The Nationals Enquirer

LIVO REDUX!

 

Why not Livan? Live large!

Hey Jimbo, there's a big veteran innings eater sitting out on the open market, and he'll probably come cheaply. Just don't look at his numbers the last few seasons**; and hurry up, too, because San Diego is interested.

Remember, it was only a year ago that Livan Hernandez was openly lobbying through the media for a return to Washington (he reportedly wanted a multi-year deal back then). Heck, he might be the only FA left on the long list of  players still sitting around waiting for their phones to ring that might actually say "yes" to Washington.

[**and whatever you do, don't read Jayson Stark's Dubious '00's Achievements list - which highlights Livo as MLB's leader in losses (112), most hits allowed (2,230), and most runs allowed (1,053) so far in the '00's. We'll still take him!]

(AP Photo/Nam Y.Huh)

Just keep Stan away from Tubbo's house for the next few weeks, okay?

 

"He never told me he was interested in signing me. He just came by to say hello. He was in the neighborhood. He just got back in town. He came to see some hockey players that he knows out in my neighborhood. He just came and knocked on my door. He almost walked away when I went to the door. That was it. If they knock on my door, I'm not going to tell them to go away. I've known the guy for a while and I'm going to talk just like I'm talking with you right now."
(Andruw Jones, via Nationals dot com, 11/08/2007)

Stan Kasten makes house calls.

Stan paid Andruw Jones a visit at home last offeason, just before 'Druw became Tubbo and his career went down the down the toilet in LA. Wonder if Stan has reached out to 'Druw again in the days since the Dodgers unloaded him? (Unfortunately, The Nationals Enquirer doesn't have access to Mr. Kasten - we'd ask him!)

MLB.com reports that the possibility of a return to Atlanta is looking less likely for Mr. Tubbo; he won't take anything less than a major league deal (!) Still, the situation has all the makings of a Jim Bowden Scrap Heap Special, doesn't it?...with an assist from Stan: can you say an invite to major league camp with a suggestion that he bring his first baseman's mitt to compete with those other two fat guys? It's an awful though, isn't it? But just something to keep in mind when Adam Dunn eventually signs that one year deal somewhere else. Here's your consolation prize, Nats fans - and he'll come cheap, too!

On Dunn: ESPN dot com's Jayson Stark had this not-so-inspiring snippet yesterday about the impact of Manny Ramirez waiting until March to sign. It's not looking good:

An official of one team that has had contact with Adam Dunn's agents says Dunn is "definitely" waiting to see what happens with Ramirez because the Dodgers are his preferred destination.

That's not a good development for the Nationals, who have made no secret of their interest in Dunn. But it's becoming increasingly clear they aren't his No. 1 choice.

"If he wanted to be in Washington, he'd already be there," the same official said.

Shocking - Dunn is the Nats #1 choice, but the feeling isn't mutual. Will anyone sign here? Or is it Tubbo or bust?

(AP Photo by Kevork Djansezian)

Anderson Hernandez knows how to party!

"I'm going for the second-base job."
(Anderson Hernandez, via Nationals dot com, 1/29/2009)

There he is, ladies and gentlemen: your starting second baseman.

Not really exactly sure what the hell is going on in the video above, but this much we know - Licey Tigres hero Anderson Hernandez gets our vote for the starting second base job, based soley on the video above.

WAITING GAME.

 

"I think we are going to surprise a lot of folks."
(Willie Harris, via Nationals dot com, 1/26/2009)

Despite what Willie Harris thinks about his team's chances as currently constituted, it's only a matter of time before Jimbo delivers Adam Dunn to Washington, right?

Right? Just waiting a little longer for Manny and/or Bobby to go first to help figure out how steep a paycut Dunn will be taking, right?

Or do we already know how this story ends? With Dunn in pinstripes, and Willie Harris believing the Nats are going to surprise a lot of folks...

(Photo of Jim Bowden on TV by The Nationals Enquirer Staff)

SUTTON WAS A BORE.

 

"We are thrilled to have a talent like Rob Dibble join our broadcast crew. His enthusiasm and knowledge will quickly make him very popular among Nationals viewers. Rob and I talked today about the three things we know he will be: honest, informative and fun."
(Stan Kasten, via Nationals dot com, 1/27/2009)

We can think of at least three better adjectives to describe Rob Dibble than Stan came up with.

And so, the Bob-n-Rob Era begins at MASN.

On Sutton: Good riddance - at least now the loyal 9000 viewers won't be subjected to listening to Don Sutton blather on about the Braves night after night. Some nights, it was almost like he never left Atlanta; and what was up with the Ryan Langerhans obsession?

On Rob Dibble: Welcome! You're a blogger's dream! Tuning in to those mid-August broadcasts with the team 20 games out of first place will be entertaining, at the very least. It seems perfectly fitting for this to be the guy (with no full time commentating experience on his resume) taking over color commentary duties for Nats broadcasts on MASN. Do you smell a trainwreck?

NTP might be on to something with that MASN suicide theory...

(Photo of Johnny Holiday and Don Sutton on TV by The Nationals Enquirer Staff)

Kasten, Nats, make good on NatsFest promise to deliver "the $40 million team from Tampa"

 

"Another question. Do you want last year's -- I won't name the teams in the American League that had payrolls all over $100 million that ended up last -- do you want those $100 million teams? Or do you want the $40 million team from Tampa that went to the World Series?"
(Stan Kasten, at NatsFest, via Nationals Journal, 1/26/2009)

Nationals sign ex-Tampa Bay Ray Gary Glover.

In the blink of an eye, balance of power shifts in NL East.

Nats reportedly poised to begin stockpiling more Tampa Bay castoffs. 

Somewhere, Jesus Colome is smiling and liking his chances.

(Photo by Getty Images)

Hey Manny, what's with the silly hat?

Offseason damage control kicks into high gear at NatsFest.

Inaugural fan fest declared a success; Nationals announce plans to rebrand team as the "Washington Tampa Bay Rays Nationals".

(Photo of Manny Acta on TV from MASN/NatsFest by The Nationals Enquirer staff)

A SORT OF BRAVE NEW WORLD

 

Old, broken down Tom Glavine interested in Nats, but only if Braves aren't interested?

Sweet! How much should the Lerner Family (over) pay for him?

Just what the doctor ordered: a veteran who can teach the kids how to spend time on the DL like a veteran. From Nationals dot com:

Glavine is coming off an injury-riddled season in 2008. He appeared in only 13 games because of left shoulder and elbow injuries. Glavine already had two throwing sessions in the past week and didn't feel any pain.

And we all know how those pain-free offseason throwing sessions are a good predictor of a healthy arm: just ask Shawn Hill every year since 2005.

Thanks, but no thanks, Tom.

(Photo by Reuters Pictures)

The $1.8M Jack McGeary Keg Party is over.

 

Jack McGeary to leave college life, keg parties behind; focus on baseball full time.

From Nationals dot com:

Left-hander Jack McGeary, the Nationals' sixth-round pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, has decided to forego his junior year at Stanford University and become a full-time baseball player.

Brian at Nationals Farm Authority is guessing they'll start him in Hagerstown.

(Image via mattb 79 .blogspot. com)

At last, a little good news!

 

Best news of the offseason: Elijah Dukes won't be going to jail for 90 days. For now.

 From Nationals dot com:

Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes will not face any prison time, according to two sources, as he paid $40,643 in back child support to his estranged wife, NiShea Gilbert, on Friday.

On Jan. 14, Dukes was ordered by Hillsborough Circuit Judge Mark Wolfe to pay the money by 5 p.m. ET on Friday, or face a 90-day prison sentence. According to TampaBay.com, Dukes' attorney gave the check to Gilbert's representative at 4:57 p.m.

4:57 p.m.? Cutting it a wee bit close, don't you think?

(AP Photo by Kathy Willens)