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  1. #21
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Northern VA

    MASN does not equal Nats (send your letters to Peter Angelos...)

    Quote Originally Posted by Genedoc View Post
    Given their ridiculous blackout policy and their enforcement of it, I refuse to support the Nats. Hot young phenom pitcher hurling on ESPN tonight? Not if you live in the Triangle...it's blacked out. Way to build a customer base - make sure they never get to see you play.

    The Triangle is the blackest of black holes for MLB coverage, which has turned me into a hockey fan. We're in Nats territory, so minimal Braves coverage. And the Nats black everything out, so we get minimal Nats coverage, too. Infuriating.
    I really don't know about the specific 'blackout policy' to which you refer, but to be fair to the Nats, it is probably MASN that is establishing the blackout policies. And MASN, much to Nats' fans chagrin, is about 80% owned by one Peter Angelos - resident of Baltimore and owner of the low-salaried, low-performing Orioles. MASN controls the broadcast rights for the O's and Nats together, and in 2005 Selig, in order to placate his upset buddy PA (upset that MLB was moving another team into "his" market), gave Angelos a 90% ownership of the joint TV entity, MASN. The ownership percentage declines by 1-2% per year, I think, but bottoms out at 60% in, like, 15 years. Bottom line: please save your ire for Angelos and his O's.

  2. #22
    Quote Originally Posted by -bdbd View Post
    I really don't know about the specific 'blackout policy' to which you refer, but to be fair to the Nats, it is probably MASN that is establishing the blackout policies. And MASN, much to Nats' fans chagrin, is about 80% owned by one Peter Angelos - resident of Baltimore and owner of the low-salaried, low-performing Orioles. MASN controls the broadcast rights for the O's and Nats together, and in 2005 Selig, in order to placate his upset buddy PA (upset that MLB was moving another team into "his" market), gave Angelos a 90% ownership of the joint TV entity, MASN. The ownership percentage declines by 1-2% per year, I think, but bottoms out at 60% in, like, 15 years. Bottom line: please save your ire for Angelos and his O's.
    "Their" was generic, directed at Nats/Angelos/MLB/Selig whomever is responsible for ensuring I get to watch as little baseball as possible. Hmmm, I can't watch them on TV, maybe I should instead drive 5 hours and see if I like the product! Brilliant. Just brilliant. I've gone from a fanatical, die hard, card collecting, stats reciting baseball junkie to someone who pays almost zero attention to the league over the course of a decade. If baseball can manage to alienate me, they've got real problems.

  3. #23
    Nats sign Edwin Jackson, to a 1-yr deal, pending a physical. Jon Heyman says it's for $8-$10MM.
    Demented and sad, but social, right?

  4. #24
    Dev11's Avatar
    Dev11 is offline Commissioner of Statistics, DBR Podcast
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    Boston
    Quote Originally Posted by Genedoc View Post
    "Their" was generic, directed at Nats/Angelos/MLB/Selig whomever is responsible for ensuring I get to watch as little baseball as possible. Hmmm, I can't watch them on TV, maybe I should instead drive 5 hours and see if I like the product! Brilliant. Just brilliant. I've gone from a fanatical, die hard, card collecting, stats reciting baseball junkie to someone who pays almost zero attention to the league over the course of a decade. If baseball can manage to alienate me, they've got real problems.
    To your query and that of the Orioles fan on the previous page, it is an unfortunate set of circumstances that the Triangle cable networks don't carry MASN, the Nationals cable channel, and that they are blacked out on MLB.tv because they are the closest National League team to the Triangle. It was very annoying when I was in school, until we installed the SlingBox in Maryland. I'd recommend not waking up in a roadside ditch, and leaving cable for DirecTV, where you can get the SportsPack.

    Agreed with bd, you should blame Angelos, the scummy Orioles owner. To write how I honestly feel about the man (I grew up an Orioles fan and converted to the Nationals once they arrived) would have me permanently removed from this board, which I certainly don't want. However, dont refer to Angelos as a cheapskate, he certainly knows how to throw his money around. Somewhere, Albert Belle is eating off plates made of solid gold. Angelos's only competition in the DC-Bal region for supreme reviled owner is Dan Snyder. The Lerners are doing the best they can with the Nats given that they don't even own their tv rights. It's a sham.

    By the way, name the NL rotations that are now better than this one: Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmermann, Jackson, Wang.

  5. #25
    Edwin Jackson to the Nats. Nice addition. Always liked him.

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Northern VA
    The Nats chat boards are all afire about the EJax signing (the Nats tried hard to acquire him 2 years ago from AZ for Dunn), and the Lannan arbitration win. Kinda amazing coincidence on that timing, as the obvious addendum to the EJax news is that the Nats are now shopping Lannan. He's a quality #4-type LHSP with a 3.6 ERA (not a heavy K's guy though), and a reliable 190 IP/year horse. 2 years of team control remain. Also supposedsly a nice guy (good chemistry). The Nats could hang on to him, at least until ST as "injury insurance" and to see what the market looks like and who becomes desperate for LHSP's, but they really need a quality CF/lead-off hitter. Lots of fans from other teams coming over to check on what it'd take to get him. Especially from BOS, who had wanted EJax, but only for $5M. Amazingly, Lannan will make exactly that amount and is under control for 2 years still. Apparently Red Sox have a AAA SP almost ready for the majors and a former #1 prospect at 1B who Sox fans are suggesting might be a good trade - 1B Lars Anderson (#88 best prospect pre 2010) and Felix Doubront (23 year old big league ready LH SP).
    (I agree, but I hope the Nats get a decent CF/OF instead - think Span, Upton, Bourjos - even if an extra body is required... or from BOS think Kalish even or Che-Hsuan Lin).

    Some Nats links:
    http://www.federalbaseball.com/ (my favorite for fan chatter)
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/washin...als/index.html
    http://www.natsinsider.com/
    http://www.masnsports.com/
    http://www.csnwashington.com/
    http://www.thenatsblog.com/
    http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=was

    Interesting stuff. Boy is that going to be a tough starting rotation: Strasburg, J. Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Ed Jackson and one of Wang/Lannan/Detwiler. They already have a very tough bullpen. Now, just if they could score some runs... Looking forward to lots of 2-1 games at Nats Park this summer.

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Skinker-DeBaliviere, Saint Louis
    Genedoc is right. This idiocy about TV markets is killing baseball. I had mlb.com on the internet in 2010 in Mississippi so I could see the Braves and the Cardinals. Except both were blacked out. So I could see Mariners-Twins. Whup-de-du.

    A movie is not about what it's about; it's about how it's about it.
    ---Roger Ebert


    Some questions cannot be answered
    Who’s gonna bury who
    We need a love like Johnny, Johnny and June
    ---Over the Rhine

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    D.C.

    Washington Adds a Couple

    There's a lot of rumors going around that the Front Offices of LAA and Washington are talking. The story is that they are looking at some combination of Pitcher Lannan and a couple prospects get traded for LAA's CF Bourjos. That's because LAA has a very deep outfield, especially with last year's minor league player of the year, Trout, ready to come up. We'll see. But even though I think there will be a trade of Lannan somewhere, I think Rizzo (Washington's General Manager) is very patient and methodical, and may wait to Spring Training to see who gets desperate for durable, left-handed pitching with MLB experience.

    Over the last day DC has added CF Rick Ankiel (a former pitcher-turned-strong-armed-CF) and Utility man Mark Teahen.

    Both of these gentlemen were signed to minor league deals but have very good chances to make the major-league team. Ankiel of course was the Nats main CF last year, especially after Laroche departed with some injury and Mike Morse was moved to first-base full-time. He's weak against left-handed pitchers, but seems like a good platoon partner for the already signed Mike Cameron (who hits well against right-handed pitchers). Ankiel is great on defense. This is a good indication that they are OK with the situation in CF (possibly platooning MC and RA) until the probable June call-up of, my favorite, Bryce Harper.

    Mark Teahen spent the last several years in Kansas City with the Royals and plays corner INF and corner OF. He was awful in 2011, but is historically a good hitter. Even though RA has a better shot, MT can also make it b/c the Manager, Davey Johnson, really wants hitters coming off of ther bench. Last year they seemed like mostly defensive specialists there. Yuck!

    There's lots of talking around Washington about focusing on next year's Free Agent class of Center Fielders, which is impressive, before signing a long-term solution in Center.

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Northern VA

    Mike Cameron to Retire

    Not great news for the Nats, as their already uncertain CF situation just got a little more uncertain... Mike Cameron has informed the Nats this weekend that he intends to retire, at 39, rather than play with the Nats this year. He'd been expected to probably platoon with Ankiel (RA is a lefty) in CF for the Nats, at least until June when Bryce Harper's generally expected to get promoted.

    This will force the Nats to become a little more creative in Center.

    According to Zuckerman, this could increase the odds of Harper making the big club right out of ST, OR Ankiel could win CF outright. A third option that I think is intriguing:

    One other possible scenario: Werth could shift back and forth between right field and center field depending on the opposing starter on any given day. Against right-handers, Werth could be in right field with Ankiel in center. Against lefties, Werth could be in center field with veteran Mark DeRosa in right.


    http://www.natsinsider.com/2012/02/c...to-retire.html

    I don't hate that idea, but just don't know if DeRosa is an "everyday" player at this point (he plays corner OF and corner INF). Anyway that depletes their bench strength some, but increases the odds that one of the young guys coming up, such as INF Lombardozi, actually make the bigs right away.

    One other option could be that this pressures GM Rizzo into actually acquiriing a real CF, maybe in trade for SP Lannan (plus some prospects?). I wouldn't bet against that - bringing in another bat, like Damon, or even a trade. Should be an interesting Spring Training...


  10. #30
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Northern VA
    3B Ryan Zimmerman, the "Face of the Franchise" for the Nats, has completed a deal for a six+1 extension (following the completion of the two years remaining on his current deal) for $100M. This keeps the 27-year-old with the Nats at least until he's 35. There is also a team option for an additional year at $24M. He'll probably continue at third for the next few years, and maybe slide over to 1B around 2014-15 or so. The Nat's first round pick last June was a 3B out of Rice, the #6 pick overall, and a great hitter, Anthony Rendon. Many think he'll be in the majors by next Spring (2013), but is being worked out at 3B and SS this Spring as well. Envision him at 2B for the Nats next year, enabling them to slide Espinosa over from 2B to his natural SS position, and allowing them to trade Ian Desmond, if they wish.

    BTW runmors going around that the Nats are interesting in Arizona "Gold Glove" OF Gerardo Parra for taking up their 4th OF role (and maybe starting CF for the first two months of this year, until Harper comes up). Maybe a Lannan trade??


    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/
    http://www.federalbaseball.com/

    Quote Originally Posted by -bdbd View Post
    The Nats chat boards are all afire about the EJax signing (the Nats tried hard to acquire him 2 years ago from AZ for Dunn), and the Lannan arbitration win. Kinda amazing coincidence on that timing, as the obvious addendum to the EJax news is that the Nats are now shopping Lannan. He's a quality #4-type LHSP with a 3.6 ERA (not a heavy K's guy though), and a reliable 190 IP/year horse. 2 years of team control remain. Also supposedsly a nice guy (good chemistry). The Nats could hang on to him, at least until ST as "injury insurance" and to see what the market looks like and who becomes desperate for LHSP's, but they really need a quality CF/lead-off hitter. Lots of fans from other teams coming over to check on what it'd take to get him. Especially from BOS, who had wanted EJax, but only for $5M. Amazingly, Lannan will make exactly that amount and is under control for 2 years still. Apparently Red Sox have a AAA SP almost ready for the majors and a former #1 prospect at 1B who Sox fans are suggesting might be a good trade - 1B Lars Anderson (#88 best prospect pre 2010) and Felix Doubront (23 year old big league ready LH SP).
    (I agree, but I hope the Nats get a decent CF/OF instead - think Span, Upton, Bourjos - even if an extra body is required... or from BOS think Kalish even or Che-Hsuan Lin).

    Some Nats links:
    http://www.federalbaseball.com/ (my favorite for fan chatter)
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/washin...als/index.html
    http://www.natsinsider.com/
    http://www.masnsports.com/
    http://www.csnwashington.com/
    http://www.thenatsblog.com/
    http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=was

    Interesting stuff. Boy is that going to be a tough starting rotation: Strasburg, J. Zimmermann, Gio Gonzalez, Ed Jackson and one of Wang/Lannan/Detwiler. They already have a very tough bullpen. Now, just if they could score some runs... Looking forward to lots of 2-1 games at Nats Park this summer.
    Last edited by -bdbd; 02-26-2012 at 04:32 PM.

  11. #31
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    D.C.

    Baseball America Predicts Nats Make Playoffs, 2nd in Division, and PHI wins WS

    Baseball America has released their annual Baseball predictions for this year...

    http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...2/2613110.html

    And they have Philadelphia as the World Champions, winning over Tampa Bay.

    From the National League they are predicting Division winners in Cincinnati, PHI, and Arizona.
    The NL Wildcards are expected to be St Louis and The Nats.

    From the American League, these experts predict Division winners in NYY, Detroit, and Teas.
    AL Wildcards are expected from Tampa and LAA.


    Looking for really good things from these up and coming young Nationals!

  12. #32
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    About 150 feet in front of the Duke Chapel doors.
    Yeah, but the biggest news to come out of the Nationals' preseason is the Strasburger: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...8g7R_blog.html
    JBDuke

    Andre Dawkins: “People ask me if I can still shoot, and I ask them if they can still breathe. That’s kind of the same thing.”

  13. #33
    Quote Originally Posted by Dev11 View Post
    To your query and that of the Orioles fan on the previous page, it is an unfortunate set of circumstances that the Triangle cable networks don't carry MASN, the Nationals cable channel, and that they are blacked out on MLB.tv because they are the closest National League team to the Triangle. It was very annoying when I was in school, until we installed the SlingBox in Maryland. I'd recommend not waking up in a roadside ditch, and leaving cable for DirecTV, where you can get the SportsPack.

    Agreed with bd, you should blame Angelos, the scummy Orioles owner. To write how I honestly feel about the man (I grew up an Orioles fan and converted to the Nationals once they arrived) would have me permanently removed from this board, which I certainly don't want. However, dont refer to Angelos as a cheapskate, he certainly knows how to throw his money around. Somewhere, Albert Belle is eating off plates made of solid gold. Angelos's only competition in the DC-Bal region for supreme reviled owner is Dan Snyder. The Lerners are doing the best they can with the Nats given that they don't even own their tv rights. It's a sham.

    By the way, name the NL rotations that are now better than this one: Strasburg, Gonzalez, Zimmermann, Jackson, Wang.
    http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-tr...eball-blackout

    Still never seen Strasburg pitch a game.

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