Hinch, Byrnes fired

[NatsDad14]

I'm fine blaming him when most of his early draft picks aren't starting for this team. He had consistently terrible drafts, and the team is paying the price

Zimmerman, Maxwell, Stammen, and Lannan from the 2005 draft. Detwiler, Zimmermann, Norris, Meyers, and Burgess from the 2007 draft. Espinosa in the 2008 draft. His drafts weren't great, but you would have a hard time finding many teams who had better drafts in 2005 or 2007. What Bowden did in 2005 was amazing when you consider that he probably had the fewest amount of scouts in the majors. It's kind of hard to have great drafts when you have MLB owners who don't want to spend on your draft, then have cheap owners who aren't willing to spend in the draft.

[Evolution33]

Zimmerman, Maxwell, Stammen, and Lannan from the 2005 draft. Detwiler, Zimmermann, Norris, Meyers, and Burgess from the 2007 draft. Espinosa in the 2008 draft. His drafts weren't great, but you would have a hard time finding many teams who had better drafts in 2005 or 2007. What Bowden did in 2005 was amazing when you consider that he probably had the fewest amount of scouts in the majors. It's kind of hard to have great drafts when you have MLB owners who don't want to spend on your draft, then have cheap owners who aren't willing to spend in the draft.

Can someone witht he knowledge of where to find this information fact check this and see where we ranked in spending for the drafts since 2005?

[NatsDad14]

Kearns, Dmitri, Belliard, and Guzman would like to see you about that. Hell, Nick Johnson for $5 million was a waste and didn't he sign Wily mo to an extension.

I said he was a bad GM. But he was not a bad GM because of his drafts. The Kearns deal wasn't bad. He couldn't have known that Kearns would have become fat and lazy. It was a good deal at the time. Same with Guzman. The team had no one to play SS. In hindsight it looks bad, but Guzman was an All-star SS and the team had no one in the minors to replace him. Belliard was barely paid anything. He had a good 2008 season which made up for it. Nick Johnson was a fine deal. He was underrated and one of the few good hitters the team had. Dmitri and Wily Mo Pena were awful. Dmitri stole money from the team.

[HalfSmokes]

Zimmerman, Maxwell, Stammen, and Lannan from the 2005 draft. Detwiler, Zimmermann, Norris, Meyers, and Burgess from the 2007 draft. Espinosa in the 2008 draft. His drafts weren't great, but you would have a hard time finding many teams who had better drafts in 2005 or 2007. What Bowden did in 2005 was amazing when you consider that he probably had the fewest amount of scouts in the majors. It's kind of hard to have great drafts when you have MLB owners who don't want to spend on your draft, then have cheap owners who aren't willing to spend in the draft.

and currently Zimmerman is starting. Stammen is the only other player in the majors and he's not a top tier starter. and don't forget 2006

[The Chief]

You guys are wasting your time.  GMU is a Bowden apologist along with sportsfan.

[NatsDad14]

and currently Zimmerman is starting. Stammen is the only other player in the majors and he's not a top tier starter. and don't forget 2006

Not many teams have starters from their 2005 to 2009 drafts.

Look at the Phillies:
2005 No one in the big leagues
2006 No one in the big leagues except Jason Donald but he is mediocre and on another team
2007 No one in the big leagues
2008 No one in the big leagues
2009 no one in the big leauges

The Phillies not only have no starters (or relievers) in the big leagues in the draft since 2005, they have no one who has made their roster. Bowden did a fine job

[Evolution33]

You guys are wasting your time.  GMU is a Bowden apologist along with sportsfan.

I just want to know if he really believes what he is saying. I can't imagine these mindfacts existing in the brain of a rational human being.

[HalfSmokes]

Bowden did a fine job

Based on what? Even accepting that his drafts were the same as every other teams, what good things did he do?

[NatsDad14]

Bowden's drafts weren't horrible except for 2006. He did fine given the fact that his hands were tied by MLB and cheap owners. He drafted the best player in the 2005 draft even though there were other highly rated players that were ranked around him predraft like Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, and Cameron Maybin.

Based on what? Even accepting that his drafts were the same as every other teams, what good things did he do?

He didn't do fine overall. He did fine in the draft considering the circumstances. Do you honestly believe he had the same amount of scouts or quality of scouts that the other teams had in the division? Not even close. He could have done better in the 2006 draft, but other than that, his 2005 and 2007 drafts were fantastic.

[HalfSmokes]

Bowden's drafts weren't horrible except for 2006. He did fine given the fact that his hands were tied by MLB and cheap owners. He drafted the best player in the 2005 draft even though there were other highly rated players that were ranked around him predraft like Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki, and Cameron Maybin.

Braun has panned out too, and Tulo as well. Other than 1 pick, can you point to anything positive that he did?

[NatsDad14]

Braun has panned out too, and Tulo as well. Other than 1 pick, can you point to anything positive that he did?

Zim is easily the best player in that draft. He certainly wasn't the surefire pick at #4 that some people make it out to be. Bowden made the right choice there. John Lannan is the best player in the 11th round. No one else has made in an impact in that 11th round. Stammen is one of the few players in the 12th round who made an impact. In 2007, the team got Detwiler, Burgess, Norris, Zimmermann, and Meyers. It was widely panned at the time as the best draft. My opinion is that the team's player development was the problem, not the drafting. There is a reason why few players in our system have been developed in our system. They usually hit a wall around AA.

[Evolution33]

http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/02/13/weekend-column-draft-spending/

Top five and bottom five listed for last five draftss and we are in neither. Still want to see a yearly ranking.

[HalfSmokes]

Zim is easily the best player in that draft. He certainly wasn't the surefire pick at #4 that some people make it out to be. Bowden made the right choice there. John Lannan is the best player in the 11th round. No one else has made in an impact in that 11th round. Stammen is one of the few players in the 12th round who made an impact. In 2007, the team got Detwiler, Burgess, Norris, Zimmermann, and Meyers. It was widely panned at the time as the best draft. My opinion is that the team's player development was the problem, not the drafting. There is a reason why few players in our system have been developed in our system. They usually hit a wall around AA.

hitting with the number 4 pick and getting a starter in the 11th isn't exactly something to hang you hat on as a gm - what about his trades and signings? And please don't point to guys still in the minors, every team (maybe not the astros) has similiar players they can hype- some will hit, most won't

[PANatsFan]

This is all gmu foolishness. Anyone notice when FA's started being signed? Right, when Bowden was gone. He kept his job because he convinced them he could win with spare parts. It was a joke.

In his first year of control, Rizzo remade the team, had a top draft, and SIGNED STRASBURG. Don't forget that. He hasn't had 2 seasons of control. Just over 1 with the full title of GM.

[PANatsFan]

Not many teams have starters from their 2005 to 2009 drafts.

Look at the Phillies:
2005 No one in the big leagues
2006 No one in the big leagues except Jason Donald but he is mediocre and on another team
2007 No one in the big leagues
2008 No one in the big leagues
2009 no one in the big leauges

The Phillies not only have no starters (or relievers) in the big leagues in the draft since 2005, they have no one who has made their roster. Bowden did a fine job

That's because they signed 7543 free agents and have players like Utley, Howard, Hamels, etc., locked up. You don't need new prospects when you have a young core and you win 2 world series. Unbelievable.

Bowden blew all his top picks on terrible high school players that flamed out. A 1st round supplemental pick retired. Unbelievable.

[NatsDad14]

This is all gmu foolishness. Anyone notice when FA's started being signed? Right, when Bowden was gone. He kept his job because he convinced them he could win with spare parts. It was a joke.

In his first year of control, Rizzo remade the team, had a top draft, and SIGNED STRASBURG. Don't forget that. He hasn't had 2 seasons of control. Just over 1 with the full title of GM.

Adam Dunn was not a free agent who signed with the team He was the biggest free agent the team has ever signed. It could be that the Lerners were ready to start spending after Bowden left. I highly doubt that Bowden told the Lerner family that he wanted no money to sign free agents. Plus you have to remember that no free agent wanted to sign here. The team looked like it was going nowhere.

Rizzo didn't have anything to do with Strasburg signing. It was the Lerners realizing that they would look bad not signing Strasburg. You are assuming that Bowden wouldn't have signed Strasburg. He sure would have assuming the Lerners were willing to spend on him. Bowden and Rizzo wanted to sign Crow, it's not their fault that Kasten.

Bowden blew all his top picks on terrible high school players that flamed out. A 1st round supplemental pick retired. Unbelievable.

Burgess and Marrero are hardly terrible high schoolers who flamed out. I would argue our player development was more at fault than the drafting. Until the team invests significantly in player development, our prospects are going to continually hit a wall.

[Lintyfresh85]

Adam Dunn was not a free agent who signed with the team He was the biggest free agent the team has ever signed. It could be that the Lerners were ready to start spending after Bowden left. I highly doubt that Bowden told the Lerner family that he wanted no money to sign free agents. Plus you have to remember that no free agent wanted to sign here. The team looked like it was going nowhere.
 

No one wanted to sign here because they didn't want to deal with Bowden.

[NatsDad14]

No one wanted to sign here because they didn't want to deal with Bowden.

Not many free agents were dying to sign here after Bowden unless they were overpaid (Pudge, Marquis,etc.). That definitely was one of Bowden's shortcomings which should have gotten him fired earlier, but the Nationals were a laughingstock (part Bowden's fault). A guy like Teixiera was not going to sign with the Nats with or without Bowden.

[PANatsFan]

GMU, I'm not going to hobble together a quote, but if you think Rizzo just walked into the room, drooled a bit, and then gave Boras whatever he wanted, then you are living in the lodsonverse. Yes, SS wanted to sign, he's a great guy, he wanted a fair deal. So is Boras, I feel he is fair and a genius, to be honest. But if Boras doesn't get his perceived value, you can bet he will walk. Rizzo got the full time job because of the signing.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

FWIW -Cots does not list a length of contract for Rizzo.   

I can't think of an instance where a GM move has had compensation going back to the losing team, but Lou Pinella was traded to TB from Seattle for Randy Winn.

[Dave B]

He kept his job because he convinced them he could win with spare parts. It was a joke.

this is the craziest crap i have ever read

[PANatsFan]

this is the craziest crap i have ever read

Just a theory. Better than repetitive bs.