Owners frustrate Nats' front office | Truth&Rumors

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04:10 AM ET 09.29
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After the final home game of the Washington Nationals' season, team president Stan Kasten and principal owner Mark Lerner crossed paths in their new stadium's lowest level. The two -- at constant odds, according to sources -- stopped for a minute to chat, then headed in opposite directions. When Kasten stepped into an elevator moments later, he said, sarcastically, "Did you see us fighting over there?" Though Kasten scoffs at perceived tensions within the organization, others do not. According to numerous team sources and those within the industry, the Nationals' chief problem originates with a private, scrupulous ownership group that maintains painstaking caution over the franchise's spending. That strain ramifies throughout the organization, with each level of Washington's leadership carrying a different, but related, burden. This year, Kasten needed more freedom to operate. General Manager Jim Bowden needed a larger payroll. Manager Manny Acta needed more talent. Under those circumstances, the relationships between ownership and Kasten, Kasten and Bowden, and Bowden and Acta were tested. In some cases, relationships frayed. In others, they strengthened.

Washington Post

Manny Acta, AP

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September 29, 2008 10:18 AM ET

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Thou shalt not spend, thou shalt not spend, Blame the "big" market teams...

AllStarz

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September 29, 2008 12:08 PM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 10:18 AM ET 09.29 by AllStarz

Thou shalt not spend, thou shalt not spend, Blame the "big" market teams...

Why does a town go after a team, relocate the team and then not support it right out of the gate? What's this their second year as the Nat's and the coffers are already empty or hermetically sealed? Bull hockey I say!

Chasin' Utleys

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September 29, 2008 12:38 PM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 12:08 PM ET 09.29 by Chasin' Utleys

Why does a town go after a team, relocate the team and then not support it right out of the gate? What's this their second year as the Nat's and the coffers are already empty or hermetically sealed? Bull hockey I say!

Plus the city gave them a stadium...give something back...

AllStarz

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September 29, 2008 02:05 PM ET

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Here's a question...If they call them New Egland Pats..and Jacksonville Jags...and Washington Nats...what does that make the Tennessee Titans ???

BR549

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September 29, 2008 04:58 PM ET

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BR549: Nice!!! Like the late, great George Carlin said about those 7 words...."And **** doesn't even belong on the list...Well, none belong on the list but **** sounds almost like a nickname...hey, this is ****, wanted you to meet Toots....

mwr505

Albuquerque , NM

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September 29, 2008 05:06 PM ET

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O a snack, bet you can't eat just one...

AllStarz

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September 29, 2008 05:49 PM ET

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LOL...Wonder if Dolly Parton is a Tennessee Titan fan??? She's from Tennessee...

BR549

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September 29, 2008 09:32 PM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 12:08 PM ET 09.29 by Chasin' Utleys

Why does a town go after a team, relocate the team and then not support it right out of the gate? What's this their second year as the Nat's and the coffers are already empty or hermetically sealed? Bull hockey I say!

It was actually their 4th year in Washington and coincidentally as the Nationals, lol