Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo Says 2012 Season Strong Start No Surprise

Self-proclaimed “third generation Baseball Rat,” Nationals‘ General Manager Mike Rizzo stepped away from a busy week at the ballpark to speak at the National Press Club Friday afternoon.  He talked baseball, of course — everything from his own “unspectacular” three minor league season playing career to drafting the likes of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and new team hero, Bryce Harper.

For this team that has had ups and downs since coming to DC under new ownership in 2006, it’s been a welcome change to be “the talk of baseball” this season.  But Rizzo claims it’s no surprise… it’s just about time.  “[The strong 2012 start] is unexpected to everybody except the 25 guys in the ball club.”

Rizzo confessed to fandom of the sport even beyond his career, going so far as to boycott baseball movie MoneyBall because “it depicts baseball people as dummies who sit in a room, spit tobacco and say stupid things.”  Instead, he recognized some of his own legendary heroes (seems he collected a lot of Cubs baseball cards) and admitted that being GM is not only “euphoric,” but described his job as “the best thing that has ever happened to me.”

Just what is that job?  Well back when he was the Lerner’s first hire, it was to “get [the Nats] some players, quick!”  Now it’s about building a team that has “power pitching, athletes up the middle and big boppers on the corner.”

Looks like 2012 could be a home run season.

*What you really want to know:  Will Teddy ever win?? Rizzo said, “Come to Nationals Park, because the one day you don’t show up is the day he will.”