tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post1537902751414044423..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Chad CorderoScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-92089869211584930862008-11-01T10:26:00.000-04:002008-11-01T10:26:00.000-04:00SBF, you are filling a huge void in the DC sports ...SBF, you are filling a huge void in the DC sports media. I can learn from the Post which 3rd-string lineman for the Redskins is voting for McCain, but I get little to nothing on the Nationals' losing their highest-paid and longest-tenured former all-star player. Chad is a class act and I'm so glad you were able to share his perspective, unedited. <BR/><BR/>This is in all likelihood the right move for all parties, but it will still be awfully sad if we end up watching him return to top form with another team.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-10426602215434938012008-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:002008-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:00Let's not mince words about it---Chad was seriousl...Let's not mince words about it---Chad was seriously hurt last year, and sending him out for assignment may have been necessary even though it was sad. What I object to is the WAY the Nationals handled this. They should not have treated a player who has meant so much to this team and their fans the way they did. If Chad comes back from his injury and plays again in the bigs, I can't blame him for not wanting to work under Jim Bowden again.<BR/><BR/>If we mail a letter to Chad in care of the Nationals, will they still forward it? I'd love to send a letter of appreciation to him and thank him for all the great work he has done for us.Edward J. Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11925008506185290162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-80788027163235717182008-11-01T02:24:00.000-04:002008-11-01T02:24:00.000-04:00SBF -- Thanks for posting your interview with Cha...SBF -- Thanks for posting your interview with Chad. It was very gracious of him to talk with you so openly about his struggles with last season. It’s also good to see that he’s optimistic about his progress. And congratulations to him and his fiancee on his wedding!<BR/><BR/>I also found yesterday’s news very hard to take. From a business standpoint, it makes perfect sense to clear the roster spot to protect someone in the Rule 5 draft. But baseball is played by people, and Chad has been my favorite National from the time the team arrived in Washington in 2005.<BR/><BR/>I knew that he’s a class act, and a “high character guy”. But my respect for him increased dramatically last summer. A couple of days after the radio announcement that he would be non-tendered, he was actually having a conversation with Jim Bowden, and accepting his apology. The following week, he was saying that he loved the team, and he wanted to leave the door open for returning. He didn’t have to say those things – he didn’t have to *think* them. But he was more than gracious in response to treatment that was more than a little bit disrespectful.<BR/><BR/>By contrast, I was NOT impressed with the Nationals at all. We have been hearing over and over that the plan for building the team is to draft well, develop from within, and strategically sign free agents when the team is ready to contend. Chad Cordero was the first round draft pick of this franchise in 2003. He’s developed in this organization, and delivered for it. Is this how the team will treat the players it’s developed? If so, I think the team will end up going in a very bad direction.<BR/><BR/>So now Chad continues to say that he’s open to returning to Washington, but at this point he needs to find the right fit for himself. I know it’s a lot to hope for, but I’d love to see him make his comeback as a National. But that’s next season. Now, in this offseason, I hope the Nationals make amends by at least sitting down and negotiating in good faith.<BR/><BR/>Obviously, we don’t know what the outcome will be. But I’ve also found Chad a delight to watch. I agree with your wish that his Major League career continue for a long time, and I wish him all of the very best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-5399552961310884462008-10-31T23:50:00.000-04:002008-10-31T23:50:00.000-04:00Tom -- if he had had to go through waivers (and I'...Tom -- if he had had to go through waivers (and I'm only 98% sure he did), then the other team would not have to make a trade for him at this point in the season. There are different types of waivers. This likely would've been separate from the type players are put on in August.<BR/><BR/>So 29 other GMs did pass on him. And for the same reasons the Nats are dumping him now: to take him would require them to tender him a contract at a salary far higher than he'll get on the open market.Chris Needhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10455692848328638937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-22588031379593658012008-10-31T21:00:00.000-04:002008-10-31T21:00:00.000-04:00Chris, your a GM, why would you claim Chad and hav...Chris, your a GM, why would you claim Chad and have to trade a player to the Nats when you can wait and get he for nothing?<BR/><BR/>The winner is Chad Cordero. Don't be surprised if Omar signs him to a Met contract.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-56387402296524404212008-10-31T18:04:00.000-04:002008-10-31T18:04:00.000-04:00I went through my mourning period for Chad around ...I went through my mourning period for Chad around the same time that I did for Hill and Patterson. Great competitors, but a pitcher's arm has less lasting power than a politician's resolve.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for the inside access, as always. <BR/><BR/>Funny, I almost drove off the road when Tom Seaver was traded from the Mets!paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15683734720896529408noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-77277365408039420482008-10-31T14:03:00.000-04:002008-10-31T14:03:00.000-04:00Great work SBF and all the best to the Chief. I s...Great work SBF and all the best to the Chief. I spoke with him briefly on a few occasions and he's a real class act. It's a shame to see him go with some of the characters we have walking in and out of the clubhouse now. <BR/><BR/>On another note... SBF, glad you're here and blogging. We would have NO news otherwise... the local media coverage is SHAMEFUL.Collinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14108585677961004348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-43037614875518733672008-10-31T13:37:00.000-04:002008-10-31T13:37:00.000-04:00"first, the player finding out through the media o..."first, the player finding out through the media of plans to be non-tendered, then outright waived? no class."<BR/><BR/>The first is clearly something they screwed up, but the waiving makes sense. It gets him off the 40-man, which was going to happen anyway. Bowden did exactly what he should've there.<BR/><BR/>I'm pretty sure he'd had to have cleared waivers to go down, so it's pretty telling that 29 other GMs passed, huh?Chris Needhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10455692848328638937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-75530895238013219532008-10-31T13:32:00.000-04:002008-10-31T13:32:00.000-04:00Wow, SBF, this was an interesting little bomb you ...Wow, SBF, this was an interesting little bomb you dropped in the middle of the interview:<BR/><BR/>"Yeah, I agree. Montreal was a good baseball town that got ruined by all the politics and the stadium issues—the cheapness just killed it. (SBF)"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-21312736581135721902008-10-31T12:29:00.000-04:002008-10-31T12:29:00.000-04:00SBF,Your site is truly the place to go for Nationa...SBF,<BR/><BR/>Your site is truly the place to go for Nationals news. WTEM mentioned the new uniforms today, 13 days after you had first written about them here, with far greater details than we got from the regular media. Plus, you've got this great interview here with Chad, just hours after the news is announced about his release. WaPo? WaTimes? Nothing from Chad. Thank you for the job you do for us Nats fans.<BR/><BR/>And it was a great interview -- especially when you asked about potential jealousy about his popularity. I understand that Chad needs to recover from his surgery, but I wish the team could work with him and bring him back at a fair price if he can get healthy. Why let your popular players leave? We fans need to have more than a logo and a pretty ballpark to become attached to!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-51629607632508458232008-10-31T10:54:00.000-04:002008-10-31T10:54:00.000-04:00SBF, Good work on the interview.there's never a go...SBF, Good work on the interview.<BR/><BR/>there's never a good time for a career threatening injury, but this had to be one of the very worst times. it's unfortunate for Cordero to enter the off-season recovering from injury and now have to go into free agency. it took Freddie Garcia until July last year to get a job in a similar situation.<BR/><BR/>more evidence of front office bungling. first, the player finding out through the media of plans to be non-tendered, then outright waived? no class.Dave Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310191107811609232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-55877077219323082872008-10-31T10:24:00.000-04:002008-10-31T10:24:00.000-04:00Ladson's article also said that Chad will be a fat...Ladson's article also said that Chad will be a father in May! Congrats Chad! We miss you already.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-24074861138087787472008-10-31T09:42:00.000-04:002008-10-31T09:42:00.000-04:00Thanks to SBF for the piece and to Chad both for a...Thanks to SBF for the piece and to Chad both for agreeing to be interviewed and for his time with the team. I wish him all the best with his recovery and congratulate him on his upcoming wedding.<BR/><BR/>On a more general note, I do find this (business) side of baseball to be difficult as a fan. It can be very hard to see a player leave, particularly a fine young man such as Chad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-57976749403775669222008-10-31T08:58:00.000-04:002008-10-31T08:58:00.000-04:00Thanks to SBF and thanks to Chad. Good luck, Chad...Thanks to SBF and thanks to Chad. <BR/><BR/>Good luck, Chad, on your continued recovery and with whatever comes next. I look forward to seeing you pitch again soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-33380408011360452032008-10-31T06:17:00.000-04:002008-10-31T06:17:00.000-04:00Thanks once again. I applaud your "creativity." Th...Thanks once again. I applaud your "creativity." This is truly a sad day for all Nationals fans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-82657916064582974202008-10-31T05:24:00.000-04:002008-10-31T05:24:00.000-04:00I intend to cheer Chad Cordero when he returns to ...I intend to cheer Chad Cordero when he returns to Nationals Park in a visiting uniform---even if that uniform is a Red Sox, Yankees, or even Phillies uniform. I can't blame Chad for not wanting to play here anymore, but he will not be forgotten by us fans.Edward J. Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11925008506185290162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-17262969926016869672008-10-31T01:19:00.000-04:002008-10-31T01:19:00.000-04:00Wow! SBF, that's a good get. I have always liked C...Wow! SBF, that's a good get. I have always liked Chad Cordero, even with his heart thumping moments. He really is a decent person and I also only wish him the very best in his future professional career.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com