Davey Johnson And Nationals Name Randy Knorr Bench Coach for 2012

The Washington Nationals named Randy Knorr their bench coach for the 2012 season, where he'll serve as Davey Johnson's right hand man in the Nats' dugout. Knorr has been in the organization for the past seven seasons, holding several positions at all levels during his rise through the ranks. As a result of his tenure in the organization, Knorr has worked with a majority of the current big league roster and will be a valuable addition in the dugout. He replaces the 70 year old Pat Corrales, who will stay on with the Nats in an advisory role.

Nats GM Mike Rizzo discussed his preference for hiring a bench coach that he felt could succeed Johnson one day as the Nats' manager. Knorr played in the big leagues as a catcher for 19 seasons before transitioning to coaching. Rizzo made an effort to move him from bullpen coach and down to the minors so he could get the managing experience needed should he one day be tapped as manager in the bigs.

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Ryan Zimmerman Seems Really Thrilled To Have Davey Johnson Back

Davey Johnson Says Washington Nationals' Goal Should Be To Win National League

Davey Johnson participated in a conference call with reporters after he was officially named the Washington Nationals' manager for 2012. During the call, Johnson was asked about his expectations, and he set the bar very high. Via Dave Nichols of District Sports Page.

"A pennant. Winning the pennant.  Winning the division. Winning the National League," Johnson stated definitively.  "I couldn't have said that last spring, I didn't think the talent was ready. But after being there and seeing the progress some young players have made, I think definitely we can contend. And I would be sorely disappointed if we didn't do just that."

It's not a completely ridiculous thought. The Nationals finished 2011 strong, and they have plenty of improving young talent. Stephen Strasburg will be healthy for most of the year, and the Nationals have lots of money to play with in what is expected to be an active free agent market. Good for Davey for setting the bar high.

For more on the announcement of Johnson as manager, visit this StoryStream. For more on the Nationals, visit Federal Baseball.  

Davey Johnson Named Washington Nationals Manager For 2012, Team Announces

It's now officially official. Davey Johnson will be the Washington Nationals' manager for 2012, the team announced in a press release. Johnson had an option on his contract to manage in 2012, and the Nationals have picked that option up.

General manager Mike Rizzo said in a statement that the team is "best-served" to having Johnson as its manager.

 "After a series of discussions, it became obvious that the Nationals would be best served if Davey Johnson would continue as manager," Rizzo said in the statement. "Davey's remarkable connection to the clubhouse and D.C. community during the season's final three months was well received. His baseball acumen coupled with a proper off-season of planning, including a full regiment of Spring Training, should put our players in a position to succeed in 2012."

A conference call is scheduled for later Monday morning.

For more on the announcement of Johnson as manager, visit this StoryStream. For more on the Nationals, visit Federal Baseball.  

Davey Johnson Almost Certain To Be Named Washington Nationals Manager In Conference Call Monday

Finally, it looks like the Washington Nationals will be officially naming Davey Johnson as their manager for 2012. The worst-kept secret will almost certainly be revealed on Monday in a conference call, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.

The news has long been expected, but the Nationals have not announced it because teams are strongly urged not to make announcements during the World Series. Now that the World Series is over, the Nationals will be able to officially announce Johnson as their manager. The only question is whether it will only be for 2012 or whether it will be for longer.

Johnson, 68, managed the Nationals to a 40-43 record after taking over when Jim Riggleman quit at midseason. The team finished with an 80-81 record overall last season.

For more on the announcement of Johnson as manager, visit this StoryStream. For more on the Nationals, visit Federal Baseball.  

Davey Johnson Will Be Named Washington Nationals Manager, According To Report

The Washington Nationals will name Davey Johnson as manager for the 2012 season, reports William Ladson, citing "a baseball source." The MLB.com scribe says the Nationals will announce the hire upon the conclusion of the World Series, which could take place as soon as Thursday.

Johnson served as Washington's interim manager after Jim Riggleman abruptly resigned in June, guiding the team to a 40-43 finish to the season. Though he's managed at the Major League level for 15 seasons, he had not managed a team since the 2000 Los Angeles Dodgers prior to filling in for Riggleman. His career record stands at 1188-931 and includes a World Series championship with the 1986 New York Mets.

Last Thursday, Rizzo told Mark Zuckerman that he had interviewed other candidates for the club's managerial position, though no word of precisely who else the Nationals considered has yet surfaced. However, it's long been suspected that Washington would invite Johnson to return.

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Davey Johnson Likely To Be Named Washington Nationals Manager After 2011 World Series

The Washington Nationals will likely name Davey Johnson as their full-time manager as soon as the World Series concludes. General manager Mike Rizzo declined to confirm the decision to retain Johnson, but he did say that Johnson has been in touch with Nationals coaches during the offseason, and that the club will announce its decision following the World Series, according to Ben Goessling of MASN.

Major League Baseball strongly discourages its team from making major announcements during the World Series, which explains the delay.

Johnson took over the Nationals in June upon the sudden resignation of Jim Riggleman. Washington went 40-43 with Johnson serving as interim manager. Its record under Riggleman was 38-37. John McLaren managed the club between Riggleman's and Johnson's stints, going 2-1 in that brief period.

Johnson, 68, has extensive managerial experience: in 15 seasons, he's tallied a 1188-931 record, and he guided the New York Mets to a championship in the 1986 World Series. He first joined the Nationals in 2006 as a consultant. In 2009, Rizzo promoted him to a senior advisor position.

Mike Rizzo Says Davey Johnson Will Manage Washington Nationals Through 2012

The Washington Nationals 2011 season can't exactly be called a huge success, but the young club did give fans ample reason to be hopeful about the direction the club is heading in for 2012 and beyond. The Nationals finished the season 80-81, an 11.5 improvement from their 2010 record of 69-93.

When Jim Riggleman surprised the baseball world by stepping down just shy of the halfway mark of the season with the Nats sporting a winning record (38-37), Davey Johnson was hired three games later to manage the club for the remainder of the season. That couldn't have been too easy of an environment to walk into, but Johnson kept the ship afloat as Washington played close to .500 baseball under his direction (40-43).  According to Mike Rizzo, Washington's general manager, Johnson more than earned the opportunity to remain as manager of the club in 2012:

"We feel pretty confident that Davey's in place," Rizzo said. "He's going to be here for years to come. He's a terrific manager. I can see him managing this team through 2012. We haven't made any announcements yet, because we haven't done our full due diligence, but those announcements will come probably soon after the World Series."

We'll see if there is actually any more 'due diligence' to do, or if Rizzo and the Nationals are appropriately waiting until after the World Series to conclude before making any formal announcement, but all signs point towards the 68-year old returning for at least one more year of duty for the improving Nationals organization.  

Davey Johnson Likely To Be Announced Washington Nationals Manager

Davey Johnson, long expected to be retained as Nationals manager, could officially be announced as manager for the 2012 season as soon as next week. General Manager Mike Rizzo continues to refuse comment on the matter, but he has intimated that he’s comfortable continuing with Johnson in place as the Nats skipper.

The league offices at Major League Baseball ask teams not to make manager hiring announcements during the World Series, as a courtesy to the teams still in action and to avoid potentially upstaging on-the-field news with off-the-field news (as Scott Boras and Alex Rodriguez did in the 2007 World Series). The Nats could, however, ask MLB for permission to make the announcement during an off day of the Fall Classic.

Via Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post:

Major League Baseball asks its teams to not make announcements once the day of Game 1 of the World Series arrives, and of course that day is tomorrow. The Nationals could ask Commissioner Bud Selig for permission to make an announcement on a World Series off day, either Friday or Tuesday.

So the Nationals will likely have to wait to make the decision official until after the World Series ends, which could take more than a week.

Kilgore also reported that he’s heard nothing from his sources to indicate that the hire will not be Johnson. It appears that Nationals fans will not have to wait much longer for it to become official.

Davey Johnson Says He'd Like To Return As Nationals Skipper In 2012

Usually when the topic of Washington Nationals manager in 2012 comes up current manager Davey Johnson is quick to dodge questions about it or just change the subject, but for the first time the Nationals manager made his feelings known on Wednesday afternoon before the season finale with the Florida Marlins:

"I didn't plan on starting this job, but when I start something, I like to finish it," Johnson said. "We haven't finished anything yet."

"Coming into 2012, there will be very few questions. The competition will maybe be for one or two jobs," he said. "When that happens, you have a chance to contend. Because of the people in that room over there, that's why this job is attractive to me - the challenge to get to that (contending) level."

Per MLB rules the Nationals must conduct a managerial search which include minority candidates, but if GM Mike Rizzo had his way, Johnson would already have an extended contract as he tried to sign Johnson back in June. The Nationals have a very short list of candidates with Johnson on top. Third base coach Bo Porter and Triple-A manager Randy Knorr will also most likely be interviewed.

Porter recently had a second meeting with the Marlins for the open manager job, but with Florida going with former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, Porter will most likely be retained by the Nationals even if he is not to get the head job over Johnson.

Davey Johnson Is Leading Candidate In 2012 Nationals Managerial Search

Current manager Davey Johnson is on top of a short list of potential Washington Nationals manager candidates in 2012. Also on that list is Nationals third base coach Bo Porter and Triple-A Syracuse manager Randy Knorr.