Fire Rizzo

[UMDNats]

Wait, we're firing a bunch of crappy scouts and people are upset? We should be cleaning house of all the useless assistant GMs we have.

[Senatorswin]

The team can't be valued unless MASN is settled and the MASN deal is designed in a way (regular resets that are all litigated for years) that makes it impossible to settle. The Lerners don't want to take a discount and no-one is paying full price, so they are holding an asset they no longer want. At this point, I'm just happy they signed Crewes

In June MASN agreed to pay the $100 million for the years 2012 - 2016. Now three months later there's no further news about years 2017 - 2021. This is whole MASN deal does not seem workable. It's ridiculous to keep a team in limbo not knowing what it's local TV revenue is from years ago.

[nobleisthyname]

Wait, we're firing a bunch of crappy scouts and people are upset? We should be cleaning house of all the useless assistant GMs we have.

Depends on if replacements will be hired or if the positions are just gone.

[UMDNats]

Depends on if replacements will be hired or if the positions are just gone.

I mean we're not going to just...not have scouts. Do we want to hang onto crappy old scouts who suck just to say we have them?

[imref]

I mean we're not going to just...not have scouts. Do we want to hang onto crappy old scouts who suck just to say we have them?

right now, until there's a public announcement on Rizzo, it's all speculation. Let's see how things shake out.

[Slateman]

I mean we're not going to just...not have scouts. Do we want to hang onto crappy old scouts who suck just to say we have them?

I could totally see the Leners cutting payroll by cutting scouts

[imref]

I could totally see the Leners cutting payroll by cutting scouts

maybe they think we can live without them now that the farm system has been rebuilt?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I could totally see the Leners cutting payroll by cutting scouts

does Mark have grandkids? I could totally see them turning to an 8 year old who is good at finding video on youtube.

[imref]

Rosenthal

So, what is the problem?

Rizzo can be mercurial, according to Nationals sources who spoke on condition of anonymity in exchange for their candor. The team was slow to embrace analytics and has struggled to develop pitching. And Rizzo’s current staff, without question, is a tad bloated. The Nationals’ directory currently lists 12 special assistants to the GM, a number rival execs find astonishing. Half of them are not getting renewed.

https://theathletic.com/4844046/2023/09/08/washington-nationals-ownership-mike-rizzo/

[Mattionals]

Rosenthal

https://theathletic.com/4844046/2023/09/08/washington-nationals-ownership-mike-rizzo/

While having that many executives is fishy for sure, "Nationals sources who spoke on condition of anonymity" screams like billionaires crying to make themselves sound like the victim. If you had an issue with how many executives that Rizzo was hiring, you easily could have NOT hired them. This reeks of ownership trying to make themselves look right in the eyes of the public before they finally sell the team.

[welch]

Can a scout be so expensive that firing them saves much money? How many scouts are left? Who runs the DR without Dipuglia? And what is happening with the ex5ra development specialists that Watson hired a year ago?

[Slateman]

While having that many executives is fishy for sure, "Nationals sources who spoke on condition of anonymity" screams like billionaires crying to make themselves sound like the victim. If you had an issue with how many executives that Rizzo was hiring, you easily could have NOT hired them. This reeks of ownership trying to make themselves look right in the eyes of the public before they finally sell the team.

Honestly, I think its both. Ownership has zero interest in spending to make the team competitive, and Rizzo has no idea to adapt to a world of metrics and analytics.

[Kevrock]

Rosenthal

https://theathletic.com/4844046/2023/09/08/washington-nationals-ownership-mike-rizzo/

This is such a crock. You can look at the size of Front Offices and we were near the bottom. Rizzo hasn't invested in the right places, but we do not have a bloated front office.

[Slateman]

This is such a crock. You can look at the size of Front Offices and we were near the bottom. Rizzo hasn't invested in the right places, but we do not have a bloated front office.

But that says a lot about Rizzo too. He was given the opportunity to invest in the most important part of the org, and what are the results?

[UMDNats]

I mean Rizzo being forced to fire 6 of his 12 drinking buddies is a good thing for the organization. The Special Assistants are all freeloaders who basically are just his friends. Our front office has no one for the actual roles but we've got 12 guys yukking it up with Mike in WPB talking about how Abrams should stop hitting home runs and be a "traditional" shortstop.

[Slateman]

I mean Rizzo being forced to fire 6 of his 12 drinking buddies is a good thing for the organization. The Special Assistants are all freeloaders who basically are just his friends. Our front office has no one for the actual roles but we've got 12 guys yukking it up with Mike in WPB talking about how Abrams should stop hitting home runs and be a "traditional" shortstop.

I hope we all enjoyed 2019

[UMDNats]

I hope we all enjoyed 2019

I'll take one of the most satisfying world series runs of all-time and a 10-year run of being an elite team over being the pirates, guardians, athletics, etc. I hope Mark sells the team ASAP because it's clear he's checking out completely but the media talk of the front office is overblown.

[Slateman]

https://theathletic.com/4844046/2023/09/08/washington-nationals-ownership-mike-rizzo/?amp=1

Admittedly, it’s difficult to draw logical conclusions about an ownership group that often appears to operate illogically. But the Nationals, who remain for sale at a time of diminished revenue, are in a volatile place. And considering Rizzo remains without an extension more than two weeks after Martinez agreed to a new deal, it’s reasonable to assume ownership’s relationship with its longtime head of baseball operations is not exactly copacetic.

[UMDNats]

Rosenthal certainly appears to have an axe to grind.

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

I’m starting to think the Lerners are cash-poor much like Snyder was. It’s a shame we went from World Series champs to this in such a short period of time.

[HondoKillebrew]

I still can’t tell whether the Lerners or Rizzo deserve most of the blame for the organization’s scouting and development woes.

[HalfSmokes]

I still can’t tell whether the Lerners or Rizzo deserve most of the blame for the organization’s scouting and development woes.

I think CRE, especially in Tysons is dead. My wife’s company is being offered a second floor at no cost in exchange for renewing their lease

[HondoKillebrew]

I think CRE, especially in Tysons is dead. My wife’s company is being offered a second floor at no cost in exchange for renewing their lease

Yep, but it doesn’t mean some of these changes and perhaps also insisting that Rizzo evolve in his approach aren’t warranted. But it does appear that they are freaking out at least partially due to the changing market. The Stras situation, for example, but I’m not convinced they’d have handled that differently even in the best of times. 

[Slateman]

Yep, but it doesn’t mean some of these changes and perhaps also insisting that Rizzo evolve in his approach aren’t warranted. But it does appear that they are freaking out at least partially due to the changing market. The Stras situation, for example, but I’m not convinced they’d have handled that differently even in the best of times. 

Yep. The Lerners have always been like this in business.

[IanRubbish]

With Mini Me unable to control leaks or the media, this is turning into an interesting soap opera.  I'm sure there's more to come.