Washington Nationals: Mike Rizzo Updates On Stephen Strasburg Injury.

Nats GM Mike Rizzo said Strasburg was shut down as a “precautionary move” when the big right-hander had trouble loosening up for his start. Rizzo said he was the one who “pulled the plug” on Strasburg pitching after being alerted to the situation from trainer Lee Kuntz.

“We’re going to err on the side of caution,” Rizzo told reporters gathered in the media elevator lobby. “I make the decisions and take the heat for it.”

Strasburg started to warm up in the bullpen, but stopped and talked with pitching coach Steve McCatty, and catcher Ivan Rodriguez was seen consoling the rookie pitcher. After talking with Kuntz — and then Rizzo — Strasburg was relieved of his start and made his way back to the clubhouse via the tunnel under the grandstands in right field.

Strasburg was not available to the media.

Rizzo said the team will be very cautious with evaluation and treatment of Strasburg, and said he would be listed as day-to-day. He will be further evaluated by the team’s medical staff, including most likely an MRI and X-Rays.

Rizzo indicated that this problem just came up this evening when Strasburg went out ot the pen, and that he did not have any problems the last few days with long-toss or his previous bullpen session.

All crossed

…or does it seem a bit unusual for the GM to be making the decision on whether it’d be a scratch?

If this were, say, Stammen having the same issue, would it be typical for the GM to become involved in the decision?

My GF works at the park, and they had a lot of problems with band wagoners leaving once SS was scratched, going out of the park, and scalping tickets that had already been used. So a quick F-U to anyone who uses a ticket then leaves and scalps it ripping off real fans.

Get well soon Stras.

but I would have done the same thing if i was the nats