That was NOT your point. You said that anyone could and would have made those trades, and you don't know that.
And neither do you know that they couldn't have. So why bother trying to convince me otherwise without any supporting information?
I'm somewhat in agreement with your current statement, but I find it pessimistic.
That's fine. I'm not sure why you feel the need to stick up for the man, but I'm glad he's gone if for no other reason than giving the franchise a little more respectability that it desperately needs.
Atilano needs to get stretched out and continue TJ recovery. You can't rush him any faster.
Like I said, get back to me when he starts making an impact and I'll consider revising my opinion. That wasn't sarcasm. But until he does something, you can't reasonably use him to support your argument.
I'd agree that locking up Belliard, getting Dukes/Willingham type players, Clippards etc., are stopgaps. But they were good trades and signings for the present.
1) Belliard - traded for maybes, and by Rizzo, for that matter. What Meaingful impact did he have in his extra two seasons as a Nat? And if either of the guys he was traded for works out, that's a star for Rizzo, not Bowden.
2) Dukes/Willingham - may or may not pan out, both traded to the Nats by teams looking to get rid of them. Neither have been anything particularly special thus far, and trading them (if they are traded) will be up to Rizzo.
3) Clippard - you just said he was a great trade, which I agreed with, and now you're saying he's a stopgap?
I'd argue that the team has drafted VERY poorly, and that's much worse. How many players drafted in DC were on the 25 man at the end of August? Zimmerman and Lannan . 5 years of drafts, 2 players. Did I miss anyone? How crappy is that? How many overrated high schools are languishing in the system.
I won't disagree with you there.