Mike Rizzo Has No Regrets About Shutting Down Stephen Strasburg
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Patrick McDermott/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — While the Washington Nationals sit and watch the NLCS from home, there are still some who question the team’s decision to shut down starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg prior to the postseason. One man who isn’t questioning the decision is general manager Mike Rizzo.
Despite having the best record in all of Major League Baseball this season, the team lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS. The team’s pitching was one of the reasons for their early exit. The team decided to shut down Strasburg’s season in September as part of his recovery from Tommy John Surgery.
“I stand by my decision, and we’ll take the criticism as it comes,” Rizzo said,” but we have to do what’s best for the Washington Nationals, and we think we did.”
“Come spring training next year, we’ll be more battle tested. Our young players will have grown up and they’ll be veterans,” Rizzo later added. “And we’ll know how to react to the playoff atmosphere.”
During the 2012 season, Strasburg was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He went 15-6 with a 3.16 ERA and 197 strikeouts.
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