Interesting post over at Fire Jim Bowden.com (FJB) where Steven writes about the Nationals propensity to go to arbitration.  While I am not sure that one can say the problems with players he cites are directly related to the arbitration process, it does say something that an organization is willing to go to arbitration with players over such tiny amounts of money.  Yes, they beat Brian Bruney yesterday and saved themselves $350,000.  That is the cost of a minor league player who joins the team near the end of May, or thereabouts. Some of there cases as FJB points out, have been over even less.

But is that worth taking a player to arbitration and trying to tell the world he isn’t that valuable?  These cases aren’t cheap to argue.  Sure, the team rarely brings in anyone from the outside other than some help from the commissioners office,  but they still require hours of intense preparation.

While it seems very obvious that the need to go to arbitration would come very naturally to Jim Bowden or even Stan Kasten- two guys who care more about being right than being successful- I have to say I am surprised that the Nationals aren’t changing their MO under their new General Manager, Mike Rizzo.  Rizzo has a reputation for being a smart baseball man- his dad has been with the Dodgers organization for years- but clearly he is still beholden to those further up the food chain.  FJB also points to ownership, who is usually at the heart of these things- thinking that that $350,000 really will be money saved down the line. In fact, that $350,000 will be spent two more times on something that the team should have been focusing on instead of worrying about beating up on Brian Bruney.

The good news is Bruney has a good reputation for his behavior in the clubhouse.  It is unlikely that having to hear the case against him will cause him to become a malcontent.  But perhaps it is the culture that has surrounded the organization and makes them choose arbitration over settlement that disquiets players. Though FJB suggests there is a direct link between the two, perhaps their is another cause- and that is what National fans need to worry about.