Fire Blake Butera!

[Smithian]

I’m a doomer but I like the hire.

I preferred an experienced manager who had done the job in the past. However, this hire was clearly made because Toboni wanted alignment from the top down, and I appreciate that.

[OfftheBat]

If that's what we were doing, then no one would be disappointed right now. But its obvious that that is not the case. We are not building a team to get a shot at a World Series every year. We are simply building a team to get to/slightly above .500, so that ownership can maximize profits with a small market payroll.

And no, anyone can not win a playoff series. That's literally not how the playoffs work. This isn't football. The best team usually prevails. That's why the Dodgers have done what they have done the last 5 years. Same for the Astros the last decade. And its why teams like the Rays, Guardians, and Brewers are constantly one and done in the playoffs. Building a team for deep postseason run isn't the same as building a team that wins .500+ games.

Butera represents two things:

1. The rebuild is starting over. Despite having an immensely profitable team in a top 10 media market, ownership has zero interest in spending money to build a WS caliber team, or even a competitive one. This team will not sniff a postseason birth until Toboni can completely revamp the farm/organization. Which, given how long player development takes, is likely 3-5 years.

2. We will never see a top 10 payroll under this ownership group. We will be built like the Rays/Brewers who only seek to win in order to keep attendance up, thus generating more revenue for ownership.

Sorry if I'm not super excited about being a cheaply run franchise that doesn't care about postseason success.

Preach! This hire just represents the unwillingness to win.

[Smithian]

I did not know the Red Sox were small market.

[Slateman]

I did not know the Red Sox were small market.

What do you call it when a team trades away their only big contract for scraps, despite that player being in their prime? Red Sox dumpster dove in free agency and did nothing at the deadline. Yet another example of a team that wants to win just enough to keep ticket sales up, but won't invest in pushing for a championship.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Padres hire a guy with less managing experience than Butera. An in-organization move.

[Slateman]

Padres hire a guy with less managing experience than Butera. An in-organization move.

The Padres are a crap show. Also, Stammen was a major leaguer and an assistant major league coach

[imref]

The Padres are a crap show. Also, Stammen was a major leaguer and an assistant major league coach

three former Nats now managing in the bigs.

[blue911]

three former Nats now managing in the bigs.

And 4 for the franchise

[Natsinpwc]

The Padres are a crap show. Also, Stammen was a major leaguer and an assistant major league coach

You forgot.  He has dreamy eyes.

I like the part where he was helping to interview various applicants.  No doubt sabotaged them and then nominated himself.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I like the part where he was helping to interview various applicants.  No doubt sabotaged them and then nominated himself.

It's a tribute to Dick Cheney's VP search.

[blue911]

You forgot.  He has dreamy eyes.

I like the part where he was helping to interview various applicants.  No doubt sabotaged them and then nominated himself.

Dreamy eyes should be good for a few extra words wins

[tomterp]

If that's what we were doing, then no one would be disappointed right now. But its obvious that that is not the case. We are not building a team to get a shot at a World Series every year. We are simply building a team to get to/slightly above .500, so that ownership can maximize profits with a small market payroll.

And no, anyone can not win a playoff series. That's literally not how the playoffs work. This isn't football. The best team usually prevails. That's why the Dodgers have done what they have done the last 5 years. Same for the Astros the last decade. And its why teams like the Rays, Guardians, and Brewers are constantly one and done in the playoffs. Building a team for deep postseason run isn't the same as building a team that wins .500+ games.

Butera represents two things:

1. The rebuild is starting over. Despite having an immensely profitable team in a top 10 media market, ownership has zero interest in spending money to build a WS caliber team, or even a competitive one. This team will not sniff a postseason birth until Toboni can completely revamp the farm/organization. Which, given how long player development takes, is likely 3-5 years.

2. We will never see a top 10 payroll under this ownership group. We will be built like the Rays/Brewers who only seek to win in order to keep attendance up, thus generating more revenue for ownership.

Sorry if I'm not super excited about being a cheaply run franchise that doesn't care about postseason success.

Interesting you would mention both the Dodgers and Astros.  Didn't some Wild Card team sneak into the playoffs and knock them both off in 2019?  Obviously it CAN be done.

[Smithian]

Interesting you would mention both the Dodgers and Astros.  Didn't some Wild Card team sneak into the playoffs and knock them both off in 2019?  Obviously it CAN be done.

More recently, the Diamondbacks proved you can beat the Dodges in a series. Made a World Series!

If anything, it's why I hate the expanded playoff. Anyone can beat anyone in a series. The 2023 Dodgers were much more deserving than the Diamondbacks, but baseball is weird and the Diamondbacks proved it can be done.

[Natsinpwc]

Playoffs have been a crapshoot.  But no more.  It’s the Dodgers next few years.  Everyone else playing for runner up. I mean they went 9-1 in the NL playoffs. Still would be fun to try and get a wild card.

[imref]

Playoffs have been a crapshoot.  But no more.  It’s the Dodgers next few years.  Everyone else playing for runner up. I mean they went 9-1 in the NL playoffs. Still would be fun to try and get a wild card.

The WS was essentially a tie, the Dodgers did not dominate.

[raleighnat]

The Lerners have wet the bed.   No denying that.  The rebuild has clearly failed and they have not invested anything to make us at least somewhat respectable.  But that doesn’t make these changes bad.  They may work or they may not.  How do we know?  If we hire an experienced manager people would say we are hiring retreads. 

One thing I’ve learned is how awful it is if you really suck and have no chance right from the get go.  Baseball is a beautiful game, time is fleeting, and a summer without competitive baseball is a real loss.  If this new group of leaders gets us in contention for a playoff spot after the all star break, that is a really important step. Whether the Lerners pony up to make us a perennial powerhouse is a gripe for another day. 

[Natsinpwc]

The WS was essentially a tie, the Dodgers did not dominate.

Yep so they will sign Tucker and the Jaoanese slugger this offseason.
Doesn't change the fact that they walked through the NL untouched. 
They also won the previous year WS in five games. 
It's a dynasty with no sign of ending. 

[blue911]

The Dodgers have such a leg up in the Japanese market.

[imref]

Nats have scheduled the official introduction of Butera for November 17.

[imref]

1:30 press conference today on x and youtube.

[blue911]

Is the AARP patch an attempt to attract a younger demographic?

[imref]

[imref]

Toboni mentions that Mike Piazza told Toboni he had to interview Butera.

[imref]

Toboni says Doolittle will remain on staff. Exact role TBD. Butera said that every pitcher he has spoken with has offered unsolicited praise for Doolittle and the positive impact he has had on each of them.

[tomterp]

Didn't see anything I didn't like.