The Nationals Enquirer

LOWE BLOW

"He just beat us. He just flat-out beat us."
(Willie Harris, via Washington Times, 7/27/2008)

Dodgers 6, NAAAts 0: The flat-out beat goes on...

Meanwhile...

Non-tender is the night: Chief accepts Jim's apology. Jim says: "Shame on me. I was on the radio, I wanted to tell the truth and I did. I should have no-commented and pulled away." Chief says: "I really did appreciate the fact that he did call me yesterday to apologize."

(Photo by Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images)

Jimbo says: "Chad, I'm sorry for being such an ass."

From Nationals dot com, Jim Bowden apologized to Chief and his agent for his latest act of ass-clownery:

"He called and apologized. It was pretty good of him to call," Cordero said about Bowden. "I had a pretty good idea that I would be non-tendered. I was upset that it was announced this early."

The Nationals Enquirer accepts your apology, too, Jim.

LAme.

.

"I definitely learned a lot today."
(John Lannan, via Washington Post, 7/26/2008)

Dodgers 3, NAAAts 2: Billingsley schools 'em. Lannan relearns the hard way that he needs to be perfect to win for this team.

Meanwhile...

Milledge (0-4) is back.

Guess we'll have to wait another day to check out the new closer.

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ENQUIRER EXCLUSIVE: RICHARD SIMMONS AS DA MEATHOOK'S PERSONAL TRAINER?

"Get 'em up! Here we go! I'm a Yankee Doodle DAAAAN-DEEEEE! Scissors! Now, rumble! And, rainbow! Oh, yeah, baby!"
(Richard Simmons, via Washington Post, 7/25/2008)

RICHARD SIMMONS TO BE DMITRI YOUNG'S PERSONAL TRAINER?

According to baseball sources, the Washington Nationals have found the answer to Dmitri Young's weight issues. The team is reportedly "close" to hiring Richard Simmons to be Young's personal trainer,in a last ditch effort to get Da Meathook back in "first class physical shape". Simmons, the 60 year old fitness legend, was in Washington yesterday for a hearing and a rally on the Hill. Stan Kasten unavailable for comment.

(Photo by Getty Images)

PUTTING THE ASS IN CLASSY

"Bowden never once made contact with myself or my agent before he announced it on the radio. I knew this was probably going to happen. For me, that's not the issue. The issue is how it went down. Five months away [from the non-tender deadline], only two weeks after I had surgery, that's what made this upsetting. It makes me kind of sad in a way. It's a little disrespectful."
(Chad Cordero, via Washington Post, 7/25/2008)

A little disrespectful? No surprises: Another PR mishap by Jimbo and the Nats.

The walking, talking public relations trainwreck rolls on...

The decision to non-tender Chief is a no-brainer. But Jimbo's choice of where and when to make the official announcement? What an a-hole. 

Clock's ticking, Jim. Seven days to (maybe) save your job...

(AP Photo by Evan Vucci)

0 FOR SAN FRANCISCO

"Definitely a tough loss. Redding pitched well enough to get three wins today."
(Willie Harrie Harris, via Washington Times, 7/25/2008)

Giants 1, NAAAts 0: Gem by Redding; but they blew it in the 9th. The good news is, the Giants aren't on the schedule again until 2009. SF sweeps season series.

That old, familiar refrain: Redding deserved better. Silver lining: trade value +.

Meanwhile...

Milledge back. Estrada, DFA. How will they get by with only 3 catchers!?

(Associated Press photo by Jeff Chiu)

Too much? Or too little?

A couple of interesting snippets from yesterday, as we continue over analyze the Bonifacio-for-Rauch trade.

First one is from yesterday's Boston Globe online. Seems the Red Sox were interested in Rauch, but Jimbo asked for two of their top prospects:

The Sox inquired about reliever Jon Rauch before he was traded by Washington to Arizona, but the Nationals were asking for top prospects Michael Bowden and Jed Lowrie

For what it's worth, Lowrie (ss) was ranked #5 in the Sox system by Baseball America; Bowden (rhp), ranked #7. So, that would constitute asking for too much?

Next one is a little tidbit from SI.com's Jon Heyman, who reports that, shockingly, Jimbo managed to piss off some other teams who feel he set the bar too low for the relief market as the Trade Deadline approaches:

But a couple executives with relievers to sell expressed annoyance that the Nationals dealt Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks for second-base prospect Emilio Bonifacio, claiming it wasn't enough for Rauch. "I was surprised that's all Washington got,'' one AL executive said.

So using these two examples as opposite ends of the spectrum (if one is too much, one too little), what would've been "just right"?

SETUP TO FAIL

 

"You can't do that in the eighth inning."
(Randy St. Claire, via Washington Post, 7/24/2008)

Giants 6, NAAAts 4: Ayala torches another win. Guess we'll have to wait another few days to get a look at the new closer.

Meanwhile...

• Chief to be non-tendered. NFA explains.
• MRI for Boone.
• Milledge back on Friday?
• Meet the new closer.
• Lo Duca to the Yankees? Please, please, let this happen!

(Photo by Michael Maloney / The SF Chronicle)

IN RIZZO WE TRUST

"I said, 'Is this 60 yards legit?' ... 'Or is this a Dominican 60 yards?' ''
(Mike Rizzo, via Washington Post, 7/23/2008)

"I love Jon Rauch. Very difficult. But you have to trade a reliever when you have a chance to get an everyday position player who's 23 in our long-term plan."
(Jim Bowden, via Washington Times, 7/23/2008)

Just one prospect.

The general theme we're picking up on out in world as folks try to absorb the Big Jon-for-Little Emilio deal is that the Nats should've gotten more for Jon Rauch. Just one prospect!!?!11? Underwhelming. A prospect who, by the looks of his minor league stats, is not just what the proverbial doctor ordered for an offensively challenged team. Rauch stands at 6' 11". Bonifacio 5' 10". Based on height alone, clearly the Nats got the short end of the stick.

This much seems clear: Emilio Bonifacio's got wheels and a good glove, and huge question marks about whether he'll develop into a major leage leadoff hitter. But he's a guy Mike Rizzo has been pining for much in the same way Jimbo pines for his ex-Reds. He's a building block. Given Rizzo's track record in picking players in AZ, we trust that he knows what he's doing. Could they have gotten more for Rauch? Maybe. Would it have made sense to wait another week to see if you could've netted a sweeter deal for Big Jon? Probably. But we're willing to assume that the guy who will be Jimbo's replacement in the very near future knows what he's doing. We're OK with this deal.

Video above, we have no idea what Emilio is saying -- did he just kick that reporter?

Here's Ryan Zimmerman's take, from his blog(s):

Sorry to see Jon Rauch go.  He is a good teammate and person.  He will help the Diamondbacks for their playoff push.  Good luck to him the rest of this season and beyond.

For us to get another 23 year old position player is great.  I don't know much about him but I can't wait to see him play.  I have heard he is the fastest guy in baseball and speed never goes in a slump.

Wheels don't slump, baby!

Ken Rosenthal's take on the trade over at Fox Sports dot com is worth a read (his comments on the Guzman deal are worth your time, too):

Some rival scouts and executives...only project Bonfacio as a utility man. Others were baffled that the Nats were locked in on acquiring a second baseman for Rauch.

GIANT LETDOWN

"It really was the difference in the game...The runs were there for us. Molina had my number today. I tried each time he came up to throw something different. My approach wasn't there."
(Jason Bergmann, via Washington Times, 7/23/2008)

Giants 6, NAAAts 3: Zimmerman back, but long layoff, long balls kill Bergmann.

(AP Photo/Ben Margot)