BREAK UP THE F-ING NATIONALS

what a hoot!
Rizzo on Matt Williams hiring:
?He is exceptionally prepared for the task. Matt came into the interview process already possessing an extensive knowledge of our organization: our roster, our Minor League system ? and our fan base."

I'm sorry I must be missing something because Williams worked with Arizona… the guys with the extensive knowledge where all passed over..

This hiring was probably decided on about a year ago..

Do you have something against bald guys too?

hutch wrote:
what a hoot!
Rizzo on Matt Williams hiring:
?He is exceptionally prepared for the task. Matt came into the interview process already possessing an extensive knowledge of our organization: our roster, our Minor League system ? and our fan base."

I'm sorry I must be missing something because Williams worked with Arizona… the guys with the extensive knowledge where all passed over..

This hiring was probably decided on about a year ago..

James wrote:
Do you have something against bald guys too?

hutch wrote:
what a hoot!
Rizzo on Matt Williams hiring:
?He is exceptionally prepared for the task. Matt came into the interview process already possessing an extensive knowledge of our organization: our roster, our Minor League system ? and our fan base."

I'm sorry I must be missing something because Williams worked with Arizona… the guys with the extensive knowledge where all passed over..

This hiring was probably decided on about a year ago..

Not sure how I feel about an admitted HGH user on his third marriage at 47…

none of those things are relevant to his managing capabilities

i dont doubt that rizzo had his mind more or less made up on this a while ago, but i also dont see why williams is such a bad hire.

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:
none of those things are relevant to his managing capabilities

i dont doubt that rizzo had his mind more or less made up on this a while ago, but i also dont see why williams is such a bad hire.

what makes him a good hire? according to rizzo its his extensive knowledge of the Nats minor league system and fanbase.

this is a joke? he has a better knowledge of the Nats roster, minor leaguers and fanbase than Knorr?

this is pure nepotism… a friendship should get you an interview.. not a job… there is no doubt this was decided a long time ago… and the whole manager search process never existed… now that would be ok if matt williams actually had proven experience but since he doesn't its called nepotism.. rizzo could have found somebody he got along with who had some experience…

whether matt williams ends up being a great coach or a terrible one will not change, in my mind, that the hiring process was shady…

and i ain't going to go rah rah rah everything the Nats organization does, from the usher to the Lerners is great..sorry.. some people think that is what being a fan is about..i don't.

in fact, arguably, i'd feel much better about this hiring if it wasn't motivated by the Rizzo-Williams friendship..then I could say "oh well, he has no managerial experience but they made the hiring mainly on baseball terms as should be the case."

and people who say that character has no relevance I guess think Jim Bowden was a swell GM too? sitting there getting drunk off his ass with his bimbos before getting ready to do some drunk driving….

vansmack wrote:

hutch wrote:
nepotism at its finest..

"hey, he's buddies with the GM!"

that's what counts..

I've spent the last 2 years watching a team where the manager and GM don't get along and don't see eye to eye.

They've spent $300 million, are locked into at least $600 million more over the next 4-8 years on 4 players, and finished 6 games under .500 this year.

It's a big damn deal if they get along.

see: boston red sox 2012 vs. boston red sox 2013

stevewizzle wrote:

vansmack wrote:

hutch wrote:
nepotism at its finest..

"hey, he's buddies with the GM!"

that's what counts..

I've spent the last 2 years watching a team where the manager and GM don't get along and don't see eye to eye.

They've spent $300 million, are locked into at least $600 million more over the next 4-8 years on 4 players, and finished 6 games under .500 this year.

It's a big damn deal if they get along.

see: boston red sox 2012 vs. boston red sox 2013

i assume you're saying farrell DID know the red sox.. he was pitching coach there for years.. you know, kind of like KNORR, and you know what: Farell DID have big league managerial experience

farrell is a better  argument for hiring knorr  than williams actually..

i think i'll let williams do the job before deciding if its a good or bad hire, but im personally leaning towards good cuz, as i said before, i think this team needs an outsider to come in and shake things up a bit.

and knorr's staying around as bench coach, so for at least one year theyll have a combo of williams' fresh blood and knorr's knowledge of the nats players. seems like the best of both worlds to me.

anyway i think youre reading way too much into all the friendship talk. rizzo's certainly got a few blemishes on his record now but if he thinks this guys manager material, im inclined to believe him. from what i gather hes not been the only gm in the game very high on williams as a manager.

gaaaaaaaaah wrote:
i think i'll let williams do the job before deciding if its a good or bad hire, but im personally leaning towards good cuz, as i said before, i think this team needs an outsider to come in and shake things up a bit.

and knorr's staying around as bench coach, so for at least one year theyll have a combo of williams' fresh blood and knorr's knowledge of the nats players. seems like the best of both worlds to me.

anyway i think youre reading way too much into all the friendship talk. rizzo's certainly got a few blemishes on his record now but if he thinks this guys manager material, im inclined to believe him. from what i gather hes not been the only gm in the game very high on williams as a manager.

no doubt he could turn out to be a good hire…

No qualifying offer for Haren.  Smart move as you'd likely end up paying him one year, $14m.

vansmack wrote:
No qualifying offer for Haren.  Smart move as you'd likely end up paying him one year, $14m.

$14.1M.  Not bad if you can get it.

Shemp wrote:
$14.1M.  Not bad if you can get it.

Well, they chose not to so it's not going to happen. 

I think he'll move back to the West Coast on a two year deal worth about $16m-$18m total.

itll be interesting to see what the nats do on the pitching front this offseason

even with all his comments so far i have a hard time believing rizzo is truly confident going into next year with three rotation spots completely spoken for and the last two reserved for a maybe healthy detwiler and one of a trio of unproven rookies. i keep seeing david price's name come up, and i think the price there might be a bit extreme, but ill be shocked if the nats dont bring in a quality starting pitcher or two for next year. i can be ok with one questionable rotation spot (especially with 3 or 4 total studs ahead of it) but two is a big problem

vansmack wrote:

Shemp wrote:
$14.1M.  Not bad if you can get it.

Well, they chose not to so it's not going to happen. 

I think he'll move back to the West Coast on a two year deal worth about $16m-$18m total.

Well, the Dodgers took the risk on Haren and overpaid him at $10m, but only took the risk for one year.  Must be nice…

Shemp wrote:

vansmack wrote:
No qualifying offer for Haren.  Smart move as you'd likely end up paying him one year, $14m.

$14.1M.  Not bad if you can get it.

paging james ford. please report to the nationals thread.

Rule #1 - never deal with Billie Beane.

Fernando Abad to Oakland

vansmack wrote:
Rule #1 - never deal with Billie Beane.

Fernando Abad to Oakland

I know he's prob your idol but didn't the Nats make out pretty good in the Gio trade?..cause as I remember it was a trade first…

hutch wrote:
I know he's prob your idol but didn't the Nats make out pretty good in the Gio trade?..cause as I remember it was a trade first…

Tommy Milone and Derek Norris are starters in Oakland, AJ Cole is making his way up through the farm and is only 21.

Brad Peacock was later dealt to Houston (along with others) for Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez during a playoff run.

I would say that both teams are happy with the deal, especially since Oakland knew they couldn't afford Gio's arbitration numbers.  Anytime Oakland can turn one starter into four starters, though, they're doing pretty well.

EDIT:  I didn't realize the Nats had designated him for assignment.  Getting anybody in November for a player designated for assignment is a win, though I doubt John Wooten ever makes the big league club.   

Nats want $300 million for a roof over the stadium?

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Washington-Nationals-Propose-Costly-Roof-For-Ballpark-233519231.html

Doug Fister to the Nats for three players!

In exchange, the Nationals sent infielder Steve Lombardozzi, left-hander Ian Krol and minor league lefty Robbie Ray to the Tigers.

I guess I'm not getting Rick Porcello.  Dammit.