Interesting thread topic. I believe it proves a point I made to a friend of mine after Ritz got his injury: I pointed out there was plenty of time for healing and a return run at the Nationals (bone fracture injuries aren't like soft-tissue troubles--unless it's in a joint and there is resdiual scar tissue bulit up, once you're healed, you're healed!). Wetmore's comment about saving Ritz for future individual glory sounded pretty lame; someone like Ritz would rather help the team win than have an individual victory in the unpredictable future.
I believed the whole thing, including Wetmore's quote, was designed to get the media and public off Ritz's back so he could heal and cross-train without pressure, while having a secret idea of Ritz returning to the fold in time for the nationals, unless the injury shows otherwise. I think this was the plan all along, and a good one by a good coach. The title of this thread bears it out: people have left him alone instead of bagering him as to when he going to be running races again.
(Screws up the opponent's plans, too!)