Washington Nationals: Manager Search...Mid-November Update.
by Patrick Reddington on Nov 10, 2009 10:00 PM EST
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PrintThe latest word on the Washington Nationals' skipper search comes via the TwitterFeed of SI.com's Jon Heyman, with Mr. Heyman writing:
"#nats gm mike rizzo says they'll announce their manager this week. they did interview valentine. riggleman also in mix."
This news, of course, goes along with this morning's reports, by Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin and FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal which both said that the Nationals were close to deciding who would guide the nation's capital's favorite baseball team through the 2010 season and (hopefully) beyond...
(cont.)...
BACKPAGE:
• DC Skipper Search: What "They're" Saying...
• Former DC GM Jim Bowden on Lastings Milledge.
DC Skipper Search: What "They're" Saying...
FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal first quotes DC GM Mike Rizzo, in an article entitled, "Source: Valentine a finalist to be Nats manager", stating that Jim Riggleman, who ended the season as the Nationals' Interim Manager, "...is one of the finalists," for the opening on the Nationals' bench, but Mr. Rosenthal's "major league sources" tell him, "Bobby Valentine is the other," skipper still under consideration. While Valentine would be, in Mr. Rosenthal's estimation, "a more dynamic choice" Mr. Rosenthal concedes that, "Riggleman appears to be the favorite," since, as previously reported elsewhere, "...(the) Nationals ownership is believed to prefer an inexpensive manager," plus:
"The Nats' biggest concern with Valentine is whether he can stomach losing as they go through their rebuilding process."
Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin, who cites Mr. Rosenthal as, "for my money the best reporter in the business" in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "The manager search nears resolution", agrees with Mr. Rosenthal's assessment of the Nationals' concerns about Valentine, and goes on to say that the decision comes down to "a referendum of sorts on how the Nationals' braintrust (and its ownership) views its own team,":
"You don't hire someone like Valentine unless you think the team is close to contending -- let's say, a year or two away."
What sort of message does staying with Riggleman send to the fans then? In Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin's full article on the impending decision entitled, "Nats search for manager could lead to Riggleman", Mr. Sheinin writes "the more conservative move" of promoting Jim Riggleman to the full-time position would allow the team to, "...reevaluate the position a year or two from now, when the team, theoretically, is closer to contending." I wonder how the idea of "Placeholder Jim" will go over with the DC Faithful?
Riggleman or Valentine?
• Former DC GM Jim Bowden on Lastings Milledge.
Former DC GM Jim Bowden is appearing on MLB on XM's "Power Alley" along with Seth Everett this week, and a caller today asked Mr. Bowden why things didn't work out for Lastings Milledge in DC? Mr. Bowden's response:
"...We saw Milledge as a corner outfielder and not as a center fielder. Um, and so, then what happened is, we were never able to acquire a center fielder, and finally Mike Rizzo, after he became General Manager, was able to get Nyjer Morgan from the Pirates, so they had to get a center fielder...Um, you know, Lastings Milledge is a guy that still has not had the at bats to see what he could do, he's got tremendous bat speed, um, and so certainly he's going to get that opportunity in Pittsburgh next to McCutchen(Andrew), and if he can hit second in the lineup and force feed some fastballs, you know, I still think he can be a .280, 20 homer, 80 RBI guy for a long time, he's got great make-up, he definitely had a falling out, he missed a meeting with Manny (Acta), um, as soon as he missed that meeting they optioned him out, um, and from that standpoint on, um, I think they wanted to move him, uh, somewhere else...I think if they had a spot for him in left field they might have kept him, but a chance to get a center fielder, it was a baseball decision, which you certainly have to understand."
Meeting with Acta? Eh...whatever...
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Who does Davey Johnson tell Rizzo to hire?
I mean, advise….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
One of the MASN guys, if I remember right, was saying to try and hire Davey for manager. I’ve been saying that for three frapping years. ARGH.
Johnson just doesn’t want to manage anymore unless it’s the USA baseball team.
He's a bit old at 67 to want to deal with this as his last hurrah, I would imagine...
I never liked him anyway….. He’s a Met…
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Nov 11, 2009 2:36 AM EST up reply actions
I guess I dislike Davey more because he was a winner in the 80's against the good Expos
I can’t hold Bobby responsible for the beating up the post-’94 Expos so much…
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Nov 11, 2009 8:40 AM EST up reply actions
Interesting focus of the MLB.com story....
Valentine on short list for Nats manager
CHICAGO — Bobby Valentine has emerged as a top candidate to manage the Washington Nationals, Mike Rizzo, the team’s general manager, told MLB.com on Tuesday.
“We’ve closed it down to a select couple of people.”
Rizzo then confirmed that Valentine and Riggleman were among the “select couple of people,”
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
Zuckerman picks the other guy...
http://www.washingtontimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2009/nov/10/whats-ahead-for-the-nats/
"All signs continue to point toward Jim Riggleman retaining the job on a permanent basis for a variety of reasons. He was well-respected by players and club officials .He is a safe choice for an organization that is trying to establish some continuity after two years of upheaval. And yes, he’s affordable.
As for other rumored finalists (ie. Bobby Valentine), it’s hard to envision. Not only would Valentine cost significantly more, his personality and managerial style don’t seem to mesh with those of GM Mike Rizzo, president Stan Kasten and the Lerner family."
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Nov 11, 2009 3:27 AM EST up reply actions
We always knew it was Riggleman...
I’ll say it again. It’s just the Teixeira situation all over again. Except this time it’ll be the Nats making the decision.
The thing is, Valentine is on a tv show as an analyst and can say anti-Nats things at will if he chooses.
Um, two reporters with two perspectives of the same info........
The Zuckerman take is telling……Riggler fits in with the corporate conformity of the Lerners, as expressed in one article as reporting in every day and performing his duties. “A safe choice”…. And of course a Washington Times’ employee would value that business structure.
Bobby V. being the opposite, is more like I view my place in the world…… a bit more of a rebel that keeps things from being complacent…….
Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."
"Freakish things are happening."
by cat daddy3000 on Nov 11, 2009 8:58 AM EST up reply actions
Why are you so convinced the run at Tex was a show?
Tex and Boras said the Nationals made an impressive offer?
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Nov 11, 2009 9:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Yes, that much was for sure...I would have had to eat my blog if he did...
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Nov 11, 2009 10:05 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
So, there was absolutely no downside in making that offer. They knew they'd stick with Nick Johnson.
Just like they purposefully said Valentine’s name even though there’s no way they’ll hire him at his going price.
Realize we never heard about any other offers to free agents last year and no other managerial candidates this year. It’s all playing the media to get the fans to think the Nats are looking for the best.
That's cynical, maaaan....
Kasten just likes the long search….
Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."
by Patrick Reddington on Nov 11, 2009 10:55 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I call BS. They just want people to forget. Then maybe they won't be as disappointed.
I know there is a better manager for the Nationals than Riggleman and I know the Nats won’t get that manager.
If nothing else, at least spend money on a great pitching coach.
Money will have little to do with getting a good guy.
The best pitching coaches already have jobs and teams have to give them permission to look around. Plus, most have a manager they have worked with for years. We will need to develop someone into a good pitching coach if we want a good pitching coach. That takes several years and usually a very stable managerial situation first.
Valentine is the best managerial option on the market, but I doubt he says yes to us. We might be able to buy him with some ridiculous salary offer, but that would be unwise. He is not way better than Riggleman (no manager is way better than another), he would take considerably more to sign, and it is likely he would butt heads with upper management often. So he might not keep his job a long time.
On the other hand, I really hope I am wrong. He is the best manager on the market and I would love to have him. Plus, he is the only manager with extensive experience as a movie actor.
"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James
Every single reporter says the Nats are trying to keep their managerial costs low. It has a lot to do with it. No way will they pay Valentine his asking price. Everybody knows Valentine is better than Riggleman, but their news release will say Riggleman fits what the GM wants to do. Also, BS. You put the best manager in charge of your team on the field. Big deal if Valentine has been away from the American game for 5 years. Winning baseball is winning baseball and his approach is better.
so by offering Tex more than anyone else
They expected him to go somewhere else. That makes absolutely zero sense to me. I think they tried, hoped, and failed. But they were not going to throw away the baby with the bathwater to much.
"What you know is often the enemy of what you can learn" Bill James
Does this example help, Brian? (dollar figures aren’t actual offers, just for the example)
Say you won the lotter and you got two choices of prize.
You could take 180 million dollars, but you had to live in a garbage dump for 8 years.
OR
You could take 150 million dollars and live in the best place in the world for 8 years.
Be honest. You’re set for life either way.
(In no way am I saying NY is a great city…they just have the baseball franchise with most championships and biggest stage)
Yea sure but I dont think it was a pipe dream for the Nats...
They clearly wanted a star player and tried for the best on the market. They then settled for Dunn who was the next best to fit the needs (a good bat, which he was). They didnt flinch on signing him. They also didnt flinch on signing the most expensive draft signing…oh, I dunno…ever. They also signed their Gold Glove 3rd Baseman and face of the franchise to long term deal.
Do you think that they are seriously going to balk at spending a few million on a manager if they think that it might make them a winner? hmm. If they hire Riggles, it’s because they think he will do the best with what we have and will fit in (which he already has). I agree that I like the ambition of Valantine which signals that the team is looking to contend….but lets put this NJ “the Lerners are cheap” crap behind us.
"I love, love, love John Lackey." -- Graysnail.
I’m just saying it was a pipe dream to think Tex was coming to DC. I was excited for it, but in retrospect, there was no shot. Play with a team with 26 championships…or a team that lost 100 games the previous year. Just sayin.
I think it’s clear that Valentine is a better manager than Riggles. I don’t know how the type of team or the stage of rebuilding matters. If he’s willing to coach a team that lost 205 games in 2 seasons, let’s see it happen.
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