Nationals Farm Authority

Another thought, didn’t DiPoto replace Rizzo when he left the Snakes to come to DC?

I wish the Knobler quote had included the words ‘if offered’; ‘when offered’ or ’since they just offered it to me’.

Wow, harsh sauce from BP, but seems on point.

Based upon my limited exposure to the Arizona D-backs organization, that was my thought. The D-backs were loaded with talent at the time Rizzo departed (not familiar enough with the interworkings of that organization to know whether Rizzo gets all the credit for that). Since Rizzo has left, the D-backs from an organizational development prospective seem to be in a major decline (trading 5 of your top 10 prospects for Dan Haren will do that).

Other than a 10,000 foot view (which favors Rizzo), very had to assess whether Dipoto or Rizzo would make more sense for the long-term interests of the Nats, but I hope (but doubt) that once the decision is official, the Lerners or Kasten give a detailed explanation for the choice that was made.

One quick thought: a great scouting/PD guy – as was Rizzo’s rep at AZ (still too early here) – doesn’t NECESSARILY make a great GM. I have seen comments in the media that Rizzo isn’t pefect in a face-the-media capacity, for example. Also not clear how much of the SS signing was Rizzo vs Kasten (though his decent Boras relationship certainly didn’t hurt at all).

Obviously would be ideal if we could have both Rizzo and “Dippy” (and Kasten too, of course). If Dipoto were brought in as GM, per reports, any chance Rizzo would stick around as Head of Scouting/PD — and maybe a couple other things to add to his resume – maybe with a title of “Associate GM/Scouting Dir.”??

I like Brian’s “guess” above – keeping all three with Rizzo senior to DiPoto. But what then is the incentive for DiPoto to make that move? The NBC Washington linked article says he’s very well thought of and apparently has been a candidate for a couple GM jobs.

FWIW, could care less if Stan Kasten left the Nats. I don’t think he brings much to the table. Even if his role is limited to PR type of stuff, he has made his fair share of gaffes and don’t see him being particularly effective given the amount that I assume he is being paid.

Put another way, if Stan Kasten left the Nats tomorrow, I don’t think that Nats long term future would suffer any adverse impact.

ESPN says the Dipoto rumor is false.

VladiHondo :I’m firmly in the DiPoto camp – Rizzo was the one who decided on our initial craptastci bullpen – he keep all the stiffs who had no options, instead of the best pitchers. Rizzo made us suffer through Wil Ledezma, Kip Wells, and tortured us with Logan Kensing (TWICE!!). Let me say Julian Tavarez. Ha, made ya flinch! He was too quick with judgements – dumps Shell about his “aura” after he’s pitched 5 whole innings. Think Hinckley was let go too early. He’s sent down and called up Bergmann twice, when he allowed 0 runs in ST. I think he panicked and dealt Gascanrahan too soon, his BABIP was WAY too high, bound to come down.

What has DiPoto done to make you so quick to slob his knob? Arizona is horrible right now under his watch.

Chico’s new report over at NJ is encouraging, suggesting that Rizzo’s chances are better than the Yahoo! report makes out.

This is a little off-topic, but I got wondering about deadline deals generally, after thinking about Rizzo on the phone to Boras at 11:58:43pm. I wonder if anyone could explain physically how these deadline deals get finished.

Specifically, when the two sides strike the verrbal deal right against the deadline, say with 77 seconds left, they’ve got to reduce a somewhat complicated multi-year payout to writing, capture any other terms that were negotiated, such as a major-league deal, agreed spring training invites, September callups, scholarships to Stanford, no-trade clauses (not likely for a draftee, but there are other deadline deals too), options, buyouts, etc. Then they’ve got to make sure both sides think it’s right, and fax the product into the Commissioner’s office.

All with only a few seconds to go before the deadline.

This is probably a rookie question, but how does all that happen so quickly?

Brian, could it be that MLB will accept the basic parameters of the deal, specifically money, knowing that the i dotting and t crossing parts of the contract will be submitted after 12am?

I like Mike Rizzo, and would probably give him the job, but it is by no means a slam dunk. I think that the Needham article that Brian linked to is right on point. On personnel evaluations, he generally seems right, especially when you acknowledge that it is a batting average kind of thing, not a 100% hit rate (meaning that I think that he bears some responsibility for a number of the recent draft picks not developing like we hoped). He strikes me as having a philosophy like the Minn Twins, which is fine. His dealings with Boras and Co show that he can operate in the 21st century. So substantively, pretty good.

On the other hand, Chris is correct that he has needlessly badmouthed players, which serves no purpose that I can see other than to get some of us fans to feel like we are simpatico with him. He also has, in the past, engaged in some hyperbole a la Jimbo (I think he said something like Kip Wells passed his physical ‘in every way imaginable’). I don’t see the point in alienating players like that, even one who is not performing. And he does not seem comfortable with the interview process. Maybe these are just growing pains for him.

So he seems like substance over style, which is why I would probably give him the job, but a GM is usually the most public face of the organization and making errors there could impact how the organization is viewed, especially by players.

Brian Oliver :

I believe there is a computer system they enter the basic parameters of the deal in. Not sure how detailed it is

Yeah, you can email or fax contract details to the commissioner’s office. The agent notifies the union if it’s a major league contract.

While Needham is right that the Nats have to pick the best guy, I just don’t see how you can make a case that Dipoto should replace Rizzo.

If Rizzo had never taken the assistant/interim GM job here, we’d be talking about two guys with exactly the same credential: both were VP of player development for the Diamondbacks. The evidence seems pretty clear that Rizzo did a better job in that capacity than Dipoto has.

While there might be individual nits to pick with Rizzo here, he has at least on net been successful in DC. Does anyone seriously think his tenure here should make him less of a candidate? If that’s true, then he’s way ahead of Dipoto .

That said, if Dipoto is coming here to work with Rizzo, and both are on board, then let the celebrating begin.

VladiHondo :

Chris :

VladiHondo :I’m firmly in the DiPoto camp . . . .

What has DiPoto done to make you so quick to slob his knob? Arizona is horrible right now under his watch.

Thanks for your “deep” insight! Bet the 7th grade girls all think you’re so cute! Please tweet your BFF Rizzo how much you love him, maybe he’ll agree to be your BFF, too!

Ha, nicely done Vladi. My post was pretty childish, even if it was made in jest. For that, I apologize. Seriously though, why the love fest with Dipoto?

That’s a quote from Phil Wood

Maybe Rizzo leaked the Dipoto story to give him leverage to get his formal naming and contract done fast, the team didn’t want to have this mess up the Strasburg feel good moment. Careful Stan, you may be the “proud papa”, but that skill works both ways!

If Rizzo is indeed the GM now, that is very good news to me. This week of adding Strasburg and naming Rizzo the GM, answers some credibility and stability issues that have been plagued the Nats.