Stephen Strasburg

Rob Dibble, former color commentator for the Nationals, criticized the team on his radio show Thursday for giving pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg rehab starts with the intention of bringing him back to the majors in September.

“There’s absolutely no reason, other than to sell tickets and to put butts in the seats, to bring Stephen Strasburg back, to make a few starts at the end of the season,” Dibble said. “He’s too valuable. He’s too talented to even think about stuff like that.”

Considered one of the most elite pitching prospects in all of baseball, Strasburg saw his 2010 rookie season end last August when a torn elbow ligament led to Tommy John surgery. At the time, Dibble had criticized Strasburg for not wanting to play through pain, telling him to “suck it up.” Nationals network MASN fired Dibble shortly after the team announced Strasburg’s injury.

Dibble apparently has changed his tune about Strasburg, now calling for caution and patience as he rehabs.

“You know, they’ve been talking about 2012, and what kind of team they’re going to have in 2012 and stuff like that,” Dibble said. “And you know, if that’s the case, and you don’t want to put a Bryce Harper in the major leagues until you think he’s ready, there’s really no point in rushing this kid back just to get a couple starts out of him for this year.”

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