Author Topic: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon  (Read 450 times)

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Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #50 on: January 31, 2026, 05:02:53 pm »
Toboni: white sweater not coat.

No socks, I found that disrespectful.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #51 on: January 31, 2026, 05:04:25 pm »
I've never before used the phrase cat who ate the canary, but that exactly describes Kolko's smile as he stood on stage ready to get started.
especially when he announced the Nats TV team.  He got a decent hand from the crowd.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #52 on: January 31, 2026, 05:04:40 pm »
Kolko asks about fan reaction and how to explain deals: says the idea is stable winning once start winning. Not just a year or two. Path is to get a ton of talent in system

Kolko mentioned Toboni's honesty, which I took as a direct shot at Rizzo. There have been quotes going around from last year where Rizzo was telling fans the team was improved.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #53 on: January 31, 2026, 05:05:12 pm »
No socks, I found that disrespectful.
yah, and you were close so you could see whether he scrubbed them.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #54 on: January 31, 2026, 05:06:35 pm »
Butera up now:

Same coat &slacks as Kolko.

Bouncing his leg a lot, lots of energy. He gave the better interview of the two, he's a funny guy, if nothing else the pre and post game interviews are going to be better this year.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #55 on: January 31, 2026, 05:07:49 pm »
Has a newborn. #1. arrived on day he was announced as manager.

My wife was not impressed that he was making work calls from the hospital, I was quite happy with his priorities.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #56 on: January 31, 2026, 05:08:56 pm »
Kolko mentioned Toboni's honesty, which I took as a direct shot at Rizzo. There have been quotes going around from last year where Rizzo was telling fans the team was improved.
Toboni didn't try to sell anyone on this team being playoff-ready. He talked about measures of success being improved system rankings. He also said he hoped fans who follow the farm would see improvements in players. Pitched improvement rather than record. n

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #57 on: January 31, 2026, 05:09:44 pm »
Was a BoSox fan as a kid in new Orleans. Dad was in Red Sox organization so followed them. Favorite player - Dustin Pedroia

(not mentioned - Dad made it to AAA (Barry Butera). Topped out  in 1980. Uncle is Sal Butera, who played in MLB. Cousin (Sal's son) is Drew Butera, a coach for the Jays who also caught for several teams in MLB.)

The Pete Kozma reference was an interesting choice.

When he said he was a kid when the Sox won the Series in 2004 I was reminded of my age.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #58 on: January 31, 2026, 05:09:52 pm »
My wife was not impressed that he was making work calls from the hospital, I was quite happy with his priorities.
well, in fairness, he said he was doing that when the baby and wife were asleep.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #59 on: January 31, 2026, 05:11:08 pm »
Bouncing his leg a lot, lots of energy. He gave the better interview of the two, he's a funny guy, if nothing else the pre and post game interviews are going to be better this year.
Toboni was sincere but Butera was willing to crack a few more jokes, like the Pete Kozma comment.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #60 on: January 31, 2026, 05:12:09 pm »
yah, and you were close so you could see whether he scrubbed them.

I looked for you before and after the event, oh well, next year.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #61 on: January 31, 2026, 05:12:46 pm »
The Pete Kozma reference was an interesting choice.

When he said he was a kid when the Sox won the Series in 2004 I was reminded of my age.
9 years old, I think.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #62 on: January 31, 2026, 05:13:46 pm »
Toboni didn't try to sell anyone on this team being playoff-ready. He talked about measures of success being improved system rankings. He also said he hoped fans who follow the farm would see improvements in players. Pitched improvement rather than record. n

He also spoke of building the foundations before the doors and windows, he really needs to get a new metaphor, he's saying that in every interview.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #63 on: January 31, 2026, 05:14:26 pm »
I looked for you before and after the event, oh well, next year.
I cut out quickly. No beers this year.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #64 on: January 31, 2026, 05:16:24 pm »
He also spoke of building the foundations before the doors and windows, he really needs to get a new metaphor, he's saying that in every interview.
grinding the wheat into flour before baking the cake? Laying the keel before adding the rigging?

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #65 on: January 31, 2026, 05:18:22 pm »
I printed out the article I wrote for Talk Nats to track if they asked any of my questions, they didn't, but after the event Sinnarajah was taking direct fan questions. It's been a long time since we've seen that with this team. I handed him my list of questions and highlighted a few of them.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #66 on: January 31, 2026, 05:19:08 pm »
I cut out quickly. No beers this year.

No beers for me either, this year or last year.

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #67 on: January 31, 2026, 05:19:56 pm »
grinding the wheat into flour before baking the cake? Laying the keel before adding the rigging?

Well, he doesn't need to be a poet if he can put together a winning ballclub.

Offline imref

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #68 on: January 31, 2026, 05:24:28 pm »
Anyone ask Toboni about the lack of coaches with actual mlb experience?

Offline PowerBoater69

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #69 on: January 31, 2026, 05:26:24 pm »
Anyone ask Toboni about the lack of coaches with actual mlb experience?

Only Kolko asked the questions, which was a big disappointment, I was hoping the new guys would be willing to bring back fan direct questions.

Offline JCA-CrystalCity

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #70 on: January 31, 2026, 05:28:29 pm »
Anyone ask Toboni about the lack of coaches with actual mlb experience?
indirectly. Talked about the process of identifying coaches, and Kolko pressed him on bringing folks from Driveline into the coaching staff. I tried to get at that in reply ## 19, 20, & 33.

Offline varoadking

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #71 on: January 31, 2026, 05:39:28 pm »
He also spoke of building the foundations before the doors and windows, he really needs to get a new metaphor, he's saying that in every interview.

"Like I said before..."

Offline tomterp

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #72 on: January 31, 2026, 05:44:57 pm »

I ran into a writer from Talk Nats and he yelled to his friend "hey, it's Power Boater". Scared the crap out of me, how many people here hold grudges after 21 years.

Mistaken identity, some think you resemble the notorious Zimmm.    8)

Online Natsinpwc

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #73 on: January 31, 2026, 07:35:17 pm »
Bouncing his leg a lot, lots of energy. He gave the better interview of the two, he's a funny guy, if nothing else the pre and post game interviews are going to be better this year.
My wife would tell him she was going to cut his leg off to keep him from shaking out his luck.

Offline tomterp

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Re: Toboni's first Hot Stove Luncheon
« Reply #74 on: January 31, 2026, 08:16:49 pm »
Hassell is up 25 lbs.

Young put on a ton of muscle last offseason and did it get him even 1 mph better velocity off the bat?