Results tagged ‘ Mike Rizzo ’
What happens to Riggleman?
Now that Mike Rizzo has been named the general manager, the Nationals must decide who becomes the manager on a permanent basis.
Interim manager Jim Riggleman has done a good job since taking over the club after the All-Star break, going 17-16 entering Thursday’s action against the Rockies.
But the Nationals will go through a mangerial search during the offseason and then decide who will manage the club.
“I certainly like what Jim has done. I’m the one who made him the interim manager. It was my decision,” Rizzo said. “He is an old-school baseball guy with a lot of new ideas. He is certainly going to be a candidate for the permanent managerial job, but that’s a discussion we are going to have after the season is over and throughout the winter. There is going to be a process.”
Rizzo to be named general manager of Nationals
Mike Rizzo is no longer acting general manager of the Nationals. He will be named the permanent GM at a news conference on Thursday at Nationals Park, according to a baseball source.
The Nationals made the decision that Rizzo was their man a couple of days ago.
In March, the Nationals named Rizzo acting general manager, two days after Jim Bowden resigned from the GM position. Rizzo has handled responsibilities related to the Major League, Minor League and scouting operations of the organization. Day-to-day inquiries related to player personnel have been directed to Rizzo, with team president Stan Kasten having key hands-on involvement.
Since taking the job, Rizzo has made upgrades to the bullpen by adding Mike McDougal, Jorge Sosa and Ron Villone, and he gained authorization to acquire outfielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander Sean Burnett from the Pirates for outfielder Lastings Milledge and right-hander Joel Hanrahan. The deal with Pittsburgh has played out initially as a considerably favorable one for Washington. Rizzo was also in place during a switch at manager that has resulted in better performance this month.
Rizzo, as expected for any person in his role, was a visible figure in the efforts to get No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg signed before Monday’s midnight ET deadline.
“Mike keeps his energy level high,” interim manager Jim Riggleman said. “He always comes in fired up — always talking about today’s game and last night’s game. He is very much in tune to the strengths and weaknesses of the club. I really enjoy working with him.
“I think he has been very patient with the roster in terms of the position players, but has not hesitated to make moves when we were failing as a pitching staff. I think he was willing to go down to Syracuse and keep changing it up until we found the right mix. So it’s a great combination. He’s showed aggressiveness and patience.”
Flores has setback with shoulder
Nationals catcher Jesus Flores was scheduled to be activated from the disabled list on Friday, but he suffered a setback with his right shoulder and will be shut down for at least three days.
Flores is expected to fly to Birmingham, Ala., to see Dr. James Andrews to check on the shoulder. There is no timetable as to when Flores will return to action.
“Let’s let us evaluate what’s going on with the films and let the doctor do [his job] before we talk about the seriousness of the issue,” acting general manager Mike Rizzo said. “There has been a setback. You will be updated when we know more over the next few days.
“We got an MRI and we are going to evaluate it. We’re going to get a second opinion for him on Monday.”
Flores suffered the shoulder injury against the Diamondbacks on May 9. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the backstop was hit on the shoulder by a Chris Young foul tip. Flores was in pain for several minutes, but he remained in the game before being taken out in the bottom of the ninth inning.
– Bill Ladson and Michael Radano
MacDougal set to make decision
The Nationals must make a decision on right-hander Mike MacDougal, who is currently pitching for Triple-A Syracuse. They could bring him up to the big leagues as early as Tuesday or let him become a free agent.
In fact, MacDougal has an out clause that could make him a free agent after Monday’s game against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. There is a possibility MacDougal could stay with Syracuse.
I saw acting general manager Mike Rizzo before the game and he told me MacDougal has not made a decision. Entering Monday’s action, MacDougal has given up one run in 6 1/3 innings for Syracuse.
Nationals interested in Crow
Nationals acting general manager Mike Rizzo acknowledged on Friday that he had talks recently with advisors Randy and Alan Hendricks about the possibility of selecting their client, right-hander Aaron Crow, in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.
Washington drafted Crow last year, but both parties couldn’t reach an agreement by the midnight ET deadline on Aug. 15.
This time, Crow must sign a re-consent form to allow the Nationals to select him on June 9.
The Nationals have been scouting Crow for several weeks. He is now pitching for the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.
By not signing Crow last year, the Nationals will get the No. 10 pick in this year’s Draft as compensation.
Rizzo, Boras meet at Dodger Stadium
Nationals acting general manager Mike Rizzo and agent Scott Boras met on Wednesday at Dodgers Stadium, but most of the discussion was not about San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg, who has Boras as an advisor.
According to a baseball source, Rizzo informed Boras that he was going to scout the right-hander on Friday. Rizzo and Boras did not talk about a contract for Strasburg.
The Nationals have the first pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, and Strasburg is expected to be their top choice provided that he is healthy on June 9.
Published reports indicated the Nationals will not be scared off by the price tag — believed to be $50 million-plus — for the right-hander. But the source expects the negotiations between the Nationals and Boras to go down to the wire.
Rizzo: Not impressed with Steven Shell
Acting general manager Mike Rizzo acknowledged on Tuesday that he wasn’t impressed with right-hander Steven Shell, who was designated for assignment on Sunday after posting a 5.40 ERA in four relief appearances.
“I didn’t like the mind-set on the mound and his preparation for the game. I didn’t like his whole aura on the mound,” Rizzo said “We talked to him all through spring.”
Last year, Shell had a solid rookie season in 2008, posting a 2.16 ERA in 39 relief appearances, but a few people in the organization believed it was a fluke. They felt Shell didn’t have the fastball to get hitters out consistently.
Rizzo: No regrets fining, benching Dukes
Nationals acting general manager Mike Rizzo said on Tuesday that he doesn’t regret benching and fining center fielder Elijah Dukes on Saturday.
Dukes was scratched from that day’s starting lineup against the Marlins and fined $500 for being five minutes late for work.
Dukes was late because he was at a Little League function that was not sponsored by the Nationals. The problem the Nationals had was that Dukes never called anyone from Rizzo to manager Manny Acta to say he was going to the event would be late for workouts.
According to the Washington Post, the Great Falls Little League is in the process of raising the money, plus $1 in “administrative expenses” to pay Dukes’ fine.
“I haven’t read who is favoring whom, but I did what I thought I had to do for the best 25-men in the clubhouse. I stand by it,” Rizzo said.
Rizzo declined to talk about the Great Falls Little League paying Dukes’ fine.
The Rocket
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