After two seasons managing in the Washington Nationals farm system, Bobby Williams was named the Nationals Director of Player Development on March 8, 2007, replacing Andy Dunn. Bobby was kind enough to answer a few questions regarding his history and what his new role involves.
Nationals Farm Authority (NFA): Much is written about who your father is, Pat Williams, senior VP of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, what led you to a career in baseball instead of basketball?
Bobby Williams (BW): Baseball has been my passion since I was a small boy. It is actually my father’s first love as well. He played baseball growing up as a kid, in college and 2 years of minor league baseball with the Phillies. He then started working in the front office in the minor leagues for the Phillies. I kind of followed in his footsteps and baseball was my favorite sport as a kid. I was drafted out of high school by the Orioles but did not sign. I played at Rollins College (Winter Park, FL). After college, started my coaching career, first at Georgia Southern University and then in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to make my career in baseball, first as a player and then as a coach. And now it has turned to the front office.
NFA: You joined the Nationals system when they relocated to Washington in 2005 as the manager of the Vermont (then) Expos, what led you the Nationals in 2005?
BW: I spent 5 years working for the Cincinnati Reds as a coach at various levels. Jim Bowden had known me from our time together in Cincinnati and when he took over as GM of the Washington Nationals in late 2004, I think he recommended me for a managerial opening in the minor league system. In December of 2004, I interviewed with the Washington Nationals to manage the Vermont Expos and got the job. I managed the Vermont Expos in 2005 and managed the Savannah Sand Gnats in 2006. I was scheduled to go to AAA Columbus as a coach this season before being shifted into the Farm Director’s role.
NFA: You previously worked in the Cincinnati Reds organization, what sort of interactions have you had with Jim Bowden and Bob Boone?
BW: Jim Bowden gave me my first opportunity in pro baseball in 2000. He sent me to Billings, Montana to work for the Billings Mustangs as a coach. While working for Cincinnati, I crossed paths with Jim from time to time. I got to be around Bob Boone some when he was the manager of the Reds.
NFA: You were originally supposed to be a coach for the Columbus Clippers. In general, what happened that led to you being selected as the Director of Player Development?
BW: I came into spring training scheduled to go to Columbus as a coach and the last thing on my mind was becoming the Farm Director. At the beginning of spring training, our Farm Director resigned. I didn’t think much of it. Then a couple of weeks later, Jim Bowden came to me and asked if I would be interested in the position. I thought about it for a couple of days and told him I would be interested. The Nationals then went through the interview process. I was told that I got the job on Thursday, March 8th.
NFA: Briefly, what are your responsibilities as the Director of Player Development?
BW: I will oversee the day-to-day operation of the 6 farm clubs in our system. I will be based out of DC but will travel to each one of our affiliates several times during the season. I will work closely with Bob Boone in the decision making process of where players should start the season and when they should be moved up or down. I will be in daily contact with our 6 managers as well as the coaches. I will also have to communicate with the front office of our affiliates.
NFA: How much traveling do you anticipate will be involved in your job?
BW: I anticipate traveling quite a bit. In the early part of the year, I will make several trips to Columbus, Harrisburg, Potomac, and Hagerstown as well as making trips to the extended spring training. Once the short seasons start, I will make trips to Vermont and our GCL team in Melbourne.
NFA: What are your organizational goals for 2007?
BW: Improvement. We are looking for improvement from our players. We want players to move up on merit. We want the players to improve to the point were they earn the right to move up. This will come from teaching and instructing the fundamentals of the game. Sure we want to win but more importantly we are trying to develop our players to get them ready to play in Washington. We want to develop a winning outlook and a winning attitude in our organization.
NFA: Which is more valuable for a minor league system to have: a few premium players but little depth, or considerable depth but no premium players?
BW: Both. We want premium players and a lot of them. We want to develop as many prospects as we can. We need to continue to add players through the draft, international scouting and trades. The more talent you have the better off your organization will be. You can never have enough prospects.
NFA: When you’re assessing prospects, where are your leanings, old school in-person scouting versus statistical analysis?
BW: There is no substitute for seeing players play. The more scouts that see a player the better you are able to evaluate that player. I feel it is important that I get out and see all of our players as often as possible. I am not opposed to studying statistics. The statistical element is part of the modern game. But you have to watch the players. There are intangibles that you can’t see through the stats that you can only pick up by in-person scouting (make-up, heart, work ethic and desire of a player).
NFA: What is the organizational approach to where a prospect is assigned? Do you want to challenge players at higher levels or do you want to be more conservative and build their confidence?
BW: The most important thing is that we place our players at the right level where they can have some success and build confidence. We don’t want our players to be overmatched. I think players need to be challenged and pushed to some degree but we don’t want to rush players through the system if they are not ready. By rushing a player, you can really hurt his development. You can’t rush the maturation process. It takes time to develop players.
NFA: When will the decisions be made for where to place your minor league personnel?
BW: We have a pretty good idea where the majority of the players will start the season. However there will be decisions made right up until the last week of spring training as to where a player may end up. Most decisions are made in the off-season based on last year’s season, though a player could come into camp and have a sensational spring and change our mind.
NFA: Will all of the Nationals affiliates play the same style of baseball?
BW: The one thing we stress is teaching the fundamentals of the game consistently through the minor league system. Of course during the season, each manager works with the personnel assigned to him and will manage as he sees fit. However, when it comes to fundamentals, we want consistent teaching through the system.
NFA: In general, please describe the Nationals pitching philosophy?
BW: We want our pitchers to be able to command the FB. If a pitcher cannot command his FB, he probably will not pitch in the big leagues. We want our pitchers to pitch aggressively, throw strikes, force contact early in the count, command the FB, change speeds, get quick outs and have quick innings. We want our pitchers to pitch with a good tempo (fast pace between pitches). There is also an emphasis on fundamentals (holding runners, pickoffs, fielding the position). A pitcher must be good at the other details of the position besides the actually pitching part. We want our pitchers to be consistent with their mechanics as well as the mental part of pitching.
NFA: The Nationals acquired quite a bit of pitching depth in 2006: 14 pitchers in the draft including Colton Willems, Glenn Gibson, Cory Van Allen, & Zech Zinicola; as well as several high ceiling arms in trades, Shairon Martis, Jhonny Nunez, Matt Chico, and Garrett Mock. Now that you’ve acquired the pitching, what are the next steps to assist in their development to contributing at the major league level?
BW: They must follow everything laid out in the pitching philosophy implemented by our Pitching Coordinator, Spin Williams. We also have excellent pitching coaches in place to teach and instruct and help in the development of our pitchers. They need to continue to pitch, show improvement every year and of course stay healthy. If they can do that, they should progress
through the system and at some point be able to help our ML club.
NFA: Please describe the Nationals hitting philosophy?
BW: Mechanically do what good hitters do to get a good pitch to hit, manufacture runs through situational hitting. We want a productive 2 strike approach. Ultimately we want to develop the patiently, aggressive hitter.
NFA: Pitching saw most of the attention in player acquisition in 2006, what do you see as the future for your top hitting acquisitions in 2006 (Chris Marrero, Stephen King, and Stephen Englund)?
BW: All three have a chance to be major league players. All 3 hitters you mentioned are very young and have a long way to go but have very high ceilings. Marrero is further advanced than King or Englund at this point in his development. He is more mechanically sound and has less flaws. All three have a bright future.
NFA: Are there any names of lesser known prospects that Nationals fans should be aware of?
BW: I am still learning a lot of the players. Some players who I managed the last couple of years who are talented and have a chance: RHP Craig Stammen and LHP John Lannan. OF’s Mike Daniel and Dee Brown. C Brian Peacock. As I learn all the players, I may have more names for you.
NFA: The Nationals’ farm system is improving, however, Baseball America has ranked the Nationals as the #30 organization in their annual talent rankings. What are your thoughts on that opinion?
BW: We have outstanding ownership in place that is committed to building through the minor leagues. We have a big job ahead of us. It is not going to happen overnight. The talent level in the organization is improving but we still have a ways to go. It starts with the draft. We have added some talented players over the last two drafts (’05 & ’06) and that must continue in the ’07 draft. We must continue good scouting and drafting. Our draft budget will be such that we will be able to sign the best possible talent. Yes, we have a long way to go but the future is very bright for the Washington Nationals.
I want to thank Bobby for taking the time to answer my questions so thoroughly.
