Rizzo weighs in on Nats' start, Giolito, pitchers and more

Last weekend, Mike Rizzo met with reporters and gave his insight on how the Nationals have started this season. Of course, they were only 12-4 when he gave us this update. They are now 14-4. It still applies.

"I'm happy with the start. I like the energy," Rizzo said. "I think we've been playing pretty solid fundamentally. We've been pitching well. The bullpen, with the exception of couple of hiccups, has pitched well. But I like the energy of the team, and the feeling and the vibe in the clubhouse."

One concern coming in to the season was the reworked bullpen. That 'pen was on display in Sunday's 16-inning marathon in which long reliever Yusmeiro Petit and bunt hero Oliver Perez kept the team in the game.

"I think we're still trying to figure out ourselves, figure out our roles a little bit more," Rizzo said. "But I like the talent level. They've performed admirably so far. We're still in kind of the introductory phase."

Rizzo was asked about Joe Ross and Tanner Roark, but his answer was really more about the starting rotation.

"I like the way all five of our guys are pitching," Rizzo said. "It gives us a chance to win night in and night out. That was our plan. Throw a guy on the mound every night that gives us a chance to win, and we feel that we have that."

Stephen Strasburg went out Sunday and got very close to going eight innings. He has been outstanding.

"Strasburg has been good, let me repeat this, since the day we signed him with the exception for the four months that he had the bad ankle last year," Rizzo said. "So it's no surprise to me the way he's pitching. He's one of the top 15 or so pitchers in baseball. I've always thought that and I continue to think so."

Blake Treinen was held back Sunday because he has been used a lot to close out late in games and manager Dusty Baker wanted to give him a rest.

"He's a power guy and he's learning on the fly," Rizzo said. "Last year was the first time that he ever relieved, so there was a learning curve there that we kind of looked past a little bit. I think he's grasping the role, knowing the role a little bit better. His stuff is really good. I think he's just scratching the surface of what he can be."

I asked Rizzo if he has noticed a more mature and more focused Gio Gonzalez out of the gates.

"I've seen a calmer, more mature Gio for the last year or so," Rizzo said. "He's older now. He's more mature. He's got a family, so he's got that stability that he didn't have certainly earlier in his career and the beginning of his career when he was with us. I do see a difference."

One reporter asked for an update on top prospect right-hander Lucas Giolito, who is pitching at Double-A Harrisburg. Will Rizzo watch Giolito's innings as the season progresses?

"He is on the same protocol every other Tommy John recipient is on," Rizzo said. "He'll be treated like we've treated every other Tommy John recipient."

This brings up an interesting point. Will the Nationals slow Giolito's innings so that he will have enough left in the tank to pitch in a pennant race for the Nationals? That 160-inning limit is something that was an issue with Strasburg in 2012 and prevented the Tommy John recipient from pitching in the postseason that year.

Will the Nationals make sure that doesn't happen again or will they be content to protect Giolito for the long haul?

Rizzo also had some very nice words for the National League MVP Bryce Harper, who hit his ninth homer in the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter Sunday, extending the game that the Nationals won in the 16th frame, 6-5 over the Twins.

"I like to see when he's up there every time because he gives us a chance to win a baseball game and he's one of the best players in the game," Rizzo said. "You're talking about a guy you're watching something special every time he comes up to the plate. I think he's a guy who has really embraced the role of middle-of-the-lineup hitter that knows what he has to do to help us win baseball games."

And in case you missed it from earlier in the weekend, Rizzo weighed in on the starts for Michael A. Taylor and Danny Espinosa.

"I think they've started slow," Rizzo said. "I think they've shown some flashes of what could be. They both have the potential to impact baseball games offensively as well as defensively. They play the middle of the field and they play terrific defense, so we're happy where they are at right now."