tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post6623631087713428018..comments2023-06-25T04:47:18.160-04:00Comments on NationalsFanboyLooser: I'm gaggingMikeHarrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15120210292656990693noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-66491371084381845392008-06-29T10:35:00.000-04:002008-06-29T10:35:00.000-04:00The central issue regarding the disgraceful level ...The central issue regarding the disgraceful level of play (from minor league hitting through minor league fielding) is not whether Kasten or the organization is interested in making profits. Of course, they are and of course, they should make a profit - - and a hefty one at that. The only issue is, does this ownership have the mindset to be in the major league? Why is this the central issue? To answer this, we need to ask: Why is the Presidents' Race "The Main Event"? (At the 4th inning, that is how the PR is announced.) I thought the main event was major league baseball. Why are we being entertained with this minor league "Main Event"? Go to a minor league baseball game and you will see side shows between inning, you will be able to beg for a shirt or you will be lead to cheer by a mascot. So, look around and what do you see? Minor league entertainment and minor league play. Minor league thinking brings minor league play. Were I to advise this ownership this is what I would say: Stop thinking of your team as being in the minor leagues. You deserve better, we deserve better and you need to make a major league profit while maintaing self respect. Terminate whomever came up with the idea of the Presidents' Race or the tee shirt give away. Put that mindset behind you and starting thinking as the owner of a major league team. You need the correct mindset before anything else.<BR/>-A Hopeful FanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-9854902237696976932008-06-29T07:33:00.000-04:002008-06-29T07:33:00.000-04:00Fick and DY were best buds going back to Detroit. ...Fick and DY were best buds going back to Detroit. I wouldn't make more of it than that.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14109288910583404941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-26251294616482014922008-06-27T17:57:00.000-04:002008-06-27T17:57:00.000-04:00A couple of other quick thoughts. I know this has ...A couple of other quick thoughts. I know this has been beat to death, but I still think it's an issue. I wonder how much say Acta has in his coaching staff outside of Tolman. I just can't imagine that what Lenny Harris is preaching as far as a hitting style jibes with what we know about Acta. What if after the season is over(if not sooner) Acta says this isn't working, will Bowden give him the leeway to bring in someone more along the lines of what he thinks is a better hitting approach?<BR/><BR/>It scares me a bit long term that Bowden seems so accepting of such a really bad hitting approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-15145970217798014982008-06-27T17:02:00.000-04:002008-06-27T17:02:00.000-04:00Eh, sorry for that Red Sox sentence. It should rea...Eh, sorry for that Red Sox sentence. It should read "Look at the players the Red Sox have that are homegrown right now."Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-18847233412461813652008-06-27T16:59:00.000-04:002008-06-27T16:59:00.000-04:00Maybe this is nitpicking, but I think a lot of the...Maybe this is nitpicking, but I think a lot of the prospects they have drafted are really far away. Given that the organization is without a lot of help in the upper levels, I think in some ways they might have been better served taking guys that were closer to being able to help. <BR/><BR/>In that sense, I think the Zimmerman, and really the Jordan Zimmermann pick too, were good choices for this team. A lot of the guys they've added the last few years certainly have a lot of upside, but they're likely a long ways from being able to contribute(as you've noted yourself with Marrero). Smoker, McGeary, Burgess, etc. are all quite a ways off. <BR/><BR/>There seems to also be a lot of emphasis on "toolsy" type players like Burgess and Hood, when they would probably be better served taking college guys in some cases that could be of use with 2-3 years. <BR/><BR/>Look at the players the Red Sox players have that are homegrown right now. Pedroia was helping the big league team with two years of being drafted. It's the same thing with Ellsbury(2 years), Lowrie(3 years, Youkilis(3 years), Justin Masterson(2 years), etc.<BR/><BR/>I think this would have been a better path for them to take.<BR/><BR/>Anyways, it was fun talking about this stuff today. I hope you guys have a good weekend.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-11755672689467321292008-06-27T16:27:00.000-04:002008-06-27T16:27:00.000-04:00You are correct on Dmitri. It does stick in my cra...You are correct on Dmitri. It does stick in my craw. Inspiring story, probably a fine guy and all that. But too much money for a guy who is a DH in a league that doesn't use the DH. He kills the team on defense and he clogs up the bases. He cannot move.<BR/>Broadway wasn't the answer. Surely there's another first baseman in the system somewhere or someone who can play first. It doesn't take THAT much. Dmitri was not $10 million well spent. I'd rather be entertained by good baseball. Again, not a knock on Dmitri the person. I'm willing to forgive his transgressions. My wife is diabetic and she says it is easy to see how improper medication can mess you up.<BR/><BR/>I don't think it is unreasonable to expect the prospects of the team (not the actual players who are called prospects) to be better four seasons in and I don't think this team is better than it was when it all began.<BR/><BR/>Mike, I'm likely no more right or wrong than you are and you clearly think about things, too. What are your thoughts and concerns?MikeHarrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120210292656990693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-88055302435881585362008-06-27T15:47:00.000-04:002008-06-27T15:47:00.000-04:00He signed Guzman and traded for Guillen under the ...He signed Guzman and traded for Guillen under the ownership of MLB though. I think it's a more fair start point to begin judging the team from when the Lerners and Kasten took over and set the course. <BR/><BR/>Again, what I'm asking you is what would you alternatively do? <BR/><BR/>Spending money doesn't guarantee you winning anymore than building through the farm system does. I think there are certainly free agents out there that could be worth them going after, but the last thing I want to see them do is go after players just to spend money. There are a lot of franchises that have done that, and I can't see how it's good for the long term health of your organization. <BR/><BR/>And I'm not saying I don't have my own concerns or complaints.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-57859953363940155892008-06-27T15:40:00.000-04:002008-06-27T15:40:00.000-04:00The Dimitri signing clearly sticks in your craw, b...The Dimitri signing clearly sticks in your craw, but imagine where the Nationals would be if Bowden has NOT signed Young? Anybody who thought NJ was coming back at all last year or would play anything close to a full season this year needs a Stanspeak translator of his own.<BR/><BR/>And as I keep saying, for all his faults, Dimitri is interesting, and popular with the fans. If they're not going to contend, I should at least be entertained.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-37055913570600446812008-06-27T15:03:00.000-04:002008-06-27T15:03:00.000-04:00Fair enough. You make valid points, though I obvi...Fair enough. You make valid points, though I obviously don't agree with all of them.<BR/>I'm not sure their plan is all that good - and I hope like hell I'm wrong.<BR/>Bowden has been able to spend, maybe not freely, but spend since he got there. He got Guzman. He signed Guillen. He gave Dmitri $10 million.MikeHarrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120210292656990693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-73878686323792153672008-06-27T14:58:00.000-04:002008-06-27T14:58:00.000-04:00No, I'm not satisfied with where things stand righ...No, I'm not satisfied with where things stand right now. But, I think the Marlins comparison was an unfair one. For one, the Nats for better or worse should be judged from when the Lerners and Kasten took over. <BR/><BR/>Second, spending money doesn't guarantee you anything either. Look at the Tigers, the Mets, the White Sox last year, the Mariners, etc. <BR/><BR/>And it depends on what you mean by pay. There are several teams that have not engaged in lavish spending that have had long-term success. <BR/><BR/>What I'm getting at is that there is more than one way to win. They've chosen to go the Diamondbacks' route. It's going to take time to see it to fruition. In the mean time, what would you like to see them do? Which of the free agents from this past offseason would you like to have seen them brought in? Which of them would be making a big difference right now and be worth a compensation pick? <BR/><BR/>Everyone likes to make fun of "the plan," but at least there is one. Isn't the route they've chosen better than what the Orioles did for years bringing in mediocre veterans but never fully committing to a rebuilding job? <BR/><BR/>Do I hope that the day will come when they'll be willing to pony up to keep home grown players and occasionally add the smart free agent signing? Of course. But you're implying they don't know what they're doing by comparing them in what amounts to the second year of the current front office to the outcome of the '97 Marlins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-59079906441017670002008-06-27T13:16:00.000-04:002008-06-27T13:16:00.000-04:00Mike, are you satisfied with where things stand no...Mike, are you satisfied with where things stand now?<BR/>Where are three of those four teams now? I'm not interested in a one-year thing. I'd like some long-term success eventually. And, to get that, you have to pay.MikeHarrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120210292656990693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-69743726904331898002008-06-27T13:13:00.000-04:002008-06-27T13:13:00.000-04:00The Diamondbacks got 90 wins out of the 26th best ...The Diamondbacks got 90 wins out of the 26th best payroll. <BR/><BR/>The Padres got 89 wins out of the 24th.<BR/><BR/>The Indians got 96 out of the 23rd. <BR/><BR/>The Rockies got 90 wins out of the 25th.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-92022811738215244042008-06-27T12:44:00.001-04:002008-06-27T12:44:00.001-04:00Tough to win these days on the cheap.Tough to win these days on the cheap.MikeHarrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15120210292656990693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-51263491932579294092008-06-27T12:44:00.000-04:002008-06-27T12:44:00.000-04:00So Stan, does this mean the Nats are going to turn...So Stan, does this mean the Nats are going to turn it around in July and make a run for the playoffs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1478750914084047598.post-84599532033934396772008-06-27T12:43:00.000-04:002008-06-27T12:43:00.000-04:00"Too long. The Marlins went from non-existent to w..."Too long. The Marlins went from non-existent to world champions in five. It can be done if the people in charge know what they're doing."<BR/><BR/>And the Diamondbacks won 100 games in their second year, and the World Series in their fourth.<BR/><BR/>By spending a lot of money. <BR/><BR/>And the Diamondbacks ended up in quite a bit of debt for doing so, no? <BR/><BR/>Not to mention that the first year and a half of the Nationals , they were still owned by MLB with no one setting a long term plan for how to proceed. <BR/><BR/>The Marlins began drafting in 1992(taking one of their homegrown players from the '97 team, Charles Johnson).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com