Sunshine Squad: Absolute Resolve

[imref]

Grayson Crawford from the Mets is the new "director of pitching", whatever that means. I'm wondering what is the over/under on the total number of teams from which we are hiring coaching and GM staff this off-season. More than half the league? These guys coming in are bringing a lot of knowledge of the players and systems from their prior teams. The Nats are getting a lot smarter.

Toboni isn't seemingly having any problems poaching coaching/PD talent from other teams. Hopefully that's a good sign.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

no more "must have worked for me with the Diamondbacks or be an old buddy of my Dad."

[Smithian]

Toboni isn't seemingly having any problems poaching coaching/PD talent from other teams. Hopefully that's a good sign.

no more "must have worked for me with the Diamondbacks or be an old buddy of my Dad."

Who knows if it will work out. Half the teams have to lose and only one team wins in the end, still it's just nice to know the organization admitted things were broken and we're trying again.

[varoadking]

Toboni isn't seemingly having any problems poaching coaching/PD talent from other teams. Hopefully that's a good sign.

You have to wonder how good they are if other teams are so willing to let them go...

Is it poaching or just more dumpster diving?

[imref]

You have to wonder how good they are if other teams are so willing to let them go...

Is it poaching or just more dumpster diving?

so by that logic, anyone we hire is bad because their previous team let them go?

[Smithian]

so by that logic, anyone we hire is bad because their previous team let them go?

Can't believe the Orioles hired Danny Haas from Nationals. If we were willing to let him go, was it poaching or just more dumpster diving?

[imref]

Can't believe the Orioles hired Danny Haas from Nationals. If we were willing to let him go, was it poaching or just more dumpster diving?

Well, this is the sunshine squad thread, so we must have had someone better lined up to let him go.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Sunshine: other teams dive in our dumpster

[Smithian]

Sunshine: other teams dive in our dumpster

[varoadking]

so by that logic, anyone we hire is bad because their previous team let them go?

No...

...and it was a question...not a statement of fact...

[IanRubbish]

Toboni isn't seemingly having any problems poaching coaching/PD talent from other teams. Hopefully that's a good sign.

Sunshine: big promotions for most of these guys, though the pay increases are probably not as impressive

[imref]

Sunshine: big promotions for most of these guys, though the pay increases are probably not as impressive

by and large, online reaction to the hires has been overwhelmingly positive (outside of some on WNFF).

[IanRubbish]

by and large, online reaction to the hires has been overwhelmingly positive (outside of some on WNFF).

upgrades from Rizzo and Davey's Jurassic Park expedition no question, lots of sunshine that we are Hickey and Coles-free, but also no question that these are budget hires

there's also a lot of online that's like TalkNats, and setup to serve as a South Capitol Street PR operation

[JCA-CrystalCity]

upgrades from Rizzo and Davey's Jurassic Park expedition no question, lots of sunshine that we are Hickey and Coles-free, but also no question that these are budget hires

there's also a lot of online that's like TalkNats, and setup to serve as a South Capitol Street PR operation

Toboni was lined up  to be the Red Sox GM, and Butera was moving fast through a good organization. IMO, both are in "stretch" positions as POBO and manager, but these  guys are respected. Better than a lot of retread names.

[IanRubbish]

There's a new catcher in town and he doesn't Keibert softly at pitches outside the zone.

[PowerBoater69]

https://www.talknats.com/2025/12/11/the-10-difference-with-a-good-coach/

[varoadking]

https://www.talknats.com/2025/12/11/the-10-difference-with-a-good-coach/

Behind a paywall...

[PowerBoater69]

Behind a paywall...

That's why I put the best part in the image, it's a long article though, worth the read.

[PowerBoater69]

Reasons to be cheerful

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/praising-washington-nationals-fantastic-offseason-so-far/

[HalfSmokes]

The Nationals hitting the rest button coincides beautifully with the contention windows of the teams ahead of them. By the time they’re ready to significantly add externally, coupled with internal development, the teams ahead of them will have gotten older.

the brave and marlin will always find prospects, the Mets will pay to stay competitive.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Reasons to be cheerful

https://www.justbaseball.com/mlb/praising-washington-nationals-fantastic-offseason-so-far/

considering that site still talks about Walker Beuhler of the Dodgers joining every Monday (on the about page), I got to wonder how professional it is. But, it's sunshine on a cloudy day.

[nobleisthyname]

the brave and marlin will always find prospects, the Mets will pay to stay competitive.

Yeah the NL East will always be one of the top-3 toughest divisions. Hoping to win by the other teams being bad will never be a feasible strategy the way it might in other divisions.

[rileyn]

Yeah the NL East will always be one of the top-3 toughest divisions. Hoping to win by the other teams being bad will never be a feasible strategy the way it might in other divisions.

Unless there is a salary cap.

[nobleisthyname]

Unless there is a salary cap.

The Braves, Phillies, and Mets are all competently run organizations, they'll do well even with a salary cap. We need the ambition to join them, not hope they'll sink below us somehow.

Edit: Didn't realize what thread we were in. With that in mind I will say I think Toboni can do it. We might become another version of the Rays/Brewers and still have a cheap payroll but that's better than being the Pirates. And Toboni/DeBartolo before him have done more to improve the farm system in 6 months than Rizzo was able to manage in 5 years.

[Smithian]

It's sports. Half the teams will win, half the teams will lose. I'll enjoy the the game if I believe in the process. I enjoyed 2010 and 2011 nearly as much as any season in Nationals history because I believed in the process.

Other than a small false dawn in 2023, the process has clearly been broken sine 2020.

We'll have a better idea of where this is headed in a few months. If the minors system looks in a better place following work done by DeBartolo then Toboni and the roster is filled with interested players and youth, I'll be intrigued.

This is my Sunshine Squad mantra for 2026.

If I believe in the process, I can handle short term losses.

Having a new voice is nice after the past half decade.