Courtesy DCRTV

(August 30, 2010) Nationals color commentator Rob Dibble wasn't in the MASN broadcast booth over the weekend. He's apparently taking some more time off after making a controversial comment about injured phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg early last week.

MASN still denies that Dibble's been suspended or fired, but many sports columnists say he probably won't be back.

On his radio show, Dibble questioned the toughness of Strasburg after the rookie complained his arm was hurting during a game he pitched against the Philadelphia Phillies on Aug. 21.

"OK, you throw a pitch, it bothers your arm, and you immediately call out the manager and the trainer?" Dibble said. "Suck it up, kid. This is your profession. You chose to be a baseball player. You can't have the cavalry come in and save your butt every time you feel a little stiff shoulder, sore elbow."

Dibble said Strasburg should "stop crying, go out there and pitch, period" and that Strasburg needs "to know the difference between pain and injury."

On Friday, the Nationals announced that Strasburg had a torn ligament in his right elbow that will require Tommy John surgery and could be sidelined for up to 18 months.

Nationals officials were not pleased by Dr. Dibble's initial diagnosis.

Dibble (who pitched for the Brewers in 1995) did not work the telecasts of a few Nationals games.

The president of the Nationals, Stan Kasten, told the Washington Post: "Rob asked for some time off. Perhaps he's not feeling well. But I'm not a doctor, nor have I seen his records. So I shouldn't say anything more about it."

blog comments powered by Disqus