The Nationals Enquirer

Jumping off the Bryce Harper Bandwagon?

(Video above: Is that the next Bryce Harper? Has he signed with Boras yet?)

MASN Sports dot com's Byron Kerr scored an exclusive interview with Bryce Harper yesterday; after a few listens, we're convinced that Scott Boras is almost finished brainwashing "coaching up" his client. Should've known that would be the case the day we realized the Bryce Harper Watch was officially on in D.C., but we're still a little surprised at how deftly the kid follows the Boras script.

With that said, Kerr's interview is worth a listen or two by Nats fans. A few of our favorite outtakes from the interview follow: the most blatant examples of Scott Boras's brainwashing techniques in action.

On playing junior college ball for the College of Southern Nevada Coyotes:

"I've always wanted to be a Coyote since I was young..."

Oh come on. Cut the crap you little snot-nosed punk! 

On potentially being drafted #1 by the Nationals in 2010:

"That would be awesome, being the number one draft pick... but that's not really on my mind right now."

Oh, sure! But if that was true, you'd be still sitting around with your finger in your nose in homeroom every morning.

But the best worst line of all was this during exchange with MASN's Kerr:

Kerr (MASN): "Would you like to catch for him (Strasburg)? Would that be something ...really cool for you to do?"

Haper: "Oh, that would be really special, being able to catch him, another Boras guy. Heh. Being able to catch a guy who throws 103 miles per hour. You now you don't get that every day.

You know what? Screw you, kid. We'll take that 6 year old in the Little League video above, thank you very much. Unless he's already signed with Boras, too.

On a related note, courtesy of Mike Axisa of Yes Network's River Ave Blues blog, there's speculation from Baseball America's Jim Callis on an ESPN chat yesterday that Harper (who is on record saying he'd like to play in Pinstripes some day) could drop out of the first round of next June's draft -- crumbling under the pressure of all the hype. Here's the exchange - the question came in from a (Nats fan?) guy from South Africa (!?):

Tim (Durban South Africa):
Could Nationals go with Taillon or Ranaudo over Harper?

Jim Callis  (2:12 PM):
Sure they could. I'll do a column on this at some point, but I don't think it's far-fetched to conceive of Bryce Harper falling out of the first round. It's going to be almost impossible to live up to the hype, and if he falls short and is looking for big money--is Strasburg's contract a starting point--he may scare off clubs, who know he can re-enter the 2011 and 2012 drafts and still have lots of leverage. It's also possible that after spending $15.1 million on Strasburg, the Nationals don't want to spend huge money on another No. 1 overall pick.

So there's that. Maybe all this Bryce Harper Sweepstakes talk will all be for naught. Mike Rizzo gets that last word - this was his take on Harper via an end-of-season Q&A via Nationals Journal back on October 5th:

Q:Last year, you guys finished with the worst record and it was almost a given you'd draft Stephen Strasburg. Next year's draft, is it a given that Bryce Harper is your guy?

Rizzo:No. I'm just saying it's not a given. I haven't seen him yet, and he certainly hasn't separated himself like Strasburg did last year.

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Mark Lerner throws a tantrum, rips media...

 

(Photo by Getty Images. Mark Lerner, left, hanging out with Satan, right, at Nationals Park this summer after the Strasburg signing.)

"Look, when you lose 103 games it would be foolish to get upset about criticism. There is plenty to go around. I don't mind constructive criticism, particularly from informed sources or genuine fans of the game. ...
As a fan, and as an owner, no one hates to lose more than I do, but I like to base my opinions and my emotions on fact, not on cocktail party suppositions. That's the difference between a mature fan or pundit, and a childish tantrum."
(Mark Lerner, via Nationals dot com, 10/21/2009)

Wah! Wah! Wah! Boo hoo!

(We've always had a soft spot for those cocktail party suppositions.)

Nationals principle owner Mark Lerner talked to Nationals dot com's Bill Ladson about a variety of topics, including: finishing with the worst record two years in a row, progress, Strasburg, Riggleman, Zimmerman, Rizzo, and the unfair coverage of the team by the immature, temper-tantrum-throwing media,  etc. etc.

Judging from the content of the Q&A, Mark seems to be more in tune with reality than in the past. Remember this little nugget from '08, RE: Johan Santana?

"Nobody wants - you don't want to be in the situation where you wake up one morning and Johan Santana has won eight games all season and you owe him $150 million. That's the thing. You see a lot of guys for $150 million, but we're going to stick with what we're doing. We're going to take a lot of heat from you and everybody else, but I think you're starting to see it."
(Mark Lerner, via Nationals Journal, 7/13/2008)

So where would Mark Lerner say the team is at right now, after "sticking with what they're doing"?

"While the overall season was very disappointing for us, we are pleased and optimistic that some of our important pieces for the long term really fell into place.  ...
I cannot wait for Spring Training. We will have strong or emerging players competing for [almost] every position, and we're in better shape to make key trades or acquisitions than ever before. ...We've signed and grown talent without breaking the bank on frivolous short-term signings. Last year, we would have loved to have signed Mark Teixeira, but he wanted to go to an established winner. I think we are positioning to be the same kind of consistent winner, and will be a place where free agents will be eager to call home. Let me tell you: We are building this thing right."
(Mark Lerner, via Nationals dot com, 10/21/2009)

Sounds good! Okay, Mark, we'll finally let you off the hook for the Santana comment. Mostly because of the "we're in better shape to make key trades or acquisitions than ever before" part. Let's spend some money, Mark!

What else? Oh, Nats fans can expect upgrades at Nationals Park in 2010. If you can afford it:

"The only thing we can say right now is that we expect to add even more amenities and upgrades to our PNC Diamond Club..." (Mark Lerner, via Nationals dot com, 10/21/2009)

But what about the cheap seats?

Finally, here's Mark's take on the Nats' ongoing search for a manager:

"I expect we will make a decision after the World Series is completed."
(Mark Lerner, via Nationals dot com, 10/21/2009)

From this morning's Washington Post, Stan Kasten indicates it could happen sooner:

"...And that's only if there are people Mike [Rizzo] wants to talk to that are in the World Series. But it could be any day."
(Stan Kasten, via Washington Post, 10/22/2009)

Meanwhile...

Strasburg makes his second AFL start today. But will he perform any miracles?

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Rizzo's just taking his sweet time...

(AP Photo. Seems managerial candidates like Don Mattingly, right, have been talking to everybody but the Nats about job openings.)

"Cleveland's on, it seems like, a little different timetable. Washington is willing to wait until after the World Series to start."
(Don Mattingly, via Chatter/Washington Times, 10/20/2009)

"The managerial search is going to begin a little bit more seriously in the very near future."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals dot com, 10/15/2009)

Maybe Mike's unconcerned because he already has his man?

Is Mike's man Riggles?

If the Main Stream Media is to be believed, the extent of the Nats managerial search has consisted of Rizzo asking Dodger GM Ned Colletti for permission to talk to Don Mattingly. Meanwhile, the Indians have -- get this -- talked to Mattingly!

Now, that's not to say we're concerned that the Nationals might miss out on Don Mattingly, specifically. For the record, Nationals Enquirer staff don't think it's necessarily the best idea to bring in another guy who has no actual experience managing a Major League baseball team. Look no further than that guy who's wowing 'em in Cleveland at the moment, Exhibit A. Experience, please!

But as another day passes without a whiff of news about the Nats manager search, we're still puzzled about Mike Rizzo's approach to the situation. Rizzo appears to be content to sit on his hands while the Indians and Astros push forward with job interviews, essentially getting first dibs among the 2009 class of managerial candidates.

But maybe that's because Mike has already made up his mind - and has already talked to his man. Maybe his lukewarm endorsement of Riggles a few days back was actually...an endorsement?

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Sayanora, Bobby V.?

 

(AP Photo. In this October 8th photo, Bobby Valentine waves goodbye to fans of the Chiba Lotte Marines, following his final game as team manager in Japan.)

Cross one name off Nats' wish list?

Bobby Valentine is reportedly one of "three to five" finalists for the Cleveland Indians manager job.

So is Manny Acta. The Cleveland Plain Dealer says Manny will go for his second interview today. Bobby V. later this week.

Meanwhile, Mike Rizzo, unfazed, is apparently just sitting around waiting for the Dodgers-Phillies series to be over so he can hire Don Mattingly. Mattingly has also had an interview for the open Tribe job. And according to the Houston Chronicle, the Astros have finished a first round of interviews with managerial candidates, including a couple of names on Rizzo's rumored shortlist, including Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills. Of course, Manny Acta is in the mix in Houston, too.

By all accounts - or non-accounts - the Nationals haven't interviewed a single candidate for the open manager job. Rizzo's been too busy remodeling his front office. But with the Astros and Indians apparently moving quickly with the process, where's the sense of urgency, Mike?

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Fire Everybody!

 

(AP Photo. Boooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!)

"This offense is better than six points, 100 percent. And that's on me. It's my fault."
(Jim Zorn, via ESPN dot com/AP, 10/17/2009)

Boooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And you thought the Nats were a f*cked up organization?

Jesus (not Colome or Flores)! At least the Nats get the draft right.

Chiefs 14, Redskins 6: Simply pathetic. Fire Vinny Cerrato. Fire Jim Zorn. Then Raze The Skins.

...and then Vinny turned Zorn into a eunuch.

Boooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Boooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

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Just for the record, Zim didn't endorse Riggles for Manager

(AP Photo. On an unrelated note: Ryan Zimmerman deserves the Gold Glove at third this year.)

Here at The Nationals Enquirer, we generally encourage stretching the truth in the name of a good story or headline. But botching the details - that's a different story.

Take this headline on The Sporting News dot com yesterday:

Zimmerman would like Riggleman to become Nats' full-time skipper

He would? Now, we understand there's often a disconnect between the person writing the headline and the person writing the story, so let's click through, and read on:

Throwing his support behind his interim manager, Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman tells the Baltimore Sun that Jim Riggleman would be a good choice for the full-time job.

Zimmerman said Riggleman is "a terrific in-house candidate ... who's got as good a chance as anybody."

Zim was talking to the Baltimore Sun? Really? Funny, there's nothing about that on the Baltimore Sun online. Seems someone at The Sporting News must've been asleep at the wheel. In fact, the words in quotes - and don't get me wrong, we regularly misuse and abuse quotes ripped from the papers on a daily basis for our own nefarious purposes - belong to Mike Rizzo. Taken in context, Rizzo's words were a lukewarm reminder that Jim Riggleman is at the very least on the list of candidates for the Washington Nationals full-time managerial gig. Here's the quote from Rizzo, courtesy of MLB dot com:

"Like I said in the past, we have a terrific in-house candidate in Jim Riggleman, who has as good a chance as anybody to become the manager for the Washington Nationals. The search is going to begin a little more seriously in the very near future."
(Mike Rizzo, via MLB dot com, 10/15/2009)

Sound familiar?

So, there's no ringing endorsement for Riggles from Ryan Zimmerman.

But maybe more importantly for Jim Riggleman, there's no ringing endorsement from Mike Rizzo, either. 

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Strasburg survives first AFL start, $15 million arm still attached.

(AP Photo. Phew! Strasburg survived last night!)

"I definitely had the adrenaline going tonight," said Strasburg, who tossed 18 pitches in retiring the side in order in the top of the first. "Early on, I was wrestling the plate a little. I felt the same way before my first start in college."

(Stephen Strasburg, via MLB dot com, 10/17/2009)

Washington Times says Strasburg hit 99 on the radar gun twice, but the best news of all is that his arm didn't fall off during last night's AZ Fall League debut against the Scottsdale Scorpions.

Here's The Savior's line:

3.1IP, 2H, 1BB, 2K, 0ER, 50P, 32 strikes, 6 ground outs.

He also sneezed twice.

Meanwhile, here's an amusing account from the Washington Timesof O's prospect Brandon Snyder putting on a Strasburg jersey and attempting to board the Phoenix Desert Dogs team bus on Wednesday night:

As an experiment, Baltimore prospect Brandon Snyder wore a Stephen Strasburg jersey when he left the clubhouse after an Arizona Fall League game Wednesday night. Snyder still wore the rest of his Orioles gear - not that it mattered. He could not get to the team bus before being mobbed.

"I thought it was funny until I had about 50 people surrounding me," he said with a laugh. "Then I didn't know if it was such a good idea. I got a little nervous after that."

Looking forward to the Circus coming to town in Viera FLA in February 2010.

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Another cry for help from Craig Sager.

 

(Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff. TBS field reporter Craig Sager, seen here in the aftermath of NLCS game 2, needs a fashion intervention. Hey Craig: Pepto Bismal called. It wants its coat back.)

Ronnie Belliard's Team 2, Stan Kasten's Loyal Customers 1: Ha ha! Dodgers even up NLCS, 1-1.

Phillies loss has been checked off tonight's to-do list. The only thing left now is an injury-free AFL Debut for Stephen Strasburg.

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The Strasburg Miracle Watch Is On

(AP Photo. The Savior says: No autographs, please!)

"It's been a little crazy the first few days - a lot of fans, a lot of autographs. But it's great just to be able to bring some excitement to the Fall League. It just goes with the territory. If it means I have to do a lot of stuff on the side to promote a program or an organization, that's great, as long as I get to help the team win some ballgames some day."
(Stephen Strasburg, via USA Today dot com, 10/15/2009)

"I'm not going to put any expectations on myself. I just want to come out here every day and learn as much as I can."
(Stephen Strasburg, via Washington Post, 10/16/2009)

You ain't seen nothing yet, kid.

Ah yes; with Stephen Strasburg's first Arizona Fall League start today, the Stephen Strasburg Miracle Watch is on. But will he walk on water, or throw 110 MPH today? Decisions, decisions.

According to anonymous sources with no knowledge of the situation, Strasburg began the long road to being comfortable with the spotlight by signing an autograph following his meet-and-greet with the media in Arizona yesterday. Sources may or may not have confirmed the autograph was signed on a baseball; with a Sharpie.

Sources also report that Strasburg drank a cup of coffee yesterday morning, and ate four pancakes with a glass of orange juice for breakfast.

Hopefully, the Nationals provide a solid support system for the guy we're not supposed to refer to as the Savior of the organization. Maybe the Nats can rehire James Williams, Elijah Dukes' former babysitter? Of course, you'll remember S.S.'s reaction to all the media attention following his first workout in Viera FLA back at the end of August:

"Once I get into playing games and stuff, it should be able to die down. Hopefully it will die down sometime soon. I'm just a baseball player. It's not like I'm the president or anything."
(Stephen Strasburg, via Washington Post, 8/31/2009)

Oh, you couldn't be more wrong, Mr. President.

And just how did The President of NatsTown spend his summer?

"I did some deep-sea fishing, played some golf, spent some time with my family. I knew this was going to be my last summer off, hopefully for a long, long time."
(Stephen Strasburg, via Nationals dot com, 10/15/2009)

Yes, agreed. Hopefully his last summer off for a long, long time. Best of luck, young man. And to reiterate: Please, don't blow out your arm today, Mr. Strasburg.

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The Savior: Ready for AZ Fall League Debut

(Photo by Getty Images. Maybe Stephen Strasburg will finally walk on water in AFL debut Friday?)

"I think he is the most anticipated player to come to the fall league in some time, maybe back to the days of Michael Jordan. There's a lot of interest in baseball circles in seeing how he performs here." 
(Steve Cobb, AFL executive director, via AZ Republic, 10/15/2009)

"I'm looking forward to being able to pitch in a game with a little bit on the line. It's been a pretty long time since I've been able to do that."
(Stephen Strasburg, via USA Today dot com, 10/15/2009)

Move over, MJ? Stephen Strasburg makes his Arizona Fall League Debut Friday.

According to USA Today's Seth Livingstone, Strasburg expects to throw four innings, but it all depends on his pitch count. Wonder what his pitch count will be? More from Livingstone's USA Today piece:

"Washington has completely scheduled and mapped out his six weeks here," Phoenix manager Gary Cathcart said. "We're trying to let him get into a routine as a pitcher and hopefully not have many distractions. We want to do everything we can to keep the circus away from him, let him do his thing and be a teammate."

Please, just don't blow out your arm, Mr. Strasburg. Thank you.

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