ESPN’s Jose Arangure tweeted
“Heard Jeff Zona might be leading candidate for #Nationals international scouting director gig. He’s a pro scout currently with Nats.”
Back in 2007, he was promoted to Special Assignment Scout within the Professional Scouting Department. Prior to that, he was the Nats East Coast Crosschecker. He is a former player who worked with Boston as the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, and is credited with signing outfielder Trot Nixon and right-handed pitcher Cla Meredith during his tenure there.
#1 by JayB - October 10th, 2009 at 12:17
Nationals dismiss Cedeno, Gale, Stearns …per Ladson…..Brian, It sure seems like the Rizzo is going to clean house in a big way. Recall Spring Training when Cedeno, Cardenal, and Grissom were the ones charged with allowing Milledge to reach his potential in CF…..They were quoted as saying how much progress Lastings has made and how hard he works….Acta made him the CF and then we all know what happened…….Rizzo has a long memory it seems.
I see at least 25 jobs being turned over in the next few months. I think Eckstien is the only current MLB coach who stays. Riggelman is toast.
#2 by Brian Oliver - October 10th, 2009 at 12:29
I saw that Ladson post yesterday. I have to admit that I am disappointed in the Stearns news. I liked him personally and found he was a valuable assessor of talent.
#3 by BinM - October 10th, 2009 at 12:49
I was suprised to see that Stearns had been let go; I thought he did an admirable job of turning HAR around after their horrid start.
#4 by JayB - October 10th, 2009 at 13:19
What the Stearns move tells me is that Rizzo likes very little about the current player development staff and process. Who could blame Rizzo for this view.
Time after time prospects have come to MLB Spring Training or to MLB as call ups with no clue how to play the game. They miss cut off men they don’t call pop ups they run into outs they walk lead off men. Rizzo wants a Nationals way of playing baseball and it is not what he sees day being taught year after year by this current staff.
Change is what is coming for sure, now who are the new people…..that is what I want to see.
#5 by cass - October 10th, 2009 at 14:31
Anyone heard anything about Strasburg’s start in Florida today? I can’t find anything about it.
#6 by cass - October 10th, 2009 at 15:36
Aha! The Washington Times has his linescore, via a Nats PR email.
3 IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 6K
http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/chatter/2009/oct/10/strasburg-impressive-in-second-start/
Awesome. Hope we can get more details (and video?) later via space coast baseball or the like.
#7 by Jeff E. - October 10th, 2009 at 20:08
Chip Hale let go by D-backs!!!
#8 by Jeff E. - October 10th, 2009 at 20:09
flush the Bowden bowl and start anew.
#9 by Brandon - October 11th, 2009 at 01:45
did strat pitch today?
#10 by Jane - October 11th, 2009 at 05:42
John Stearns, thanks for all of your hard work and autographs, when you were in Harrisburg! You will be missed!!
#11 by Dick Salmon - October 11th, 2009 at 09:52
Went to the FIL game yesterday in Kissimmee. The guy the Nats started looked pretty good. Appears to be a ground ball pitcher! That is, when they don’t strike out. Gave up a lead-off double into the gap in the third inning. An up the middle grounder brought him home. 41 pitches in 3 innings, 30 strikes.
This kid Encarnacion threw real well, too. He’s a 17-year old so thin he has to run around in the shower to get wet.
#12 by markfd - October 11th, 2009 at 16:30
Very disappointed to see John Stearns leave the organization.
#13 by VladiHondo - October 11th, 2009 at 22:04
Now a report Dana Brown hired by the new Toronto GM – from a Toronto writer:
#14 by Andrew Stebbins - October 11th, 2009 at 23:26
Roy Clark should be coming over from Atlanta. Would be an excellent hire.
#15 by JayB - October 12th, 2009 at 08:52
And the beat goes on…..When does Instructional League end…..that should be the last day for Spin and Boone.
#16 by Dick - October 12th, 2009 at 13:16
JayB: Tomorrow, Tuesday is last day for instructional league.
#17 by WebberDC - October 13th, 2009 at 14:08
Brian -
Pretty sure it is “Jorge” Arangure, not “Jose.”