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I know it's been said, but I'll reiterate. Bowden is frickin' idiot.

 

I went to the Nats game tonight in Viera and they've got a good squad. Ryan Zimmerman is the real deal, if their GM wasn't totally incompetent I think they'd have a great chance at making the playoffs this season.

Sources out of Washington say Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden was eyeing a chili dog combo from a local street vendor near RFK stadium. Reportedly, the combo comes with french fries, a soft drink, and two jelly donuts.

 

Appetite piqued, Bowden showed his usual aggressiveness and immediately got on the horn with other MLB front office executives trying to make something happen.

 

MB.com has learned from an insider high up in the Nationals organization that Bowden has spoken with other GMs around the league, and has offered recently demoted center field prospect Ryan Church in exchange for that delicious chili dog value package.

 

Bowden has previously made news by trading his soul for a paper clip during a stressful period just before last year's amateur draft. Collating papers in preparation for the draft, the long time MLB executive cried out that he'd "sell his soul for a paper clip". Shortly thereafter, a demonic trickster dressed in a red cape appeared with the requested paper clip. Bowden accepted the offer and parted with his soul.

 

Considered by some to be trigger happy when it comes to trades, Bowden disagrees: "As far as the paper clip goes...well maybe that was hasty. I miss being able to look at my reflection in the mirror. But Alfonso Soriano...look how good I did there."

Umm I wonder who saw this coming 3-4 weeks ago :whistle yet so many here payed zero attention. Now all of you are on the Church bandwagon :confused

Sources out of Washington say Nationals General Manager Jim Bowden was eyeing a chili dog combo from a local street vendor near RFK stadium. Reportedly, the combo comes with french fries, a soft drink, and two jelly donuts.

 

Appetite piqued, Bowden showed his usual aggressiveness and immediately got on the horn with other MLB front office executives trying to make something happen.

 

MB.com has learned from an insider high up in the Nationals organization that Bowden has spoken with other GMs around the league, and has offered recently demoted center field prospect Ryan Church in exchange for that delicious chili dog value package.

 

Bowden has previously made news by trading his soul for a paper clip during a stressful period just before last year's amateur draft. Collating papers in preparation for the draft, the long time MLB executive cried out that he'd "sell his soul for a paper clip". Shortly thereafter, a demonic trickster dressed in a red cape appeared with the requested paper clip. Bowden accepted the offer and parted with his soul.

 

Considered by some to be trigger happy when it comes to trades, Bowden disagrees: "As far as the paper clip goes...well maybe that was hasty. I miss being able to look at my reflection in the mirror. But Alfonso Soriano...look how good I did there."

:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

Church among latest cuts

Outfielder surprised by move; Watson wins center-field spot

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

 

Ryan Church will begin the 2006 season in Triple-A New Orleans. (Lawrence Jackson/AP)

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VIERA, Fla. -- Nationals outfielder Ryan Church was stunned when he found out that he was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday afternoon.

The Nationals also sent right-hander Jason Bergmann and infielder Brendan Harris to New Orleans, and left-hander Bill Bray was sent to Minor League camp.

 

Two weeks ago, it appeared that Church was going to be the starting center fielder, but Brandon Watson outperformed him. Church was 11-for-55 (.200) with 10 walks, while Watson hit .311 (19-for-61) with seven stolen bases, nine runs scored and an on-base percentage of .368.

 

Privately, the Nationals didn't like Church's body language on the field. As one person put it, "It's as if he's not even there on the field."

 

The move means that Watson will be the starting center fielder and will face Mets left-hander Tom Glavine on April 3, while Marlon Byrd will be the backup. The right-handed-hitting Byrd will get some starts against left-handed pitching.

 

"Pure and simple, Brandon beat Ryan out on the baseball field. You have to perform here. This is a good wakeup call for [Church]," general manager Jim Bowden said. "The reality is, on the field, Brandon Watson outplayed him, outhit him, got on base, stole bases, got a good percentage of stolen bases. He did the things that we asked him to do and he deserves that shot. You can't ask him to do anymore than he's done in this Spring Training."

 

Church was given the news in a meeting with Bowden and manager Frank Robinson. Church told them that he would be back in the big leagues in two weeks.

"Jim said Watson beat me out. I didn't think I was in a competition or anything like that. But they're going to use a platoon," Church said. "I feel stunned. But I'll keep my mouth shut, show up and do what I've got to do. Hopefully, I'll be up in a couple of weeks.

"Everyone was positive, they're saying I've got a long career ahead of me. They want me to start hitting again, which I understand. I didn't get a lot of hits this spring. But it's just one of those things."

 

About 30 minutes after Church was given the bad news, Robinson had a 20-minute closed-door meeting with Watson, who was informed that he made the team.

 

After his meeting with Robinson, Watson's biggest supporter, Jose Cardenal, the special advisor to the general manager, approached the rookie and asked, "You already made it to the big leagues. The toughest part is what?"

 

Watson replied, "Staying here."

 

"That's right. So you have to work hard," Cardenal said.

 

 

"I just came in and did what I could to help myself and the team," Watson said. "I did what they asked me to do, and you have the results."

 

Robinson believes that Watson's promotion will send a message to the Minor Leaguers in the Nationals organization that they have a chance to make the ballclub.

 

"I think it will show the people in this organization if they come to Spring Training and do a [good] job or make adjustments, they have a chance to make the club," Robinson said.

Church could be a very productive centerfielder for a number of years.

 

I hope we get him. I'd give up a second tier pitching prospect for him.

 

I'd also reckon that Church is a better defender than Abercrombie. He certainly is better than Aguila, Byrd and Wilkerson.

Wow. Jim Bowden is an idiot! I love Ryan Church's talent as well as his bat. In my opinion, if the Nats don't want Church and want to make room for Watson, then the Marlins should try to grab him for a reliever like Chris Resop or another upset minor league player in Robert Andino. Come on Admin. Go get him!

Let Andino settle down and work on his skills @ 2B before you just toss him for being sent down in favor of a superior player. Chances are he has a bright future there.

 

I doubt Chris Resop is upset, he did make the team(well deserved BTW), you probably meant Messenger, who I also think has a nice future. Relief depth is not our primary stregnth, the main stregnth is starting pitching, deal from that.

 

The Nationals want Reed and pitcher? Give them Reed and Pinto for Church, and get them to also send something the Devil Rays want as part of a trade and then send them a pitching prospect of some sort and with talent...this lessens what we have to send to the D-Rays, we get Church AND Gathright and everyone on this board is happy.

quick, before someone slaps some sense into Bowden, get on the horn Beinfest!

 

:BananaLlama

There has to be a reason for this that we (baseball fans generally) aren't aware of or privy to. I'm not going to try and guess what that might be (although a conflict with their manager isn't out of the question) but it's almost inconceivable that there's no room for him on the 25 man roster.

FRob's said nothing bad about Church. He does respect the skills and/or attributes of some of his contributors. But it's been Bowden who was down on Church. Slighting him one day, refusing to mention him in trade talks the next yet somehow the rumors always were out there. I think Bowden doesn't respect Church can offer him anything. If Church succeeds, it's to no benefit to Bowden's ego. So therefore, he must be made a toy.

I hope the demotion forces Church and his advocates in the organization to raise enough of a stink to break the chain of abuse.

I'm confused. Church belongs to Washington and there is no reason to think that they would want to trade him.

 

You guys hear that he was sent to AAA, and suddenly he's on the Marlin's radar?

FRob's said nothing bad about Church.

 

I didn't say he did.

 

I was only guessing what might be behind the move. Purely a guess. It's hard for me to believe that Bowden would send the guy down if Frank wanted him on the roster. After all, it's the manager's neck on the line.

  • Author

I'm confused. Church belongs to Washington and there is no reason to think that they would want to trade him.

 

You guys hear that he was sent to AAA, and suddenly he's on the Marlin's radar?

 

Actually he'd been mentioned in several trade rumors even before the demotion to several teams including the Marlins. Sorry you wasted a post. :(

I'm confused. Church belongs to Washington and there is no reason to think that they would want to trade him.

 

You guys hear that he was sent to AAA, and suddenly he's on the Marlin's radar?

 

Actually he'd been mentioned in several trade rumors even before the demotion to several teams including the Marlins. Sorry you wasted a post. :(

Can I see some links my man?

 

Gotta love the sarcasm on the message boards these days. :lol :lol

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you made the claim, look em up. :D

you made the claim, look em up. :D

 

Sorry? You just said there were several rumors. I'm just curious to see where they are. Thanks in advance.

 

Sincerely,

Lefty.

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