Paul Toboni introduced as Nats’ new POBO | District Chat
United we play. United we win. See you later. All hits all the time. We are family. Here comes the scrappy net. We’re busting ours to kick you. I don’t care how far. That’s a bomb. Honest. Respect all. Fear none. Into the upper deck. Intensity is not a perfume. How about your nets? 5 4 3 2 1 [Music] You are tuned in to the first offseason edition of the national pastime of your national audio home of your national pastime. That’s how long we haven’t done this. I don’t remember what I said. The audio home of the national pastime in our nation’s capital district chat podcast. Bobby Blanco, Amy Jennings coming at you live from our Massen web studio in our Mass All Access Studio. Uh first edition of the off season. Thank you so much for tuning in. Hopefully you’re joining us on the Mass Nationals Facebook page and YouTube channel. We’ve got a jam-packed first episode of the offseason for you. The Nationals just introduced Paul Taboni as their new president of baseball operations yesterday. We will have some audio clips from his press conference and our full reactions to what Paul Taboni and some of the learner family had to say about the new man in charge as a new era of nationals baseball gets underway. And Amy, first off, congrats to another successful season, the 2025 season is behind us and now we look ahead to the 2026 season. How you feeling? I’m feeling pretty good. Usually once the season’s over, we get a second to take a breath and decompress, but this is going to be a very busy offseason for the Nationals and they got things started right away with that press conference introducing their new president of baseball operations yesterday. But as tough as the season was, I’m feeling good. I’m feeling optimistic about the off seasonason. And it’s good to be back here. We have to, you know, brush off the dust a little bit, but yeah, here we Yeah, I know this the season didn’t go as well as the Nationals themselves hoped, fans hoped, we’ hoped, us in the media. Um, but it does feel like a a new fresh start right now. And I know it’s October and, you know, fall is usually the end of things and spring hopes eternal. Uh, that’s usually the the phrase for spring training, but here we are at the end of an offseason, at the end of a disappointing season. I think it’s a good time for Nationals fans to feel hopeful, to feel maybe rejuvenated that things seem to be looking up and looking a little different. The Nationals are embracing this new wave of young executives. They went out and hired one of the top young executives that was available to them. They they the Learner family hired a search firm to conduct this search. They interviewed many top candidates from across baseball and they land on Paul Tabone who was recently a top executive with the Boston Red Sox. Um I think he was the assistant general manager and vice president of uh scouting. Um senior vice president, assistant general manager, but he rose from an intern Yeah. with them in 2015 all the way to basically the third man in charge in that organization. completely revamped how they scout and their draft process and how they develop young players. Some of their top young prospects made to the major leagues right now are helping them in the postseason currently. So, this was a, as a lot of people have put it, one of the fastest rising stars in terms of baseball executives. He’s already been compared to a young Theo Epstein, which I think is always a it’s always a a tough comparison, but like when that name pops up, you know, you kind of have to like, oh, this guy must be impressive. And sure enough, his resume is very impressive. He played college baseball at Cal Berkeley um while getting his his degree there and then went and got a master’s in analytics at Notre Dame. So, a smart guy with a baseball background seems like a perfect marriage right there to head up this front office. Yeah, you said how Nationals fans should feel like, you know, a sense of rejuvenation and promise. And usually when hires and things like this happen at the beginning of the offseason, it’s because they’re starting a rebuild and they’re starting from fresh. But in the case for the Nationals, they’ve already been there, done that, and now they’re adding on to this farm system, adding on to this front office, and making moves to really be a competitor again. So, I think that’s why Nationals fans should be super optimistic about this hire in this offseason as a whole. But as far as Paul Deabon’s resume, um, specifically like just a super impressive career for his age. At age just 35, he’s already the president of baseball operations, has big goals and aspirations for the future of this organization, wants to be the top of all of sports, which is a hefty goal, but hey, let’s let’s go for it. Um, but really and super impressive resume. He talked a lot about in his press conference about marrying this idea of his scouting background and analytics which I think that whole thing can be overplayed a lot like we talk about there was so much talk about Mike Rizzo specifically and how he he comes from the scouting background and there’s not enough analytics in in the nationals game but um so we talked about that maybe a little too much and you have to have this perfect marriage of scouting and analytics but it’s good he brought it up I think it’s something that obviously this front office has been focused on since the firing of Mike Rizzo. Um, in Mike Dearalo’s first press conferences, he talked about incorporating analytics. So, I think that’s definitely a goal for this team, for this organization, for this front office as a whole. But, I liked what I heard yesterday. Yeah, we’ll we’ll get into more of some of those topics you just mentioned, how uh Paul plans on integrating both traditional scouting eye versus or with, I should say, an analytical eye. Um, and then also how he currently views the state of the Nationals roster. Like you mentioned, not quite a full rebuild because there is a lot of young talent currently on the roster. But let’s first hear from the new president of baseball operations, his opening remarks from his uh press conference yesterday and how he kind of envisions taking over this role and how where he plans on leading the nationals in the future. I’m stepping into this role with a clear vision and that vision is to be the highest performing organization in all sports. uh I want to help build something that becomes the envy of all of sports, right? Where we get, you know, x amount of of months and years down the line and people are looking at this organization like shoot, I want to I want to be part of that organization. Um we have a lot of work to do. Uh that’s okay. We’re going to embrace it and uh while it’s going to be challenging, uh it’s going to be really rewarding uh when we get to where we uh where we want to go. Uh to me, you know, one of the simplest ways of doing that is creating a scouting and player development monster, right? And to do that in the current game, that means uh integrating analytics and R&D um really tightly within um those spaces where we are uh ultimately uh graduating young talented players to the major leagues. Okay. Um but more so than that we can talk about you know driving great process or building great systems uh creating a winning culture right uh in my mind you do that with people and uh I’ve said it uh time and time again but you win with people right and if we are going to achieve that we want people that carry themselves with joy um that through the ups and the downs they they uh maintain a really optimistic attitude right uh folks that are humble and as as Greg Papovich likes to say have gotten over themselves. Um we want folks of high integrity, right? And that doesn’t mean just, you know, not stealing or not cheating or not lying. Uh that means folks that are dependable. Um that are accountable. Um folks that when they say they’re going to do something, they do it, right? And folks that are going to work, right? Those those are all traits that we uh very much are going to hold sacred. And then last but not least, uh we want folks that are competitive, right? I talk about uh you know making the scoreboard visible and thriving in that environment. Um we want there to be winners and losers, right? And like I said, we want to thrive in that environment, right? So um I’m a big Hoops fan and uh I can’t I couldn’t imagine playing a game of one-on-one and not keeping score, right? So that’s going to be central to who we are as well. Uh I think if we build a group in baseball operations that carry uh those attributes, uh you know, it’s like the great uh Bill Walsh says, right, the score will take care of itself. And so that’s the mindset we’re going to keep every day. Uh we’re going to uh stack good decisions on top of each other day after day after day and let the score take care of itself. So right from the jump there, you can tell why the learners were very impressed with him. I mean, very personable, very smart, put together guy. I should I call him a guy because he’s 35 years old. He’s basically my age, which is nuts. But um you know, just a very impressive opening statement by him and and the phrase that jumps out to me, Amy. And the one that he kept repeating throughout the course of the day, I should say, is scouting and player development monster. And that’s kind of what I harped on in my morning post this morning on massports.com. And to do that in the current game, that means integrating analytics and R&D research and development um really tightly. And that is got to be music to Nationals fans ears. That’s like you kind of mentioned earlier what people have been clamoring for for a while. Not that what the previous regime was doing wrong. It just wasn’t maybe doing everything to its full potential. And we can get that a little bit as well. But a very impressive opening statement and first impression that Paul Taboni gave not only the learner family and the media assembled, but any fan that watched that presser. Yeah, I think he said all the things that um a lot of fans want to hear after a really tough season. I think things that maybe young players want to hear like I know in a lot of the press conferences towards the end of the year when you know the media talk to Dylan Cruz and things like that they need somebody at the helm and for them their immediate you know contact of course their coaches and then the manager but even higher up like there has to be something to believe in from the top to the bottom of this organization and it’s going to start with the top and guys like this. So, I think he said everything that people really needed to hear. And I like that you brought up that player development monster because that’s so important for the Nationals right now. They’ve drafted at the top half of the first round for so many consecutive years now. And that’s all fine and good, but if you don’t develop these players and then build around them, you have nothing. Um, so I think the player development is going to be going to be huge. And of course, the eye tests can only get you so far and analytics by themselves can only get you so far. So, it has to be a perfect combination of both to reach the goals that he has for this organization. Yeah. And player development doesn’t mean just the minor leagues and you know, whoever you get in a specific draft class. He also extended it to the major league level. Like look at guys like James Wood, McKenzie Gore, Dylan Cruz. I know Dylan had an injury, but those guys fell off in the second half. I mean, it’s it’s tough being that young and some of them have only like their second or third first major league full seasons, but you know, it is you have to develop at the major league level as well. And and I think like kind of alluded to, sometimes like the coaching staff, especially when you’re kind of in a quote unquote lame duck second half after the firing of Mike Rizzo and David Martinez, you know, you it’s just natural to wonder where everyone is in terms of a mental headsp space and in terms of their um their motivation for the second half. So it does kind of feel like, you know, there were steps still to be taken in the second half for some of these young players and they weren’t. Um, so that’s kind of also what Paul mentioned, but he also talked a lot about, you know, we just mentioned his his view on merging both scouting analytical department, but like he expounded on that and talked about how, you know, it it doesn’t make sense to have all of these numbers analytically, but then not have coaches that are able to translate that to players and then vice versa. doesn’t make sense to have a a coach who is really good at coaching up guys but then you know doesn’t know or or you know can know all the numbers but then can’t help them or don’t understand the numbers. You know it he has to have guys that can do both to help these young players to reach their full potential. And Paul Tabone was asked about that and he mentioned how yeah while yes he is an analytical guy he does appreciate the hands-on coaching that happens um in baseball. You know I’ll put my hand up. I’m a I’m a huge believer in analytics, right? Um I’m also a a strong strong advocate and believe in the power of area scouting and uh I believe in the power of great coaching, right? So, uh what we want to do is um you know have folks that have mutual respect for both, right? But um also they understand how uh their responsibilities contribute to the greater goals of the department, right? And then we can clearly outline what’s expected of of everyone in their roles, right? and then it’s up to them to really get after it and do a great job, right? So, um, you know, I think that’s the main thing. I’ve I’ve been around a lot of coaches that, uh, are very technically sound, right, but don’t quite understand the art of coaching, um, and they’re not as effective influencing players, right? And then I’ve been around coaches that really get the art of coaching, but are behind technically, right? And they’re not as good as they can be um, impacting players, right? So ideally we are, you know, outfitted in our group with scouts, coaches, whoever it might be, right? Um, with both those traits. They they really get how to connect with players and build trust and those type things, but also, uh, they’re really wellversed technically, how to get players better, right? And you know, once players start to see that like, wow, this coach uh is really getting me better and I’m getting the feedback that I’m getting better, it just creates this cascading buy in where um they’re they’re realizing that that they are becoming the best versions of themselves, right? So, the more we can do that over and over and over again, uh I think the word will get out around the league amongst the players like the Washington Nationals is the place where I want to be because uh I know I’m going to develop most as a player there. Another really really good answer by Paul there. Again, you need to have good analytical data and you need to have good hands-on coaching and you need people that can do both. And you know, sometimes I think in the Nationals past, they’ve had one or the other and you haven’t had a lot of guys that can kind of do both to help these coaches. But Paul right there being a former baseball player himself and then also being a guy with a degree in analytics can kind of see like how a perfect blend between the two helps so much especially with young players. Yeah, I think well one numbers are just numbers if you don’t know how to read them and what to do with them. Yeah. And then two you have to be able to translate them into coaching and translate them to players and and you know apply it and you have to be able to do that in a certain manner based on the player. And I think that’s what Shawn Doolittle was praised a lot by this pitching staff throughout the year is that he was a good blend and he could translate the numbers and how to apply them to some of these um players games. And then you see more and more on resumeumés this um like a former baseball player and then in college on the from the education aspect of more of analytics or even business analytics and then that becomes the perfect blend to end up in careers like this you see this more and more with younger people in front offices and I think you know this is the result and in what they’re trying to do. Yeah, because I think if you have someone who is too entrenched in either way, when you try to incorporate the opposite side, it gets it’s a huge turnoff. You know, if you have a guy that’s been a baseball lifer forever and has only known like boots on the ground, pants, you know, getting dirty, and you know, you have to do it this certain way, then when you give him a bunch of numbers, it’s like here what the numbers suggest. It’s like, well, my eyes say something different. And then vice versa when you have a guy that only never played the game, only knows numbers and and is studying, you know, saber metrics and and and certain um you know, formulas and stuff like that that give us these saber metric numbers. And then he’s like, well, you need to do this. And it’s like, well, you’ve never played the game. Why would I trust you? Right. So, him playing baseball at Cal, growing up an athlete, I think he, you know, he played high school basketball and um and obviously baseball, so we know he grew up an athlete. Um, and then also just having an interest and a really bright mind in learning all this stuff seems like a really good place to start. And he’s gonna find like-minded people to fill out his front office, fill out the manager seat, fill out the coaching staff, which we’ll get into a little bit. But I think it was also very telling that like he as a baseball mind and also an analytical mind can look at this current Nationals roster like we said filled with young talent. Mackenzie Gore, C.J. Abrams, James Wood, Dylan Cruz, Dalon Lyle, just to name a few, and say there’s some untapped potential there. Like, these guys have potential to be really, really good. And there’s another way we can get some more production out of them. Here’s what Paul Deon had to say about the current state of the Nationals roster and how he thinks he can get more out of them. Have some uh young exciting players, right? Um, I’ve been in touch with a number of them uh to date and uh they’re fun to watch and uh I’ve told, you know, many of them uh while I haven’t had the chance to reach out to everyone, I’ I’ve told many of them like uh and I really believe it. I think there’s another gear uh to tap into uh with many of them and and uh so it’s not just that they’re already really talented players, right? It’s that uh it’s easy for me to see a world a year or two down the line where uh we’re seeing a different caliber of player in a good way. So that answer really stood out to me yesterday when I heard it live. And just to read it back, I think there’s another gear to tap into with many of them. So it’s not just that they’re already really talented players. It’s that it’s easy for me to see a world a year or two down the line where we’re seeing a different caliber player in a good way. Meaning like, hey, give me one or two years with these guys and in the systems I want to implement and they’ll be even better down the line. And again, not to say what the cur the past regime was doing wrong, but clearly someone from an outside point of view says these guys should be a lot better than they actually are. And I think I know a way to get him out of them. Yeah. And I’m glad he said that because I think it does need to be said. There’s a lot of praises to sing of the past regime as far as like they’ve drafted a lot of talented players. They’ve had some of the arguably the best trades in baseball history in the talent that they got back. for some of these guys. But that only takes you so far. There’s an added level of player development both in the minors and at the major leagues to to tap into these players full potential. That has to happen. Just getting the guys isn’t good enough. You have to be able to continue their development and continue their growth. And this year it was tough to see James Wood struggle the second half. It was tough to see Dylan Cruz because you know how much talent you have in these guys. And while young guys are going to struggle like in their rookie seasons or the first full season, they’re going to come up and they’re going to struggle, but that just can’t spiral into a bust of a prospect, you know, that that can’t happen. And not saying that that did happen, but you can’t let that happen. Well, I mean, think about I mean, I I don’t know about you, but I heard from a lot of people from around the game and fans alike when it comes to Dylan Cruz, and I don’t believe this at all, but like after he struggled this year, and keep in mind, he also missed a lot of time with an oblique injury, but like there’s like I just don’t see it. Like I I I think he’s will be like an average player at best. And it’s like that, like you said, can’t happen with the number two overall pick. I mean, it does happen. You need to do everything you can to make sure it doesn’t happen. And now they have Eli Willlets who they took number one overall. I know Paul Deon did not have any say in that pick, but still a guy that was widely considered warrant of a number one overall selection. You’ve picked in the top two in two of the last three years. So those two guys need to kind of pan out as at least contributors and fifth and top 10. And you like we’re having kind of the same conversation with Brady House. Yeah. You know, top 10. But again, so kind of to your point, it’s like they have so much young talent acrewed from this way that uh yeah, they need to find a way to get the absolute most out of them. And so I think you’re right. It was kind of refreshing to hear him say, “I see the talent and I think I can get the most out of them by doing it my way.” And that’s where some of the, you know, when you’re scouting these guys, you know, leading up to the draft, where some of the underlying numbers or even just the injury history that, you know, this Mike Rizzo and, you know, previous people have taken a gamble on. And sometimes that works and it’s fine and you, you know, a guy, you’re not worried about it. But also sometimes that ends up, you know, rearing its head later down the line and they turn into busted prospects because of the injury history or, you know, the underlying strikeout metrics and, you know, things like that. Yeah. I mean, Dalon L is one of them was a a selection under Mike Rizzo and he seems to be currently one of the best of of the bunch right now. um and you know ended his season as the National League not just rookie but also player of the month for September and thrusted himself into the rookie of the year conversation and only 91 games which is very impressive. So that’s one of the you know a win for the previous regime but again it’s more of you got to hit on on more of those kind of selections and then also I asked Paul about like where do you see the most value in terms of acquiring players? Is it the draft? Is it the international market? Is it trades? Is it free agency? and he was like, you kind of need to do all it all. Ideally, you can just draft and develop and that’s your team and and then everything’s happy. But like that doesn’t always work like that, especially with the international market and the draft being completely different. He was like, you’re often scouting these kids when they’re 15, 14 years old and then signing them when they’re 16 and 17. And then you usually don’t see them in the majors until 10 years later, right? And then with the draft, it’s like you’re scouting 18, 19, 20 year olds and you’re hopefully seeing them in majors two or three years later. So the timelines are very different for all of those kinds of players and acquisitions. So I do think it’s interesting that how he he views player acquisition avenues differently and then also is like whoever way we get them like we need to be able to develop them the proper way. So you know we’re turning into this player development monster like you said. Yeah. And the international market is just bizarre like and they’ve had success in the international market. But I mean, look at Wanoto, you know, they’ve had success in that area of their game and their scouting and all of that. And I think you’re right to say that it does have to be, you know, a perfect combination of everything or he was right to say. Um, and I think so much if it’s going to be about, you know, figuring out their system or their mold. Like for so many years it was, you know, drafting, pitching and that was what they were building their team around and then just kind of, you know, filling in the blanks by spending some money or, you know, trading. Um, but will it become this, you know, we draft and develop our core and then when the time is right, we spend money around them. Yeah. And that and that kind of leads into the next big question I think that a lot of Nationals fans had about this introduction because Paul Tabone was joined by three members of the three head members of the the learner uh ownership group and will he be getting enough resources to fill out his front office and his player development staff the way he sees fit? And the answers we got were were yes, but it’s easy to say that and let’s see if that actually comes to fruition. um and and and he is able to do that with all the proper uh resources that you know we have seen this ownership group deviate out in the past. I don’t want to talk too much about that because I think we got the proper answers that we we h we were looking for. Um I people may disagree to a certain extent but um I I do think that is a something to monitor moving forward is will we get will we see evidence that that is true um that he is able to fill out his front office and get the resources that he requires to do reach his goal and his vision for this team. Yeah. And at the end of the day when it’s time to compete again which is hopefully very soon for this organization you have to spend money. I mean, you’re you’re you’re going to have your young players um you hope that, you know, some of the younger guys that were a little less um you know, a little more unassuming turn out to to be big contributors to this team, but you’re going to have to spend money. Every team, especially, I think, in this rotation, that’s going to be key. Um you know, it’s a super young rotation right now, but they need some veteran presence, and when they’ve had really good years, that’s what they went out and did. Other teams that have really good years, that’s what they go out and do. So, you know, time will tell, but it’s going to be a very busy offseason. Yeah. I I think it’s interesting just to kind of This is not I think not a part of the Nationals immediate future, but like I saw a graphic online ahead of this postseason of how the current postseason teams were structured. And obviously, I think of the 12 teams, eight, eight or nine landed in like the top 10 in terms of payroll, but that means there were three or four that didn’t. And you got teams like the Guardians um who are a win away from the DS and teams that build their rosters via player development and the draft and acquiring players without spending a lot of money. So I think there is a way to do both or balance it out, but then you have teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers who are while they’re very good at developing their own players obviously because they make a lot of really good trades, they also spend a lot of money. And I think you don’t have to be them, but there is a way to be kind of land in the middle for a team of the Nationals caliber or or potential caliber. But I also wrote down a handful of um other observations and thoughts I had listening to Paul yesterday. Um he talked to on the press conference that aired on Massen, you know, I think for about 30 minutes, but then he also came back and met with the local beat reporters for about another 15 minutes to ask some more direct questions and things that pop up. does he hire a GM and and where does Mike DeBartalo fit in this equation of his front office? Because um Paul gave him a shout out and he was like I before I even met the guy and before I even officially took the job, I heard from about 10 people saying how great Mike was as a person and a baseball mind and he might be something I want to somebody I want to keep by my side um and in my back pocket. and he said he had great things heard great things of how Mike handled obviously the transition to being the interim GM but also the second half of the season. Remember he had to navigate the draft and the trade deadline as an interim GM and and Paul Deon was like you hit you you shot 10 for 10 from the foul line. So like he was doing pretty well. So where do you see Mike Debarlo fitting in this? And do you think Paul Tabone will or should hire a GM? Yeah. Well, let’s Yeah, let’s not forget that Mike Debarlo took over exactly one week before the draft. Now, he had of course been in this front office and was in in those rooms and in those conversations, but still when you go from being just one of the minds in the room to running the whole operation, um I think that looks a little bit different. So, yeah, credit to him. And then navigating the trade deadline that ended up being, you know, a lot of deals got at the trade deadline this year. It wasn’t like, you know, was they were on one side or the other. Like it was it was it was a tough year to take over that role. Six players for 10 prospects. Yeah. Especially when you know that it’s just, you know, potentially temp temporarily. Um but as far as should he hired a GM, I mean, I think those that makes the delegations maybe a little clearer or simpler. Um. Yeah. So what I’m thinking of Yeah. uh easier clear cut. Clear cut. Yeah. My my observation of this is he might not need a long-term GM, but and I thought it was interesting that there were a handful of current nationals, front office people at this press conference, Mike Dearlo included. I think I saw Eddie Longo’s there and also Mike Mark Shalaba. So one that to me that shows that these guys obviously obviously while wanting to know if they still have a job but also maybe like want to be a part of this moving forward and say like hey we too would like a fresh voice and and want maybe want to try to do things a different way. Um but when it comes to Dart and those two guys included like Paul Tabone has so much on his plate right now. He has to fill out his front office. He has to go hire a manager. He has to fill out a coaching staff. um he has to do normal offseason things. Arbitration deadlines are coming up. Free agency starts right after the World Series. Do you trade a guy like McKenzie Gore and bring in more prospects? So having guys like Debardalo around, I think for at least this offseason, maybe through next year who already know the inner workings of the organization and these players and pretty well that probably would benefit Tabon so he can focus more on the big picture for now. Well, because like you said, Mike has done a really good job of handling the day-to-day, which I think he was doing pretty much under Mike Rizzo anyways while Mike Rizzo was handling big picture stuff, but he he’s done that very well. So, if you know, you get to know him over the next couple of days, weeks or so, and kind of build a trust with him. It’s like, okay, you handle the day-to-day. I’m gonna start building this whole thing maybe from the top uh from the bottom up in my in my image. Um while you handle some of the stuff that like maybe I don’t need to handle right now and then next off seasonason we can maybe start thinking about do I need a long-term GM or can I handle pretty much everything right? We know that Brad Celic left the Nationals for Danny a position with the Tigers. Yep. And Danny Hos. So, but I think that you I think that it’s a different market because they made this higher with uh the president of baseball operations. The the market for their GM is going to look very different. I think you are likely that it might be a guy from within that can carry out much of the operations that they already have been in a guy similar to Mike Darlo versus the market where you’re going after and targeting like a true GM hire um you know from outside of the organization. I think it’s it’s it’s definitely going to be a different search if they do choose to go that route, right? Because I think if you know if he does it all himself right now, he’s going to get overwhelmed and maybe some small things fall through the cracks, which you don’t want. And if you bring in someone coming, you know, to hire someone from the outside coming in blind, they don’t know these guys as well as the guys that are already here. So, it’s like you can still be the guy in charge and dictate the way you want to do things, but have them be the ones that do it because they have a little more insight at how one the organization operates and then two, the players that are involved in some of these dealings. Yeah. And if he doesn’t hire somebody with the the title of GM, there is going to be somebody that is likely to carry out a lot of that business even without the title. But does somebody, you know, from the outside want that title? I mean, that that that might be important. or somebody from within the organization like Mike Deartle who’s already had the role. It might be interim, but he was this general manager over the past few months. You know, does he want that title? So, yeah. And the other thing to keep in mind is that Paul comes from an organization that he um knows the most where they do structure it as I think theirs is CEO baseball operation. Every team’s different. Yeah. It’s Yeah. Um and but it’s a structure with like one main guy up top and then like a GM or whoever how senior adviser whatever it is um listed. But that’s the structure that of course had both titles when he was at the head of this front office. But the Red Sox structure I’m saying is is built that way where it’s one guy up top a GM yada yada yada. So that’s what he’s familiar with. So I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the route he also takes. But maybe he decides, hey, maybe they I I don’t need I don’t need that. Yeah. So uh should be interesting. Um, next thing I had as it pertains to the manager question. I appreciate the way that Paul answered that question. It is a tough question, an awkward question. Um, it was also awkward him having to answer a question about Mike Dartlo with Mike Darlo staying in the back of the room. But, you know, he was asked, “How are you approaching the manager search?” And he said, “You know what? I I can’t really answer that because I want to have a conversation with Miguel Cairo first.” Um, and I hope you can respect that. Which I do very much so. Like I He talks so much about wanting to build relationships. Paul Timone did and I think that answer right there kind of embodied that like he wasn’t just saying that just to say he actually means that he is a very personal guy he depends on relationships and he depend he likes being you know just a general good person to other people so out of respect for Miguel Cairo he was going to sit up there and talk about how well here’s the guy I’m looking for here’s what I’m looking for he’s going to have a conversation with Miguel Cairo and that’s either going to be like hey you know thank you for your time or hey we would like you to know, interview for the job and we’ll go from there. But, um, I I do appreciate the way he handled that. Now, if I were a betting man, I would say we’re going to he’s going to look for someone on the outside to bring in. And do you go older veteran manager to handle this young club or do you bring in a firsttime manager that maybe will be a little more analytically inclined uh to help these young players? Well, and I did notice like he was incredibly thoughtful, not just with that answer, but with most of his answers. like he job too, right? You have to be personable. You’re going to be negotiating with, you know, teams across the league, but there’s also like the personal aspect of it, you know, and so much of that goes into the role. So, I’m sure that was something that was noted along this interview process for him. Um, but as far as the the manager role and specifically, it’s hard to tell because Davey was wellliked in this clubhouse. He was this combination of he wasn’t you know super young and you know you know real players manager he but he also had this you know older veteran presence at times you know I think he was like a good combination of both sides of the the manager spectrum. Um so it’s going to be hard to tell what kind of guy they prioritize for that role. Um it is a young team and so maybe you do want somebody you know an older more experienced veteran manager uh that can kind of you know lay down the law and navigate this young team and command respect immediately. Yeah. You know I I some of looking back at 2018 that team the nationals that missed the playoffs and had such high hopes that was Dave Martinez’s first year and I remember a lot of the criticism was that like he didn’t have he didn’t command the respect of that team from the get-go. Obviously Davey earned that as he went along and became he’s very personable with the players but like maybe in terms of a baseball mind wasn’t quite ready obviously winning a world championship and ever since then we’ve heard how great he is with his players. So yeah maybe you do need a guy with a more of a longer track record that does command immediate respect and I heard our own Mark Zuckermanman talk about this. Um look at the Cincinnati Reds this year. They were kind of a team that was rebuilding to it all down had a lot of young talent. were disappointed in how the past couple of years have turned out. They went out and got Terry Francona and here they are. They were in the postseason. They got crushed by the Dodgers, but they were there. You know, I I I think that the Nationals would have loved to play two postseason games this season, even if they were losing. I mean, instead of finishing in last place. So, there is something to be said of if you got a young team that just needs the right voice, going out and get a veteran guy. Now, that also means you have to go pay for a veteran guy. They’re not going to come cheap um as maybe a first-time manager would, but it is something to consider. And there have been teams in the past that have gone that route. Dusty Baker did it with this team almost 10 years ago at this point. So, there have been instances where that worked. Um and it’s just a matter of does Tony does I’m going to do that hundred times by the way. Tony Tabone, Paul Tabone, view this team as being ready to compete next year or the year after or is it going to be more of a slow burn and and a kind of a a re-rebuilding process? Yeah, and I always think I think you know an older more experienced veteran manager with the young team tends to be a good recipe for success. You mentioned good examples of that already. I also think how committed is this front office to this image of we’re committing to analytics because that’s probably There’s managers that are older, experienced that are open to that, but how committed are they to keeping up that image? Maybe they will choose to go with a younger guy. And then there’s the money aspect. And then there’s the also the aspect of it’s coming in a year where there’s a lot of manager openings and they’re going to be competing against a lot of other teams that maybe for an older guy that wants to win at the back end at back end of his career might be more attractive options. So, there’s a lot that goes into that um beyond just going out and getting your guy and it being that easy. Yeah, seven other teams are currently looking for managers and there could be more after the postseason. Like, you know what? If the Yankees lose tonight, um Aaron Boon, I mean, no offense to the Nationals, but currently the Yankees are a much more attractive team than the Nationals. If you’re looking to win right now, right now, maybe if you’re looking to build up your resume and put your fingerprints on an organization, sure, the Nationals are a good chance. But there are a couple other teams that, you know, had playoff aspirations this year and fell short that are looking to for a new manager. So therefore, you’re looking um maybe looking at an older guy for those clubs where nationals, you could take a swing at a younger guy, maybe one of these teams that are still in the uh the playoffs bench coach, third base coach, whatever it may be. Um and and there are track records of that working as as well. It’ll be very interesting to follow. I think when we start hearing some of the national reporters mentioning names that have interviewed for the job or the Nationals have inquired about the job a little more clear. That’ll be telling of what kind of route they’re going. You know, if they’re asking for permission to do I don’t know him off the top of my head, but uh interview the Dodgers bench coach. Um that’ll be interesting. Or the Red Sox. I’m sure I’m sure we’ll get someone from the Red Sox interviewing for a handful of jobs just because that’s where Paul Tabone has been for the past 10 years and has built a lot of relationships there. Absolutely. Um so that’s going to be interesting to follow. So much interest to follow over this off season. Um it was an exciting way. I have to give a lot of credit to the learner group for getting this done relatively quickly. They conducted this shirt obviously over the last couple of months, but you know now the Rockies are looking for a head of baseball ops and you just never know. You want to be ahead of this thing if you’re going to do it. And I think they did it about the right way. Interviewed a lot of top candidates and landed on their guy. So I was very impressed that they were able to do that and in quick order so he can hit the ground running on October 1st instead of midocctober or late October and you’re kind of behind the eightball. Yeah, it’s much easier to get this type of thing done early on in the offseason. And I think the rest of these hires and moves are going to come pretty early on in the off season, but the manager isn’t as pressing as the top of the front office. You know, that needs to come into play first and then the rest he can fill out the rest of his staff and then they can find a manager and things like this. But for this specific role, you know, we weren’t sure what it was going to be. You know, they were going to go out and get a GM or they were going to name somebody the president of baseball operations. you know, we just talked about we didn’t know what that breakdown was going to look at but look like, but I think, you know, getting that role specifically early on the offseason is important and credit to them. Yeah. Yeah. And there were a couple other nuggets I wanted to mention from uh the presser that um I I thought were interesting. These aren’t like necessarily, you know, how he’s going to run the organization nuggets. It’s just kind of things that I picked up. Um he told the story about after he knew he was leaving the Red Sox. Remember this news broke about a week ago. So the regular season was still in play. So he had pretty much figured out he was leaving the Red Sox for this job. He also mentioned that he was very comfortable in Boston. He did not have to leave that job. So it must have taken a lot and the the ownership group must have told him a lot to to make him leave that job and come here. But he talked about wow he already decided he was going to leave. He was coming to the nationals. So he just took his kids, four four of them younger than six years old, mind. Mind you, I’ve got one who’s nine months and he’s already a handful. So I don’t know how him and his wife do it, but they just went to a Red Sox game at Fenway and just watched the game as fans. And he talked about how like looking around the stands. There were just a bunch of young fans there just in, you know, cheering on the Red Sox. And he was like, “In Boston during the summer, kids go to summer school, they do camps, they go to sports, they go home, they eat dinner, and then they go to Fenway and they watch the Red Sox.” And that’s he said, “I want to build that here. I want DC fans, young DC fans to come to Nationals Park and root for this team.” I thought that was a really interesting story that like obviously the Red Sox have a much longer history and a bigger fan base than the Nationals do. But like there is some untapped potential there where this there is a young fan base that really wants to root for this team and he acknowledges that without being prompted and and wants to build up that that fan base. I thought that was pretty cool by him. Yeah, it’s definitely an an interesting aspect that he didn’t really have to mention like you know that’s not really it wasn’t no one getting fans at the ballpark really isn’t his job. I followed up on that, but no one was like, “Hey, what do you think about the young fan base here?” Like, no one You just brought that up. It is. It’s interesting. It’s important to people in DC and in the surrounding areas. It’s such an interesting market and they’re a obviously a much newer team than some of these other franchises. And so to bring that up and for that to be important to him as he tries to build this team and and build a contender, I I did like that too. I thought that was an interesting thing to point out. And then another thing to mention like just kind of how smart but also just like in touch he is like he apparently is a high school basketball junkie. He mentioned the math basa basketball in his press conference and just like how he just loves high school basketball and that was part of why offended that he didn’t bring up I told him after the fact I was like you know as a Gonzaga guy I was pretty offended that you mentioned Damata and not Gonzaga. Gonzaga’s a top basketball program in the country too but whatever. you know, they’re actually closer to the math. They’re just down the road on the other side of the capital. But, um, anyways, he was just like that was part of the lore of DC that like, you know, he wants to take his kids to high school basketball games. So, like if you’re out and about at a Damatha, Gonzaga, PVI, whatever basketball, you might see Paul Tabone and his four boys just catching a a high school hoops game. Um, and I just thought that was like really cool way to also connect to this fan base because DC is such a basketball town, but also specifically high school basketball. I mean, it is huge around this area. Um, so I thought that was just another like he kind of fits perfectly because he he said he grew up that way in San Francisco. He’s not just suddenly a high school basketball. He was always like that. So like it’s like oh you you do kind of fit here like almost perfectly. I thought that was pretty cool. Yeah. something that was like had a good feel to it was that he was this likable, personable guy. And you have to be likable and personable to be in a role like this. So that that was important. And then just we don’t talk enough about in this game. Well, maybe we don’t specifically on this podcast is like like when these players let like at the player level like they get treated in July and they have to uproot their whole life. Yeah. like they moved to a completely different city and then if they have children and a house and all of these things and it’s same with this guy and to your point of like he didn’t have to leave that job he he didn’t he was comfortable he was a rising star um you know in the position to to tackle more and yeah he’s going to get that here in DC but he didn’t have to and so he is going to make a commitment to this organization yeah money talks and that’s part of it I’m sure but he has making a commitment to this city and to these fans and to this team. Um, and he had to kind of uproot his life for it. So, I think that’s an important part of it and such a beautiful family. Yeah. Yeah. Again, four boys under six and now I’m the six-year-old and I think the other one was five, I want to say, five or four, but they have to go to whole new schools now. And now they’re going to grow up in DC and like be DC kids, students taking the bus to school, whatever it may be. The metro, god forbid, the metro to school um like I did. But, uh, yeah. No, so very impressive. Uh, Paul Tabone introduction. um wanted to welcome him to DC of course and again very interested to see how this offseason goes. A lot of things have to happen. This offseason might actually be more interesting the way the baseball season ended, but uh heading into spring training next year. We’ll be very interested to see how this team is constructed, how this front office is constructed, who’s the manager? Um lot of things to follow. So, we’ll be keeping track of that. Do you want to do our um top story lines from the season or do you want to hold off on that? Maybe we’ll just wait. Want to hold off on that? We can hold off on that. That could be a whole whole other pod or we could do it quick. I don’t It’s up to you. Let’s not do it quick. I think there’s some story lines that we can uh delve deep into. You deserve your credit, Kate Kabali. Yeah, seriously. Another win. I mean, took a while, but it looked impressive. But, um, yeah. So, that’s going to do it for this episode of the District Chat podcast. Want to thank Brendan Mortonson for all of his incredibly hard work behind the scenes to get this show. He was running around. He was literally running around helping us out. So, big thanks to Brendan. Make sure you follow District Chat all off seasonason on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Soundcloud, wherever you get your podcast, you can find District Chat. And we will be back live at our normally scheduled programming time Wednesdays around noon. Um, live from here from the Mass and All Access Web Studio on Facebook and YouTube. So, be sure to subscribe and get notifications for when we go live. Um, lots of news to cover. I mean, we’ll be back live when they hire manager and and arbitration deadlines and all that stuff. So, be sure to tune in for all of that. Amy Jennings News on X for Amy. I’m at Bobby Blanco Mass for all your social media needs for the Nationals. Please be following us all offseason long. Thank you so much for tuning in and we’ll see you next time.
Paul Toboni was officially introduced as the Nats’ new president of baseball operations. Bobby Blanco and Amy Jennings discuss the highlights of his presser on “District Chat.”
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