Rizzo's just taking his sweet time...

(AP Photo. Seems managerial candidates like Don Mattingly, right, have been talking to everybody but the Nats about job openings.)

"Cleveland's on, it seems like, a little different timetable. Washington is willing to wait until after the World Series to start."
(Don Mattingly, via Chatter/Washington Times, 10/20/2009)

"The managerial search is going to begin a little bit more seriously in the very near future."
(Mike Rizzo, via Nationals dot com, 10/15/2009)

Maybe Mike's unconcerned because he already has his man?

Is Mike's man Riggles?

If the Main Stream Media is to be believed, the extent of the Nats managerial search has consisted of Rizzo asking Dodger GM Ned Colletti for permission to talk to Don Mattingly. Meanwhile, the Indians have -- get this -- talked to Mattingly!

Now, that's not to say we're concerned that the Nationals might miss out on Don Mattingly, specifically. For the record, Nationals Enquirer staff don't think it's necessarily the best idea to bring in another guy who has no actual experience managing a Major League baseball team. Look no further than that guy who's wowing 'em in Cleveland at the moment, Exhibit A. Experience, please!

But as another day passes without a whiff of news about the Nats manager search, we're still puzzled about Mike Rizzo's approach to the situation. Rizzo appears to be content to sit on his hands while the Indians and Astros push forward with job interviews, essentially getting first dibs among the 2009 class of managerial candidates.

But maybe that's because Mike has already made up his mind - and has already talked to his man. Maybe his lukewarm endorsement of Riggles a few days back was actually...an endorsement?

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Comments

[harper]

You want experience? Bring back Sleepy Frank!

[The Nationals Enquirer]

Shhhh...quiet, harper, or you'll wake Frank!

We'll take Bob Melvin, thank you very much. But we're guessing Rizzo has already made up his mind to bring back The Riggleman.

Just can't picture Mike getting Stan's blessing to bring on another Acta-like project like a Mattingly or a Brad Mills ...nor do I see Mike getting Ted Lerner's blessing to pay a premium for Bobby Valentine (not convinced a rebuilding project like the Nats is the right match for Valentine, either)...