(Alex Brandon - AP) I’m sure a lot of you think the Stephen Strasburg debate is getting a little old. And when professional sports yellers start piling on, it’s overwhelming. But when someone from the team speaks up, it’s worth paying attention to.

Nats reliever Drew Storen was on the Jim Rome Show and had this to say about the upcoming Strasburg shutdown.

“It's a tough situation. And there's really no right answer to it,” he said. “But, you have to take care of a guy like that. He's a cornerstone of this organization, and we want him to pitch for the next 10 years. And you see a lot of pitchers, it's a slippery slope. When a guy gets hurt, it's easy to add on, and a guy just keeps on getting more and more injuries. You can't do that with a talent like Stephen Strasburg. He’s going to be a big part of this team for a very long time."

“I think everybody kind of has the same opinion,” he continued. “We don’t like it, but we understand it. You just kinda have to hang with him, because it’s one of those things that when we look back on it next year, that’s gonna be the right answer. In hindsight, you’re gonna know what the right thing to do was.

“But you just can’t put him on the line like that, because I know you wanna go get that ring. But you don’t know if that’s gonna hurt him this year, or if it’s gonna hurt him two years from now. And I think guys get that, you know, it’s not ideal because it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s go all in because we’re playing well and things are getting better. Let’s go all in and let’s win this thing.’ But when you end up burning a guy like Stras, that could put you in a bad spot for years to come.”

That’s pretty much what you’d expect a Nats pitcher to say on the subject. We don’t like it, but we understand it.

Related (sheesh)

Rick Sutcliffe has a plan for Strasburg

Dennis Eckersley says the Nats have to pitch Strasburg

Stephen A. Smith says it’s disgraceful

Kevin Millar asks the Nats to look Strasburg in the eyes

Jake Peavy says it blows his mind

Dennis Eckersley on shutting down Strasburg

Stephen A. Smith on shutting down Strasburg

Kevin Millar on shutting down Strasburg

Jake Peavy on shutting down Strasburg

Mike Rizzo on shutting down Strasburg

Davey Johnson on shutting down Strasburg

Gio Gonzalez on shutting down Strasburg

Stephen Strasburg on shutting down Strasburg