I brought Rob Dibble's comments about Stephen Strasburg's injury up in last night's post game report, while noting that I rarely take the time to get involved in trashing the Sirius/XM Radio host and MASN Nats tv analyst because I'm not interested in personal attacks, but knowing that his comments angered some Nats fans who read them, I decided that it was only fair to share Mr. Dibble's reaction to what was said and written about his Strasburg rant, the full text of which can be read in the Washington Post's Dan Steinberg's D.C. Sports Bog post entitled, "Rob Dibble to Stephen Strasburg: "Suck it up". Mr. Dibble began his commentary this morning on his Sirius/XM MLB Network Radio show "First Pitch", by stating that the D.C.-based writers are trying to, "...take what I said yesterday and twist it, like they always do," and to be fair, though Mr. Steinberg provides the full transcript of Dibble's comments in his story, admittedly, most other stories on the subject (including my own) simply pulled quotes, so Dibble's sort-of right there. Here's the rest of his response to the criticism from this morning:
Rob Dibble: "You and I [to co-host Jim Memolo] when we go on the air, we're very prepared, and yesterday when I went on the air, I knew exactly what the Philly doctor that looked at Stephen Strasburg had said. And people will think that, 'He pops of and he says this and that,' the Philly doctor that examined Stephen Strasburg said he should be ready to throw in five days. Pitch in a game? No. But throw, and he threw the next day, he long-tossed the next day. So, that being said, some of my opinions, that have nothing to do with my other job, because we manage all 30 teams on this show, were based on that....
(cont)...
Rob Dibble: "Now, he's getting an arthrogram, and what's an arthrogram? Well, that's a more invasive test than an MRI. An arthrogram is actually an injection of an iodine solution, which shows up under x-ray, where an x-ray technician and a doctor are sitting there manipulating a needle that's put in your elbow to show your joint and to show your flexor tendon and to show your ligaments, to show all that stuff in your elbow. That being said, I've had elbow surgery, I've had two reconstructed shoulders and, you know, what really ticks me off, Jim, is when bloggers, who have no information, and have not talked to doctors, have no on-the-field information will rip into me and say, 'Oh, yeah, Dibble told him to suck it up.' First of all, if you're hurt, you can't suck it up, so that's a moot point, but if you're not hurt, that's what I was talking about. If you're not hurt and your arm's fine, then keep pitching...[Mr. Memolo starts to interject, but Dibble continues]...But, for me, you know, you and I, we have, oh my goodness, 30 years, 40 years experience, I've been playing baseball since I was six years old, so that's 40 years I've been on a baseball field and around a baseball field, and so our opinions are formulated through facts, not fiction, not their little chat room jargon, and so they can try and twist it any way they want, and if a guy's hurt, he's hurt, he's going to go on the disabled list, it's a moot point, but if he's not hurt, get your butt out there and play....they're two totally different scenarios, so, you know, stick to what you know, which is nothing, and stick to your little blogs."
I'm not offering any commentary. Mr. Dibble was ripped just about everywhere, and he responded. That's his response. Another round of responses to his response are sure to follow...as the idea that no publicity is bad publicity is once again put to the test...