Rizzo and Davey Canned

[PowerBoater69]

Perfect for the Lerners, just a few more years and then they’ll spend

Hardly perfect, obviously they don't want to spend money, but I'm sure that they'd rather have drafted better and had a 500 ballclub instead of another dumpster fire. In hindsight, extending Rizzo in 2023 now ranks down there with the Strasburg extension and Smiley Gonzalez contract for worst executive decisions by the team.

[Slateman]

Hardly perfect, obviously they don't want to spend money, but I'm sure that they'd rather have drafted better and had a 500 ballclub instead of another dumpster fire. In hindsight, extending Rizzo in 2023 now ranks down there with the Strasburg extension and Smiley Gonzalez contract for worst executive decisions by the team.

The Lerners could not care less about a .500 team. It doesn't matter, as its nowhere near enough to generate playoff revenue. There is no combination of draft picks that would result in the team making the playoffs post 2019. Anyone who was good would have gotten traded before they got too expensive in arbitration for this ownership group. And the player development issues would still be a problem because ownership isn't willing to spend to fix/update them.

[HalfSmokes]

Hardly perfect, obviously they don't want to spend money, but I'm sure that they'd rather have drafted better and had a 500 ballclub instead of another dumpster fire. In hindsight, extending Rizzo in 2023 now ranks down there with the Strasburg extension and Smiley Gonzalez contract for worst executive decisions by the team.

A 500 club puts pressure on them to spend to get over the top. A dumpster fire is a rebuild that requires patience not spending.

[Slateman]

A 500 club puts pressure on them to spend to get over the top. A dumpster fire is a rebuild that requires patience not spending.

Exactly. They have a built in floor for attendance. They have a viable concert experience. And now they can pocket TV money.

[PowerBoater69]

A 500 club puts pressure on them to spend to get over the top. A dumpster fire is a rebuild that requires patience not spending.

The pressure is there for them to spend, the pressure couldn't get any higher, fans are wearing Sell the Team shirts in the expensive seats. I'm sure they'd prefer to be .500 and have an easier time getting season plan renewals locked in. But yeah, certain members of the family have no interest in increased spending.

[Slateman]

The pressure is there for them to spend, the pressure couldn't get any higher, fans are wearing Sell the Team shirts in the expensive seats. I'm sure they'd prefer to be .500 and have an easier time getting season plan renewals locked in. But yeah, certain members of the family have no interest in increased spending.

They're going to clear another 300 million in revenue and have their highest attendance rate in three seasons. Where is this pressure to spend?

[blue911]

The Lerners could not care less about a .500 team. It doesn't matter, as its nowhere near enough to generate playoff revenue. There is no combination of draft picks that would result in the team making the playoffs post 2019. Anyone who was good would have gotten traded before they got too expensive in arbitration for this ownership group. And the player development issues would still be a problem because ownership isn't willing to spend to fix/update them.

Thank you

[Smithian]

Looking ahead to 2026, I think this past offseason is a decent guide. Add mid level free agents and target a trade or two. Rizzo evaluated awfully for bullpen and Lowe was worst case scenario, but I liked the intent.

If your internal talent takes a step forward, you have some added piece to help float you to deadline to then go add more. If you’re trash, like this season, you have pieces to flip and rebuild that middle of your system and get some more lottery tickets.

[Slateman]

Looking ahead to 2026, I think this past offseason is a decent guide. Add mid level free agents and target a trade or two. Rizzo evaluated awfully for bullpen and Lowe was worst case scenario, but I liked the intent.

If your internal talent takes a step forward, you have some added piece to help float you to deadline to then go add more. If you’re trash, like this season, you have pieces to flip and rebuild that middle of your system and get some more lottery tickets.

I think whoever takes over for Rizzo is in a better shape. Rizzo had to get a starting 1B, a starting DH, a closer, three other relievers, and two starting pitchers.

For 2026, I dont think we need all that. We still need a 1B, but the rotation is not as dire, and we probably dont need to go get four relievers.

[IanRubbish]

Scouting Director Danny Haas going to work for the Leeches. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/09/03/danny-haas-nationals/

[PowerBoater69]

Scouting Director Danny Haas going to work for the Leeches. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/09/03/danny-haas-nationals/

Good, back where he came from. The Os stink and the Nats stink, doesn't say much for the guy who was scouting for both teams. What I noticed today is that all of the media reports gave Haas credit for the Willets pick, but when Rizzo was here the picks were Rizzo picks.

Give it a few days, there will be an article with anonymous inside sources critical of the team. I'm sure Rizzo will need to get his two cents in.

[tomterp]

Give it a few days, there will be an article with anonymous inside sources critical of the team. I'm sure Rizzo will need to get his two cents in.

I like the quick moves they've been making since the draft.  Snagging Alfaro and Poulin a minute after they were available shows somebody is paying attention, not just riding out the season. 

[varoadking]

Good, back where he came from. The Os stink and the Nats stink, doesn't say much for the guy who was scouting for both teams. What I noticed today is that all of the media reports gave Haas credit for the Willets pick, but when Rizzo was here the picks were Rizzo picks.

Give it a few days, there will be an article with anonymous inside sources critical of the team. I'm sure Rizzo will need to get his two cents in.

Didn't Kolko and Franny just interview him in the booth during yesterday's game, or was that someone else?

EDIT...saw a picture of Hass...it was someone else in the booth...

[IanRubbish]

Didn't Kolko and Franny just interview him in the booth during yesterday's game, or was that someone else?

EDIT...saw a picture of Hass...it was someone else in the booth...

Probably Eddie Longosz, director of player development

[nobleisthyname]

Good, back where he came from. The Os stink and the Nats stink, doesn't say much for the guy who was scouting for both teams. What I noticed today is that all of the media reports gave Haas credit for the Willets pick, but when Rizzo was here the picks were Rizzo picks.

Give it a few days, there will be an article with anonymous inside sources critical of the team. I'm sure Rizzo will need to get his two cents in.

The O's scouting has been best in the business the past 5+ years, at least on the position player side. They were a 100 win team with a payroll similar to the Nats current one a couple seasons ago and have most of the same core still on the right side of 30. They've obviously disappointed this season but they're still leagues above the Nats. Their main problem is a refusal to complement their young core, not a failure to develop one altogether.

[Natsinpwc]

Yea the Os still have lots of talent in their lineup.  The new catcher develops and they can trade Rustchman for pitching. At some point they will need to spend though.

[Slateman]

The O's scouting has been best in the business the past 5+ years, at least on the position player side. They were a 100 win team with a payroll similar to the Nats current one a couple seasons ago and have most of the same core still on the right side of 30. They've obviously disappointed this season but they're still leagues above the Nats. Their main problem is a refusal to complement their young core, not a failure to develop one altogether.

Yea the Os still have lots of talent in their lineup.  The new catcher develops and they can trade Rustchman for pitching. At some point they will need to spend though.

Haas was scouting director when a ton of that talent was acquired. We forget that when he left, the Orioles were a 101 win team on a 71 million dollar payroll. Haas, Ciolek, and Reed Dunn were all brought in as part of Rizzo's overhaul of the front office during the 2023-2024 offseason. It was the response to his terrible drafts and player development issues that had led to the need to trade Soto.

Frankly, I don't see this as a good thing. Haas and Ciolek are both well respected throughout baseball. They have been involved in multiple franchises. They have a number of good drafts under their belt. 

[PowerBoater69]

The O's scouting has been best in the business the past 5+ years, at least on the position player side. They were a 100 win team with a payroll similar to the Nats current one a couple seasons ago and have most of the same core still on the right side of 30. They've obviously disappointed this season but they're still leagues above the Nats. Their main problem is a refusal to complement their young core, not a failure to develop one altogether.

Haas was there from 2017 to 2023 i believe? He joined a team that had just made the playoffs. They had the #1 overall pick twice and picked in the top five four times. Four straight years of top draft picks and they've won zero playoff games since they hired him. Pretty crappy.

[IanRubbish]

Haas was scouting director when a ton of that talent was acquired. We forget that when he left, the Orioles were a 101 win team on a 71 million dollar payroll. Haas, Ciolek, and Reed Dunn were all brought in as part of Rizzo's overhaul of the front office during the 2023-2024 offseason. It was the response to his terrible drafts and player development issues that had led to the need to trade Soto.

Frankly, I don't see this as a good thing. Haas and Ciolek are both well respected throughout baseball. They have been involved in multiple franchises. They have a number of good drafts under their belt.

It can be hard to pinpoint who was responsible for what, but Mike Elias and team in Baltimore have done an amazing job with drafting and development.   They've also looked for things like swing mechanics and used a more scientific approach than Rizzo's no data/all man crush approach to finding big arm pitchers and speedy runners. 

[PowerBoater69]

The Nats need to go at least 8-11 to finish the season for DeBartolo/Cairo to exceed the win percentage for Rizzo/Martinez for 2025.

[IanRubbish]

The Nats need to go at least 8-11 to finish the season for DeBartolo/Cairo to exceed the win percentage for Rizzo/Martinez for 2025.

I don't think that means much.  DeBartolo has shown a welcome change in approach from Tyrannosaurus Rizzo, Cairo has been Davey 2 Electric Boogaloo on the basepaths, with high pitch counts, bad defense, and carelessness.

[Smithian]

DeBartolo's chance to show his acumen was trade deadline and slightly less so the draft. I feel he nailed both. We'll see what happens with him.

I think Cairo had a chance to earn himself a future manager's job with this second interim stint but that 8 game losing streak probably took care of that possibility, barring a crazy ending to September.

[PowerBoater69]

DeBartolo's chance to show his acumen was trade deadline and slightly less so the draft. I feel he nailed both. We'll see what happens with him.

I think Cairo had a chance to earn himself a future manager's job with this second interim stint but that 8 game losing streak probably took care of that possibility, barring a crazy ending to September.

I'd flip your top two items, having the #1 overall draft pick was DeBartolo's defining move to date, followed by the draft. But also he's been making a number of small moves that are probably largely inconsequential, but at least he's trying to improve the team, as opposed to Rizzo.

Cairo has next to no shot at being the long term manager, his one chance I'd think is if the star players were to go to management and request that he be retained. Although the recent report that he speaks with Martinez a few times a week is a red flag.

[PowerBoater69]

I don't think that means much.  DeBartolo has shown a welcome change in approach from Tyrannosaurus Rizzo, Cairo has been Davey 2 Electric Boogaloo on the basepaths, with high pitch counts, bad defense, and carelessness.

It would mean nothing if not for the few Rizzo fanboys in the media who dunked on DeBartolo and Cairo following the initial rough patch. Not as much they can say if the team improves following the change.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Fwiw, DeBartolo has done a good job of using the good waiver wire position to scoop up interesting players like Poulin