Rizzo Renewed by Marky Mark & the In-Laws

[imref]

Rosenthal rips into Rizzo and crew:

https://archive.ph/i4INy

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Rosenthal rips into Rizzo and crew:

https://archive.ph/i4INy

But since 2013, the Nationals have drafted and developed only three players with career bWARs above 5.0. Those three — Nick Pivetta, Erick Fedde, Jesús Luzardo — made their marks with other teams.

I lol'd when he mentioned Zach Neto, Dalton Varsho, and Masyn Winn as having about 5 bWAR in 2024 alone. I've got all 3 on my fantasy team in 2K6's fantasy league. Last laugh on me  - I didn't start Varsho this week because he was up against Degrom, Eovaldi and a few lefties, then Varsho went off last night.

I've got a sense that Rizzo made improvements in the organization with the 2023 reshuffle and new hires. IDK whether he was held back before then. The article does come down hard on the Lerner ownership since 2021, so I wonder if the failure to adopt more modern methods previously was a Lerner constraint or Rizzo obliviousness.

The track record since 2021 speaks for itself. This has been a bottom organization. Rosenthal is also accurate in pointing out the long rebuild may cost the team many of its best pieces, especially Gore, due to the history of Boras rep'd guys going to FA. Abrams being a Roc Nation client might be more likely to be retained. Wood?  Good luck.

[Natsinpwc]

We’ve become the Marlins.  Except for the good drafting and development.

[Smithian]

Rosenthal rips into Rizzo and crew:

https://archive.ph/i4INy

Some fair points made, but I think this would have landed harder for me in 2022. 2020-2022 is a dark time best forgotten, and I think Rizzo probably should have been canned following 2022.

The unanswerable question is, "Will the Lerners operate the Nationals like a bottom 5 market or a below average market?"

But right now I look at the roster and I see an OF full of cost controlled players and, unless you're completely out on Dylan Crews (defensible!), it's possible you could have a pair of All Star corner outfielders with Jacob Young or another CF who could flirt with 3 WAR seasons.

The IF Nathan Lowe is scuffling but was a well regarded addition. We know the situation at 3B. CJ Abrams is what he is. Luis Garcia is off to a rough start at the plate this year but the organization deserves credit not giving up on him.

The pitching situation right now isn't bad. Mackenzie Gore still has two more arbitrations seasons. Jake Irvin looks to be a long term starter. I'm not letting a horrific May make me write off Mitchell Parker. Then we have other interesting arms like Sykora, Herz, Lord, and Cavalli.

Bullpen is a disaster. No defense there.

Farm system is in a better state today than it was in 2021 and 2022, even after graduating the Soto return.

Everything isn't rosy. Plenty concerns me. That article just feel like it should have been written in May 2022, not May 2025.

[Natsinpwc]

Other than Gore and Irivin there are no sure things as far as starters go.  And they will probably lose both guys in a couple years. 

[IanRubbish]

Rosenthal rips into Rizzo and crew:

https://archive.ph/i4INy

Good for him, Lerner/Rizzo need some kind of pressure for the years of dysfunction and lying to fans.  They hate bad publicity which is why Rizzo only goes on outlets like the Sports Junkies who work for the flagship station and only ask him sycophantic softball questions. 

A key point Rosenthal gets right is one I've brought up here many times.  Rizzo's arrogant "we've done this before" remark doesn't hold up when the FA window is much tighter this time with Gore gone after '27 and Wood after '30.  There could be maybe a 2-3 year window of competitive baeball and then another likely salary dump/reboot/rebuild.

[nobleisthyname]

Other than Gore and Irivin there are no sure things as far as starters go.  And they will probably lose both guys in a couple years.

I don't know I would even consider Irvin to be a sure thing. Not much more than Parker anyway.

[Mattionals]

I don't know I would even consider Irvin to be a sure thing. Not much more than Parker anyway.

Quality back of the rotation guys are useful. Maybe those aren't the guys pitching meaningful postseason games, but they definitely get you through the regular season to get to October.

[Natsinpwc]

I don't know I would even consider Irvin to be a sure thing. Not much more than Parker anyway.

He's been at it longer.  Career ERA is 4.30.  And improved this year.  So decent back end starter as someone else noted. 

[Smithian]

I don't know I would even consider Irvin to be a sure thing. Not much more than Parker anyway.

I consider Jake Irvin to be a "sure thing" back of the rotation starter for a winning team.

Preferably he is no better than your #3, but I also caveat that with... Even middle rotation starters aren't easy to find if you want to make the playoffs.

[IanRubbish]

I consider Jake Irvin to be a "sure thing" back of the rotation starter for a winning team.

Preferably he is no better than your #3, but I also caveat that with... Even middle rotation starters aren't easy to find if you want to make the playoffs.

Later round finesse pitchers like Parker, Irvin, and Lord have prevented this from being much worse.  And yet who was Rizzo talking up in the offseason?  Another one of his man crush darlings, Jake Bennett, a 2nd rounder who's now 24, never pitched above A ball, and is back on the IL. 

[rileyn]

We need more of these articles, not less.  Put the pressure on owner/GM to sh*t or get off the pot. 

[Natsinpwc]

We need more of these articles, not less.  Put the pressure on owner/GM to sh*t or get off the pot.

Takes the National media. The local guys and gals are weak. 

[Slateman]

Takes the National media. The local guys and gals are weak. 

Outside of the Yankees, Dodgers, and maybe Skenes, there isn't a "national media" for baseball. Rosenthal is about as good as it gets.

What it's going to take is for fans to just stop going to games or buying TV packages.

[HalfSmokes]

Outside of the Yankees, Dodgers, and maybe Skenes, there isn't a "national media" for baseball. Rosenthal is about as good as it gets.

What it's going to take is for fans to just stop going to games or buying TV packages.

Is anyone buying tv packages?

[IanRubbish]

Outside of the Yankees, Dodgers, and maybe Skenes, there isn't a "national media" for baseball. Rosenthal is about as good as it gets.

What it's going to take is for fans to just stop going to games or buying TV packages.

Problem is the Lerners have figured out they can get close to 2 million every year with concerts, visiting fans, and a few promotions.  Not to mention Itkins and lawyers/lobbyists who'll buy Terra Club seats no matter what.

[Slateman]

Is anyone buying tv packages?

They are advertising them. Someone must be. If the team really is having financial issues, then drops in attendance and merchandise purchase will hurt them more.

There's more to the Rosenthal story. Apparently, he got the idea for the story when talking with another MLB executive. This executive stated that the Nats were essentially spinning their wheels with their rebuild. "A failed rebuild."

8:47 - https://youtu.be/JnXBqcmyH2U?si=T-2pFGA3FdVPc3xy

[nobleisthyname]

There's more to the Rosenthal story. Apparently, he got the idea for the story when talking with another MLB executive. This executive stated that the Nats were essentially spinning their wheels with their rebuild. "A failed rebuild."

8:47 - https://youtu.be/JnXBqcmyH2U?si=T-2pFGA3FdVPc3xy

Not sure you need an MLB executive's perspective for that insight. We all knew going into this season that wins finally matter again and this team needs to at least approach .500 and general respectability. Failing to do so (as is the case so far) puts this rebuild on life support. And if the Nats are not above .500 and strong contenders for a playoff spot 12 months from now then it will be safe to say the rebuild has failed and the team needs to clean house and start over again.

[Slateman]

Not sure you need an MLB executive's perspective for that insight. We all knew going into this season that wins finally matter again and this team needs to at least approach .500 and general respectability. Failing to do so (as is the case so far) puts this rebuild on life support. And if the Nats are not above .500 and strong contenders for a playoff spot 12 months from now then it will be safe to say the rebuild has failed and the team needs to clean house and start over again.

Without new ownership, cleaning house is pretty much spinning the wheels too.

If the Lerners are so focused on cutting payroll that Rizzo couldn't sign Christian Walker to a deal similar to what he signed in Houston (3 years, $60 million), then I have to wonder how tight fisted they're being throughout the entire organization. And being tight-fisted about money spent throughout the organization is going to impact scouting and player development. Say what you want about Cleveland and Tampa being cheap, they are willing to spend on their systems.

This doesn't absolve Rizzo by any means, but without a change at the very top, we're just going to get some assistant from Cleveland or Tampa that will be asked to re-create their "cheapness" but not be given the funding and lead time to build a system that can produce talent.

[nobleisthyname]

Without new ownership, cleaning house is pretty much spinning the wheels too.

If the Lerners are so focused on cutting payroll that Rizzo couldn't sign Christian Walker to a deal similar to what he signed in Houston (3 years, $60 million), then I have to wonder how tight fisted they're being throughout the entire organization. And being tight-fisted about money spent throughout the organization is going to impact scouting and player development. Say what you want about Cleveland and Tampa being cheap, they are willing to spend on their systems.

This doesn't absolve Rizzo by any means, but without a change at the very top, we're just going to get some assistant from Cleveland or Tampa that will be asked to re-create their "cheapness" but not be given the funding and lead time to build a system that can produce talent.

No disagreement there. The stuff I've been seeing about the amount of debt the Lerners hold have been very troubling.

[IanRubbish]

This doesn't absolve Rizzo by any means, but without a change at the very top, we're just going to get some assistant from Cleveland or Tampa that will be asked to re-create their "cheapness" but not be given the funding and lead time to build a system that can produce talent.

True, but they probably wouldn't draft guys based on man crushes for physique, throwing 100 mph, and speed.  Rizzo is a way past his prime scout who doesn't know how to adjust or learn from his mistakes.

[OfftheBat]

Rosenthal rips into Rizzo and crew:

https://archive.ph/i4INy

Awesome article, major kudos to Ken. Gotta keep the pressure on the current cheapskate owner.

[OfftheBat]

They are advertising them. Someone must be. If the team really is having financial issues, then drops in attendance and merchandise purchase will hurt them more.

There's more to the Rosenthal story. Apparently, he got the idea for the story when talking with another MLB executive. This executive stated that the Nats were essentially spinning their wheels with their rebuild. "A failed rebuild."

8:47 - https://youtu.be/JnXBqcmyH2U?si=T-2pFGA3FdVPc3xy

There is definitely something else going on,  I wonder who that MLB executive is.
In any case, I hope that my MLB TV subscription doesn't put a dime in Mark's pockets lol.

[IanRubbish]

Rizzo umming and ahhing his way through another Sports Junkies segment in response to the article.   

[varoadking]

Rizzo umming and ahhing his way through another Sports Junkies segment in response to the article.   

He actually called this a "Re-build" at the 4:20-ish mark.  He denied that's what he was doing initially when we were in salary dump mode...but now that his "Re-tool" didn't work out, it's a "Frustrating re-build."

Hate is a strong word...but I certainly dislike Rizzo intensely...