Washington Nationals News: Bobby Valentine, Mike Rizzo, Dana Brown?
• I was just about to kick off the "Bobby/2010" campaign here at Federal Baseball.com in an attempt to lure Bobby Valentine away from ESPN to manage the Washington Nationals when I came across FOXSports.com writer Ken Rosenthal's Sunday article entitled,"Sources: Valentine could return to Japan", wherein Mr. Rosenthal reported that the, "Yokohama Bay Stars of the Japanese Central League are making 'concentrated effort' to hire Valentine," the 59-year-old former Texas Rangers', NY Mets' and Chiba Lotte Marines' manager, while the Cleveland Indians had Valentine on their "short list", and the Florida Marlins had flirted with the idea of bringing Valentine in, but decided against it. What about Washington you ask? Valentine, according to Mr. Rosenthal's sources, "...is not aggressively pursuing the Nationals' opening and is not believed to be a serious candidate for the Astros." So does that mean Mr. Valentine is "passively" pursuing the Nationals' job? Or "unaggressively"? Or not at all?
• And while we're talking anonymous sources, I'm still not sure what to make of ESPN.com's Peter Gammons writing, a month or so back, in a 9/5/09 blog post entitled, "NL West is better than you think", that, "Washington ownership mentioned Bobby Valentine in every GM interview, so don't count Bobby V. out of that job." And what about SI.com's Jon Heyman's National League source who said Valentine was a candidate to replace Manny Acta before he'd even been fired back in late June. Does anyone keep a batting average-esque statistic for writer's sources?
BACKPAGE:
• Baseball America's Best Player And Pitcher Awards For Washington.
• Mike Rizzo Cleans House, Dana Brown Departs.
• The Washington Nationals named Derek Norris Minor League Player of the Year and right-handed starter Brad Meyers Minor League Pitcher of the Year back in the first week of September, and in the most recent newsstand edition of Baseball America's magazine, Washington Nationals correspondent Lacy Lusk agrees with Washington on the selection of Norris as the top player, but labels Meyers as a player to, "Keep An Eye On", while giving the "Best Pitcher" nod to the Nationals' 2nd 1st Round pick of 2009, Stanford Cardinal righty Drew Storen, who, Mr. Lusk writes, "...looked nearly major-league ready as he dominated at three levels," and Mr. Lusk's "Organization Report" quotes DC GM Mike Rizzo describing what's special about Storen:
"It's not only the way he pitches during the games, but the way he goes after his training and the way he warms up, the way he lights up when he crosses the line and gets to the mound--that was really the litmus test of how we think he's a back-end-of-the-bullpen guy."
The Housecleaning Continues:
According to two recent blog posts by MLB.com's Bill Ladson, one entitled, "Nationals dismiss Cedeno, Gale and Stearns", and another entitled, "Dana Brown leaving Nats, Moose Stubing let go", Mike Rizzo is continuing to open up jobs for the incoming Rizzo Regime, dismissing John Kearns, (who managed the Double-A Harrisburg Senators), Rich Gale, (who served as the Syracuse Chiefs' pitching coach after Steve McCatty replaced Randy St. Claire), and Cesar Cedeno, (who coached the Gulf Coast Nationals to a League Title, but was, according to Mr. Ladson, hired, "...on the recommendation of former Nationals Manager Manny Acta,") last Thursday and then parting ways with Moose Stubing, a special assistant to the General Manager, and Dana Brown, the Nationals' Amateur Scouting Director, late Sunday. Mr. Ladson writes that, "Kris Kline, who is currently the assistant scouting director, most likely will get a promotion" to Dana Brown's old job, while Brown heads back to the great white north to Toronto, where he'll become a special assistant to new Blue Jays' GM Alexander Anthopolous, who he's known since both worked for the Montreal Expos...BTW: The Nationals, Mr. Ladson confirms in the latest blog post, "...are also talking to Braves scouting director Roy Clark," about joining Washington's Front Office, just like FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reported this weekend.
More Rumors and Anonymous Sources when they become available...
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Comments
I didn't know the Anthopolous/Dana Brown connection to the Expos.....
Man, Rosenthal’s sources are a bunch of downers……. Maybe Valentine wouldn’t fit in with the corporate suits of the Nats, but he sure would bring some excitement to NatsTown that the others just don’t for me……
It’s obviously more important to bring in a guy that’s good for the team, and really important to attract the odd FA or two………..maybe.
Can Bobby V. do all that?……And bring the guy in the shades in the photo with him. That would be cool….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 10:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I can hear Dana Brown in about a week...
“This contract is in Canadian dollars? %&$#!!!!”
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aren't Canadian dollars worth more than US$ now?.........Oh, if it were only that way back when.......
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Isn't this a pro
Padilla walked into the Nats' clubhouse for the first time and said, "My God. I'm in heaven."
by Mezza on Oct 11, 2009 11:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Rockies are making a game of it against Fillie so far.
The mumble-frank Yankees are in, but we’ll see if the Angels can bring the series to the West. Wow, Happ just walked Hammel. Apparently it’s like 20 below in Colorado (I may be exaggerating slightly). Freeze the Fillies!!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 11, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Rockies are used to the cold........They get by the Freezin's and the Cali guys won't like it either...
Poor Twins……..eliminated by the Yanks in the Dome in 2003, 2004 and now 2009….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rockies up 3-1 in the 3rd...
Say no to an East Coast WS! Unless the Nats are in it! (Game temp has edged back up to 30 degrees… that’s just wrong.)
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 11, 2009 11:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
28°F - Ice fog. Chilly......Wind: Calm.....according to CBS Gamecenter
ICE FOG?………….brrrr….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Go anybody but Phillies and Yankees. WooHoo.
Phillies are aboot to bust it wide open.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Noooooooooo....
Go Rockies!
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Happ's been sitting to long....He'll get lit up too...
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think they ended up pulling him for a pinch hitter. Not sure.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep...
he wasn’t looking comfortable anyway.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comfortable?....You talking about comfortable?
Throwing in ice fog has got to be special…
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What? You want San Diego weather?
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sure... say, you think the humidor has an oven?
Must be like playing with a frozen rock….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's got to hurt ...catching a frozen ball.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The sting keeps the numbness away......
Jeez, it’s 58F here right now and I’m a little shivery…
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 12, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would it have killed the folks who built the stadium...
to consider a roof? It’s usually pretty cold there in April as well as October.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
HI MISSB...
My evil plan to get rid of Bobby Bowden is coming together. We just need to win less than 6 games. Your team can help a week from Thursday.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Heh...I noticed all the flap over Bowden this week.
I guess everybody’s taking sides now. That game last night was ridiculous..no D on either team.
Carolina played a lot better yesterday…something about a much simpler O scheme and the defense did its share too.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...it's getting ugly down there...
and it all comes down to Bowden (the football Bowden) wants to hire the defensive coaches and he clearly doesn’t have good defensive coaches. The game has changed a lot and it left him and his coaches in the dust.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He doesn't want to quit until Joe Pa quits...
otherwise, he’d never catch Joe Pa’s W record.
(Won’t happen anyway…especially when he has to vacate 12 – 15 wins every 5 or so years!)
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully FSU loses their appeal.
Bobby’s scared he’ll die a month after he retires…like his hero Bear Bryant.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, geez, he's already lived beyond the normal
actuarial expectancy.
I like that FSU is sticking it to the NCAA suits for the records. The NCAA has become way too imperious and dictatorial.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WOrst part is that we self-reported the violation. Tennessee had the same thing but they didn’t turn themselves in…and they got off with nothing. I don’t remember the specifics, but doing the right thing screws you with the NCAA. They are pissed that we beat them when they tried to take our mascot.
The actual tribe gave us their blessing as they have for many decades.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 12, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You would think they would have, but no...
and the Twins new stadium is going to be open air too?
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
by brook on Oct 11, 2009 11:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What..."for the purity of the game" or some such muddled idea?
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rocks and Twins......WS 2010!!!!
“….the frozen tundra…”
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think I saw that a retractable roof would have been an extra $125M.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 11, 2009 11:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Happ should have worn sleeves...
too cold to pitch without them. He may be from Illinois, but has he forgotten we dress for the weather?
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
by brook on Oct 11, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Woo Hoo...game tied!
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What?.......you both Phillies' fans?
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Fillies were ahead you silly!
Boooooo, Fills!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 11, 2009 11:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Now Beimel is up in the 'pen to help put out the fire...
…the fire will surely seem less fierce than those he’s used to from his time with the Nats…
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 11, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah...Booooo..Fills
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 11, 2009 11:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, the hamsters are waaaaay behind in the scoring...
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Right now they have Blanton pitching to Rollins.......
Poor little frozen paws….it’s not right….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 11, 2009 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Here comes Beimel!
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 12, 2009 12:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The hamsters need to be swapped out...
and upgraded to squirrels.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
by brook on Oct 12, 2009 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe some sort of Arctic Vole?
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 12, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Dirty Joe throws one pitch and gets out of the inning...
…I wonder if he still has that bada$$ warmup music?
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 12, 2009 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What was it?
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 12, 2009 12:04 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 12, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cool...Contreras comes in to pitch for the 6th
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 12, 2009 12:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
One pitch Beimel..........must be nice....
Arctic voles showed up with hot chocolate and the hamsters are happy and back at it….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 12, 2009 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
STOP! WALKING! PEOPLE!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 12, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Roscoe needs sleep. Recording the rest...
Will FF through it in 5 hours when I wake up.
Later folks. It’s been fun. See you tomorrow at 6:00 for game 4. Somebody could clinch.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 12, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good night
we’ll try to keep the Rockies going for a W.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 12, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Later
Blanton went to the Nats school of bunting.
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 12, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me too and I got an extra hour on you..........
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Oct 12, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh! Contreras = g0at!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
by Doghouse on Oct 12, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ugh..the bad Contreras showed up tonight.
F.O.D. & D. #1(Friend of Dukes and Desmond)
by MissB on Oct 12, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This was funny on the twitter...now...good night
jayson stark Joe Beimel in the game. So we’ve just set a record for biggest differential between the temperature and the pitcher’s uniform number (97).
by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Oct 12, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Night all!
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
by brook on Oct 12, 2009 12:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

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