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« Olney's Latest: Atlanta's Potential Trade Partners | Main | Discussion: What Should The Braves Do? »
Rizzo Has No Plans For A Firesale
Chico Harlan of The Washington Post spoke to Nationals acting GM Mike Rizzo today, who says "he feels no obligation to conduct a firesale," playing down the possibility of a major shakeup before the trade deadline.
"A big transition period? I don't think that," Rizzo said. "We'll make deals based on good baseballs decision. 'Firesale' means you want to dump people. We don't want to dump people."
Regarding first baseman Nick Johnson, the subject of many a trade rumor:
"Nick is probably the one with the most trade rumors, but we're not looking to move him. We'll only move him if we have the right opportunity. I don't want to put names as to who's most likely [to be traded], because we don't really know." Rizzo chuckled. "You know, I didn't know [Lastings] Milledge was the most likely."
The Nats are a major league worst 22-55 coming in to play today, a full six games back in the loss column of the next worst team, but they have several interesting trade pieces in Johnson, Adam Dunn, Joe Beimel and Cristian Guzman, among others.
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what a load of crock...
Posted by: jza1218 | July 04, 2009 at 12:06 PM
'Amongst' is British usage. In America, we say 'among.' FYI.
Posted by: GetGamel | July 04, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Why wouldn't they deal away Johnson, Dunn, Guzman, and Beimel, along with possibly Willingham?
Those guys won't be around for the next winning Nationals team, and maybe Washington could trick some team into overpaying for Dunn's bat, forgetting that his defense is absolutely horrible.
Posted by: scribbletone | July 04, 2009 at 12:18 PM
And thisis why the Nationals will become the next Pirates. The Pirates will compete way before the Nats will because there starting to see if your not winning with the talent you have, trade the better players and get a new crop to work with. Sooner or later your bound to catch lightning in a bottle.
Posted by: james | July 04, 2009 at 12:19 PM
"You know, I didn't know [Lastings] Milledge was the most likely."
So much for the 4 days of people bashing Milledge as some "headcase" the Nationals were doing everything they could to "dump"/"rid themselves of".
Posted by: SuzysMan | July 04, 2009 at 12:25 PM
'Amongst' is British usage. In America, we say 'among.' FYI.
Posted by: GetGamel | July 04, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Do you feel better about yourself now?
Posted by: Jason F | July 04, 2009 at 12:26 PM
James, did you read the article? Rizzo said he would make deals in the best interest for the club, but he wouldn't trade people just to trade people. The only guys they really need to trade are Johnson and Beimel-everyone else are under contract through at least next year.
Posted by: thehoagster07 | July 04, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Your Right Hoagster. Kinda just skimmed through it cause I'm watching the Braves play. Having said that they should try to restock still.
Posted by: james | July 04, 2009 at 12:36 PM
If I were Rizzo, I would be beside myself with disappointment with this team. It's no wonder he would offer such a blanket statement and question-dodger instead of saying "I have no idea what to do with this team."
Posted by: Ruck859 | July 04, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Do you feel better about yourself now?
Posted by: Jason F | July 04, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Absolutely. Actually, I'm just a grammar freak. No harm intended.
Posted by: GetGamel | July 04, 2009 at 12:55 PM
As I posted on my hometown paper's site...
What an idiot Rizzo is.
Rizzo chuckled. "You know, I didn't know [Lastings] Milledge was the most likely."
Hyuh hyuh! Yeah, I guess you weren't planning on trading him till someone just "bowled you over"? But then Neal Huntington, smelling blood, called and said:
"Hey, Mikey boy, I'll give you my 29-year-old outfield defensive replacement - you know, the kind that are a dime a dozen in AAA? - and this here lefty with a worn out arm (but hey, he eats with his left hand - that's a plus, right?)... for your 24-year-old 5-tool outfielder and that guy Hanrahan who throws in the upper 90s but had a bad first half. Whaddaya say?"
And the feebleminded Rizzo, knowing this team was mere *inches* away from the timeless glory of a 60-win season, reached for the Gold.
Then, to cap off his excellent week, he decided to demoralize the talented Elijah Dukes by demoting him. That'll teach the kid to come back slow from an injury. Surely none of the current superstar outfielders in baseball EVER hit .198 for a three-week stretch. Not even when they were 24. And coming back from injury. No siree. You let up for a minute here and Sgt. Rizzo will tank your career right outta here. Discipline, you know! Watch your back youngsters! Better hatch yourself fully-formed from the head of Zeus or you're destined to star on someone else's team.
Again, a collosal idiot. If the Nats make him permanent I will stop bothering to come to games.
Posted by: sabr_blogger | July 04, 2009 at 01:59 PM
Some Thoughts On (And From) Lastings Milledge
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nationalsjournal/2009/03/some_thoughts_on_and_from_last.html
"Q: OK, you keep talking about 'your way,' but what does that mean?
LM: You know, there's always a thing where, Oh, rookies have to be here 2-1/2 or three hours before stretch. No. I'm not gonna be here three hours before stretch. If you're here and you get your work in, it shouldn't matter how early you're at the field. You know what you need to do. That's fine. You don't have to be at the park three, four hours before the park if you don't want. You don't see nobody clocking in three or four hours before they have to show up to work. So, I mean, some people feel like they have to get here to read the newspaper or do crossword puzzles or get their mind ready. I feel like I come to the park, I have 45 minutes of stuff I have to do to get prepared for practice and get ready for the game. Five minutes might be watching videos. Fifteen minutes might be going in the cage. And then getting whatever other work I need."
yeah... dont want that guy on my team...ill take nyjer's Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR/150) of +25.4 runs above average per 150 games compared to milledges -20.1 any day of the week.
Posted by: theredskin | July 04, 2009 at 03:05 PM
sabr blogger,
Why you think Milledge is a five tool player baffles me. Have you seen him play? His arm is garbage and his defense is almost as bad. That really doesn't make a 5 tool guy when 2 of the 5 categories are ruled out. He also will never hit for average higher than .280 which kinda rules out another category of the "5 tool system". Sure he has speed and might eventually hit for above average power but he doesn't run the bases well which kills his speed and he swings at everything which means he might not reach his power potential.
Posted by: peytondowdy | July 04, 2009 at 08:42 PM
sabr blogger....5 tool player?
Im assuming your being sarcastic.
Milledge cant run, cant play defense, doesnt hit for a high average. He did hit some HR's last year but his power was gone this year.
If you think Hanrahan is a future stud then you obviously havent watched any Nats games.
Posted by: RZ11Nats | July 06, 2009 at 12:35 PM
What GM has ever publicly said, "We're selling everybody"?
Keep in mind that Rizzo has already said "Nobody is untouchable" so obviously they will make the trade if it makes the team better.
Posted by: DC Nats Fan | July 06, 2009 at 03:40 PM