New Manager Candidate - John Russell
tomterp:
Managerial candidate John Russell appears to be a very solid candidate for the Nats open position. He's got a track record of success in the minors, at progressively more competitive levels. He's got major league coaching experience, and his considered an excellent motivator. The problem?
How does this guy get a fair consideration for the position, when he is somewhere in the backwoods of Venezuela on a bus, managing his winter ball team, and only able to interview via telephone? Meanwhile, Acta has met the GM, the President, and the owners, now doubt enjoying a fine lunch at the Palm while having every opportunity to sell himself.
If you consider the two candidates approximately equal in stature and desirability, it would be an unfair advantage to Acta.
Also, it puts the Nats in an uncomfortable situation, whereby I'm sure they'd like to have Russell meet the brain trust as well, but do they risk waiting until he's available?
This may not happen as quickly as we all would prefer.
Kenz aFan:
No available managing candidate has great major league credentials, because if they did they wouldn't be available for very long. Russell has great minor leagues credentials, none at the major league level. You are playing with a different kind of player in the show than in the minors, and they aren't as easy to manage. Acta has a good history with the Nats, a good reputation as a team guy, and as a player's coach, but that's it. Russell's philosophy is great and would only work with the Nationals if they provided him with the tools he needs. I don't see the Nats doing very much spending this winter, and Lord knows, I'd love to be wrong, but I'm not gonna be doing much breathe waiting for miracle signings. It's gonna be a very long winter for Nats fans, waiting to see what kind of action (if any) the team takes, and what kind spin will be coming out the front office.
As it stands right now, with so many holes to fill and with several questions that need answering, I'm afraid no matter who is chosen to manage the team, that they'll be working under worse conditions than Girardi was stuck with last season with the Marlins. The Nats wont be able to say they are going to go the same route the marlins used, because the Marlins had and have 10 times the talent to work with than the Nats have, plus the Nats don't have 5 or six big name players to trade away for super prospects like the fish did last winter.
Also, there's been no indication that the payroll will increase, meaning unless something changes, the Nats will have roughly a $65 million payroll in 2007, and I wouldn't be surprised if it was less than that.
Nothing Stan Kasten or the Lerners have done so far has shown me they are serious about building a winner, be it through the minor leagues or otherwise. Talk I've heard for decades, they want my respect, action will help get it. Making RFK nicer doesn't make the on field product any better, it only helps to disguise the team's in field shortcomings by making the experience at the ballpark a bit more palatable. Yes, the Nats have two great conner men in Zimmerman and Johnson, they had the best left fielder in franchise history, but they'll very probably let him get away, using the excuse, "We will take full advantage of the draft picks we'll be getting as compensation." Which is 100% BS a cop out, because even under MLB ownership, that's EXACTLY what the team would have been forced to do. This new ownership HAS the means to keep its best players, but I've still waiting to be convinced they have the will.
I'm gonna wait and see what happens, but I don't expect to see a great improvement in the team for 2007. For me the best news about 2007 so far is that Luis Ayala will be back in the bullpen, and that to me is as good as signing a major free agent.
Unless the new manager gets something he can work with (especially pitching, pitching and more pitching), no matter who the Nats choose, it wont make a lick of difference.
Senators2005:
Look for the Lerners and Kasten to be rebuilding the farm system this year and spending most of the money and effort there. The plan is to put a competitve post-season contender on the field by 2008. Just in time for the new stadium and the new product: "Luxury Suites". This year is the "Twilight Zone".
Dave B:
In Svrluga's article todaya bout Acta and Russel, he mentioned Russel worked under Llyod Mclendon in Pitt and the only quote from Lloyd Mclendon was "He did okay". I'm not trying to say Svrluga is a terrible writer with this, but either putting that quote in their is useless or it is Svrluga's way of saying the McClendon doesnt think much of Russel
Kenz aFan:
Quote from: "Senators2005"
Look for the Lerners and Kasten to be rebuilding the farm system this year and spending most of the money and effort there. The plan is to put a competitve post-season contender on the field by 2008. Just in time for the new stadium and the new product: "Luxury Suites". This year is the "Twilight Zone".
For 2008? Without signing free agent pitchers or fixing the hole in center field? Dream on my friend...
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