MLB.com's Bill Ladson caught up with Washington GM Mike Rizzo, and the results were quite interesting.
- Rizzo says that while nothing is imminent, he's never finished improving his team, and talks to "ten general managers per day." In other words, the roster he starts the season with could include players not currently in camp.
- Rizzo's biggest concern is his team's health, particularly Scott Olsen, Chien-Ming Wang and Cristian Guzman.
- The plan is not to rush Stephen Strasburg, though it is worth noting that Rizzo didn't explicitly rule out Strasburg starting the year in Washington.
- Rizzo said the Nationals have begun to "dabble" in contract extension talks with Adam Dunn.
The Nats really do have an exciting young nucleus of players.
There’s a handful in single-A but certainly very few that are ready for the big leagues.
This makes me wonder: why isn’t Wright captain if the Mets yet! He needs either to step up if he’s not already acting as a captain, or go up to Jerry and get Jerry to name him captain. Right!?!
Captain is an unofficial title that, in the big scheme of things, means absolutely nothing. As a Red Sox fan, I appreciate V-Tek holding the title, but it doesn’t really mean anything, except honor him for his leadership qualities. Very few teams have an official captain though, because if there is more than one guy who is a good team leader, giving one guy a specific title could lead to a discontented clubhouse. I figure that’s all Rizzo is thinking about, whether giving a Zimmerman an official title will hurt or harm the clubhouse morale, by saying outright that he thinks he’s the strongest leader. Same with the Mets; I bet you they’ve never even thought of having a team captain. Otherwise, sure, Wright is probably the guy. But if it’s not a requirement, and they don’t feel the need to give anyone the title, it’s not a big deal if it’s not there.
Certain teams have certain rules or thoughts on thousands of different things. For example, The Yankees don’t negotiate with their players until after the season, where as, the Rockies have no policy. That was just an example but I think you answered your own question when you said that being captain means nothing except to be honered for leadership qualities ——– Exactly! I think thats it…Jeter, Varitek, Konerko, and Oswalt are extremely revered and loved by their team and fans. Thats why they are the Captians of their respective teams.
Tony Gwynn
Cal Ripken Jr.
Same goes to them to…
I personally think it goes with expierence and time spent on the certain team. Zimmerman isn’t going anywhere for a while so no need to rush things.
Yes, thank you about the policy thing. I knew about the Yankees negotiation policy, but wasn’t sure about other clubs. Simply because of policy a couple clubs may never have a captain.
Also, your point about experience is well-made. Probably why Rizzo has not decided on Zimmerman yet. I’m sure he’s got the leadership qualities of a captain, I can’t think of any other player on the Nationals that could do well with that role, but he hasn’t been around enough yet to really solidify his position on the team. In a year or two, if Rizzo still wants to make him captain, he might very well deserve it.
You bet. I think its going to happen sooner or later.
You bet. I think its going to happen sooner or later.
Yes, thank you about the policy thing. I knew about the Yankees negotiation policy, but wasn’t sure about other clubs. Simply because of policy a couple clubs may never have a captain.
Also, your point about experience is well-made. Probably why Rizzo has not decided on Zimmerman yet. I’m sure he’s got the leadership qualities of a captain, I can’t think of any other player on the Nationals that could do well with that role, but he hasn’t been around enough yet to really solidify his position on the team. In a year or two, if Rizzo still wants to make him captain, he might very well deserve it.
Cal Ripken Jr is the most overrated player of all time.
You are wrong. He was great.
I never said he wasn’t. He can be a great player & still be overrated, which he is. Ripken received a higher percentage of Hall of Fame votes than any other player in history. Would anyone argue that he is a more deserving Hall of Fame candidate than any other player to step on the field in the history of the game? It’s all perception & myth & aura w/ this guy.
Are you serious?
He played in more consecutive games than anybody in history.
He has 3000 hits.
He hit 430 some odd Home Runs.
He was one of the best gentlemen in the history of the game.
I think this could have been a unnanamous Hall of Fame selection. Not overrated at all.
He’s also won a World Series.
Character should have nothing to do w/ how great a player someone is.
I’m not saying he isn’t a Hall of Famer. What I said is that he is overrated. One can be a Hall of Famer & be overrated & your insistence that he be a unanimous selection only serves to prove it. To say he was a greater player than all others in history, which that would, is folly.
He hit 430 home runs but he also holds the all time record for double plays. He has an OPS of .788, low walk & stolen base totals. The man is not the end all beat all that people make him out to be.
He is not overrated.
You’ve stated this belief yet have not provided anything to back it up.
I did back it up.
With what? Statistics which are commonplace amongst Hall of Fame players?
The man revolutionized the way the position of shortstop was played and paved the way for bigger, better hitting shortstops of the next generation. 19 ASG, 8 Silver Slugger, 2 Gold Gloves, 2 MVPs, 3000 hits, 400 home runs and he set the record for fewest errors in a season by a shortstop at 3. What else do you want out of the man? For him to come over to your house and clean your kitchen while playing the banjo?
Apparently you’re ignoring players like Ernie Banks & Honus Wagner who revolutionized the position & did so more effectively several generations earlier. None of those awards existed in the time of Honus Wagner so we can’t fault him for not winning them. Furthermore, if you’re going to hold up his home runs as a shining moment you must also take into consideration his short comings – not taking walks, not stealing bases, 3 100 run seasons & an OPS of .788. His numbers as a Hall of Famer are non-descriptive & pedestrian.
If you have to look back to Banks and Wagner to find players that also
revolutionized the position and are better than Ripken, than I think that we
are on the same page here dude. And for the record, you don’t walk your way
into the hall of fame.
The guy was a first ballot hall of famer and got 98.53% of the votes. Guys
with pedestrian numbers aren’t near unanimous first ballot hall of famers,
even if they did happen to play 2,632 consecutive games. Get over it my
friend.
So because they played before him they could not have revolutionised the position before he supposedly did? I’m not following that logic.
If you read carefully instead of allowing your hero worship for this man cloud your vision, you would have seen I said his numbers as a Hall of Famer are non-descriptive & pedestrian. I did not say his numbers were such in comparison to all players. One can be a Hall of Famer & in comparison to others in his calibre be seen as ho-hum.
Dude, you are over come by negative emotion. Take a deep breath and get your
head out of the clouds. I never claimed that Ripken was a better shortstop
statistically than Banks or Wagner – those two were amazing (though I never
saw them play) and I take nothing away from them.
How many players in ML history have 400 home runs and 3000 hits? 6.
Pedestrian my foot!
Just get over it and give into the Ripken love.
You keep bringing up his home run totals, which we addressed, yet say nothing about his numerous short comings.
You are a genius. Ripken’s records and standing among the most elite company
mean nothing. He didn’t steal enough, or have an OPS as high as Harold
Baines – and clearly he should be in the HoF. Is Ripken a perfect player?
No. Do you have to discuss him when you talk about the greatest shortstops
of all time? Yes. You literally cannot have a discussion about the best
shortstops of all time without talking about Ripken and you know it.
Did I mention that I have his autograph and two of his books to complement
the shrine I built for him in my house?
Again, I never denied that he was a Hall of Fame calibre player. My statement was that he is over rated. I’ve yet to hear any arguments refuting this claim & only receive arguments relating towards a debate which does not exist.
Do you understand how funny it is to hear somebody say, “I never denied that
he was a Hall of Fame calibre player.” and then 6 words later say “over
rated.”? Take care my friend.
Do you know how unfortunate it is to see that someone lacks the advanced thought process to comprehend that the two are not mutually exclusive?
Cal Ripken Jr is the most overrated player of all time.