Photo by randomduck.If you consider yourself a Nationals devotee — or even if you just find constant amusement in the walking joke that the team has become — this column by Mike Wise in today’s Post is a must-read: in it, Wise makes the case that former manager Frank Robinson got an incredibly raw deal when he was forced out at the end of the 2006 season. There’s some fantastic stuff in Wise’s story,…

Having dismissed Frank Robinson at the end of the season, the Nats are casting a wide net for possible replacements. Reports yesterday regarding the sudden firing (and availability) of four-time World Series winner Joe Torre now appear to be premature, according to the NY Post. With the nascent Torre-to-the-Nats campaign already toast, we take a look at the other candidates in the rumor mill… Lou Pinella Experience: Played briefly for O’s and Indians, but mostly…

While the playoffs kick into high gear this week, the rest of the league is left wondering about what might have been this year, and what could be next year. Fans in Washington might be tempted to view 2006 as a lost season. The team struggled to 71 wins, 10 fewer than the last place ’05 squad, contributing to the team’s decision to dump Frank Robinson. Truth be told, Frank didn’t have much of a…

The writing was on the wall. After weeks of speculation, the Nationals made the official announcement Saturday afternoon: Frank Robinson would not be back as manager next year. As Robinson had expressed interest in returning and had requested a three-year contract extension, the decision of the Nationals to decline his request means that, effectively, the 71-year-old was fired. He has announced that he will not be seeking further employment as a manager. To say…

What a beautiful weekend, eh? Except for a bit of rain on Saturday, the weather was, if I may say so myself without sounding like my grandmother, delightful. We hope you got out during it, as the city played host to a number of activities – the National Book Festival, Crafty Bastards, and a bit outside of town, the continuation of the Maryland Renaissance Festival. Which I went to, mainly to gawk at the…

Like many frustrated Nats fans, I’ve found myself cursing the in-game strategy of manager Frank Robinson fairly often. He operates impulsively, trusting his gut more often than statistics or matchups, with less than convincing results. Many of his peers are similarly critical: he’s been voted by major league players to be the worst manager in baseball two years in a row. His future in the organization after this season is uncertain. It’s clear enough that…

Livan Hernandez is Frank Robinson’s kind of player: crafty, with dogged determination and competitive fire. He wants the ball in every situation. He’s eaten innings in big chunks, leading the league in IP for three years straight. He’s loyal, perhaps to a fault. He’s been one of the faces of the franchise in recent years, and was the first player to throw a pitch for the Nationals last year. Despite not having the best…

With trade winds swirling, winning streaks building, and the Bobby bouncing, it’s time to take a look around at all things Nats: Soriano. Guillen. Watson. Church. Byrd. Jackson. Ward. Kearns. Matos. Escobar. Ummm… Church again. It is safe to say that GM JimBo and Frank Robinson have left no stone unturned in their search for talent to patrol the RFK outfield. Good thing, too, since Guillen has now had season-ending surgery and Soriano’s trade-watch is…

The Washington Nationals arrived at this year’s All-Star Break in ignominious fashion, suffering their fifth sweep of the season at RFK. This time, the Nats were victimized by the San Diego Padres. After a successful series against Florida earlier this week, the Nats could smell second place in the NL East. They now find themselves amid the musky odor of the division’s basement. That they played the Padres so closely only adds to the…

Incoming Nationals President Stan Kasten has made it abundantly clear that his strategy for winning in Washington begins with rebuilding the team’s farm system, which is barely left intact after years of MLB ownership. On Monday night, the Nats laid a stone in the foundation, by signing 17-year-old slugger Chris Marrero of Miami. He played 3rd base in high school, but with Ryan Zimmerman projected there long-term in the big leagues, the team anticipates a…