The Nationals Enquirer

ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE! Nationals to unveil new mascot.

 

"I am supporting and continue to support everyone who works for the Nationals, and that's not lip service. I sincerely mean that. [Except Screech. He's possibly the worst employee we inherited from MLB. On second thought, maybe not the worst employee, but possibly the second or third worst.]"
(Stan Kasten, via Nationals Journal, 2/26/2009)

According to unnamed industry sources the Nationals have decided to "cut the cord" with current mascot "Screech", after questions surfaced about his actual age and true identity. The team will reportedly unveil a new mascot, "Scratch", a live emu, on March 2nd at ESPN Zone in DC.

(Photo is from 4 star emu ranch dot com)

So, what becomes of Carlos Daniel Alvarez Lugo?

 

"We have made the baseball development decision that we've been contemplating for a while to go back to one team, presumably higher-quality players for only one team. Consequently we released 14 players today in addition." (Stan Kasten, via Nationals Journal, 2/26/2009)

"I feel bad, really bad." (Carlos Daniel Alvarez Lugo, via Washington Post, 2/26/2009)

Wow! Nats blow up DR Operations

As an aside, does the kid young man who started this whole thing, the player formerly known as Esmailyn Gonzalez, stay, or does he go?

Obvious answer, right? Go?

(Photo of Carlos Daniel Alvarez Lugo by Reuters Pictures. Lugo is the guy on the right. Sheesh, the guy looks closer to 70 than 16! How did everybody miss that?)

Spring Forward

 

"I felt good today. I want to face the [good players] and see how I'm throwing." 
(Collin Balester, via Nationals dot com, 2/26/2009)

"I thought it went really well. I went out there and threw strikes, kept the ball down and everything worked out good."
(Jordan Zimmermann, via MASN.com, 2/26/2009)

Nationals 2, Tigers 1: Balester, Zimmermann the story: 4 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB combined, and not against a bunch stiffs, either!

Shawn Hill tomorrow. Let's keep those fingers crossed.

 (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

A Little Rain on the Tony LaCava Parade

 

The National Post (Canada, eh?) says the Nats haven't approached the Blue Jays about LaCava:

Hold off on the goodbye parties for Tony LaCava, the Toronto Blue Jays director of player personnel.

LaCava has been rumoured to be the next general manager of the Washington Nationals, assuming the Nationals let current GM Jim Bowden go. But sources say that Washington has neither asked for nor received permission from the Blue Jays to speak with LaCava.

(AP Photo of Tony LaCava - on the right - and J.P. Riccardi, by Mike Carlson)

2009 SEASON SLIPPING AWAY

 

Astros 6, Nationals 3: Here we go again. Nats pick up where they left off in 2008 with another gut-wrenching, soul-sucking loss.

What's that? It's only Spring Training? The games don't count? Lannan pitched two perfect innings? Nobody got injured (including Pete Orr, who survived a 6th inning collision with Drew Sutton - see photo above - much to the relief of Team Canada)?

Well, ok then, mark this one down as a victory!

Meanwhile, some deep thoughts with Manny Acta (via Florida Today dot com):

"You never have a chance to make another first impression," Acta said, clapping his hands for emphasis.

(AP Photo)

Those chips Stan was talking about are starting to fall...

 

I've told you I'm going to allow the processes to play out, we're going to let the chips fall where they may, were going to look at things honestly and deal with them as appropriate. Having said that, I'm doing all the things that I can to speed the process up and there are many things going on behind the scenes which I can not yet talk about, but I hope to very soon."
(Stan Kasten, via MASN.com, 2/23/2009)

Nats reportedly fire Jose Rijo, shutter Dominican baseball academy.

Jimbo, next.

According to unnamed sources, Stan Kasten is all smiles. And he loves his job!

From ESPN.com:

The Washington Nationals have decided to fire special assistant Jose Rijo and will shut down the team's academy in the Dominican Republic as part of a restructuring of the team's operations in Latin American in the wake of an age-changing scandal involving one of the team's top prospects, several baseball sources have confirmed.

Big props to FJB for keeping up the blow by blow account of the Jim Bowden Axe Watch. NFA, always with a keen eye on the Farm, calls the Rijo firing "a good first step."

Meanwhile...Chico Harlan throws a bucket of water on the Tony LaCava talk, while setting up Rizzo as the obvious (at least, temporary) replacement:

The Washington Nationals, contrary to a published report, have neither requested nor been granted approval from Commissioner Bud Selig to forgo a rule that would require them to consider minority candidates for a general manager opening, a Major League Baseball spokesman said today.

...

Still, a league source said the team would be expected to adhere to league-mandated guidelines for considering minority candidates, should they decide to go outside the organization for a permanent hire, but would be allowed to appoint an interim GM from within the organization without following those guidelines.

Rizzo, meanwhile,is reportedly hard at work in the DR:

Nationals assistant general manager and vice president Mike Rizzo arrived in Santo Domingo on Tuesday to look for alternative sites for the team's Dominican academy. Rizzo also met with Fernando Ravelo, general manager for the Dominican Winter League Tigres de Licey, about replacing Rijo as the team's director of Dominican operations.

...

Sources spotted Rizzo early on Wednesday at a tryout for several Dominican prospects.

(Photo by Getty Images)

Don't do it, Saul!

Never forget Luis Ayala in 2006

Saul Rivera will represent Puerto Rico in WBC.

Nats probably less concerned about Pete Orr representing Canada.

At last, there's a baseball game today (well..sort of)!

(AP Photo of Saul Rivera stretching in Viera on Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 by David J. Phillip)

Not even Mark Lerner can save him now.

 

"We're getting pressure from the Nationals. They want to find out, one way or the other, so they can go on their merry way." (Unnamed MLB Source, via Tom Boswell/Washington Post, 2/24/2009)

The Jim Bowden Axe Watch continues. 

Seems to be a single, inevitable conclusion coming, right?

Just in case, Nationals Farm Authority lines up some worthy GM candidates.

Meanwhile, from Nationals Journal last night:

But behind the scenes, according to sources, some within the team's ownership group -- which includes Managing Principal Owner Theodore N. Lerner, seven principal owners and nine founding partners -- are eager to cut ties with the general manager they inherited almost three years ago, and see the investigation as a way of facilitating Bowden's exit.

Boz weighs in, saying the Nats want to both be fair and be perceived as fair; Chris Needham labels Jim "Dead Man Segwaying".

Even if Jimbo survives the Fed rap, he's a goner this time, right?

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

Unfortunately for Da Meathook, bunting mishap doesn't warrant a visit from his masseuse.

 

"I was stunned...All of a sudden, he has instant relief. She found the spot. ... He swung from both sides of the plate with violence of contact, and his hips went through it."
(Jim Bowden, via Nationals dot com, 5/1/2008)

Dmitri Young listed as day-to-day.

But fortunately, this isn't 2008, so maybe"day-to-day" doesn't actually mean "60 day DL stint"

Sources tell the Nationals Enquirer at this hour that Dmitri Young is "disappointed" his bunting mishap on Sunday won't require a rehab session with his Miracle Masseuse, who cured his bad back last May.

Why the heck would Dmitri Young be practicing the art of bunting, anyway?

(Photo by Getty Images)

Stan Kasten Loves His Job!

   

Stan's ringing endorsement of Jimbo:

Question: Stan, how much do you support Jim Bowden in this whole thing?

Kasten: "Listen, I support everyone who works for the Washington Nationals all the time, period. But we're not going to talk about things that are going on away from here that I have no control or involvement in. I've told you I'm going to allow the processes to play out, we're going to let the chips fall where they may, were going to look at things honestly and deal with them as appropriate. Having said that, I'm doing all the things that I can to speed the process up and there are many things going on behind the scenes which I can not yet talk about, but I hope to very soon."
(via MASN dot com)

Stan seems to be enjoying himself!

Question: Has there been a timetable that you've been told?

Kasten: "Nothing I'm going to discuss with all of you today. Like I said when we have something more to talk about we will. You know, you heard me last week, as much as I can tell you about this I will when I can. I just cant, yet." 
(via MASN dot com)

So, to summarize, Stan supports his GM 100%!

(Photo of Stan Kasten on TV by The Nationals Enquirer Staff)