Nats Enquirer

The Wil Nieves 2010 Highlight Reel

So Wil Nieves has a brother who lives in Puerto Rico who posted a 3+ minute video of Wil Nieves' 2010 highlights on YouTube? Here's a description of the video posted by "osky208", translated from Spanish to English via GoogleTranslate:

Well here is the highlights of my brother Wil Nieves with the Washington Nationals. Now he will be exploring other organization. Not because he is my brother but it is one of the best catcher in MLB there, but no one will thank you for the opportunity they gave during his time. But what is going wrong DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. So do not leave the basement. Enjoy it:)

Not sure what that bit about leaving the basement is all about: maybe a dig at the Nationals and their usual position in the NL East?

Meanwhile...Cliff Lee's agent Darek Braunecker left the Winter Meetings without a deal in place for Mr. Lee; so there's still, you know, a chance...

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Cliff Lee 2011 Nationals Home Jersey

 

(All I want for Cliffmas*. Image doctored from MLB.com/shop.)

So are the Nationals in this Cliff Lee Sweepstakes madness, or are they out?

At the moment: out. No wait: in. Out? Seems to change every minute or so depending on who you follow on Twitter. Early Tuedsay morning, prior to the Washington Post's Adam Kilgore effectively dousing the Cliff-Lee-to-the-Nats rumors with a bucket of cold water , it certainly sounded like the Nats might be at the front of the pack, helping drive up the price and willing to go seven years.

As of 5:30 PM Tuesday, MLB.com's Bill Ladson had a source tell him the Nats are still in the running.

About a half hour before that, Mike Rizzo further put a damper the possibility of Cliffmas* in Washington, telling the media this:

"I still think we're a real long shot to acquire the player."
(Mike Rizzo, via NatsInsider, 12/7/2010)

Then reports around 7 PM of two seven year deals on the table for Lee from a couple of mystery teams; and not the Rangers or Yankees. And certainly not the  Nationals, right? Because I'm sure I just saw someone Tweet that a source told the Nats have given up, which was immediately followed up by someone saying the Nats offered Lee a 10 year deal and an ownership stake.

Head stopped spinning yet?

Anyway, we should probably just swap out that image above with a Pavano #48 to be safe (sorry, Ross Detwiler).

*props to Cheryl Nichols for coining the phrase, "Cliffmas" for NatsTown. Sadly, there's probably not much chance we'll be seeing Cliffmas in Washington.

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You gotta hand it to the headline writers in Philadelphia...

 

(Low blow. Figures they'd bring up McNabb. Image of Philadelphia Daily News cover from Philly.com)

While still trying to comprehend what Jayson Werth's seven (7) year deal means for the Nationals over the long haul, and trying to stay focused with laser precision on the years 2011-2013, we'd be remiss if we didn't take a peek at the cover(s) of Monday morning's papers in Philadelphia. They didn't disappoint. Philadelphia Daily News columnist Bill Conlin's take is good for a chuckle:

Scott Boras sold the Nationals 1,000 acres of oceanfront property in the Sahara desert. Convinced owner Ted Lerner it's a great deal because Ted's buddy, Al Gore, says in a few hundred years the Mediterranean Sea will be lapping at the edge of the property. Just think of the condo potential.
(via Philly.com, 12/6/2010)

Next, let's allow commenter "Kevin A." from over at the 700Level speak for the rest of the baseball fans in the City of Brotherly Love:

I would like to send out a big f--- you to Jayson Werth for signing with the Washington Nationals. You just proved you don't give a f--- and never gave a f--- about winning. It was always about bettering your career to get the big pay day. I hope you never experience another winning season the rest of your career. Which is probably likely since you signed with the Nationals.
(Kevin A., via the 700Level.com, 12/5/2010)

Mark Lerner begs to disagree.

Meanwhile, at his daily media session on Monday, Mike Rizzo addressed any criticism of the deal he's hearing from his peers, and unlike the Philly papers, didn't bring up McNabb:

"There's no negative reaction from me. I'm satisfied with the deal. I'm glad we got Jayson Werth. I can understand some of the comments. We're taking care of ourselves. We're trying to build something special here. We thought this player exemplified what we were trying to do. I don't apologize for signing Jayson Werth. I'm glad we have him in the fold. We're a better ballclub today than we were yesterday."
(Mike Rizzo, via Mark Zuckerman/Nats Insider, 12/6/2010)

Oh, after the jump, the back page of today's Philadelphia Daily News:

Advice to Nationals fans: Stay the f--- out of Jayson Werth's way

"He just said 'Get out of my f-ing way'. I was stunned. I was embarrassed, I guess."
(Patrick Boyle, Phillies fan who got yelled at by Jayson Werth, via NBC Philadelphia.com, 7/10/2010)

"Obviously, I feel bad for the guy and the kid that were sitting there and the people around there," Werth said. "It was kind of out of character a little bit. But I don't feel bad about playing hard and going after balls in stands and stuff like that."
(Jayson Werth, via Associated Press, 7/9/2010)

Remember last summer when Jason Werth cursed out a Phillies fan for interfering with a foul ball -- while the fan's kid looked on in horror?

Nats Principal Owner Mark Lerner might want to keep it in mind when he's shagging fly balls during batting practice for the next seven years. Hey, apparently Mark Lerner will be blogging from the Winter Meetings, under the moniker "Curly W Live"; here's Lerner on Werth:

"We are thrilled to add Jayson to the Nationals family. He is truly a fantastic two-way player, a bright young man ... and he is a winner!"
(Mark Lerner, via Curly W Live, 12/6/2010)

 

The word is, the Nationals are going to be busy this week. Who's next?

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Burly W

(Welcome to Washington, Jayson Richard Gowan Werth. Quick, someone get the man a Caps sweater. Getty Images Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images.)

Suck it, Philly.

Wow! Desperate times...But can he pitch?

Nationals sign Jayson Werth to a (reported) 7 year, $126 Million deal.

Scott Boras can't get enough of Ted Lerner's money.

Wait. 126,000,000. That's a lot of zeros. And years. Seven years? Like, 7? Has Mike Rizzo lost his mind? Bryce Harper will be, like, 20 and playing for the Yankees when that contract expires.

"Absolutely batshit crazy."
(Some unnamed GM, via Ken Rosenthal/FOXSports.com, 12/5/2010)

"It makes some of our contracts look pretty good."
(Mets GM Sandy Alderson, via Nationals Journal, 12/5/2010)

We're not complainin' (yet). Just sayin'.

Just a huge statement by Mike Rizzo. Apology accepted, NatsTown? In Rizzo we trust? So Rizzo wouldn't go four years for a 31 year old Adam Dunn...but doesn't blink at seven years for a 31 year old Werth?

After the jump, the text of the press release from the Nationals announcing the deal:

Dunn and Dumber

 

(Two thumbs up for Adam Dunn. Two thumbs down for Mike Rizzo. AP Photo.)

Wait, the Nats never bothered to contact Adam Dunn after the season ended? 

And so the White Sox introduced Adam Dunn at U.S. Cellular Field this afternoon. Hey Adam Dunn, how much contact did Mike Rizzo have with you since the end of the season?

"I don't believe that there's been any."
(Adam Dunn, via Nationals Journal, 12/3/2010)

No contact? Nothing? Guess there's something to the theory that Mike Rizzo never really wanted Adam Dunn back at all, regardless of the years or dollars.

And here's Dunn talking about Nationals fans, also copied and pasted from Adam Kilgore's post:

"I think everyone realized how much I liked it there. I can't say enough of the fan support there. The fans were, you know, above and beyond. Washington will always have a special place in my heart. I think that the opportunity arose to play for a team that had a chance to win a ring, and that's the ultimate goal." 
(Adam Dunn, via Nationals Journal, 12/3/2010)

Damn. That hurts.

If you're in the mood for torturing yourself a little more, here's a complete video of the Dunn press conference, via Chicago Tribune.com:

Mike Rizzo's response to Adam Dunn leaving...

 

(Mark Lerner and Mike Rizzo with a front row view of Adam Dunn's backside the night Dunn hit 3 home runs at Nationals Park against the Padres, July 7, 2010. Screengrab of TV/MASN by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

Here's the official statement from Mike Rizzo about the departure of Adam Dunn, straight from the Nationals:

 
STATEMENT FROM NATIONALS GENERAL MANAGER MIKE RIZZO
 
            Statement from Nationals Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo in response to first baseman Adam Dunn agreeing to terms on a multi-year contract with the Chicago White Sox:
 
 “The Washington Nationals wish Adam Dunn and his family the best of luck and good will in Chicago.  Adam contributed much to the Nationals and to the Washington, D.C. community.  He will be missed, but will remain an important figure in the early history of this franchise and will always be a part of the Nationals baseball family.”

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First Adam Dunn, Now Wil Nieves.

Altogether now, for old times sake: WHO?!

In honor of the Nationals decision to not tender a contract to Wil Nieves, it seems appropriate take one last look at the legendary Wil Nieves MASN Defining Moments spot from 2009 (above) that made "WHO?" the unofficial punchline in NatsTown every time the name "Wil NIeves" was mentioned.

And remember that time Wil Nieves absolutely crushed an upper deck bomb against the Marlins on the same night Nyjer Morgan got his butt kicked by the Marlins? Based on that power show, Mike Rizzo is reportedly considering bringing Wil Nieves back on a minor league deal and giving him a first baseman's mitt (according to Anonymous sources with no knowledge of the situation.) Problem solved.

In addition to Nieves, the Nats didn't tender contracts to Chien-Ming Wang and (surprisingly) RHP Joel Peralta. Nats agreed to terms withh Jesus Flores and Alberto Gonzalez.

Required reading this morning: Mark Zuckerman's take on Adam Dunn & the Nats over at NatsInsider.

Is it 2015 yet?

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ADAMN SHAME

(Farewell, Adam Dunn. You'll be missed in NatsTown. UPI/Alexis C. Glenn Photo via Newscom.)

In Rizzo We Trust

Adam Dunn to the White Sox on a 4-year, $56 million deal.

Good for Adam Dunn. More of the same for the Washington Nationals.

You could say the Nats just pissed away the last of their goodwill with fans, but that tank was already pretty much empty.

Hey, but Mike Rizzo frees up more money to not spend, and the Nationals get two draft picks out of the deal (Chicago's first round pick, and a sandwich pick). Can't wait to see how those picks pan out in 2015!

Here's Ryan Zimmerman, speaking on behalf of NatsTown, via Adam Kilgore/Washington Post:

 

"I hope that this plan they have intact - I guess this one of the years we were supposed to take that next step and become one of the teams that gets those free agent guys. They've told us and the fans to be patient. Hopefully this is one the years we start acquiring impact guys and taking the team to that next level." 
(Ryan Zimmerman, via Nationals Journal, 12/2/2010)

Yeah, what he said.

At this hour, Mike Rizzo can be thankful that Dunn didn't accept the four year deal offered up by the Orioles. As hard as this will be for Rizzo to explain to Nationals fans, just imagine the PR nightmare had Dunn signed with the Birds! According to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun, the O's were willing to go 4 years:

#Oriolesoffered Adam Dunn a four-year deal somewhere in the $40 million neighborhood before he signed w CWS. It was less than $12M per yr
(@ DanConnolly/Twitter, 12/2/2010)

Meanwhile, the Nats best offer was by all accounts a 3 year deal, around 36 million, offered up the final week of the season.

Here's more Zim:

"If they would just have given him a fair deal, he even would have probably gone a little bit cheaper to come with us."  
(Ryan Zimmerman, via Nationals Journal, 12/2/2010)

Cheaper? Did someone say cheaper? Quick, someone go wake up Ted Lerner...

More Zim, via Ben Goessling/MASNSports.com:

"Knowing that we had one of the three top free agents on our team and we didn't want to resign him, it's frustrating for us as players...We're not in the front office. We don't make the decisions, and we don't have to write the checks. But we're getting to the point on our team where we're supposed to wait it out, wait for the young guys, start doing some things and start making some moves. Not only are we ready for that, I think the fans are, as well. We've trusted the front office, and we still trust them. But we want to best possible team on the field."
(Ryan Zimmerman, via Ben Goessling/MASNSports.com, 12/2/2010)

The thing is, it was only a matter of time before Adam Dunn signed somewhere else. Does anyone really think Mike Rizzo wanted Adam Dunn back in a Nationals uniform?

Is it 2012 yet?

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Stan Kasten's Key to the Winter Meetings: "Go hang in the bars until 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, picking up whatever you can."

 

(Stan Kasten, media member. Next thing you know, Stan will be on Twitter. Photo of TV by Nationals Enquirer staff.)

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em?

After years of sparring with the media, former Nationals President Stan Kasten made his MLB Network debut in studio on MLB Network's Hot Stove Wednesday night, along with host Matt Vasgersian, Jon Heyman, Joe Magrane, and Mitch Williams. The opening exchange between Vasgersian and Kasten at the beginning of the show went something like this:

Vasgersian: "Stan Kasten, late of the Washington Nationals. After 30 some-odd years working in management, you're now part of the media. What are you doing?"

(laugh track)

Kasten: "I have a lot of scores to settle, and I'm going to start here tonight."

We were sort of hoping Ol' Stan would give a few hints about what the Nationals are thinking going into next week's Winter Meetings in Florida, but it never happened. But towards the end of the show, Kasten and Vasgersian did a little "Winter Meetings 101" segment, during which Ol' Stan described the inner workings of the meetings, how to formulate a game plan, and the best way to deploy your scouts to pick up intel during the meetings:

"Go hang in the bars until 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, picking up whatever you can."
(Stan Kasten, via MLB Network, 12/1/2010)

Maybe that helps explain part of the problem during the Kasten years in D.C.?

Quick review: Despite his apparent hatred of the media in his previous life, Stan is quite good on TV. If that job replacing Bud Selig doesn't pan out, Stan can at least rest easier knowing he'll be able to find work on TV. Now, about that Twitter account...

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