Read the full story on CSNwashington.com.
Stan Kasten will resign as president of the Nationals at the end of the season, ending a tenure that began when the Lerner family took ownership of the franchise in 2006.
Kasten informed players of his pending departure during a pregame meeting in the Nationals Park clubhouse.
More to come...
UPDATE AT 3:07 P.M. -- Kasten just spent 18 minutes talking to media members in the Nationals' dugout. The nuts-and-bolts...
-- He said he told the Lerner family all along he would commit to five years, which ends at the end of this season. Said his decision is not a reflection of his relationship with the owners. "This is just about me," he said. "This has nothing to do with anybody else."
-- He wouldn't reveal whether he'll retain his minority stake in ownership of the club, though he pointed out that if he ends up working for another MLB franchise, he'll be required to sell his share.
-- He isn't classifying this as a retirement, though he doesn't intend to work immediately. "I don't feel like retiring," he said. "I'm going to do something. I think it will be a while before I do."
Full story coming in a little while on CSNwashington.com.
UPDATE AT 4:00 P.M. -- Here's Kasten full opening statement to reporters...
"When I came here, when my group joined the Lerner group, I made a commitment to stay with them for five years, through the end of the 2010 season. About a year or so ago, I went to the family and told them I would not be staying beyond that five-year commitment. So what I'm here to tell you today is, I'll be leaving the Nats at the end of the season.
"I know the stories and speculation. Let me assure you, this is just about me. This has nothing to do with anybody else or anything else. This is just about me, what's good for me, for my family and my own personal expectations, goals, aspirations, purely that and nothing else. Leaving here, will I miss things? You bet. There's going to be so much that I miss.
"First of all, I love, love, love D.C. I love living here, I love working here. I love the unique circumstances and energy that make this the most important city in the world. The people that I've met here along the way have been exceptional. I couldn't have gone anywhere else and had experiences to me and for me here that I could have never had happen anywhere else. It's been so much fun, and I will continue to spend a lot of time here, because I do love D.C. that much.
"In addition, I have so much personal affection for everyone that's been associated with the franchise, starting with the Lerner family, every member of whom I have a great, close relationship with, to our other partners, who have been so supportive, to our great, hard-working, dedicated front office, led by Mike. Really talented people, who are doing a good job with a lot more success to come. Our scouts, coaches, here in Washington and around the country and the world, all great, dedicated baseball people. And then the players, who I love, as you know. I'm a player's guy. In fact, I was choking up a little when I was talking to the players -- which is why I brought the sunglasses. I couldn't do that with you guys. And then, of course, the fans, who have been so great to me. I interact with them every night. I walk the concourses, as you know, for every game. I want to thank them for their generosity in offering advice and help. It's appreciated, especially when you're a guy running a team that's lost as much as we have, that's been in the phase of building that we've been in. I get lots of critical advice, but it's all been appreciated, and I'm going to keep doing it for the rest of the season, because we still have a bunch of games yet to go.
"So will I miss things? You bet. Leaving here is going to be hard. But still, the decision to leave here was not hard. It was just the right thing for me to do."
65 comments:
Wow, wonder what thoughts are going through the players heads right now.
The king is dead. Long live the king.
I'd like to see him do a tell-all. Hopefully settle once and for all if, how and how much the Lerners are cheap.
Speaking of tell-alls, is there a good book anyone would recommend about the business side of baseball (other than Moneyball)? I'm finding that following this team requires a lot more than just understanding what's happening on the field. Any good suggestions for how to catch up on contracts, draft, free agency, ownership, pres vs. GM issues, antitrust exemption, etc.?
Is it because the Lerner's won't spend money?
Boswell's take on this (discussed as a strong possibility in this morning's column)is that money was/is the issue. "The Plan" was ready for the next step--increased spending, and it wasn't going to happen. Hope Kasten isn't succeeded by a Lerner yes-man.
What a shame. And I want that book, too Anon at 1:59. I hope the Lerners have the courage to hire a President who won't be a yes man to them, and will push them to do right by the fans and the players. Which means spend some money.
http://www.amazon.com/Extra-2-Street-Strategies-Baseball/dp/0345517652
Kasten's resignation - especially given the sudden nature of the announcement - sadly probably has a lot more to do with his wife's ongoing struggle with breast cancer than to any of the Lerner palace intrigue scenarios being put forward by Boswell et al.
LoveDaNats said...
"Is it because the Lerner's won't spend money?"
Even if they are willing to spend (and they might not be), anecdotal evidence indicates it might simply be a royal pain in the ass every time they do want to spend money.
I never believe Boswell...he talks out of both sides of his mouth.
Good, now the Lerners should "resign" too. Please sell, you cheap f______ ____.
I can't really say I'll mourn Kasten's departure per se, but it's depressing that someone who's seen behind the curtain is bailing--if he thought this team had a legit chance to contend in 2 yrs, I don't think he'd be leaving now.
Kasten seems to think that he has to have $20M more a year in payroll. The Lerners aren't going to give it to him, and he can't see another path to success, at least in the short term. So he bails.
But there are other ways to win--you can certainly look at the chart of mlb payrolls and find teams that pay less per win that the Nats. Whether the Lerners will actually look for and find someone knows how to do it, I don't know.
Just pre-ordered the book, but it's not out till spring training season. Thanks for the lead, anon at 2:04. Any other suggestions for books out now? I will need something baseball related to tide me over the winter...
Can't say this is a good thing for the franchise. Kasten is well respected in the industry and you have to wonder what kind of implicit message this sends to other teams and other executives.
Doubt the players care, honestly. Kasten is their boss's boss's boss. If your executive vice president left the firm, how would you feel? Probably pretty indifferent.
I am mostly with HHover. I think that this is a negative for the Nats organization. I am not necessarily a huge fan of his, but he is respected within the game and this, on top of all the losing, will not help attract players.
And while I have largely stayed out of all the LoC talk, I tend to believe some of Boz' take on this. A mid $80m payroll is the least that we should expect from a team charging top 10 ticket prices.
Its strange on the money issue. The Lerner's have spent every dime in Draft signings plus a few nickels and rumor had it that they were the runner-up for Aroldis Champman and Mark Teixeira.
They signed Ryan Zimmerman to a 4 year extension in 2010.
Where my disconnect is wouldn't be over competing with the Yankees to break the bank on a player rather how they will handle Adam Dunn.
I don't even buy off on Boswell's harping on raising payroll $20 million if there isn't anything to spend it on, but with Guzy, Kennedy, and Capps coming off the ledger, that's almost $13 million right there with only Dunn and Willingham requiring sizeable raises before considering acquiring Free Agents.
So Dunn is making $12 mill this year and deserves a raise to $13.3 mill per year. That will raise payroll only $1.3 million while Guz is off your books you save $8 million. Get rid of Adam Kennedy and you are saving another $1.6 mill (replacing him with a $400K guy) and you save Matt Capps $3.5 million.
The team eats Strasburg's salary for 2011 while he gets replaced by JZim who is at league minimum and Willingham gets a nice arbitration raise so net/net the team payroll goes down $7 to $9 million overall (I think)to spend on the bullpen and a Free Agent outfielder just to keep spending at the 2010 levels.
The Post-Mortem on Kasten will be long, but let's not cast it so quickly as "Kasten good and smart. Lerners Cheap and Bad." It was Kasten who decided to keep the goofball Bowden longer than he should have. It was Kasten that went ahead with gutting the team just prior to opening the new park. It was Kasten that oversaw the design of Nats Park that while wonderful, has several serious design flaws including a limited out of park experience and homeplate seats that because of their cost are always empty and make the stadium feel empty on TV. I know Kasten was limited. But his tenure here isn't all rosey.
Gotta remember. This is a very young team, and as such, salaries are low for that reason, too.
so old man Teddy has won the battle - i predict today's the day they 'Let Teddy Win' to celebrate.
Just a thought... news broke the other day out of the DR about the trial related to nats operations down there, and Kasten was quoted as saying there was more to come. Could this be related?
FromLeftField said...
"It was Kasten that oversaw the design of Nats Park that while wonderful, has several serious design flaws including a limited out of park experience and homeplate seats that because of their cost are always empty and make the stadium feel empty on TV."
You are completely off the mark on this one. It was Tony Tavares, acting under MLB ownership, who was responsible for all those design elements. By the time Kasten came on board, and with the expedited build schedule, there was little he could do to the design. Kasten even stated that he would have done it differently.
From Leftfield, no way. Kasten didn't want Bowden from Day #1.
With Guzman gone they could afford Dunn, Willingham, and a real top of the rotation starter obtained through trade easily without reaching the $85 million level.
Lots of interesting questions should be posed by Ben Goessling in his next addition of the Rizzo blog. I would like to know what Jay Sartori thinks now that he is with the Blue Jays.
Called this one over a year ago....just ask ABM who would always say I was soooo wrong....Lerners are a real problem here people....
Who do you trade to get a real top of the rotation starter?
This could be a job for the "S"teinbog!
Who do you trade to get a real top of the rotation starter?
Jordan Zimmermann for starters ... and add two to three prospects. You now have 2 shortstops I would pick Desmond.
It would be extremely painful prospect-wise given the dearth of prospects in the farm system ... but it could be done for a real mid 20's ace from a team trying to trim payroll. In other words: Grienke.
It was not Kasten who keep Jimbo that was Mark Lerner......get with it history here or get out of the way
I hate to see Kasten leave, if he truly had the run of the team we would be a contender in two more years! Now Washington can really go back to its motto: First in War, First in peace, but its now LAST IN THE NATIONAL LEAGUE.
I waited over 33 years for baseball to return to Washington and now have to live through this bull. Selig and his buddy Angelos really know how to screw the baseball fans in DC and Northern Virginia. Why didn't we get better ownership? With Angelos having our broadcasting rights, I can't hear the Nationals on the radio and on TV, Carpenter and Knight won't stop talking for me to try and enjoy the games
If this isn't bad enough we have to live with Double Switch Riggleman in 2011. I can't see me supporting the Nats with him at the helm, in 2011.
Please wake me when we have some really good news. We keep Riggleman and in a couple years bye bye to Zimmerman, Strasburg and later Harper. I've watched this movie before! The Senators to Minnesota and later the Senators to Texas.
There has to be a good owner out there somewhere! At least Dan Snyder spends the money and tries to build a WINNER. To bad he didn't like baseball!
MLB with their crap, just keep trying to prove we are not a baseball town. I wish they would pick on another area before my death!
I almost have a fatal heart attack thinking about another year of Ole Double-Switch and playing his favorites! If he is a ML Manager than I'm Bill Gates!
Please God, HELP US!!!
@JayB.,
Ted Lerner is the problem then. But he can't possibly be worst than the Angel O's. And he can be convinced to spend money for the right reasons:
See Strasburg, Harper, Zimmerman, Adam Dunn then and now, Texiera, Chapman, Maya ...
Perhaps Rizzo can now deal directly with the Ted when it comes to player development and payroll? Its difficult to know ... someone should really try to get a candid anonymous interview with Jay Sartori.
Hello Steinbog?
JayB, owners are almost always problems including Ted Leonsis and Hal Steinbrenner and Mark Cuban and Jerry Jones. Unless you win every year, you will find someone who isn't happy, and owners are easy targets to point at.
Like a good marriage, opposites attract. The Lerners need to hire an opposite, not a "yes man". Jim Bowden was their perfect guy for a while as he agreed with Mark Lerner on everything. They need a team president that will tell it like it is.
The 1st order of business is 1st as in 1st base and getting Dunn taken care of. With Rizzo at the helm, I trust he will report directly to Mark Lerner until StanK is replaced.
I still don't get why it is unreasonable for us to expect an $85m payroll. I think that is smack in the middle of MLB teams. And it does not have to come at the expense of investing in the draft.
And, for the argument that winning can be accomplished for less, sure it is possible. But probably not sustainably. And if we assume that they will spend it wisely, doesn't it give us a greater probability of a winning team?
I think that we have accepted where the mark has been set in the past, and hope for marginal improvement. But I don't think that is necessarily the right context to view it in.
Wally, you don't magically jump in payroll for no reason. They spent so much more than any other team in the Draft that the last 2 years finally replenished a crappy farm system.
The proof will be what they do with their home grown talent like Zim when they are ready for contract extensions.
Someone mentioned the payroll is low due to youth which is exactly right.
Dunn is one of our own so there is the test case to see what they do.
A better question might be ... why did Jay Sartori prefer working with Tony LaCava (a guy who was mentioned as a possibility for the Nats GM job), plus Dana Brown and Alex Anthopoulos? What is different there versus the Nats coming from the League office?
Good riddance. StanK was a Brave, never a Nat. I will not miss his used-car dealer banter and his sour face.
I will wait until the off-season is over before climbing back on the "Lerners are cheap" bandwagon.
Come-on Rizzo, re-sign Dunn.
You can tell them owners to pack sand. Ever since they put up them tacky, blue painted plywood walls so that folks on the suite level couldn't actually see into or otherwise disturb them, them Lerners have made clear that they regard us fans as a bunch of rubes. Here's a telegram for you Ted: Don't nobody care that you and all your kids and kids-in-law have feel good roles on the team and that you give enough money to foundations to fulfill your tax-planning purposes. And we're all real excited for your dullard boy to take over when you give up the controls. He might not be a rocket surgeon, but at least he wants to build a winning team. You, you stubborn old goat, seem not to object to winning so long as it fits the bottom line. Maybe Kasten was a jerk. Maybe he wasn't. But his leaving because he can't no more stand the likes of you is bad, bad news. I can tell that all the way to my bones.
Anon @ 2:54 - I am not trying to be disrespectful, but I think that 300 losses over 3 years is a reason to increase payroll. I completely agree with you that the 2010 draft was an excellent show of ownership commitment to spend to improve the organization, but the MLB team needs more attention. There isn't a lot of talent at the upper levels of the minors ready to contribute, and there still is a lot of development risk with the younger guys.
A while back, I spent a little time perusing some sites - the Nats are 3rd in operating income, 8th in average ticket prices, 22nd in payroll and 28th in the percentage of revenues spent on baseball operations (I went to the Biz of Baseball, the MLB fan cost index, the Forbes article and Its About the Money). Meaning that they charge and make a lot but aren't spending it back into the organization, compared to other teams. I think that we have a right to expect more out of the ownership than that.
Maybe the numbers aren't completely accurate, but I could see Boz' take that Kasten finally concluded that they weren't going to do what is necessary to build a sustainable winner.
What does Stan Kasten do and why would the Nats miss him?
Have no problem slamming the Lerners where it is merited, but I don't see Stan Kasten as anything other than an annoying PR man. Rizzo and his staff handle all personnel matters, including contract negotiations. Kasten was nothing more than a talking head, with no connection to this area. I won't miss him.
Also, I put no stock is Boswell's theories as he wrong more often than anyone whoever devoted his life to covering sports. He also talks out of both sides of his mouth.
With that said, if it comes out that the Lerners handcuff Rizzo and his staff from building the franchise, the Lerners deserve maximum criticism, but I can't read that into having Stan "Gas Bag" Kasten leave as he did very little, if anything, to tangibly benefit the franchise.
How, if at all, could this effect Mike Rizzo as GM? Rizzo is terribly awkward in front of the cameras but I think he's doing a good job in the front office. Hopefully there isn't much residual fallout.
Kasten's departure has me concerned about the professionalism of the remaining Nats staff. Say what you will about Stan's relations with the owners but at least he knows how a stadium should operate. Didn't always succeed in the fan experience stuff but he took complaints seriously, or at least answered emails quickly.
I appreciate that update there, Mark, but it's useless and it ain't your fault because Mister Kasten didn't do nothing but string together words so that all you reporter types'd have something to say. And to all you people saying that Kasten never did nothing anyway, I say maybe so, but I'd still rather eat a plate of Arby's than trust them Lerners without somebody grown-up like Kasten before. Fair's fair. Admit it that none of you know really what Stan did behind closed doors.
I wondered about that, too, Anon, especially in light of the recent SI piece on new developments in the case. I still wonder why the announcement couldn't wait until the end of the season. Sure is a lot of turmoil in this organization. Will be interesting to hear what else comes out (if anything, considering how tight-lipped the organization is).
---
Just a thought... news broke the other day out of the DR about the trial related to nats operations down there, and Kasten was quoted as saying there was more to come. Could this be related?
Which is not necessarily to say that Kasten was involved in deception in that case, but it did happen on his watch. Also hope that his wife's health is not a factor, as someone speculated above.
So he decided some time ago, but announced it ten days before the end of the season? Still seems like odd timing. Will be interested to hear more as things develop.
It's more likely he announced his resignation now because of the Boswell story.
If he did not initiate the Boswell story.
We got rid of Bowden and that was a big plus. Kasten leaving is another plus. Now we have to get rid of the Lerners. Then I will become bullish on this franchise.
Even if Kasten didn't initiate the Boswell story, he could have killed it if he had wanted to.
Instead, he used the opportunity to clean up his resume--he'll soon be looking for a new job (or already has been, for all we know), and needs to make clear to prospective employers why they shouldn't be scared off by a guy who presided over 300 loses in 3 seasons.
I hope someone will explain the division of labor in the front office and how it all works. There's a GM, a president, and isn't there also a VP of baseball operations? what are the differences?
Wally;
85 mil is reasonable if it makes a tangible difference; I propose that in the Nats case it won't. Baltimore went that route several times signing: Tejada, Millwood and many others never coming close to contending. You can't ignore the 20 mil the Nats poured into draftees each of the past 2 years; most other teams spent less than half that.
You can't over emphasize the mess Bowden left behind for Rizzo; you can see that no one is rushing to employ him. I get really impatient with suggestions to trade JZim and Desmond.This is great; fill one hole by creating 2 others.
My prediction is that the next President of the Nationals will be Mark Lerner. Indeed, if Kasten informed the Lerners a year ago that he would be leaving now then the transition has already begun. Notice how Mark Lerner has taken on a much more visible public profile over the past year, including appearing and interacting with Rizzo in situations where Kasten formerly would have. Also, the Lerners are well known for being hands-on in all their business interests, so if Mark Lerner has had the time to do things like shag flies during BP even on road trips, it's clear that he's not heavily involved in managing any of their other family businesses - which of course creates the opening for him to take over direct management of the baseball team. Kasten being a professional would not leave the team without mentoring his successor, so in the absence of a presumed successor having already been brought on board, that would indicate that he's been mentoring Mark Lerner.
Given what Boswell wrote today about how big a fan Mark Lerner is and how having an owner who is at his heart a fan is often a good thing, I'm of the opinion that having Mark Lerner in direct charge will be a positive move for the team. He's had five years now to learn the baseball business. He's ready.
Kasten's main asset is credibility within baseball circles. With fans, he's been clunky and he hasn't figured out a way to market the team that connects to DC. I do believe that it's been easier to poach some of the scouts guys for Rizzo with Kasten's credibility within baseball circles.
The problem is that we have no idea how much of the Nats problems are Kasten messing up or how much are the Lerners not providing him with the resources to proceed. Likewise, many would argue that the Lerners kept Bowden around past his shelf life. There are a lot of unanswered questions as we do the autopsy of the Nats but bottom line there are a couple big questions for me:
1) Who should be public enemy number 2? (Assume Bowden is no. 1). Is it the Lerners for being cheap or is it Kasten for failing to show much progress on the field with in the parameters he agreed to with the Lerners?
2) How much have we benefitted from Kasten's credibility within baseball circles? Have we gotten some more professional people from scouting and front office circles under Rizzo based on this?
3) Who was calling the shots with Bowden?
Instability is never a good thing, and a vacuum of leadership is a real problem.
I will never forgive Kasten for cravenly throwing his own fan base under the bus on Opening Day 2010, but I'm not sure things will better soon after his departure.
It may be true that the Lerners are cheap--a phrase I have avoided using for 4 1/2 years. But if they are cheap, and if they don't know anything about baseball (if Mark Lerner continues to think it's appropriate for a team owner to shag fly balls during batting practice), then who is in charge? Who represents the game of baseball in the front office? Will Rizzo have Mark's and/or Ted's ear? Will they EVER spend money to field a winning team?
I had a sinking feeling after Monday's miserable loss to Houston. Then Tuesday and Wednesday happened and I felt a bit better.
That sinking feeling is back now.
(PS: As I type this, the Nats are trailing Houston 1-0 in the top of the 2nd with a Houston runner on first base.)
Morse crushes his 13th putting him 3 down from the Hammer in the #4 spot. Its not all bad Dave.
HAH!! I just love it ... Rizzo again contradicts Giggleman. "I like competition, I like guys fighting over things. Nothing is set in stone."
Giggleman: "no chance Espinosa competes for shortstop"
And the FO wants the Nats to return to Giggleman's Island? Isn't it time to switch the channel?
The plan is in place and the 90's and 2000's Braves and now Tampa Bay show that it works with great pitching and a good balance of offense and defense. Yes, StanK knows how to win but doesn't know squat about people.
Patience is tough in sports. We all want an overnight success.
The Lerner's need to find someone that will work well as Rizzo's boss without being a "yes" man to the Lerners.
Personally, the more time you spend around StanK the more you realize his personal skills are akin to that of a salesman who ONLY cares about making the sale while smiling at you. When you buy his product, he is done with you. That is StanK. I have been ready for a change!
Stan was asked about his ownership interest and said..."Is that really something you guys need to know? I don't know yet. I do know if the day ever comes that I am involved with another baseball team, I couldn't do that. So its a little early, but I also don't know why you need to know that."
I love how Stan has a way of making the journalists feel like idiots. I always said he ran a better proganda machine than the Russians in the 1970's.
The Manny Acta mis-fire, the Rizzo mis-hire, and the Strasburg non-signing were some of his best work. Every time a journalist had an inside scoop he would make them look like idiots.
That is why we learned this year not to go to StanK. We all knew they would sign Bryce Harper and afterwards we would hear how tough the last few minutes of negotiations were.
Baseball book suggestion.
The Game from Where I Stand - Doug Glanville
http://www.dougglanville.com/sports-seasons
An insider's revealing look at the hidden world of major league baseball.
Doug Glanville, a former major league outfielder and Ivy League graduate, draws on his nine seasons in the big leagues to reveal the human side of the game and of the men who play it.
In The Game from Where I Stand, Glanville shows us how players prepare for games, deal with race and family issues, cope with streaks and slumps, respond to trades and injuries, and learn the joyful and painful lessons the game imparts. We see the flashpoints that cause misunderstandings and friction between players, and the imaginative ways they work to find common ground. And Glanville tells us with insight and humor what he learned from Jimmy Rollins, Alex Rodriguez, Randy Johnson, Barry Bonds, Curt Schilling, and other legendary and controversial stars.
In his professional career, Glanville experienced every aspect of being a player—the first-round pick, the prospect, the disappointment, the can't-miss, the cornerstone, the veteran, the traded, the injured, the comeback kid. His eye-opening book gives fans a new level of understanding of day-to-day life in the big leagues.
Feelwood - Very interesting observation.
Souldrummer - Good questions for sure.
I think kasten wants to be the boss, and he can not be the boss here. Recall, he was competing with the Lerners with a different ownership group. So he see the Rangers get sold and he couldn't bid, he see the Dodgers and others might be sold over the coming years, he wants to own and run a team. That's why he left.
To all those who are crucifying StanK as being awful with people:
I met Stan at Fan Fest this year. He was nothing but cordial and open. We had a nice little chat which he could have easily told me he was busy and took off. I told him I heard his phenomenal interview with Tom Glavine while guest hosting Mike Wise's show on JFK in the winter and asked him if he would do it again. He said he'd love to do it again if he was offered the opportunity. Then Mrs. Kasten told me I looked a lot like a young Tommy Glavine. It's not every day someone tells you that you look like a future HOF pitcher and one of the sport's best players. I was smitten. One of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.
Stan Kasten is a winner. The Lerners are losers. End of story.
Has anybody bothered to read the statement purportedly from T. Lerner on Nats320? Jeez, what a pile of crap.
My personal interpretation - 'We want to thank Stan Kasten for joining our ownership group, which ultimately helped us in acquiring the franchise. We wish him the best in his future endevours, but now have one less roadblock in our effort to emulate Jeffrey Loria's franchise model, only at higher consumer prices; BB-WW-HHH-AAAAA-HAAAA-AAAA'.
signed, Theodore Lerner.
@FeelWood:
Mark Lerner is just another fanboy with $$$, imo. He's now an owner, so he believes it's his right to go onto the field & get smacked in the head by fly balls. If / when he takes over the team from his father, he'll be no better than 'the Danny' was with the Redskins for the last 10 years.
With Kasten leaving, there is no longer a check / balance left in the FO to lift this franchise out of the crapper; Rizzo is a step removed, and needs an advocate in the executive suite.
BinM, if you're old enough you might remember when Jack Kent Cooke - who had been in the shadows even though he was principal owner of the Redskins while Edward Bennett Williams ran the team as a minority owner - came back and took over the team, pushing EBW out. Ultimately both the Redskins and EBW came out winners on that exchange. EBW was freed up to buy the Orioles, and the Redskins thrived under the Squire's ownership style, which was basically to sign the checks while his professionals Gibbs and Beathard ran the team.
Mark Lerner shows no signs of becoming a meddling owner, so this Kasten-Lerner exchange in Nationals power could have many parallels to that EBW-JKC exchange in Redskins power. In other words, it could be a very good thing.
Stan was gone in 5 years the day he started. The only reason he was here, Bud would not give the Lerners the team without Stan. Now the true Washington Nationals franchise starts. Good or bad, it starts now.
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