Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden pens a weekly column for a free daily in the DC area. Often he'll discuss what he is doing, what the club is doing or what other GMs are doing. More often than not, it's just him promoting his name and his good decisions to the fans and press.

 

In this week's piece, he looks at the upcoming free agent lot and states his intentions towards a few select players. Boy, is he ever going to fined for this.

 

http://ee.dcexaminer.com/content/e-edition.../09/08/2/41.pdf

Not yet printed on the site. Any spelling errors below are my typos.

 

Does a general manager only focus on the Major League cliub in September and find way s to win this year?

The answer is simple: No

The best way to acquire top quality players is through free agency or trades, so this month a GM has make sure they've done a thorough scouting job on potential free agents. The impending free agent market will be one of the weakest in years.

I'm looking for starting pitching. If you have the best starting rotation and everthing else is equal, then your team has a chance to win, especially in the postseason. We have a tremendous start with John Patterson and Livan Hernandez.

One name sticks out in the free agent market and would be out first choice: Florida's A.J. Burnett. He's a potential No. 1 starter and though his career record doesn't demonstrate it, he's capable of winning 15-20 games.

And RFK Stadium will help us attract pitching. What Coors Field is for hitters, RFK is for pitchers. Other notable pitches include Kevin Millwood, Kenny Rogers and Jeff Weaver.

Though we have one of the best bullpens in the league, I'll keep trying to add good arms. The biggest names are Trevor Hoffman, Todd Jones and Billy Wagner. Others who could help: B.J. Ryan, Ryan Dempster, Scott Eyre and Tom Gordon.

The best firstbaseman is Paul Konerko. He has a great bat, drives in runs and is great in the clubhouse. But we're pleased with Nick Johnson; he's much better defensively.

He just needs to stay healthy.

At second, Craig Biggio and Ray Durham are the two best. But we're not looking to upgrade because we're comfortable with Jose Vidro coming back and once again being a .280 hitter with 20 homers and 80 RBIs.

There are two good shortstops with Rafael Furcal and Nomar Garciaparra. We have Cristian Guzman signed for three more years so we have to either eat some money and trade him back to the American League or fix him. Our preference is to fix him.

We won't add a thirdbaseman; not with Vinny Castilla's knees healed and Ryan Zimmerman as the future.

With Brian Schneider, we have no interest in adding a starting catcher. But if Gary Bennett doesn't re-sign, two experienced backups we'd consider are Todd Pratt and Gregg Zaun.

Four outfielders stand out, especially offensively: Johnny Damon, who would fill our leadoff need and allow Brad Wilkerson to hit lower in the lineup; Brian Giles, who is used to hitting in a big ballpark; Juan Encarnacion and Jacque Jones.

It would be difficult to sign a Type A free agent. If we do, and we finished in the top 15 in the league, then we'd lose a first-round pick, We don't want that to happen to us because we want to build through scouting and development. That's where most of our effort always will be.

If I had my druthers and could afford it, I'd get a No. 1 starter and a big cleanup hitter.

Then next year this team could not only play into early October, but late October as well.

He's going to get fined because?

Well I think the Nats if they get new ownership, have as much chance to sign AJ as does Baltimore or NY or Boston. They are in the same area, they have a ballpark that would give him stats that would be amazing. If they bid the most why wouldnt he go to there? Plus they did try to trade for him this year, but the marlins wouldnt give him up for what they offered.

 

As for some of the others, I dont think he is far off really in any of them for their place in the market.

 

The Big Bat next year will be Kornerko, everyone knows it.

 

It isnt a great written article but not horrible.

He's going to get fined because?

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You can not court or even hint that an offer being available to a player that is presently under contract.

He's going to get fined because?

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You can not court or even hint that an offer being available to a player that is presently under contract.

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There is no offer though...just players he is interested in.

He's hinting at making an offer though. You can't say 'hey, if you decide to leave your team, you're more than welcome here' because it comes across as 'leave your team and we'l outbid for you'.

I like Bowden if only because he gives the Nats some credibility considering they're owned by all the teams and have been treated like Sloth from Goonies for the past few years.

Jim Bowden is an idiot...yet this idiot has directed the team formerly known as the Montreal Expos to two less wins then the two year removed World Champion Marlins?

Yep. On the back of the remaining pieces of the 2002-03 Expos teams that competed for the Wild Card and the 2004 team that had a .500 record after finishing their San Juan dates.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4390

Yep. On the back of the remaining pieces of the 2002-03 Expos teams that competed for the Wild Card and the 2004 team that had a .500 record after finishing their San Juan dates.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4390

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Yessir. Plus, the current disaster that is the Cincinnati Reds can be traced to the constant idiocy of Mr. Bowden.

Yep. On the back of the remaining pieces of the 2002-03 Expos teams that competed for the Wild Card and the 2004 team that had a .500 record after finishing their San Juan dates.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4390

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And those teams had an all-star quality Jose Vidro and another small piece named...Vladimir Guerrero, neither of those are there anymore. Plus:

 

Javier Vasquez isnt there anymore.

Orlando Cabrera isnt there anymore.

Tomo Ohka isnt there anymore.

Bartolo Colon isnt there anymore.

 

So id say, not many chips remained for Bowden to play with.

 

Those teams were four games over .500 for two of the past 8 years, they have hardly been a contending team and if you want to paint that picture, you are a fool. We already know you dont like Washington, just stop spewing baseless claims to fulfill your own personal Bowden Hate quota.

Yep. On the back of the remaining pieces of the 2002-03 Expos teams that competed for the Wild Card and the 2004 team that had a .500 record after finishing their San Juan dates.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4390

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And those teams had an all-star quality Jose Vidro and another small piece named...Vladimir Guerrero, neither of those are there anymore. Plus:

 

Javier Vasquez isnt there anymore.

Orlando Cabrera isnt there anymore.

Tomo Ohka isnt there anymore.

Bartolo Colon isnt there anymore.

 

So id say, not many chips remained for Bowden to play with.

 

Those teams were four games over .500 for two of the past 8 years, they have hardly been a contending team and if you want to paint that picture, you are a fool. We already know you dont like Washington, just stop spewing baseless claims to fulfill your own personal Bowden Hate quota.

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I wasn't aware Vazquez, Guerrero, and Colon were there in 2004. Thanks for the info. You might want to do a little research before calling others fools

Yep. On the back of the remaining pieces of the 2002-03 Expos teams that competed for the Wild Card and the 2004 team that had a .500 record after finishing their San Juan dates.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4390

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And those teams had an all-star quality Jose Vidro and another small piece named...Vladimir Guerrero, neither of those are there anymore. Plus:

 

Javier Vasquez isnt there anymore.

Orlando Cabrera isnt there anymore.

Tomo Ohka isnt there anymore.

Bartolo Colon isnt there anymore.

 

So id say, not many chips remained for Bowden to play with.

 

Those teams were four games over .500 for two of the past 8 years, they have hardly been a contending team and if you want to paint that picture, you are a fool. We already know you dont like Washington, just stop spewing baseless claims to fulfill your own personal Bowden Hate quota.

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I wasn't aware Vazquez, Guerrero, and Colon were there in 2004. Thanks for the info. You might want to do a little research before calling others fools

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Read the first part he said including the backs of the 2002 and 2003 Expos. Good call buddy. And if you want to call the '04 Expos something great to build on then yes you are a fool, that team had 68 wins.

Yep. On the back of the remaining pieces of the 2002-03 Expos teams that competed for the Wild Card and the 2004 team that had a .500 record after finishing their San Juan dates.

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4390

935194[/snapback]

And those teams had an all-star quality Jose Vidro and another small piece named...Vladimir Guerrero, neither of those are there anymore. Plus:

 

Javier Vasquez isnt there anymore.

Orlando Cabrera isnt there anymore.

Tomo Ohka isnt there anymore.

Bartolo Colon isnt there anymore.

 

So id say, not many chips remained for Bowden to play with.

 

Those teams were four games over .500 for two of the past 8 years, they have hardly been a contending team and if you want to paint that picture, you are a fool. We already know you dont like Washington, just stop spewing baseless claims to fulfill your own personal Bowden Hate quota.

935222[/snapback]

 

I wasn't aware Vazquez, Guerrero, and Colon were there in 2004. Thanks for the info. You might want to do a little research before calling others fools

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Read the first part he said on the backs of the 2002 and 2003 Expos. Good call buddy. And if you want to call the '04 Expos something great to build on then yes you are a fool, that team had 68 wins.

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The team had no home which gives validity to his comment about the post san juan record "buddy"

Want another example of why Bowden is an idiot?

 

See: Contracts. Guzman, Christian. Castilla, Vinny.

 

The 2004 team would have competed if not for all the travel and injuries.

:lol

 

Yet they do have Johnson, Vidro (yep, still there), the excellent Cordero/Majewski/Ayala bullpen, John Patterson, Livan, Wilkerson and Church who are all largely responsible for where the Nats where they are right now.

 

And they had Vargas, Kim, Ohka and Day until Frank Robinson asked the latter two he did not get along with to be traded. The former two were dropped from the roster despite Vargas having a minor league option left and Kim being the only spot-starter/long relief option left.

 

Castilla hasn't hit since mid-May, partly because he can't hit outside of Coors and partly because the pre-existing injury to his knee. Guzman hasn't hit ever. Guillen has done well, but has the stats of an average starting corner outfielder and a RISP average 50 points and a OPS 200 points under his overall totals. Hardly the MVP everyone is calling him. Then consider what it took to acquire him. A .300 hitting young shortstop and Juan Rivera. Hardly a steal.

 

Loaiza was his only very good move in the midst of many bad moves (Castilla), crippling moves (Guzman) or average moves (Guillen).

 

1 of 10 is pretty bad record for JimBo. I mean, even Guzman is hitting close to 2 for 10.

By the way, I don't like the Nats? Hell, I've rooted for them every game their opposition did not wear teal. I want them to do as well as they can, as long as its not at the expense of the Marlins.

 

That's why I notice these things, bud.

:lol

 

Yet they do have Johnson, Vidro (yep, still there), the excellent Cordero/Majewski/Ayala bullpen, John Patterson, Livan, Wilkerson and Church who are all largely responsible for where the Nats where they are right now.

 

And they had Vargas, Kim, Ohka and Day until Frank Robinson asked the latter two he did not get along with to be traded. The former two were dropped from the roster despite Vargas having a minor league option left and Kim being the only spot-starter/long relief option left.

 

Castilla hasn't hit since mid-May, partly because he can't hit outside of Coors and partly because the pre-existing injury to his knee. Guzman hasn't hit ever. Guillen has done well, but has the stats of an average starting corner outfielder and a RISP average 50 points and a OPS 200 points under his overall totals. Hardly the MVP everyone is calling him. Then consider what it took to acquire him. A .300 hitting young shortstop and Juan Rivera. Hardly a steal.

 

Loaiza was his only very good move in the midst of many bad moves (Castilla), crippling moves (Guzman) or average moves (Guillen).

 

1 of 10 is pretty bad record for JimBo. I mean, even Guzman is hitting close to 2 for 10.

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And how you can justify that losing Vlad, and again, Vidor who is nowhere near the Vidro of 2002 or 2003, and losing Bartlo Colon and The O.C doesnt cripple a team and those cogs werent the main reasons they were above .500 in 2002 and 2003 is beyond me and a very biased stance and stems from you love of the Marlins and hatred for the Nationals and Phillies.

I'm not ignoring the contributions of a healthy Vlad or anyone from 02/03. I'm just pointing out just how little Bowden's additions have made to this year's team whose success was made on the remnants of the 02/03 teams and the unlucky yet still promising 2004 team. And how he has made bad decisions when it comes to players he inheritated, such as ruining the team's solid starting pitching depth that today even the always optimistic Tom Boswell expressed dispair that the Nats don't even have #4 starter now. And how he has presented himself in an unprofessional manner, promoting himself and his personnel decisions to anyone and everyone who can help get him a job as a MLB GM next year.

question

 

Does the success of the Nats have more to do with Bowden or Frank Robinson?

 

I have not seen any great moves of signifigance by Bowden and if you look at his track record with the Reds, he has been less than stellar.

 

All the points being made by Passion are valid with the less talent than in previous seasons, however, I think that speaks more of the job Frank Robinson has done more so than Jim Bowden.

I don't know, FRob can be a bit of a hot head, Wilkerson, Armas, Hernandez, Ohka and Day (see a trend of what position these guys play?) are all said to have relationships with him. Two of them were traded away because it. He makes curious decisions on the field. Who can forget bringing in the next reliever to bat first not once, but a few times?

 

If I were to point to one part of the Nats that has kept them in contention, I'd say it has been their great bullpen. Their young fresh dynamic arms have held many of a slinder leads, ties and reversable deficits.

Wow...that's going to be a really bad tampering charge.

Nothing can top the fact that they have their already gold glove caliber third baseman top prospect playing shortstop.

Well, he looked terrible in his first start at the position Wednesday.