[情報] Stan Kasten leaving the Nationals
Stan Kasten leaving the Nationals
Nationals Team President Stan Kasten, the chief executive who helped the
Lerner family take ownership of the Nationals, oversaw the building of
Nationals Park and guided the Nationals for parts of five seasons, announced
his resignation, effective at the end of the season, this afternoon.
Kasten reached his decision at the end of the 2009 season and informed
Principal Owner Ted Lerner. Kasten is not retiring, but he chose to leaves
the Nationals, he said, for reasons pertaining only to his best interests and
not any fracture or disagreement with ownership.
"I know the stories and speculation," Kasten said. "Let me assure you, this
is just about me. This has nothing to do with anybody else or anything else.
This is just about me, what's good for me, for my family and my own personal
expectations, goals, aspirations, purely that and nothing else. Leaving here,
will I miss things? You bet. There's going to be so much that I miss."
The Nationals have not announced their plan to replace Kasten, or even if
they will replace him with someone in a similar role. In January, at which
point the Nationals knew Kasten would be leaving, they hired Andrew Feffer as
chief operating officer. Rather than hiring another president, the Nationals
could place Feffer in charge of Kasten's non-baseball duties and General
Manager Mike Rizzo -- the first person Kasten hired -- in charge of the
franchise's baseball operations.
"He was much more involved than most of the team presidents I've worked with,"
Rizzo said. "Because he knows the game inside and out. He knows players. He
knows personality. And he knows talent. He was very active in our offices.
We're going to have to fill a void. I'm going to have to employ the things he
taught me to take over and to take on the responsibility. I think that I've
been well-trained for it."
Kasten's experience and expertise will be missed. He helped build the Atlanta
Braves dynasty in the 1990s and with the Nationals often advised Nationals
ownership toward a less frugal approach, advice not always taken. Publicly,
Kasten was an ever-vigilant guard dog for the Lerner family, defending and
advocating for them at every turn.
"Over his tenure he has positioned the Nationals to become one of the most
exciting franchises in baseball and we thank him for all that he has
accomplished," Lerner said in a statement. "We certainly respect his decision
to pursue other interests at the end of the regular season, but will continue
to call upon him for his vast knowledge of the game, the league and the
franchise."
Kasten declined to elaborate on his future but said, "I want to do something."
His broad experience -- he has also run NBA and NHL teams -- gives him
near-limitless possibilities. His name will likely surface as a candidate to
replace MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who is leaving his post after the 2012
season.
Today, Kasten met with the Nationals player in the clubhouse and tears welled
in his eyes as he spoke. In an 18-minute meeting with the media, Kasten wore
sunglasses to conceal any tears and became most emotional when he speaking
about Washington and the bond he has created with the city. He will maintain
his home in the area and visit frequently, he said.
"Anything I could to continue to play a role in doing good things for the
city," Kasten said, voice cracking, "I'd be thrilled to."
Kasten's last day of work will be next Wednesday, the final home game of the
season. Rizzo said he has worked with him every single day of his tenure with
the Nationals. "Never a dull moment," he said
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