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Barry Svrluga rediscovers that there's a major league team in DC, writing about them for the first time in a few weeks. And he's got big news: the team is trying to extend Jim Bowden's contract. Arizona has interviewed him at least once, and is very interested in him. He's also been connected (if only in rumor) to Philly and Tampa Bay. With competition for his services and no clear replacement in house (nor ownership to actually find a replacement), the team feels it's in their best interest to lock him up.
I'm not JimBo's biggest fan (duh), but this is probably a smart move. If Barry's report is right, it would just be a one-year extension. Essentially he's working on an at-will basis now. The one-year contract would give him some security and give him another year.
In the meantime, he gets to play the part of Jack Torrance as caretaker, hamming it up, running around like a madman, wanting to butcher the team. (On a side note, have you seen this? [big download] Most of you probably have. It's a re-edited trailer, casting it as a romantic comedy. It's better than it sounds!)
More importantly, because it's a one year role, when and if a new owner comes in, there's no reason they can't dump him out behind the trailer in the parking lot and bring in their own guy.
But this makes me wonder a few things....
First, didn't one of the ownership groups say that they'd keep Bowden on board? Could this be an indication that MLB is leaning that way? (Does anyone remember which group that was?)
Second, this is probably the end of Frank. Tony Tavares openly criticized him recently, while praising Bowden extensively. If TT is covering for Bodes, you've gotta believe that he's going to give him authority (or even the mandate) to wack Frank.
Given what TT revealed about Frank's lack of focus and preparation, that's probably a good thing. (Unless Jimbo's choice is Bob Boone, one of the worst managers in major league history.)
While extending Bowden isn't the ideal, nothing this team does is ideal. But given the patchwork circumstances, this is about as good as we're going to get. And with the free agency process set to begin as soon as two weeks from tonight, the extension is probably what's best for everyone.
(I can't believe I just typed that!)
I'm not JimBo's biggest fan (duh), but this is probably a smart move. If Barry's report is right, it would just be a one-year extension. Essentially he's working on an at-will basis now. The one-year contract would give him some security and give him another year.
In the meantime, he gets to play the part of Jack Torrance as caretaker, hamming it up, running around like a madman, wanting to butcher the team. (On a side note, have you seen this? [big download] Most of you probably have. It's a re-edited trailer, casting it as a romantic comedy. It's better than it sounds!)
More importantly, because it's a one year role, when and if a new owner comes in, there's no reason they can't dump him out behind the trailer in the parking lot and bring in their own guy.
But this makes me wonder a few things....
First, didn't one of the ownership groups say that they'd keep Bowden on board? Could this be an indication that MLB is leaning that way? (Does anyone remember which group that was?)
Second, this is probably the end of Frank. Tony Tavares openly criticized him recently, while praising Bowden extensively. If TT is covering for Bodes, you've gotta believe that he's going to give him authority (or even the mandate) to wack Frank.
Given what TT revealed about Frank's lack of focus and preparation, that's probably a good thing. (Unless Jimbo's choice is Bob Boone, one of the worst managers in major league history.)
While extending Bowden isn't the ideal, nothing this team does is ideal. But given the patchwork circumstances, this is about as good as we're going to get. And with the free agency process set to begin as soon as two weeks from tonight, the extension is probably what's best for everyone.
(I can't believe I just typed that!)
posted by Chris Needham at
9:18 AM
3 Comments:
Let Bowden go elsewhere, then he can raid our farm system for all of the Reds OFs he traded for this year and were never any good in the first place.
By
Anonymous, at 10/26/2005 9:58 AM
Just think of the prospects we could get for Kenny Kelly!
By
Chris Needham, at 10/26/2005 9:59 AM
I'm finally coming around to the idea that Frank must go. That being said, we all must PRAY that Bob Boone does not become manager. The scary thing is that Boone was fired on the same day as Bowden in '03, so Bodes might want to hook his "special assistant" up. Hey isn't Barry Larkin also a "special assistant?" What the hell does that mean, anyway?
By
Brandon, at 10/26/2005 11:04 AM
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