New owner: It's postseason or bust

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Nationals report

Date published: 5/25/2006

By TODD JACOBSON

WASHINGTON--The meeting was mostly symbolic, more a meet-and-greet than anything, but the Washington Nationals finally got acquainted with their new owners.

Theodore Lerner, members of his family and ownership group, and incoming team president Stan Kasten met with Nationals players and coaches in the team's clubhouse for approximately 30 minutes before yesterday's game, promising to build a successful franchise.

Then, they met with members of the Nationals front office, taking another step toward the official transition of the $450 million franchise. Major League Baseball awarded the Nationals to the Lerner group May 3, and Kasten said the group hopes to take over in three or four weeks.

"We have a long-term goal, hopefully not too long, of building a postseason team at minimum and until we get there we are not satisfied so that process is already under way," said Kasten, who reiterated that his top priority would be player development. "But we are going to do our best to kick it into high gear just as soon as we can."

That sounded like good news to the players that got a first look at the new boss.

"They plan on from this day on starting a top-notch organization, a class operation," shortstop Royce Clayton said. "As a player that's all you can ask for. If we had any questions or any concerns they are here to help facilitate those things. From that standpoint, it was good things to hear."

Kasten announced the hiring of four team executives, naming Bob Wolfe, his right-hand man with the Atlanta Braves, the team's executive vice president.

He also announced three senior vice presidents: Al Maldon (external affairs), Mike Shapiro (business affairs), and Tom Ward (marketing).

But Kasten said he has not made any decisions on the status of general manager Jim Bowden, manager Frank Robinson or any of the front office staff, though he said he and his vice presidents would conduct meetings starting today to evaluate and gather suggestions from the franchise's staff.

"I don't have any expectation of coming in here and letting people go," Kasten said. "I am assuming everyone here is competent and worthy of their job. Until I learn otherwise, that's my starting place."

Kasten acknowledged the transition period has created an odd set of circumstances.

Date published: 5/25/2006