I've been a Frank Robinson supporter since he signed on with the Expos, but it's now my opinion that we need a change of the guards in Washington. It's not about pointing fingers and saying who did what wrong, but more a matter of bringing in a new face and a new managerial style.

Florida Marlins' owner (and former Expos deconstructor) Jeffrey Loria made headlines earlier this month for his not-so-flattering comments about first year manager Joe Girardi. The rift erupted at a game Aug. 6, when Loria berated an umpire from his seat. Girardi requested Loria to stop, prompting the club owner to confront Girardi after the game during a 90-minute clubhouse meeting.

What kind of owner would fire his manager after said manager has surpassed all expectations with a young and inexperienced team? An owner with an ego the size of, well, Jeffrey Loria's! Remember that Girardi was initially hired to manage a team that had some strong, seasoned players. When Girardi signed that contract, there was no knowledge of the upcoming fire sale that saw Juan Pierre, Alex Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, Carlos Delgado, Mike Lowell, Luis Castillo and Paul Lo Duca all head for greener diamonds. After what Girardi has accomplished this season with the young Marlins, I wouldn't be surprised if he wins the Manager of the Year award.

There's been plenty of talk about bringing Girardi up to Chicago to take over for Dusty Baker. Personally, I'd like to see Girardi and his tough managerial style in Washington. I think a solid, militaristic kick in the pants is what Nationals players need to perform up to their potential. So, today begins my campaign: Bring Girardi to Washington!

This post was added on Thursday, August 31st, 2006 at 9:37 am and is filed under Club Views, Nationals . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.