Just call him the Rizzonator.

The morning after Stan Kasten announced that Mike Rizzo would take over as the not-Interim but mostly Acting GM of the Nationals, we're still not quite sure how to label Mike. "The guy who picks up the phone when other teams start calling"is a mouthful. And plus, Stan has final say on everything now, anyhow. So, for simplicity, we'll just call Mike "the Rizzonator" from here on out, until the team finally decides to give him a new title. Here's Stan, via Nationals dot com yesterday, talking about how the GM position remains open (although the Rizzonator's new title role is clearly a live audition for the job.)

"We are going to let the GM position remain vacant. I do intend to be a lot closer to the operation in the coming weeks and months.

"At some point, I have to do some research and a search [for a GM] will progress, but I don't feel any rush at all. There is no particular urgency or timetable for that. ... We have seen things run smoothly. A little bit of calming rather more change now is what we need best."

Meanwhile, Tom Boswell chimes in  about the power shift since Jimbo's departure, and notes how Nats Town is a happier place since the departure of the Segway-riding showman, at least for Acta, Kasten, and the Rizzonator. If Boz has it right, Acta just flat out didn't like Bowden!

All three men had qualms about the former general manager. Acta didn't like him or the kind of troubled players he accumulated. Rizzo wanted his job. Kasten constantly had to worry about Bowden or his palace intrigues.

(Finally, The Nationals Enquirer staff would like to offer our sincere condolences to Stan Kasten and Family on the passing of his mother.)