Federal Baseball

Washington Nationals Complete Field Staff with the Hiring of MacLaren, Lett, Radison

2009-11-20T19:13:23Z

More photos » by Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP

Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, with third base coach Pat Listach in the background, before the Nationals' game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, July 16, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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The Washington Nationals announced today the hiring of Jim Riggleman's 2010 field staff. Some of the names we knew. Others? Not so much. But the new names certainly aren't new to the skipper, each having extensive experience working alongside Riggleman at various points in their careers.

Returning are Rick Eckstein (hitting coach), Steve McCatty (pitching coach) and Pat Listach (infield/third base coach).

The new hires are John McLaren (bench coach), Dan Radison (first base coach) and Jim Lett (bullpen coach).

What's apparent (and important) is that the organization allowed Riggleman the opportunity to bring in folks he was familiar and comfortable with. Radison worked with Riggleman in Chicago and San Diego, and Eckstein in St. Louis, while Lett was with the Dodgers when Riggleman was Jim Tracy's bench coach there.

And of course, Riggleman was MacLaren's bench coach in Seattle, and took over for him when he was dismissed in mid-season of 2008.

Press Release after the jump.

Eckstein returns for a second season in Washington, as his offense showed significant gains in 2009 in runs per game (+0.40 per game), home runs (+39), batting average (+.007), on-base percentage (+.014), slugging percentage (+.033) and OPS (+.047) compared to the previous season.

McCatty was named Nationals pitching coach on June 2. The Nationals’ Triple-A pitching coach for four seasons before being summoned to Washington, McCatty employed numerous pre-existing relationships with Nationals pitchers to help his staff post an ERA exactly one run better than that recorded in the season’s first two months (5.69 ERA from Opening Day-May 31, 4.69 ERA from June 2 through season’s end).

Listach will return for a second season as Nationals third base coach. Last season, Listach’s judgment saw only 11 Nationals thrown out at home plate on non force-outs, a figure bettered by only the Cardinals (eight) in MLB. With added responsibilities as the Nationals infield instructor, Listach had a hand in Ryan Zimmerman earning his first career Rawlings Gold Glove.

McLaren, 58, will draw on 22 seasons of big league coaching experience, including a stint as Mariners manager for portions of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He replaced Mike Hargrove as Seattle’s manager on July 2, 2007. While skippering the Mariners, McLaren hired Riggleman as his bench coach in 2008.

McLaren has worked on Lou Piniella’s staff for 15 seasons, and also enjoyed stewardships under Mike Hargrove, Cito Gaston, Jimy Williams and Joe Morgan. He has experienced five post-seasons, including four division titles (Toronto in 1989, Seattle ‘95, ‘97, 2001). McLaren spent the 2009 campaign as a Rays special assignment scout. He also served as Team USA bench coach during the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

Selected by Houston in the 1970 Draft, McLaren caught for seven professional seasons before beginning his coaching career in Toronto’s system in 1977. After serving the Blue Jays for nine seasons as a minor-league coach, manager and scout, McLaren joined Toronto’s big league staff as third base coach in 1986.

Lett, 58, will draw on 15 seasons of Major League coaching experience, 11 spent as a bench coach with the Reds, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Pirates. He served as Dodgers bullpen coach from 2001-04, where he worked alongside Riggleman, who was Jim Tracy’s bench coach at the time.

Lett joins the Nationals after spending the previous two years coaching in Milwaukee’s minor-league system. Lett has worked in professional baseball for each of the last 35 seasons as a player, coach, manager or front-office executive. Lett is also a highly respected catching instructor.

The 59 year-old Radison begins his third tour with Riggleman, as the two worked together during Riggleman’s managerial stays in San Diego and Chicago (NL). Outside of his stints with the Cubs and Padres, Radison has managed, coached or scouted for the Yankees, Cardinals and Mets organizations from 1984-2006.

He spent the previous three seasons as the Cardinals Minor League Hitting Instructor. While there, Radison worked closely with Eckstein, and helped Rick Ankiel (as a hitter), Skip Schumaker and Colby Rasmus graduate to St. Louis.

Radison was drafted by the Cardinals in 1972 and played professionally for three seasons. He commenced his career in coaching at the college level, serving as an associate or assistant coach at Broward (FL) Community College, the University of Georgia and Old Dominion (VA) University.

Washington Nationals' Prospects Finish AFL Regular Season.

2009-11-20T06:56:14Z

Washington Nationals' prospect Chris Marrero (1B) waits in the on-deck circle at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona.

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The box score for Thursday's Phoenix Desert Dogs/Surprise Rafters game doesn't mention the most important development out of Arizona, Stephen Strasburg's knee injury and subsequent removal from the starter's role in Saturday's nationally-televised AFL Championship, but it does wrap up the regular season for all of the Nationals' prospects participating in the Arizona Fall League, with SS Danny Espinosa, first baseman Chris Marrero and relief pitcher Josh Wilkie all appearing in the D-Dogs' 7-4 loss. Espinosa was 0 for 2, leaving the 22-year-old infielder with a .345 AVG, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR and 14 RBI's in 24 games, over which he posted a .434 OBP, with a .460 SLG and an .894 OPS. Marrero, 21, goes 2 for 4 with his 10th double and 21st RBI in 20 games and 83 AB's in which he's collected 29 hits, (7 doubles and 3 HR's), for a .349 AVG with 8 walks, 16 K's, a .402 OBP, .542 SLG and a .944 OPS. Wilkie, 25, a right-hander out of George Washington University who signed with DC as an undrafted free agent, gave up a hit in a scoreless inning of work in the fifth, and shortly thereafter received news that could (potentially) change the course of his career...(cont. after the JUMP)...

Final Score - Rafters 7, Desert Dogs 4 - MLB.com Gameday.

Desert Dogs finish AFL Reg. Season: 19-13.

BACKPAGE:

• Washington Nationals Set 40-Man Roster...

• Elijah Dukes Goes Yard...Again...

BACKPAGE:

• Washington Nationals Set 40-Man Roster...("but not Wilkie")...

Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin wrote a Nationals Journal post this afternoon entitled, "Nats add three to 40-man roster, but not Wilkie", in which he reported that the Nationals had added Juan Jaime, a 22-year-old right-hander out of San Cristobal in the Dominican Republic, Atahualpa Severino, a 25-year-old left-hander out of Cotui in the DR, and LHP Aaron Thompson, who'll turn 23 in February, and who is also known as The Nick Johnson Return, the Florida Marlins' '05 1st Round pick out of Houston, Texas, who was acquired by DC GM Mike Rizzo in return for old "Two-Spot" himself, Nick Johnson in a deadline deal that broke some Nats' fans' hearts...But after sending Josh Wilkie out to the Arizona Fall League, the Nationals have left the 25-year-old right-hander off the 40-Man Roster, leaving him unprotected in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft.

Wilkie, who pitched for Double-A Harrisburg and the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs in 2009, (compiling a (7-5) record with a 2.64 ERA, 67 hits, 22 R, 21 ER and 17 walks allowed with 65 K's collected, a 1.17 WHIP, 10.1 K/9 and a 6.25 K/BB in 51 G and 71.2 IP), went out to Arizona and pitched 12.2 innings more over 10 AFL games in which he surrendered 17 H, 12 R, 6 ER, and 4 walks while striking out 12 and suffering just one loss, (0-1, 4.26 ERA)), will now, Mr. Sheinin notes, "...be subject to the Rule 5 Draft, where another team can claim him for $50,000." Will Wilkie slip through? Will some jokers up in Toronto take a chance on the righty? Maybe a certain manager out in Cleveland? The Rule 5 Draft is December 10th...Will Josh Wilkie be a National on December 11th?

• Elijah Dukes Goes Yard...Again...

Elijah Dukes was the Tigres del Licey DH in Thursday's Dominican Winter League game against Aguilas Cibaenas. After lining out to left in his first AB, Dukes homered (for the second time in 3 games) sending a two-run blast out to left in his second at bat after Dodgers' and Tigres' infielder Blake Dewitt was hit by a pitch to leadoff the fourth. Dukes collected his 3rd RBI in the 5th with a sac fly, and ended the game with a swinging K in the eighth. Dukes goes 1 for 3 with a walk, HR and 3 RBI's as the Tigres cruise to a 12-4 win.

Stephen Strasburg Injured? All Of NatsTown™ Panics...

2009-11-20T02:39:06Z

Stephen Strasburg suffered a knee injury during BP today according to several reports though the full extent of his injury is as of yet unknown...

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Though the details are sketchy at the moment, word out of Arizona is that the Washington Nationals' '09 No.1 overall pick pitcher Stephen Strasburg has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out of Saturday's AFL Championship game. Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "Strasburg hurts knee, out of Saturday's AFL title game", reports that Strasburg, "...stepped awkwardly while shagging flies in the outfield, heard a pop, and crumpled to the ground."

Washington Times' writer Ben Goessling writes, in a Chatter post entitled, "Strasburg out again", that, "An MRI showed inflammation on his left knee, but the team said the injury is not considered serious." According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson, Strasburg will fly back to Washington, DC to have the knee examined by, "Nationals medical director Dr. Wiemi Douoguih."

Minor League Ball.com's John Sickels' Washington Nationals' Top 20 Prospects.

2009-11-19T19:43:50Z

Stephen Strasburg, the No. 1 Prospect in the Washington Nationals' system no matter which list you look at...

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A little over a week back Baseball America's Aaron Fitt unveiled his list of the Top 10 Prospects in the Washington Nationals' system, and now Minor League Ball.com's John Sickels has posted his own list of DC's top prospects in a post entitled, "Washington Nationals Top 20 Prospects for 2010". Both writers agree on the Top 3 with (RHP) Stephen Strasburg, (C) Derek Norris and (RHP) Drew Storen atop each list, with the first difference of opinion occuring over who is the highest-ranked shortstop in the Nationals' system , as Mr. Fitt places (SS) Ian Desmond fourth, one spot ahead of Danny Espinosa, while Desmond appears further down in Mr. Sickels' list as the 9th-ranked prospect overall in the DC system behind (1B) Chris Marrero, (2B) Jeff Kobernus, and (OFers) Michael Burgess and Justin Maxwell...Here's Minor League Ball.com's John Sickels' list of the Top 10 Prospects in the Nationals' system: (w/their BA ranking in parentheses):

Stephen Strasburg - RHP (1)
Derek Norris - C (2)
Drew Storen - RHP (3)
Danny Espinosa - SS (5)
Chris Marrero - 1B (6)
Jeff Kobernus - 2B (7)
Michael Burgess - OF (9)
Justin Maxwell - OF (8)
Ian Desmond - SS (4)
Bradley Meyers - RHP (N/L)

LINK:

• Washington Nationals Top 20 Prospects for 2010 - Minor League Ball - John Sickels

Washington Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo Adds Davey Johnson To Front Office.

2009-11-19T05:47:41Z

More photos » by Gene J. Puskar - AP

FILE - Davey Johnson has joined the front office of the Washington Nationals on Wednesday, Nov 18, 2009. The 66-year-old Johnson will work as a senior adviser to general manager Mike Rizzo. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo Adds Davey Johnson To Front Office:

On June 7th 2006, then-Washington Nationals' GM Jim Bowden brought Davey Johnson on board in DC as a consultant to the GM, describing the former major league infielder and New York Mets' manager in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article entitled, "Bowden reunited with Johnson", as a "tremendous evaluator of players" with a "tremendous understanding of building a championship organization," who would be tasked with, in Mr. Ladson's words, "...evaluat(ing) other team's prospects."

According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson's 11/18/09 article entitled, "Nats name Johnson senior advisor to GM", amongst his other contributions during his first stint in Washington, Johnson, "...told the Nationals to select catcher Jesus Flores in the 2006 Rule 5 Draft." The current DC GM, Mike Rizzo, who's announcing that he's brought Davey Johnson in as his own senior advisor, heaps similar praise upon the skipper of the 1986 World Series winning Mets, explaining that, "Davey makes me a smarter general manager,'" :

"'He is a deep thinker. He has done every aspect you can do in the game. Just to be around him, it makes me all that much better.'"

This time around with Washington, Johnson, according to Mr. Ladson, "...will attend Spring Training as a coach, and he will most likely be a scout and roving instructor during the season."

BACKPAGE:

Riggleman Brings Back Rick "You Have No Integrity" Eckstein, Steve "McChatty" McCatty and Pat Listach.

Dukes In The DWL: Elijah Dukes In The Dominican Republic.

BACKPAGE:

Riggleman Brings Back Rick "You Have No Integrity" Eckstein, Steve "McChatty" McCatty and Pat Listach.

In a post at his blog earlier today entitled, "Nats add McLaren, retain Eckstein, Listach and McCatty", which confirmed yesterday's reports that DC Skipper Jim Riggleman had brought former Mariners' Manager John McLaren to DC as his bench coach several years after McLaren hired Riggleman for the same role in Seattle, MLB.com's Bill Ladson, who was all over the breaking news today, reported that Mr. Riggleman had also decided to bring Rick Eckstein back as the Nationals' Hitting Coach, Pat Listach back as the third-base coach and Steve "McChatty" McCatty back as Washington's Pitching Coach, with a decision on the first base and bullpen coaches still pending...

Dukes In The DWL: Elijah Dukes In The Dominican Republic.

Elijah Dukes started in center for the Tigres del Licey on Tuesday against the Leones del Escogido, going 1 for 2 with 2 walks before being replaced by Houston Astros' OF prospect Yordany Ramirez after Dukes' second walk in the sixth. The Tigres took an 8-3 lead with a run in the top of the sixth, then proceeded to surrender runs in each of the last four innings as the Leones fought back and won it with a walkoff sac fly in the ninth after a leadoff walk by former Major League reliever Yhancy Brazoban and back-to-back bunts, one a sac attempt that an error made a single and a succcesful sac bunt which set up the winning flyout...

• Final Score - Tigres 8, Leones 9. MLB.com Box Score.

Washington Nationals' Prospects Win It For Desert Dogs In Arizona.

2009-11-19T02:32:52Z

More photos » by Gerald Herbert - AP

Washington's second '09 1st Round pick, pitcher Drew Storen saved his 4th AFL game this afternoon, lowering his ERA to 0.66 in 12 G and 13.2 IP. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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AFL Update:

In a preview of this Saturday's AFL Championship game, the Phoenix Desert Dogs welcomed Peoria, Arizona's second-favorite team, the Javelinas, into Phoenix Municipal Stadium for a tightly-contested one-run game that ended with the Washington Nationals' second 1st Round pick, pitcher Drew Storen striking out two of the five batters he faced and giving up one and two-out singles to put two runners on before the fifth hitter, Seattle Mariners' outfield prospect Joseph Dunnigan, chased an 0-2 pitch out of the zone for a swinging strike three. Desert Dogs win, 7-6 final. Storen throws 19 pitches, twelve for strikes, and earns his 4th save while lowering his ERA to 0.66 in 12 G and 13.2 IP in which the 22-year-old right-hander has allowed 16 hits, 3 runs, 1 earned and 3 walks while striking out 13 AFL batters and winning two games, (2-0).

The top of the Desert Dogs' lineup gets it done, combining for 9 hits in 17 at bats with 7 RBI's and 3 runs scored between them. DC infield prospect Danny Espinosa, batting second, goes 3 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and a two-out RBI single in the ninth that keeps the game alive long enough for Oakland A's outfielder Corey Brown and Espinosa's fellow future-National Chris Marrero to tie and then win it with Brown hitting a two-run double and scoring on Marrero's go-ahead single to complete a 6-run bottom of the eighth. Brown ends the game 3 for 4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI's. Marrero's now hitting .342 with a .398 OBP, .532 SLG, a .929 OPS, 6 doubles, 3 HR's and 20 RBI's in 19 games and 79 AFL at bats. Espinosa's RBI is his 14th in 23 games and 85 AB's over which he's hit for a .353 AVG with 5 doubles, a triple and 1 HR, a silly .442 OBP, a .471 SLG and a .913 OPS.

• Final Score - Desert Dogs, 7 Javelinas 6. MLB.com GameDay.

Why Would John Lackey Want To Pitch For The Washington Nationals?

2009-11-18T18:31:58Z

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

Can DC GM Mike Rizzo and newly-named permanent field manager Jim Riggleman convince top notch free agents to join the Washington Nationals this winter? . (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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I was eager to read MLB.com's Bill Ladson's latest article entitled, "Nats interested in free agent Lackey", to see if the Nationals were seriously pursuing 31-year-old free agent pitcher John Lackey until I got to the second paragraph which listed the Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and New York Mets as the other teams who have expressed an interest in acquiring the services of the (possibly) former LA Angels' starter. DC GM Mike Rizzo explains in the article that in order to draw a top-notch free agent to DC:

"'You have to show the veteran pitcher what the plan is, our plan for success, how we are built to perform at this level at this given time.

'We have to have a special type of veteran pitcher, who is willing to give of himself as a teacher and mentor type of guy. We have to get a team-oriented person, a person that is going to give his time and his knowledge. It's not an easy task.'"

(cont.)...

Nationals' Manager Jim Riggleman responded to a similar question, (which I asked), about attracting free agents during a conference call with DC area internet writers last week, by explaining that a team can also appeal to prospective players by offering them a position that might not be available elsewhere. On XM's Inside Pitch this afternoon, Kevin Kennedy's co-host Casey Stern addressed such thinking when talking about where free agent reliever Mike Gonzalez might end up:

"(The Nationals) know they need one, (a closer), Mike MacDougal was doing it, the cagey vet over the course of the stretch of the season, Gonzalez knows the National League East, he pitched there, all that's a fit, but I'll be honest, I saw Gonzalez's name and I'm like, man, would a team like the Yankees overpay him to set up, where he could even get possibly double the money that he would get to close from a team like the Nationals..."

Mr. Rizzo, back in MLB.com's Bill Ladson's article, explains that the, "...additions of an Adam Dunn, a Josh Willingham and Nyjer Morgan, it's going to attract some veteran players." But even with Dunn, Willingham and Morgan (for a short time) in the lineup, the Nationals lost over 100 games last year for the second-straight season, I'm having a hard time imagining that any of the top free agent pitchers on the market are going to settle for less in DC. The Nationals' front office has drawn all sorts of talented people in this offseason, but I still think they're going to have to produce on the field before the players start to consider joining what is for two years running now, baseball's worst team...

(ed. note - "DC GM Mike Rizzo had John Lackey on a list of potential targets as far back as early September, telling Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell, in an article entitled, "Time to Make the Most of This Horror Show", that the Nationals were looking at:

"'...Jason Marquis, Randy Wolf, John Lackey, Cliff Lee, Jon Garland, Kevin Millwood, Tim Hudson, Brad Penny, Joel Piñeiro, Braden Looper, Jarrod Washburn, Brandon Webb, Brett Myers (and) John Smoltz...'"

...and promising that though, "Some of them may have club options that are going to be picked up...We're going to get one of them." You have to love Mr. Rizzo's confidence, and if it's not Lackey, there are still 13 other arms on that list...The Nationals just have to find the pitching equivalent of Adam Dunn, a free agent who expected more out of the market, and will accept the best offer on the table...")

Washington Nationals: AFL/DWL Recaps.

2009-11-18T05:00:13Z

Washington Nationals' pitching prospect Jeff Mandel threw 2.0 scoreless today in the Phoenix Desert Dogs' 5-4 loss to the Scottsdale Scorpions.

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AFL:

In a 5-4 Phoenix Desert Dogs' loss to the Scottsdale Scorpions, Washington Nationals' '07 19th Round pick, pitcher Jeff Mandel, a soon-to-be 25-year-old right-hander who split his '09 campaign between Class-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, threw 2.0 scoreless frames, allowing 3 hits and collecting 3 K's while lowering his ERA to 1.88 in 10 games and 14.1 AFL IP in which he's allowed 14 hits and 3 ER with 10 K's total and not a single walk surrendered...Mandel was the only Nationals' prospect in action today in Arizona...NOTES: Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin notes, in an article entitled, "Nats Nuggets: bench coach, Guzman, Flores et al", that, "First base prospect Chris Marrero has missed the past few AFL games with the flu, but is expected back any day now," so hopefully Marrero will be available for Saturday's AFL Championship game against Peoria, Arizona's second-favorite team, the Javelinas.

• Final Score - Scorpions 5, Desert Dogs 4 - MLB.com Gameday.

Desert Dogs now 18-12.

(ed. note - "DWL: Elijah Dukes was out in right and batting sixth tonight for the Tigres del Licey as they welcomed the Gigantes del Cibao to Estadio Quisqueya for a game that was called due to rain.")

Jim Riggleman Returns The Favor, Hires John McLaren As Washington Nationals' Bench Coach.

2009-11-18T02:28:22Z

More photos » by Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP

Pat Listach, (background, left) still awaits word on whether or not he'll be back as a coach with the Nationals, but Jim Riggleman (front, center) announced that John McLaren will become his bench coach. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

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In late October 2007, when new Seattle Mariners' Manager John McLaren hired Jim Riggleman as his bench coach, Mr. McLaren described his relationship with the former Cubs and Padres' skipper to MLB.com writer Jim Street in an article entitled, "Mariners add experienced coaches":

"'We have known each other since the '80s, when we came up as coaches, and we have kept in contact over the years,' McLaren said. 'He is someone I have respected for a long time. He was thrilled when I called him and is excited about coming here.'"

When the Mariners chose to part ways with McLaren in late 2008, it was Riggleman who replaced him, taking over the reins for 90 games, after which he himself was replaced on the bench. Before the Mariners had settled on Don Wakamatsu as the Mariners' manager for 2009, Riggleman had agreed to become Manny Acta's bench coach in DC, with the understanding that he was still in the running in Seattle, but when he didn't get the job, he joined the Nationals, eventually replacing Acta 87 games into the season.

And now, Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman is reporting, in an article entitled, "McLaren hired as bench coach", that Mr. Riggleman has decided to bring Mr. McLaren aboard as his own bench coach for 2010, taking over for Pat Corrales, who'll, "remain in the Nationals organization in another capacity," according to Mr. Zuckerman, who also notes that Mr. Riggleman must still, "...decide what to do with five other coaching positions."

Washington Nationals' Danny Espinosa And Desert Dogs Win AFL East.

2009-11-17T18:21:38Z

Desert Dogs' infielder Danny Espinosa, a shortstop in the Washington Nationals' system, ended the day 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's as Phoenix clinched the AFL East with an 11-1 win.

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Desert Dogs Win AFL East...

With Phoenix's 11-1 win over the Mesa Solar Sox on Monday, the Desert Dogs clinched the AFL East, securing a spot in Saturday's AFL Championship by raising their record to 18-11 on the bats of the Mid-Atlantic combo of DC infield prospect Danny Espinosa and Baltimore Orioles' third base prospect Josh Bell, who were a combined 5 for 8 with 7 RBI's between them. Espinosa, the Nationals' '08 3rd Round pick out of Long Beach State University, (which DC GM Mike Rizzo once referred to in a Washington Post article by Jeff Nelson entitled, "Nats may have unearthed a gem", as 'a major league shortstop factory.'"), finished the game 3 for 4 with 4 RBI's, and the Orioles' Bell, acquired from the Dodgers (after four-plus years in LA's system), in a late July pre-deadline deal that sent George Sherrill out west, went 2 for 4 with a double and a 3-run HR in a 7-run 4th inning that started with the game tied at 1-1. Notes: The only other Nationals' prospect in action Monday was right-hander Josh Wilkie, who threw a 1-2-3 fifth for his first scoreless frame in his last four outings. The 25-year-old Clarksville, Tennessee native, and Chattahoochee High School graduate, who signed with DC as a free agent out of George Washington University and split the '09 season between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse is now (0-1) with a 4.63 ERA and 12 K's in 11.2 IP over which he's allowed 16 H, 12 R, 6 ER and 4 walks...

• The Desert Dogs have a 2:35 pm EST game with the Scottsdale Scorpions this afternoon.

• As previously noted, the AFL Championship Game will be played this Saturday and broadcast live on the MLB Network, with '09 No. 1 overall pick Stephen(om) Strasburg scheduled to start for the Desert Dogs.

Watch Stephen Strasburg on MLB Network this Saturday!

2009-11-17T15:57:15Z

When the Desert Dogs clinched the AFL East division yesterday, they guaranteed themselves a spot in the championship game on Saturday. Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to be the starter, giving those of us who couldn't make it to Arizona our first chance to see the Strasnonmenon. The game will be broadcast at 2:15 ET on MLB Network.

I sure hope the Dogs bought him a Tempur-Pedic pillow after the Rising Stars bungle!

Washington Nationals Rumors: Are Mike Gonzalez Or Billy Wagner Worth A 2nd Round Pick?

2009-11-17T02:20:47Z

More photos » by Winslow Townson - AP

According to Billy Wagner's agent, the Washington Nationals are one of five teams that have expressed interest in the soon-to-be 39-year-old left-handed, late-inning lefty.(AP Photo/Winslow Townson)

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Either of These Relievers Worth A 2nd Round Pick?

He's pitched against the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals for the Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets, compiling 79 K's, 33 saves, and a (4-1) record with a 1.42 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP and a .180 BAA in 60 appearances and 63.1 IP against the DC franchise, and now, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, who update their column entitled, "Latest buzz from the MLB offseason", with a report subtitled, "Interest in Wagner still strong", the Nationals are one of five teams who have expressed interest in 38-year-old left-hander Billy Wagner according to uname--, huh, according to Wagner's agent Bean Stringfellow. The FOXSports.com writers note that Wagner's a Type A free agent, meaning he'd cost the team that signs him a draft pick, but he's not the only left-handed reliever whose name has been linked to the Nationals, with MLB.com's Bill Ladson reporting late last week, in an article entitled, "Nats show interest in DeRosa, Gonzalez", that former Pirates' and Braves' reliever Mike Gonzalez was also on the Nationals' radar...though Gonzalez too is a Type A FA...but as MLB Fanhouse author Ed Price noted, in an article entitled, "MLB Free-Agent Compensation, 'Elias Rankings' released" (in case you've forgotten or didn't know), a team signing a Type A free agent only loses their 1st Round pick if it falls between 16-30, and since Washington, for the second-straight year, has the No. 1 overall pick in 2010, they'd forfeit their second-round pick if they somehow sign a Type A...One Note: Mr.'s Rosenthal and Morosi mention in their article that, "...only the Red Sox — Wagner's most recent team — would slot him in a role other than closing," which is interesting in light of Mr. Riggleman stating this past Friday, in an interview with DC area internet writers, that one way to attract free agents to a team coming off a 100-loss season is to offer an opportunity that other teams aren't, or in Mr. Riggleman's own words:

"If they are a closer, if they can come in and be the closer, instead of being a set-up guy. There are different reasons for guys to go places. They may want to be the closer..."

Are either Gonzalez or Wagner worth a 2nd Round pick?

Washington Nationals Hire Two More For Front Office

2009-11-16T20:38:48Z

From the team's press release:

The Washington Nationals today named Bryan Minniti Assistant General Manager and Jay Sartori Director of Baseball Operations. Nationals Senior Vice President and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

Minniti joins the Nationals after spending the previous nine seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, the last two as their Director of Baseball Operations. With the Pirates, Minniti’s focuses included rules compliance, transactions, budgeting and contract negotiations. Minniti graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a double major in Mathematics and Statistics.

Sartori worked for the Commissioner’s Office as Salary and Contract Administration Manager in Major League Baseball’s Labor Relations Department before accepting his position with the Nationals. His expertise included knowledge and interpretation of the Basic Agreement, contract language, salary arbitration and Rule 4 Draft bonus recommendations and analysis. Sartori graduated with a Finance and MIS degree from Boston College and is currently working on an MBA from the same institution.

Two smart guys, huh? Bringing on a couple of young numbers guys with good pedigrees in the department will allow Mike Rizzo to concentrate on what he knows best: finding good baseball players.

Washington Nationals' Elijah Dukes Gets Ejected...+ Rumorville.

2009-11-16T06:33:32Z

More photos » by John Amis - AP

After homering in his first DWL game last night, Elijah Dukes K'd three times and got ejected yesterday in his second game with the Tigres del Licey. (AP Photo/John Amis)

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Day 2 In The DWL For Dukes...

• Elijah Dukes had three at bats to try to make sense of the junk that veteran MLB lefty John Halama was throwing this afternoon in the Sunday Tigres del Licey v Aguilas Cibaenas Dominican Winter League matchup. Dukes never did figure out Halama's offspeed and breaking balls, and after the third straight K, this one backwards, he got himself tossed for arguing about where the bottom of the strike zone was with home plate umpire Justin Vogel. The Nationals' 25-year-old cannon-armed outfielder's down in the DWL to learn how to hit the sort of stuff Halama was throwing. In his first DWL game last night, Dukes hit a two-run HR in his second AB with the Tigres, but today, Halama and a few questionable strikes got the best of the enigmatic outfielder...

• In what, at times, felt like an franchise-history-spanning intra-squad game between current and former Washington Nationals with Dukes, Halama, Wily Mo Pena, Bernie Castro, Daniel Cabrera, Emilio Bonifacio, Anderson Hernandez, Kory Casto and pitching prospect Atahualpa Severino all seeing action, the Tigres took and then immediately blew a 2-1 lead when Bernie Castro hit a two-run triple in the top of the fifth, followed quickly by Aguilas' first baseman Kevin Barker's RBI single and second baseman Hector Luna's three-run HR that made it 5-2 Aguilas after the home-half of the frame...

• Final Score - Tigres del Licey 2, Aguilas Cibaenas 8. MLB.com Box.

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• Rumorville (A Suburb Of NatsTown™): Trading The Untradeable.

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• Rumorville (A Suburb Of NatsTown™): Trading The Untradeable.

In MLB.com's Bill Ladson's latest, "Inbox: Riggleman right man for job?", Mr. Ladson talks to several readers with ideas about how the Nationals can improve their middle infield, (Ronnie Belliard? Jamey Carroll?), and then entertains a question from a fan who wants to know if the DC fans should just expect an Ian Desmond/Cristian Guzman middle infield combo this season, with Mr. Ladson responding that he finds it hard to imagine the Nationals going with an Adam Dunn/Cristian Guzman right side of the infield, leading him to believe, in his own words:

"...that the Nationals will try to trade Guzman. It will be hard, because he will make $8 million next year.

As far as Desmond goes, I'm getting mixed signals. I know that Riggleman likes him, but there are other people in the organization who believe he needs more seasoning in the Minor Leagues."

Mr. Ladson quoted Jim Riggleman, in an article entitlted, "Riggleman: Guzman a second baseman" after Riggleman was promoted to full-time skipper, saying that in his opinion and Mr. Ladson's words, "...he wouldn't mind going into the season with Desmond at (short)", though the 24-year-old infielder will have to earn it, and Washington Post writer Thomas Boswell addressed the complaints about Guzman's defensive play and the possibility that someone out there will take an $8 million dollar deal off the Nationals' hands in a chat with readers back on September 24, 2009 entitled, "Ask Boswell: Redskins, Nats, Orioles and More", where Mr. Boswell responded to another Nats fan who brought up Jamey Carroll as an option before suggesting that Guzman's, "...poor on base percentage, marginal range and lack of power," should lead the Nationals to trade the soon-to-be 32-year-old outfielder, "...even if they have to eat half his contract," by stating that:

"Critism of Guzman's fielding is overdone. He has a strong arm, remains agile and WILL be part of the Nats middle infield next year, almost certainly. His $8-million contract makes him semi-untradeable. He's not worth that much. But he is worth having. Almost every SS who has moved to 2nd base has immediately been perceived as a much-improved fielder. Every great defender is put at SS. Those who aren't good enough move to 2nd. So, Guzman's competition is easier. Good Lord, Dan Uggla plays 2nd. Also, almost every play is easier at 2nd. Going left or right (especially left), you can leave your feet and slide to make a stop and still have time to throw out the hitter a high percentage of the time."

Another important consideration Mr. Boswell points out is the fact that Guzman's playing for his next contract this season, which is all the more motivation for Guzman to stay healthy and productive while projecting the image of a team player who's willing to do what's necessary for the good of the ballclub. The year before Guzman signed with Washington, the then-Minnesota Twins' infielder parlayed a .274 AVG, .309 OBP, .384 SLG, 31 doubles, 8 HR's and 46 RBI's into a 4-year deal with Washington worth $16.8 million dollars, (ed. note - "BOWDEN!!"), and after hitting .219 with a .260 OBP in 2005, missing all of 2006, hitting over .300 in 46 games in 2007 and posting a .316 AVG, .345 OBP, .440 SLG, 35 doubles and 55 RBI's in 2008, Guzman inked a two-year extension with the Nationals (in July of '08) for the $8 million he made last year and the $8M he's due in 2010...(ed. note - "BOWDEN!!") Should DC fans expect a lucrative bounce-back campaign from the Guz...?

(ed. note - "Guzman better be solid at second if he stays in DC and switches to the other side of the infield, because Adam Dunn, in the opinion of one Fangraphs.com writer, is the worst defensive player in the Majors. Fangraphs.com writer Matthew Carruth posted an article last Friday entitled, "Highs and Lows of UZR 2007-9: Dunn", in which Mr. Carruth looks, "...at the best and worst defensive performers over the last three seasons combined," and concludes that DC 1st baseman Adam Dunn has cost him team (-108.1) "runs against average" over the last three seasons...granted, most of the Dunn stats examined in this article would have been for him as an OFer, and there's little or no chance he's going back out there any time soon...")

Video: Licey.com. Decide for yourself, was it a change that Estrellas de Oriente pitcher Eddy...

2009-11-15T16:59:02Z

Video: Licey.com.

Decide for yourself, was it a change that Estrellas de Oriente pitcher Eddy Ramos left up in the zone for Elijah Dukes? In Dukes' first game with the Tigres del Licey, the DC OF went deep to left in his second at bat in what ends up a 15-5 Tigres' win...

(ed. note - "Sorry for erasing the comments from the previous Fanshot, but I thought it'd be easier to just put the video up rather than the link...Thanks for the direct, Doghouse.")

Elijah SSSSSSUPER DUKESSSSSS!!!!

Washington Nationals World News: Stephen Strasburg, Elijah Dukes, Josh Willingham

2009-11-15T04:55:19Z

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Why Would You Trade Willingham? (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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Josh Willingham In Rumorville:

FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi start their latest column entitled, "Saturday's latest news and notes", by writing that the Washington Nationals, "...are again drawing strong interest in left fielder Josh Willingham," though the only team Mr.'s Rosenthal and Morosi mention by name as having interest is Atlanta, and they immediately note that the Braves, "...harbor concerns about his defense and past back trouble." The writers also note in the report that the Nationals aren't necessarily looking to deal Willingham since he's under their control for the next two seasons, just as DC GM Mike Rizzo mentioned last July in Washington Post writer Chico Harlan's Nationals Journal post entitled, "Rizzo Has No Plans For A Fire Sale", in which he was quoted asking rhetorically:

"Why would you want to dump Willingham? We control him for two years, he's [30] years old, and he's a good hitter," Rizzo said. "I still think it's a young team. Willingham and Zim, those are guys in their primes or entering their primes. Including Dunn."

MLB.com's Bill Ladson cites "two baseball sources" who say that the Nationals are interested in free agent late-inning lefty Mike Gonzalez, a former Pirates' draft pick who's spent the last three years in Atlanta and IF/OF Mark DeRosa, who started his career in Atlanta and has played for the Rangers, Cubs and last year the Indians and Cardinals.

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• Stephen Strasburg Wins In Phoenix

• Elijah Dukes Homers In Licey

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• Stephen Strasburg Wins In Phoenix

In front of 656 fans in Phoenix Municipal Stadium, the Washington Nationals' '09 No. 1 overall pick, Stephen Strasburg, struck out 6 of the 14 Peoria Saguaros' batters he faced, throwing 64 pitches, 36 for strikes in 3.2 scoreless innings pitched, over which the 21-year-old right-hander allowed just 1 hit and 2 walks, while recording 4 ground outs and one fly ball out. According to Project Prospect.com's TwitterFeed, in addition to throwing a fastball in the high-90's all day, topping out at 99, Strasburg also had the change working as they wrote early in today's outing that, "Strasburg's change is a plus-pitch too," and then later summed up the start with the following Tweet:

"projectprospect: Stras done after 63 pitches. Top speed was 99. CB movement was exceptional. No balls hit to outfield. And CH was VERY good."

(ed. note - "If you haven't checked out Project Prospect.com yet, you should. The AFL coverage they've done over the last weeks has been expectional.")

With Strasburg's 4th win in the balance, his fellow DC 1st Round pick, future Nationals' closer Drew Storen was called upon in the eighth inning, giving up a one-out single before a doubleplay grounder ended the frame, and allowing the Saguaros' to load the bases with one down in the ninth before he got back-to-back K's to close out the win over Peoria, Arizona's second-favorite team. Storen throws 30 pitches, 18 for strikes, and gives up 3 hits in 2.0 IP over which he walks one intentionally, strikes out 2 and lowers his AFL ERA to 0.71 after 11 G and 12.2 IP in which he's now earned 3 saves while giving up 14 hits and 3 runs, 1 earned, with 11 K's collected.

Notes: No Nationals' prospects on the field today, only the mound.

• Final Score - Desert Dogs 1, Saguaros 0 - MLB.com's GameDay.

• Elijah Dukes Homers In Licey

Elijah Dukes made his DWL debut tonight, starting in center and going 1 for 2 with a walk in his first at bat and a two-run HR in his second, (no word on if it was a curve that he hit, coverage was spotty), after which he flew out to left the third time up and was replaced in center after three innings with Dukes' Tigres del Licey already up 9-3 over Estrellas de Oriente, (who started Nationals' IF prospect Michael Martinez, who split the '09 campaign between Potomac and Harrisburg, at short). The Tigres end up with a 15-5 win, and the coverage at Licey.com focuses on Dukes, with an article by Dionosio Soldevila entitled, "Dukes se sitio en Oriente!!!" (which translates roughly as "Dukes was felt in the East!!!, Spanish-speaking readers please correct me, I studied French.") in which Mr. Soldevila writes, (and pardon the computer translation):

"Elijah Dukes played his first game of the Dominican season on Saturday and he caused a roar immediately, with a two-run HR as Licey squashed the Estrellas de Oriente, 15-5."

(ed. note - "There's a nice pic of Dukes being greeted at the dugout in his Licey blues if you check that link to Licey.com.")

Elijah Dukes is a front-page story in Licey!!!

• Final Score - Tigres, 15 Estrellas, 1 - MLB.com Box Score.

Washington Nationals: AFL/DWL Update...Stephen Strasburg/Elijah Dukes...

2009-11-14T19:24:05Z

More photos » by Brian Blanco - AP

Washington Nationals' OF Elijah Dukes is set to make his '09 DWL debut any day now according to an article on Licey.com. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)

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• A Saturday in mid-November might bring fans of the Washington Nationals the most interesting evening of baseball before April. The Nov. 13th edition of AFL's Game Notes has Stephen Strasburg (3-1, 5.28 ERA) back on the mound in Phoenix Municipal Stadium against the visiting Peoria Saguaros and left-handed starter Steve Garrison, (2-1, 4.11 ERA) an '05 10th Round pick by the Padres who was ranked as high as sixth in the San Diego system by Baseball America in 2008. Strasburg, the Nationals' '09 1st Round pick, (who was considered the team's top prospect as soon as he signed his record-breaking deal and was confirmed as such in Baseball America's Aaron Fitt's 11/11/09 Top 10 list), will be making his fifth AFL start and looking for his fourth win, having allowed just one run in each of the last two outings for the Phoenix Desert Dogs...

• MLB.com Gameday - Desert Dogs vs Saguaros 2:35 pm EST.

• Meanwhile, down in the Dominican Winter League, Washington Nationals' outfielder Elijah Dukes is expected to make his first appearance with the Tigres del Licey any day now according to an article by Licey.com writer Dionisio Soldevila entitled, "Elijah Dukes ya se presentó con el equipo" wherein it's reported that Dukes has joined the team and will make his debut this weekend...though the Tigres have games tonight and tomorrow...so there's no guarantee Saturday's the day for Dukes...(ed. note - "For anyone who doesn't know, the Tigres del Licey are streaming all their games online, so if you want to watch DC SS Ian Desmond and Dukes, the games are available...")

• Licey.com - Home of the Tigres.

New Washington Nationals' Manager Jim Riggleman Talks To Internet...

2009-11-13T20:45:05Z

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

On Friday afternoon, the Washington Nationals made their new manager, Jim Riggleman, available to online writers who follow the Nationals... (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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The newly-promoted Washington Nationals' manager Jim Riggleman made himself available this afternoon to the online press who follow the nation's capital's favorite MLB team, answering questions about his promotion to full-time skipper and discussing his plans for the twenty-ten Nats, who are looking to recover from back-to-back 100-loss seasons. It got off to a rocky start as he first hung up on the conference call, (he's probably still learning how to use all the electronic equiptment the Washington Times reported that he'd received), but Mr. Riggleman quickly returned, (humorously) blaming a member of the Nationals' front office for the technical difficulties, and from then on he was straightforward and willing to entertain all of our questions...

Mr. Riggleman was reluctant to say what it was he thought made the Nationals decide that he was the best choice as the full-time manager, telling those on the conference call that, "The criteria that the job is based on is in somebody else's hands," but he was, in his own words, "...confident that I'm going to be able to do this job," saying that he, "...has 16-years of experience to draw from when I'm managing a game." As far as putting together his coaching staff, Mr. Riggleman said, "We are in the process of doing that, we don't have anything to announce right now," but, Mr. Riggleman continued, "...there will be a couple of changes on the staff...if we were doing this call two days from now I'd probably have a final list for you." •(ed. note - "Washington Times' writers Ben Goessling and Mark Zuckerman quoted "club sources" in their 11/4/09 article entitled, "Riggleman could stay with Nationals", who said that, "Riggleman has identified potential staff members, who, combined with holdovers from last season, could fill out a coaching staff relatively soon.")

Asked about the possibility of adding free agents to the roster, Mr. Riggleman would only say that he doesn't want to add offensive players who can't play their positions, and when I followed up on the potential free agent targets, and asked specifically how you would convince free agents to join a team coming off back-to-back 100-loss seasons, Mr. Riggleman responded by saying, "Surprisingly ballplayers are looking for opportunities...sometimes it's not just a matter of where you are in the standings,":

"For some guys it’s where they're going to fit on the ball club? How bad you need that position that they play or pitch. If they are a closer, if they can come in and be the closer, instead of being a set-up guy. There are different reasons for guys to go places. They may want to be the closer, like I said...they may want to know they are coming in as the regular shortstop...or you're offering them the chance to be our catcher rather than go somewhere else and not be the regular guy, they can come here and be the regular catcher..." **

Any possibility of Drew Storen or Stephen Strasburg, who are currently playing in the Arizona Fall League, seeing time in DC this season? Mr. Riggleman pointed out that, "...a higher percentage of those guys chosen to play in that league end up in the big leagues, so that is a great path to go on, if you're respected by your organization enough to be invited to that league...", (ed. note - An AFL fan told me the 'higher percentage' was around 60%...") and on Drew Storen in particular, Mr. Riggleman offered that, though he thought, "Decisions like this are tough to talk about right now," before the team is anywhere near Spring Training, "Drew signed quickly last year and that's a great thing...his path to the big leagues is definitely sped up...", and as far as Storen's role, should he make the team, "...the role would probably be somewhere in the middle, not a long man by any chance but somewhere in the middle." No word on Strasburg...

The Nationals would have liked to try Cristian Guzman out at second last September, but he was injured and shut down right when the opportunity arose...Mr. Riggleman thinks that in the post-steroid-era, teams will get back to speed and athleticism and you'll see more stolen bases...The Nationals need to get Jesus Flores healthy and back in the lineup, and there's a decision to be made when it comes to Scott Olsen...Mr. Riggleman knows there's a great deal of work to be done before Spring Training, but before that there are the Winter Meetings and that gives DC GM Mike Rizzo a few months to shape the roster much the way he has reshaped the Nationals' front office and with Mr. Riggleman in place on the bench and his coaching staff soon to follow, Washington's once again rolling out a new plan for success...

(ed. note - " ** = I didn't have anything to record this conversation, so I checked the full translation that SBF at Nats320 posted to clean up the notes I made and more accurately represent Mr. Riggleman's answers...")

Washington Nationals: Desperately Seeking Shortstop?

2009-11-13T18:50:14Z

More photos » by David Kohl - AP

Not...enough...range... (AP Photo/David Kohl)

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Back in early September, long before yesterday's announcement of Jim Riggleman's promotion to full-time status on the bench in Washington, the Nationals' then-interim manager told Washington Post writer Chico Harlan, in an article entitled, "Seven Things To Know About the SS/2B situation", that the decision on whether or not Cristian Guzman would switch over to second in twenty-ten wasn't Guzman's:

"'As far as him being open to it,' Riggleman said, 'that's really not even a factor. We'll make a call on that the player doesn't make the call on that... It's a pretty natural thing. A lot of times we think, 'Oh, heaven forbid, we don't want to ruffle any feathers with a ballplayer.'"

Yep, that's the new manager, an old-timey feather ruffler...(ed. note - "Hey Frank didn't coddle and I always liked him..."). DC GM Mike Rizzo was quoted in the same article stating that though Guzman was originally, "...taken by surprise [by the suggested position change]", but after Mr. Rizzo recited what he referred to as a "laundry list" of players who had successfully switched from short to second, "...it kind of sunk in, and made some sense," to Guzman.

(cont.)...

Of course, as late in the season as September 28th, MLB.com's Bill Ladson, in a blog post tellingly entitled, "Guzman not sure he will play second base", wrote that the Nationals' soon-to-be 32-year-old infielder had, "...talked to (his) agent Stanley King, about the situation, but will not talk about his plans until after the season." In 135 games, all played at short, Guzman hit .284 in '09 with a .306 OBP (25 walks? the first of which didn't come until May 18th...aka game #38), a .390 SLG, and a .696 OPS, 24 doubles, 7 triples, 6 HR's, 52 RBI's, and a (-2.6) UZR/150 rating (ed. note - "...which is actually an improvement over the two previous season's in defiance of what everyone sees...or were we all complaining about Guzman's defense back then too...probably...right?").

But as Mr. Riggleman made clear again today, the decision is not Guzman's...MLB.com's Bill Ladson followed up on the position-switch-story today, in an article entitled, "Riggleman: Guzman a second baseman", where he quoted the now-permanent field manager saying that the Nationals' brass had already made a decision:

"We were talking to our staff -- [general manager] Mike Rizzo and everybody -- and we all came to the conclusion that [Guzman's] future is going to be at second base. If a person on the ballclub doesn't allow us to do that, then put him at short."

The "person on the ballclub" that would allow the Nationals to move Guzman to second, is obviously Ian Desmond, who's currently plying his trade in the Dominican League with the Tigres del Licey, but not everyone is convinced Desmond's ready for the Majors right now, with even Mr. Riggleman telling MLB.com's Mr. Ladson, "'I don't if Desmond will be the shortstop...but as I stand here right now, I would be happy with it, because I know what kind of effort I'm going to get." FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi, however, are reporting that the Nationals aren't taking for granted that Desmond will be ready, writing in an article Thursday entitled, "Thurday's latest news and notes", that the Nationals, according to "major league sources", "...are interested in two slick-fielding free agent shortstops,":

"The first is Alex Gonzalez, who still could re-sign with the Red Sox. The second is Adam Everett, who still could re-sign with the Tigers."

Who's going to be the Nationals' starting shortstop on Opening Day? The in-house candidate, Ian Desmond? Alex Gonzalez? Danny Espinosa?(No, not yet!), Adam Everett? Or someone else from this list, which MLBTradeRumors.com has compiled? What do the two players the FOXSports.com writers mentioned have in common? Neither qualified for Type A or B free agent status, so they wouldn't cost DC any draft picks...? Orlando Cabrera?. Type A, with a caveat...(ed. note - "According to a Rotowire.com note on Yahoosports.com,"...(Cabrera's) current contract doesn't allow the Twins to offer him arbitration. As a result, his Type A status shouldn’t be an issue this offseason because no team will have to give up a draft pick to sign him.") Orlando Hudson? Type A...and no one on the MLBTraderumors' list is under 30-years-old...How does that fit in with a rebuilding (still) ballclub? Is Rizzo going to have to deal for an infielder?

Washington Nationals Name Jim Riggleman Permanent Field Manager.

2009-11-13T05:00:33Z

More photos » by Haraz N. Ghanbari - AP

8 days ago: Jim Riggleman listens to a question during a news conference announcing his appointment as the manager for the Washington Nationals, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, in Washington. Listening at left is team general manager Mike Rizzo. (AP Photo/Haraz N. Ghanbari)

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There was no Don Wakamatsu this time. Jim Riggleman, (who had served as the Seattle Mariners' interim Manager in 2008 only to be passed up for the full-time job in favor of Mr. Wakamatsu once the season ended), was introduced this afternoon by permanent DC GM Mike Rizzo as the Nats' new skipper after a weeks-long search in which Mr. Rizzo and Nationals' team President Stan Kasten "vetted" some and interviewed others (leaving at least one candidate perplexed as to what sort of "search" they'd conducted) before deciding on Mr. Riggleman as the third field manager in the team's five-year history.

DC GM Mike Rizzo referred to Jim Riggleman as the "permanent field manager" in officially announcing his promotion from "interim" status during a press conference today, joking to the press, "You know how much I love those 'interim' titles," in a sly nod to the time he'd spent as the "Acting" DC GM after replacing former GM Jim Bowden and before he himself was given the full-time gig as the franchise's second general manager. "We went through a disappointing season in 2009," Mr. Rizzo continued:

"...halfway through the season we turned to Jim Riggleman for some stability, to right the ship, and he did what I thought was a masterful job in very trying circumstances, he gaves us a sense of balance, not only in the dugout, but also in the clubhouse. We went back to the roots of the game, the fundamentals of efficient play, with a big focus on pitching, defense and playing the game the right way. We thought that we had a...I thought that we had a very efficient, talented manager in-house...After the season, we felt it was our duty to the ballclub, to the fans of Washington, DC to do our due diligence, and look in all venues for a permanent field manager. We did an extensive search and came back to the realization that the best guy for the job we had in-house in Jim Riggleman. It's my pleasure to introduce the 2010 Manager of the Washington Nationals, Jim Riggleman."

"This has been a dream of mine to land right here," Jim Riggleman...

(cont.)...

"This has been a dream of mine to land right here," Jim Riggleman told the gathered members of the media in his acceptance speech after thanking all those in baseball who'd given him the help he needed to reach this place:

"...this is the team that I grew up watching, the Washington Senators, to me it's still the Nationals-Senators, it's all in the same, it's Washington baseball, and it's the dream of a lifetime to grow up watching a ballclub and then end up playing or managing for that very ballclub. It just, it couldn't be better for me."

While Mr. Riggleman was thrilled with the opportunity the Nationals had given him, however, at least one candidate, who was supposedly one of two finalists for the job along with Mr. Riggleman, expressed surprise when informed that he had been passed on in favor of the "in-house" candidate. Bobby Valentine, in an article by MLB.com's Barry Bloom entitled, "Valentine moving on after Nats' decision", was quoted as stating that he'd, "...had a great interview with Mike (Rizzo) about two weeks ago and we really hit it off," but after the meeting, which Mr. Rizzo later confirms, Mr. Valentine continued:

"...I never heard anything. There has been no contact or explanations. I'm pretty sure they had Jim (Riggleman) in their back pockets the whole time."

It wasn't that Mr. Valentine had failed to impress either, as reports following his interview with the Cleveland Indians had alleged, as Mr. Rizzo explained to MLB.com's Mr. Bloom:

"'Bobby Valentine was extremely impressive... He was very [vocal] and is baseball knowledgeable. He is an extremely bright person in general. He has great baseball acumen.

"...He was a very attractive candidate. I just felt he wasn't the right guy for me at this time. I just felt that Jim was the right guy for the job.'"

Washington Post writer Dave Sheinin wrote this morning, in a Nationals Journal post entitled, "As we await the Riggleman presser", that, "Bo Porter, the former Marlins third base coach...was in the running for the Nationals' managing job until this week," (ed. note - "Taunting me with the mysteries of possessive apostrophe use."), while Washington Times' writers Ben Goessling and Mark Zuckerman, in a co-authored November 4th report on Don Mattingly removing himself from consideration for the DC job entitled, "Riggleman could stay with Nationals", wrote that Mr. Valentine and Buck Showalter had expressed interest in the job but would be passed up because the Nationals' ownership, according to an unnamed source, "...(was) reluctant to spend top dollar on its manager." According to the Times' reporters, the Nationals also spoke to former Mariners' and D-Backs' manager Bob Melvin, but thought he was, "...more attractive as a bench coach." Only Valentine spoke up about the Nationals' decision to go with Mr. Riggleman though, so maybe reports that Valentine was the only other candidate under consideration explains the interest Mr. Valentine had felt the team and Mr. Rizzo, in particular, had expressed, as he told MLB.com's Mr. Bloom:

"'He came to me,' Valentine said. 'This whole thing is pretty amazing, as far as I'm concerned. I don't even know if it's amazing. I can't figure it out. Maybe he just wanted to talk. ... I loved the guy [Rizzo]. I think Mike has done a very fine job. I know his family. I wanted to see if there's a fit there and if I could help him out.

"'But the deeper you get into it, maybe it wasn't the right place for me after all. It's more than a rebuilding job there. They're going to need a lot of help. I truly hope it works out for them, because Mike is a really good person.'"

(ed. note - "That last paragraph sounds a little bitter...")

Mr. Riggleman knows what lies in store for the Nationals, and knows that the team will need help, but as he thanked the fans for their attentions late last year even while the Nationals struggled, he told the gathered press this morning, when asked how much momentum the team was carrying into this season, that it might be the fans who make the difference:

"I think there's some momentum. You know, uh, smarter people than me have said, uh, momentum's as good as your next day's starter, you know. And, uh, I kind of believe that. I think the positive vibes that were flowing around the ballpark, that again, stimulates from our fans getting excited about what was happening and our players sending that energy back into the stands, it all worked together and that kinda results in momentum. It's just a good feeling. I think a lot of our players felt it, and I think that they feel we can take that momentum to the next season. It'll be a great challenge. It's a tough division. It's certainly something you want to have on your side if you can have it...meaning, uh momentum..."

The Nationals' 2010 season is now officially underway...