze, and talk about sports and my sports opinions as a career. ESPN just happened to be the top dog, and pinnacle of sports coverage at the time. Which is why I’ve circled back and acknowledge the fact that I can chase my true dream by sitting at home as a mere hobby. Noticing that in the day and age of the online world, and the ever-growing frenzy that is online media, there really is no excuse to not chase my true dream. And with that, this opening post comes to a close. I’m not completely sure where I will go from here, or how far Read Between The Lines will go. But who knows, maybe one day I’ll end up at the debate desk opposite Skip.