NewsGrissom will not return as Nats coach
Former outfielder reportedly offered job in organization
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
11/15/09 12:02 AM EST
WASHINGTON -- Former Major League outfielder Marquis Grissom will not be back as the Nationals' first-base coach, MLB.com learned on Saturday.No reason was given for Grissom's departure, and Grissom and general manager Mike Rizzo were not available for comment. A baseball source said that Grissom has been offered a job in the organization.
Hired by the team before the start of the 2009 season, Grissom was also the team's outfield coach. He said back in October that he enjoyed his first season as a coach and was looking forward to a second year with the team.
"Over the grand scheme of things, I think I did pretty good," Grissom said in October. "I feel like I did a good job. I feel like I helped somebody and put them in the right direction. For me, that was the whole thing."
Grissom said right fielder Elijah Dukes was one person he tried to help the most throughout the season. Grissom saw a lot of potential in Dukes, and Grissom acknowledged that Dukes is still learning to play the game the right way.
"He has a whole bunch of talent -- great skills, great athlete -- and then you see the potential of what he can do," Grissom said of Dukes. "When you don't quite meet those standards, it becomes a challenge with the player and coach. You want to be there to explain to him that when something does happen, [you want to tell him what he has to do] because you don't want to make the same mistakes twice. If he learns to correct himself, the better he will be."
It's not known who will replace Grissom as the first-base coach, but the Nationals are expected to name Jim Riggleman's coaching staff by early next week. Tim Foli, Jim Lett, John McLaren and Dan Radison are candidates to join the staff.
It's not known if last year's staff, which includes bench coach Pat Corrales, third-base coach Pat Listach, hitting coach Rick Eckstein and pitching coach Steve McCatty, will be back next season. Bullpen coach Randy Knorr already accepted a job to be manager of Double-A Harrisburg.
Bill Ladson is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
