Bowden Is to Blame

Posted by Jim Kurtzke on Jul. 14, 2009 at 12:00 AM
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Firing Manny Acta probably was the right move.  But we shouldn't lose sight of who the real bad actor is: ex(iled) GM Jim Bowden.  On the promise of baseball in Washington, never has one person done so much to destroy the aspirations of so many. 

Over the past five years, he had stocked the Nationals with players who, almost uniformly, were complete duds.  Lest we remember the Cincinatti pipeline filled with sludge (Lopez, Kearns, Pena, etc.).  The people of appalling character (Guilen, Dukes, Young).  The bizarre stunt of hosting tryouts during Spring Training for EVERY position in the starting rotation.  Or putting six corner outfielders on this year's roster -- including a few best suited for DH but none qualified for CF -- and extending the competition into the season.  

The results this year:  An embarrassment of historic proportions.  The most losses in the majors.  The most number of errors committed.  The worst ERA.  And scores of fans who feel cheated for giving the team their dollars and their loyalty.

Unfortunately, dismantling Bowden's bone-headed moves will require many more changes than the field manager. Here, you've got to give Mike Rizzo credit.  He spotted the complete absence of the bullpen, but by the time he got the GM job (well, sort of) it was almost too late to do much about it.  He saw Dukes and Milledge for what they were -- minor leaguers whose characters have been toxic in the clubhouse -- and sent them packing.  And he saw Daniel Cabrera as emblematic of a never was/never will be rotation, and declared that it's time to go with the young guns.  

But more changes will be needed to fully unwind Bowden's Washington Generals.  A lot more changes.  

So as we debate the dismissal of a manager short on emo but long on class, let's keep the big picture in mind: No one could have won with this group.