OK, this has gotten ridiculous.
Ever since the news that the FBI was investigating Jim Bowden (among others) regarding unethical and potentially illegal actions in the Dominican Republic, we have heard spin/opinions/demands from everywhere.
Stan Kasten has made his cryptic comments about how this is just the tip of the iceberg and that the rest of the story is much bigger than what little we already know.
Last year, Jim Bowden repeatedly stated his innocence.
There has been more than enough comments made from the media, both locally and nationally.
Every blogger and their cousin has weighed in with their thoughts.
But we have heard absolutely nothing from the one person that counts.
Ted Lerner.
I know he prefers to keep a low profile and let Kasten and his son Mark do most of the talking, but we have reached the point now where the big man needs to step up to the microphone and say something.
Mr. Lerner needs to come forward and do one of two things
- Let everyone in MLB know that Bowden has his full support, allowing Bowden to do his job without having to repeatedly answer questions about his job security; or,
- Fire him and move on with a new person in charge
The Nationals have been spinning their wheels internationally since this news broke last year.
They lost any momentum they had in the Dominican Republic. In fact, they probably are worse off in the Dominican than they were when they relocated to Washington. It’s not unreasonable to expect that players and their buscones in the Dominican are going to be hesitant to involve themselves with an organization involved in an FBI investigation when there are other teams available to them. This is only compounded when the man in charge appears as isolated as Bowden is quickly becoming.
I don’t believe the Nationals can move forward with Bowden as the GM, not just because of the ongoing FBI investigation, more for the fact that perception becomes reality and what I’m seeing is a GM who follows up a good move with a series of foul-ups and mistakes. But my opinion is wholly irrelevant as are 99% of the things we have heard/read.
Mr. Lerner needs to make the final decision on what he believes is best for the Nationals moving forward.
And he needs to do it now.
UPDATE: Chico Harlan got a new quote from Kasten this morning about support for Bowden:
“Listen, I support everyone who works for the Washington Nationals all the time, period. But we’re not going to talk about things that are going on away from here that I have no control or involvement in. I’ve told you, I am gonna allow the process to play out. We’ll allow the chips to fall where they may, and we’re going to look at things honestly and deal with them as is appropriate.”
“Allow the process to play out” … Sigh. This is not good news going forward. These types of investigations have no real expiration date. The story is not going away and Bowden is going to be forced to do his job, keeping one eye on the Feds. He is in charge of making decisions that will resonate with this organization for years and “The Plan” just waits and hopes for the best.
“Allow the chips to fall where they may” … Kasten is OK with gambling a huge year developmentally on this unknown. The Nats have younger players like Ryan Zimmerman quickly approaching free agency. They have two picks in the top 10 of the 2009 draft. They have a Dominican presence that needs to be overhauled. And the guy in charge of the baseball operations is facing a potential indictment.
#1 by Steven - February 23rd, 2009 at 12:21
ditto, Brian.
#2 by Ben - February 23rd, 2009 at 12:34
This is clearly the most sensible blog post anyone has made on this issue. You can’t have a FO in paralysis at this stage of the season.
Although I certainly er… on the side of firing him.
#3 by Pilchard - February 23rd, 2009 at 12:42
Completely agree.
This scandal has caused massive harm to this franchise.
When the Lerner’s took over, the DR was supposed to be a cornerstone of the Nats’ player development “plan”. Early on, the Nats touted their state of the art facility in the DR that Rijo was running, and Smiley was trumpeted to be the first trickle of a coming flood of international talent flowing to the organization. Since Smiley signed, and it’s now apparent because Smiley signed, the Nats have done nothing of significance in the DR or anywhere else outside of the US to improve the talent within the system.
Even small market teams like Oakland and Cincy have made large investments in international talent over the last year, while the Nats have stayed on the sidelines (either unable to act because of the Smiley mess or afraid to do so). As juicy as the dirty details of the Smiley scandal are, Brian has hit on the bigger story: the impact of all this on a franchise that claimed to be investing its resources in player development.
The Nats need to start over in the DR and other international hot spots to try to catch up with the rest of MLB. That starts with dumping Bowden and finding a GM that knows how to assemble the necessary staff to scout and sign international talent.
FWIW, my fear is that the organization which has had the reputation (fair or not) as being rinky-dink in the way that they treat their front office personnel and scouts, will have a hard time landing the person to fix this mess.
#4 by Dick - February 23rd, 2009 at 13:03
Love the ‘perception becomes reality’ comment. That is where I am on all this. JimBow has certainly become a distraction and regardless of the reasons, I am quite confident we can find other GMs who could have assembled a team that lost 102 games.
Having said that, I can’t figure out what is new about today’s revelations compared to things you have been posting for what seems like years now. I need to wean myself from reading dead trees.
#5 by CapPeterson - February 23rd, 2009 at 13:17
Brian,
Good points.
As for our DR operation, the references to a Mr. Baez in today’s WaPo confused me. He is in charge of our DR operations? How come nobody’s ever heard of him? What is his relationship with Jose Rijo? The more we learn, the murkier this situation is becoming.
#6 by Brian Oliver - February 23rd, 2009 at 13:28
Cap – Rijo owns the academy while Baez operates it. From what I can gather, Rijo owns the facilities and has Baez to run the day-to-day activities.
#7 by Nats fan in NJ - February 23rd, 2009 at 13:50
Brian – Couldn’t agree more. Perception is reality and, at this point, Bowden is perceived as dead man walking. Lerner has to show leadership here (either Ted or Mark).
#8 by Wally - February 23rd, 2009 at 14:05
Brian – excellent post. I agree completely.
#9 by Marcus - February 23rd, 2009 at 14:21
Totally agree Brian…I also don’t understand why Bowden is being allowed to speak on any baseball matters during this time…He’s been quoted in the Oliver releasing and several other pieces someone else needs to be speaking for the franchise!!
#10 by CapPeterson - February 23rd, 2009 at 14:33
Thanks for clarification, Brian, and link to Cincinnati Enquirer.
Related question: do you know if the Nationals-Rijo situation–Rijo owns facility rather than the Nats directly–is common in the DR or other Latin countries?
#11 by VladiHondo - February 23rd, 2009 at 14:42
Actually there are (or have been) several teams operating from Rijo’s facility. Our 2, plus San Diego and Detroit.
SD may have moved out to its own complex now. I believe there are several teams that share complexes in the DR, and probably Venezuela (which with our tattered rep in DR, is where we should try to make up for our DR failings).
#12 by VladiHondo - February 23rd, 2009 at 14:44
PS – Rijo built the facility years before the Nats moved in, so the Nats do not own it.
#13 by CapPeterson - February 23rd, 2009 at 15:25
Thanks all.
#14 by phil dunn - February 23rd, 2009 at 15:35
The secretive Ted Lerner is going on 84. In your heart of hearts, do you really think he cares about the GM mess? If he really cared, he would never allowed Bowden’s contract to be extended when he bought the team back in 2006.
#15 by Tofu Dog - February 23rd, 2009 at 16:19
Well said. Whether Ted Lerner issues a public statement or has Kasten render the Lerner family’s position, they need to make a statement before the season begins. Bowden’s cloudy future cannot drag on endlessly without harming the team. If they want to make a positive statement about Bowden they should let a trade or signing speak for itself. That would in effect say that the team is not frozen by the effects of the investigation.
#16 by Embarassed - February 23rd, 2009 at 16:42
I wrote up a long-winded response about how someone must be held accountable for what has happened. It just turned out as an incoherent rant about the abysmal state of the organization, so I decided to delete it.
In the end, I guess it would have been appropriate given the National’s incoherent response to this mess.
Bust out your paper bags….
#17 by Tom - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:16
As someone who deals with the public all the time I would say the Nationals (Lerners) are absolutely doing the right thing – speaking with one voice. Some people may not like that, but Stan is the voice of the corporation and he is doing his job as best he can. If you do not think the Lerners are involved behind the scenes in this mess you are severely mistaken.
#18 by Brian Oliver - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:25
Tom – I would hope and assume that the Lerners are engaged behind the scenes. The issue I continue to have is the the very anemic quotes coming from Kasten (and ostensibly the Lerners).
The bottom line really is this, has Bowden demonstrated enough in what he has accomplished in his four plus years on the job to offset the negative stuff that comes along with it. I know my answer and I am just concerned with how long it is taking Kasten (and the Lerners) from coming up with their own response. The perception of a form of “paralysis” on their part is of concern.
#19 by Rocket Surgeon - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:42
First-hand scouting reports on Strasburg, Cole, and Green at http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/news/2009/267692.htmlrst
#20 by Tom - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:45
Read between Stan Kasten’s lines “this is a federal investigation I (we) cannot say anything yet. Further, taking any action at this point my also jeopardize the investigation.”
I would not be surprised if Jose Rio feels more comfortable on his home Dominican Republic soil right now. So he probably asked for the leave of absence on his own.
#21 by Jeff E. - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:48
Timing is everything. I am sure that Kasten is communication with the Lerners and perhaps now is not the time to speak. Further down the road. does Kasten jettison Bowden and Rijo then choose between an in-house replacement or tap into his ATL days connections. time will truly tell.
#22 by Pilchard - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:50
If the facility that the Nats use in the DR is owned by Rijo and if Rijo is fired/leaves, will the Nats need to find a new facility in the DR?
#23 by Brian Oliver - February 23rd, 2009 at 17:59
Pilchard – I would hope they would find a new location/connection regardless of Rijo’s disposition. There is too much stuff swirling around there right now. A turn of the page might be the best option for the Nats.
#24 by Pilchard - February 23rd, 2009 at 18:12
How bad have the Nats done in acquiring international talent under Jim Bowden as GM?
In the most recent BA listing of the Nats top 31 prospects, here are the players that are not from the US/Canada/Puerto Rico (i.e., those subject to the MLB draft):
18 Roger Bernadina – Signed by the Expos in 2001 (yes, 2001) long before Bowden brought in his international scouting crew.
That’s it for the Nats top 31 prospects: 1 fraud and 1 signed by the Expos (and it’s not like the organization is teeming with talent as the consensus is that the talent does not rank in the top half of MLB). For clarification, #21 Marco Estrada was born in Mexico, but moved to the US, went to LB State and was drafted in the 2005; #27 Luis Atilano was born in PR, drafted by the Braves and acquired by the Nats.
So, in the 4 years that Bowden has run this franchise with his cronies in the DR and elsewhere, the Nats have failed to sign a single legit prospect in the DR, Venezuela, Panama, Far East, Australia or another locale not covered by the draft.
Virtually impossible for any MLB franchise to have a more miserable record of acquiring international talent over the 4 year period that Bowden has run the organization. IOW, even without the swirling fraud allegations, there is plenty of evidence that the Nats international scouting operation under Bowden has been an abject disaster.
#25 by Louis J - February 23rd, 2009 at 19:22
While these “issues” are “working themselves out”, the Kasten/Lerner need to put Bowden on Administrative Leave while they figure out their end game with him and make Mike Rizzo the acting GM with the game plan to make him a permanent GM by year end.
Next Kasten/Rizzo need to re-organize their Latin America operation with new people.
Also, Kasten/Rizzo need to re-evaluate the remaining “Cincinnati Connection” in the organization to ascertain who else must go.
Finally, Stan Kasten needs to be given the control of this team (away from Mark Lerner) or he should consider moving on.
#26 by estuartj - February 23rd, 2009 at 21:43
God, I would love to talk about baseball for at least one day.
How about we guess where the Nats top 5 prospects start the season;
#27 by Wally - February 23rd, 2009 at 22:23
Good grief! The Nats Journal just said that the Lerners are hoping that the MLB investigation comes up with something on Bowden so that they can fire him. Really? If that is accurate (and I acknowledge it may not be), it has to be the weakest example of leadership I can recall.
#28 by Pilchard - February 23rd, 2009 at 23:47
What the Lerners want is a basis to fire Bowden with cause which would allow the Lerners to terminate him without paying the balance of his contract. They can fire whenever they want, but unless he violates the terms of their agreement (like committing fraud or skimming money from the team), they would still have to pay him.
#29 by Mark F. - February 23rd, 2009 at 23:54
Brian sure covered his “hunch guesses” on the farm depth chart. Good third eye, Brian. This afternoon I spoke with a buddy who works for Sporting News in Charlotte discussing the possible post Bowden executive office decisions IF Kasten plays his velvet glove effect: someone suggested Izzo ( keep him on the scouting perch), but since Kasten could use an old friend to bridge the leadership gap towards tomorrow ( FDR is SO outdated)-why not give Chuck LeMar an interim tag as he grooms one of the young turks already in-house. Cyberly speaking, I am among many who are six degrees seperated from the true soap opera spinning in DC. Part of that desperation for getting a Latin op started up sure stemmed from the chokehold MLB29/Selig had on the expo ops post Jim Fleming and CO. now in FLA. back to my Victor Fleming bio written by a fabulous writer from the Baltimore Sun -movie critic.
#30 by Jeff E. - February 24th, 2009 at 00:09
What was the lyric by Don Henley: “lawyers clean up all details”??? estuartj; go along with Brian’s gut guess about Marrero @ POTNATs who should be fielding throws from SS/ Dan Lyons. what a neat possible collection Jewitt will have on hand. a new body in the GM seat should begin by trimming the excess: No MO Pena, decide on DYoung as a player/coach or swindle a team into his sweet swing later in the year. Kasten sure dropped a hint that there is desire in moving some talent from the excess. time plus tragedy always ends up with some humor down the road…..
#31 by Jane - February 24th, 2009 at 06:45
Jordan Zimmermann should be starting the season in Syracuse.
#32 by estuartj - February 24th, 2009 at 09:34
Why Syracuse for J-Zim? I would like to keep him closer to home so he and St. Claire can work together on off days. He can also work up his confidence working with other prospects at AA instead of fighting with AAAA players who can give a pitcher headaches, but aren’t the bashers he’ll face in the NL-East.
#33 by Andrew Z. Stebbins - February 24th, 2009 at 11:46
estuartj – They wouldn’t have hired their AAA pitching coach or Spin Williams (org. guy) if they didn’t think they could work with guys like Jordan.
He could also work up his confidence (which I’m sure isn’t low to begin with) by pitching well against more advanced competition…a headache is a good thing if he can learn something from it and use it at the next, and biggest, level.
#34 by Tom - February 24th, 2009 at 19:35
McCatty (at Syracuse) is the best pitching coach in the system. Look at the work he does getting pitchers ready for the move from the minors to the majors. The Nats are lucky no other teams have offered him more to leave. (Minor league coaching contracts are normally only one year.)