District On Deck
FanSided

Washington Nationals: Mike Rizzo’s finest work

By Ron Juckett

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 05: Dusty Baker is introduced as Manager of the Washington Nationals by General Manager Mike Rizzo at Nationals Park on November 5, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 05: Dusty Baker is introduced as Manager of the Washington Nationals by General Manager Mike Rizzo at Nationals Park on November 5, 2015 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Behind Mike Rizzo, the Washington Nationals are not only in championship contention this year, but the next few. Here is how.

Although he never threw a pitch or swung at a ball, the Washington Nationals owe much of their success this year to general manager Mike Rizzo.

His shrewd moves, since last year’s disappointing loss in the National League Divisional Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, prepped for the Nats first ever back-to-back trips to the playoffs.

It was not his fault Mark Melancon, Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman took more money elsewhere. Rizzo is not responsible for Adam Eaton tearing an ACL in April. He gambled releasing Derek Norris after signing Matt Wieters.

More from District on Deck

Yes, Rizzo deserves his share of the blame for the first half bullpen debacle. Wieters is a two-year overpay. Dane Dunning’s performances in the Chicago White Sox organization make the doubters wonder about Eaton. (Funny, no one ever mentions Chris Sale and his masterpiece year with Boston as a wasted opportunity.)

Whatever argument he made to the Lerner family this June worked. The Nats, with the division in hand from mid-May, spent money in July.

As with most of Rizzo’s deals, nothing flashes out at you for extravagance. Yu Darvish and Sonny Gray were never seriously considered. Zach Britton talks never got off the ground and Brad Hand remains in San Diego.

Instead, Rizzo rebuilt his injured outfield and shattered bullpen with smaller moves. The brilliance of nabbing Ryan Madson, Sean Doolittle and Brandon Kintzler cost Blake Treinen and low-level prospects. Howie Kendrick cost McKenzie Mills, an up-and-coming pitcher.

Victor Robles, Erick Fedde, Juan Soto and the Kieboom kids are still in the organization. Also, the “Law Firm” has yet to lose a game.

You got the sense last winter Rizzo, and the Nats saw a window getting ready to close and pushed to do something before the frame hit the sill. Although there is an urgency to advance while Bryce Harper is still in Washington, the moves made this season solidify that championship remaining open past 2018.

Rizzo has done his best to put the Nats in a position to win. The bullpen is an asset. Players are returning to normal. Dusty Baker runs a smooth dugout and is beloved. The tools are there to win a World Series.

Sometimes, you run into a better team. The playoffs are not a measure of who the best overall team over 162 games, but a crap shoot of who is hot right now. The best you can do is prepare for the battle ahead.

Next: Nats offense stalls in September

Rizzo has. The man deserves credit.

Home/Nationals News