Well, hopefully this ices it and Bowden's out the door. Kasten should have never offered him an extension in the first place.

Can the Nationals just fire him now?

Please.

(Yes, I know there is still nothing official but c'mon now)

WOOHOO!

I haven't felt this good about being a Nats fan since the day they optioned Endy to the minors!

Someplace, somewhere, Mike Rizzo is lighting up a cigar

An offensive explosion tonight, and now this bit of news.

Why does Bowden induce such vitriol here? I know the Nats aren't very good but can that really be pinned on Bowden?

@kevin - His personality. He is a preening schmoe to the core.

That explains how he could afford the Segway

Man, that would be a bummer. Bowden I have no opinions about one way or the other, but Jose Rijo was one of my favorite players in the early '90s.

Bowden's done an ok job over the last two years or so, but that's been in a system where he's reigned in and limited in what he can do. If he's got adult supervision, he's perfectly meh.

He does take a lot of unnecessary abuse. But face it, the guy's a major league jackass in how he acts, treats people, and carries himself.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Rijo made $33,762,499 over his career. If these allegations are true, something else may be going on with him.

Why is it not stunning that Bowden is in a scandal involving toolsy outfielders?

Also, he should have his children taken away from him.

You see, he was skimming the money so he could sign more toolsy outfielders. It's a drug I tell you. Ruben Mateo was just a gateway, like marijuana, then you move on to harder stuff like Alex Escobar, the risk is greater cos of injuries, but the upside is so huge, then you move on to the hardest stuff of all, Elijah Dukes, he's a head-case, but his potential is off the charts, and once that happens you are done. Elijah Dukes is heroin to scouting oriented GM's.

Why does Bowden induce such vitriol here? I know the Nats aren't very good but can that really be pinned on Bowden?

It's two parts.

Firstly Bowden was not a very good GM with the Reds, and so he is not just being judged on his tenure with the Nationals.

Secondly, Bowden is a very visible GM. And people here hate anyone in a managerial position who is in any way visible*. Hence TLR gets so much hatred even though he's such a great manager.

*IMO because a lot of people here think they could do that job oh-so-much better.

Wasn't it Bowden who once made an analogy between the 9/11 hijackers and the players' union? I remember in the last really contentious labor negotiation (2002?) some GM made a comment about if they're willing to strike that's like crashing planes into the towers. Something vaguely like that.

I hope Bowden gets sent up the river, freaking stole Flores from us. That's what bad karma can do ...

Yep. That was PT Bowden

Bowden likens MLB strife to 9-11; then apologizes for insensitivity

Reds general manager Jim Bowden apologized after opening himself to criticism - and a fine of up to $1 million from Major League Baseball - for saying that if the players' union goes on strike, “they ought to just pick Sept. 11th, because that's what it's going to do to the game.”

Speaking to reporters in the Cinergy Field clubhouse before Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Mr. Bowden said he didn't think there would be a work stoppage because, “I don't think anybody's that dumb.”

“If they (the players) do walk out ... I encourage all of them, "Make sure it's Sept. 11th. Be symbolic about it. Let (union head) Donald Fehr drive the plane right into the building, if that's what they want him to do,' ” Mr. Bowden said, referring to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

I'd think you'd be just as ticked off at him for foisting Schneider on you!

Hey Chris, I told you that the Nats would suffer under the curse of Flores.

- More people watching the Weather Channel than the Nationals on TV.
- The owners trying to be deliquent squatters in their new ballpark.
- Now your GM is embezzling on the team.

The Nationals will continue to rot in purgatory until they return Flores to his rightful franchise.

So the greedy @#$#@ aren't making money? Who cares!

Did you see the rocket he hit the other day? That big pinch-hit bomb against Arizona? Nothing finer in the world than leaning against a railing, eating some gelato and watching the stud who's going to lead your team to success in 2017 rip one deeeep to the bullpen with two strikes.

Besides, the weather channel is pretty compelling! Given my choice, I'd rather have Jim Cantore out there more than Luis Ayala.

One of the more amusing parts of the SABR convention (to me at least) involved Jose Rijo...

Are they guilty? One word: Youneverknow.

From a comment on the WaPo's Nats blog... (not vouching for it -- just passing it along)

I worked as an independent agent, or "buscone", for the past two years in the Dominican Republic and I can attest to some questionable dealings in my time there. I had the unique opportunity to see the Nationals' unit in action first hand as an American in the DR. I worked with nearly 20 teams, including the Nationals' people at Loma del Sueno. I'm not absolving other teams of guilt, but I found Washington's group of scouts to be the worst of any team I came across--on many levels. As a Washingtonian and Nationals fan, I was embarrassed first, then out right disgusted. One scout in particular from Juan Baron, Palenque has developed quite a notorious reputation in his hometown. I know that from dealings with players and trainers. The organization seems to have far-reaching problems and it's sad to see our team's foundation crumbling beneath us.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Rijo made $33,762,499 over his career. If these allegations are true, something else may be going on with him.

Why? Rich people can't be greedy and stupid?

Are they guilty? One word: Youneverknow.

Perfect line.

For a story about Jouquin Andujar.

I think.

How do you think they got that way to begin with? (Well, greedy, anyway.)

Firstly Bowden was not a very good GM with the Reds, and so he is not just being judged on his tenure with the Nationals.

Secondly, Bowden is a very visible GM. And people here hate anyone in a managerial position who is in any way visible*. Hence TLR gets so much hatred even though he's such a great manager.

*IMO because a lot of people here think they could do that job oh-so-much better.

Have you ever met this man? I have. I hate him not because I believe I am smarter or could be a better GM but because the man is an incomprehensible piece of shite. A total fcuker. He is someone to wish jail upon.

But hey, nothing like a sweeping generalization to indict sweeping generalizations.

And in case Stan Kasten's ulcer isn't big enough tonight...

1 person was killed on one of the shuttle buses the team uses to get fans from the parking lots at RFK to the new stadium.

Wasn't Rijo moaning about not getting a contract in the off-season or not getting some payments for a baseball academy he ran in the DR? Could this all have started over that?

Even with two shutouts over the past three games, you can't escape the feeling that this franchise has a cloud over its head, like that Joe Somebody in "L'il Abner." (And no, Jesus Flores being here has nothing to do with it.)

Boy, with all that's gone down this past week, I'd call Phil Wood on WTEM this morning and ask him to explain the ramifications...but oops, you can't do that anymore. (Oh well, maybe the host will let me discuss the Redskins' depth at right tackle.)

Have you ever met this man? I have. I hate him not because I believe I am smarter or could be a better GM but because the man is an incomprehensible piece of shite. A total fcuker. He is someone to wish jail upon.

But hey, nothing like a sweeping generalization to indict sweeping generalizations.

Maybe that's why you don't like him, but I'm going to bet that most people here don't know him personally, so that's irrelevant to why he's generally disliked here.

By the way I hold no candle for Bowden. However his time as Nats GM is fascinating because he's made trades that look completely inspired - Kearns and Lopez for a couple of middle relievers, Church/Schneider for Milledge, Dukes for Glenn Gibson. I didn't like the Pena move but a lot of people here put it into the same category at the time. Every one of these trades was widely regarded here as completely ripping off the other team, but all of them (except Dukes) have so far been a complete disaster. Do you give him credit for being a brilliant trader and put subsequent performance down to "luck"? or do you say that the reason he was able to acquire these players so cheaply is because the other 29 GMs realised things about these players that Bowden didn't? I honestly have no idea, but I'm fascinated.

Wasn't Rijo moaning about not getting a contract in the off-season or not getting some payments for a baseball academy he ran in the DR? Could this all have started over that?

I thought that was Torres, which was why he's no longer on the Pirates.

I vaguely remember something with Rijo, now that you mention it. A quick search isn't pulling up anything. The Post did a story on his Dominican academy, but it's not in there.

Anyway, if Jim Bowden goes, it's going to be a sad day. Which other General Manager would give a press conference to discuss farting?

@AlouGoodbye - I know of a few others with similar experiences. Add to that, his reputation among fellow GMs is not that impressive. There have been GMs who have publicly ripped him.

He is a good quote, works tirelessly, and can be innovative at times.

It's all the other stuff that ruins his perception. And most of that stuff appears to be self-created.

Do you give him credit for being a brilliant trader and put subsequent performance down to "luck"? or do you say that the reason he was able to acquire these players so cheaply is because the other 29 GMs realised things about these players that Bowden didn't?

A lot of people are very impressed with Manny Acta, but when so many different players underperfom, you have to wonder about the manager and coaching staff. Ryan Zimmerman hasn't improved an inch since his rookie year, either. You could add Kearns and Lopez to that list, too; they haven't been disasters, but they're both in what should be their primes (both age 28, born within eight days of each other in May 1980), and they've both been disappointments.

Alfonso Soriano was widely expected to flop in D.C., but he exceeded expectations. Of course, that was when Frank Robinson was still the manager.

I hate him not because I believe I am smarter or could be a better GM but because the man is an incomprehensible piece of shite. A total fcuker. He is someone to wish jail upon.

Now if you're going to get all dramatic, you're gonna have to provide more details.

Which other General Manager would give a press conference to discuss farting?

thats just awesome. I am in tears laughing.

A lot of people are very impressed with Manny Acta, but when so many different players underperfom, you have to wonder about the manager and coaching staff. Ryan Zimmerman hasn't improved an inch since his rookie year, either. You could add Kearns and Lopez to that list, too; they haven't been disasters, but they're both in what should be their primes (both age 28, born within eight days of each other in May 1980), and they've both been disappointments.

I've got my doubts about Manny. (He's stuck more on the 1999 version of Prospectus more than anything.) But judging him based on this team probably isn't fair because of the last part of that first sentence: the coaching staff.

Acta has almost no control over his coaching staff, and the current hitting coach, Lenny Harris, appears to be a disaster. He got the job last year when Mitchell Paige fell off the wagon, despite not having any experience in the minors.

You cannot find one player on the team -- other than Guzman who had corrective eye AND shoulder surgery -- who's living up to expectations or even doing what they've done in the past. It was really clear early on that he was imparting an opposite-field approach in all the batters, urging them (as he did as a PHer) to hit the first strike they saw, regardless of quality. They have almost NO plan at the plate. Some of that's improved of late, but it was tough to watch for the first two months.

Kearns (I'm still a fanboy) is going to be interesting to watch. He just had a bunch of gunk cleared out of his elbow. He said they found more than he expected and that he's probably been playing through it for the last two seasons.

Small sample size, of course, but he's hitting .321 .441 .500 since he came off the DL. He won't hit that all season, but there's reason to believe that point forward he's going to perform more like the expectations than what he's done over the last two years.

However his time as Nats GM is fascinating because he's made trades that look completely inspired - Kearns and Lopez for a couple of middle relievers, Church/Schneider for Milledge, Dukes for Glenn Gibson. I didn't like the Pena move but a lot of people here put it into the same category at the time. Every one of these trades was widely regarded here as completely ripping off the other team, but all of them (except Dukes) have so far been a complete disaster.

I think the Kearns trade should be regarded as a W for Bowden. Milledge is a W as well - Church's season is done and Schneider lost his job.

You cannot find one player on the team -- other than Guzman who had corrective eye AND shoulder surgery -- who's living up to expectations or even doing what they've done in the past.

Perhaps it's a minor quibble, but I think Dukes was before he got hurt. I recognize the sample size issues, but even when he wasn't hitting all that well in the beginning of the season, he didn't appear to be affected by Lenny Harris. Having said that, I definitely agree that Harris hasn't worked out and wonder if Bowden would give Acta some leeway to let him go, if not now, then at least at the end of the season.

Your point regarding Acta in your first paragraph is an excellent one that I haven't seen brought up anywhere yet. For what it's worth, I do think he handled the Dukes' situation in Pittsburgh really well all things considered.

I think the Kearns trade should be regarded as a W for Bowden. Milledge is a W as well - Church's season is done and Schneider lost his job.

I wasn't looking at these trades so much in what the Nats gave up - which in all cases wasn't much - but rather what they got back. Now the Milledge trade is obviously too soon to tell - you can't write the guy off because of one bad half-season, he's under the Nats control for years to come. But right now it doesn't look good. And it's pretty clear that Kearns, Lopez and Pena have been severe disappointments. Pena and Lopez are free agents at the end of the season, so even if they turn it around it won't help the Nationals, and Kearns is signed for next year at $8m - ouch.

Now you can say the Nats didn't give up anything huge to get these guys (except Pena) - true. But on the other hand, considering their salaries, none of the guys they've got back have been worth much either - arguably negative value, although I think that's going to far. Yes you can blame the coaching staff, but where does the buck for that stop? Also with Jim Bowden.

I'm not saying it's necessarily Bowden's fault - I'd have done the Kearns/Lopez trade, the Dukes trade and the Milledge trade in a heartbeat. And if you agree those were good trades at the time, then you must give Bowden huge credit for persistence, creativity and (likely) bluffing to work them out - for instance, I don't believe that the Nationals were the only team in baseball willing to give up a B/C prospect for Dukes. But Bowden was the one able to make it happen.

But what is the overall plan and direction for the Washington Nationals? For position players, I see Ryan Zimmerman, a lot of toolsy outfielders (none of whom seem able to handle CF) and two guys who ought to be playing DH. That's a mess. The pitching has some bright spots but overall it's a mess too. I don't see a coherent plan.

There's a plan. He's doing ok with it, too.

Basically the plan involves ignoring anything you see on the major league level -- throwing enough warm bodies around the younger position players they have, and hoping you don't get blown out every night.

Meanwhile, they're attempting to create a development machine. Considering that they were starting from nothing, they've done ok (despite some setbacks) there.

Going forward, they've got a ready nucleus of Dukes, Milledge, Zimmerman and Flores -- guys that it's not unreasonable penciling in the lineup for the next 5+ years.

On the pitching side, John Lannan has shown that he's a capable SP -- a solid 3 as it is, with potential to break out a bit more. Colin Balester was recently called up and looks like he's got a chance to stick near the back of the rotation. No, they don't have an ace, but if Detwiler figures out what's going wrong or if Crow -- who's stil unsigned -- develops as expected, ya never know!

But the real fruits won't be popping up for another three years or so, ripening after Bowden's hopefully been dumped on his leather-panted ass.

I think the Kearns trade should be regarded as a W for Bowden.

I dunno. I guess this depends on what you think of Daryl Thompson. He hasn't done well in a very small sample of 14 innings in the majors this year, but his record in the minors last season, and this, is pretty good.

The NY Times has a bit more on the story.

Apparently the Sox stuff came to light when they audited their academy. Rijo runs a pretty big academy there -- I linked a story on that in 34, where a few other teams are mentioned in connection with Rijo's academy.

The Times article has one of those vague anonymous lawyers saying that a few other GMs are likely to be questioned soon.

Yes, Bowden has done some good things in the last 2 years making us a younger/cheaper/improving team.

But for his first 2 years almost every move he made was younger for older, cheaper and under team control for soon-to-be FAs, more players for fewer back, plus the draft picks he gave up for Castilla and Guzman. He set us back immeasurably in those years. When the Lerners came in, you could have said, "hey, those first 2 years weren't so bad--he got 81 wins in 2005 and an exciting 06 with Soriano...." But now, seeing clearly the long-term ramifications of how he mortgaged the future chasing a few more wins for bad teams going nowhere, it's clear those first 2 years were disastrous long-term and brought us to where we are now. There has to be accountability for that, and it better not be Manny who takes the blame.

Looking ahead, everything I know about his performance time in Cincy and here tells me he isn't the guy for a rebuilding job. He has no idea how to build a pitching staff (always chasing the next Pete Schourek on the waiver wire, coming up with a long series of Ryan Dreses and Jason Simontacchis instead), is a mostly awful drafter, and just isn't patient enough to stick to a long-term strategy of rebuilding.

Indeed, despite Kasten focing him gun-to-head into rebuilding, he continues to do things that move us the wrong direction--signing Lo Duca and Estrada to block Flores, not trading Cordero.

Enough other people in MLB prefer not to deal with him because they consider him a liar and/or a showboating jerk that this baggage hurts us.

He's still pursuing the vanity project of showing how smart he was in Cincinnati by re-acquiring every former Red he can get.

The cumulative bad PR of his personal problems--some alleged (like the DR bonus-skimming), some not (the 9/11 quote, the DUI)--also hurts the team.

Fine, fall all over yourself on the Dukes and Milledge deals. I support those moves. But now that he's done the one and only thing he can do well--toolsy OFs--there's really, truly no reason to keep him.

Give Rizzo a chance. Or any of the other under-30 hot shots out there who haven't yet failed for 16 years.

I don't think it's fair to blame Manny for guys underperforming. Look at the kids--Dukes, Milledge, Flores, Lannan, Balester--they're all doing well. Chico last year. I give the manager way more credit/blame for how he does with the kids.

The guys who are underperforming are vets--Kearns, Lopez, Lo Duca, Pena... If Kearns or Lopez need Manny to teach them how to hit, then they're not the building blocks they were supposed to be.

You cannot find one player on the team -- other than Guzman who had corrective eye AND shoulder surgery -- who's living up to expectations or even doing what they've done in the past.

Flores? Dmitri Young (last year--CBOY, right?), Belliard? Milledge? Dukes? Lannan? O. Perez? Hanrahan?

Now you can say the Nats didn't give up anything huge to get these guys (except Pena)

??? Didn't the Nats give up the bad Chris Carter? Might well turn out better than Pena but Carter's already 25 so you wouldn't think he'll be anything better than a league-average 1B for a few seasons.

That's correct. Hard to get worked up about the deal either way. Seems like a junk-for-junk shuffle.

Now you can say the Nats didn't give up anything huge to get these guys (except Pena)

??? Didn't the Nats give up the bad Chris Carter? Might well turn out better than Pena but Carter's already 25 so you wouldn't think he'll be anything better than a league-average 1B for a few seasons.

They only acquired Carter to trade him. The guy they really gave up was Fruto.

Flores? Dmitri Young (last year--CBOY, right?), Belliard? Milledge? Dukes? Lannan? O. Perez? Hanrahan?

Given the context of Chris' post, I think he was referring to the hitters. I agree with you that Dukes was doing well before he got hurt. Young is right about at his career OPS+ and Belliard is above his in 155 at bats. Milledge wasn't doing all that well at the time of his injury though.

Kearns and Lopez are complete, utter busts.

And THAT deal was the worst in MLB history.

between a rat and a mat.

Kremnik had just pulled Arroyo out of his ass and, since Arroyo happened to be a pitcher.
was on his kick...

here's the tape:

"I unerstan yer got PITCHAS! Ken i hav sum?"

Bowden, being the rat he is, of course, starts off like Barnum tryin to sell snake oil.

"two of your regulars"

...
...

"kay"

Bowden had to swallow his WTF

SI has a few more details.

Apparently, it's the deal for the one high profile Int'l free agent they've made -- Smiley Gonzalez -- that set off the alarm bells.

"I thought that was Torres, which was why he's no longer on the Pirates."

Yes and no. Torres was the one who was complaining about the broken deal with his academy, but that's not why he was traded. Torres was traded because ownership got a bug up their butt toward the end of last year about players not standing at attention during God Bless America and the national anthem (I wish I were kidding), and Torres is a Jehovah's Witness (with all their attendant feelings on patriotic symbols and idolatry). Also, they were worried about his arm, with some justification.

Salomon Torres should have his religion taken away.

SI has a few more details. Apparently, it's the deal for the one high profile Int'l free agent they've made -- Smiley Gonzalez -- that set off the alarm bells.

Chris, thanks for the links. If I am reading all this correctly, it's basically a few scouts and buscones jacking up the the price of prospects so they can get a bigger cut. If its an MLB Scout, you fire him. If he lives in America you audit him for tax evasion. If he is a Dominican Native, what? And why is the FBI in on this? Even better, why is the FBI investigating this on behalf of MLB? These are things I guess I don't understand.

With some variation, the mechanism by which team representatives can skim is simple: The team official overvalues the player and asks for money back from the player and his family. Until the Wilder case emerged, teams sent the bonus money in the form of a check to MLB headquarters in the Dominican Republic. A team official and a parent or guardian accompanied the player to the offices where they received the check. Most players, according to those entrenched in Dominican baseball, typically head straight for the bank to cash the check. Once the check is cashed, the handouts begin.

This is news? really?

As best I can tell, the most Bowden is accused of so far, and lets be clear, they are still investigating, is looking the other way. Maybe, possibly.