Stephen Strasburg turned in his worst start of the young season Tuesday afternoon, proving that he still has a lot to learn about pitching in the big leagues.
Like this: If you are going to put burning "Hot Stuff" ointment on your body, you make sure that you don't accidentally spread to your balls.
''It was on his shoulder and evidently - I don't know how it got to where it got, but it was uncomfortable, to say the least,'' Strasburg's Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson told reporters.
So what was the deal with the painful ointment, Strasburg was asked: "I'm going to keep that in the clubhouse," he said.
You don't have to read too far between the lines to know that it ended up in his groin. And if you've ever been a 14-year-old boy with access to a tube of Bengay and a bunch of idiot friends, then you know how painful that can be.
UPDATE! A Washington-area radio jockey put Icy Hot on his balls and described the sensation. It's hilarious.
Strasburg lasted just four innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, and the Nationals attributed much of his struggles to the burning sensation that Strassburg was dealing with.
The Stephen Strasburg Hot Stuff-in-the-groin story is part of a wider trend of uber-talented young MLB players who made the big leagues after very brief minor league stints and quickly made some dumb rookie mistakes.
Strasburg, Bryce Harper and Brett Lawrie have all acquitted themselves quite well on the ballfield, but they've all reminded us that in the minor leagues, you learn a lot more than just how to play baseball. You learn not to smash a bat against a wall and hit yourself in the face (Bryce Harper), not to spike your helmet towards an umpire and hit him in the face (Brett Lawrie) and to keep that hot ointment away from your balls (Stephen Strasburg).
Invaluable lessons, each of them, but some guys have to learn them the hard way. Or at least, the hot way.
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Follow Bison Messink on Twitter: @BisonMessink
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[h/t Big League Stew]
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