Washington Times' Mark Zuckerman on XM's Inside Pitch...

I caught an interview with Washington Times' writer Mark Zuckerman on the XM's MLB Homeplate radio show "Inside Pitch" with Jeff Joyce and Kevin Kennedy, and jotted down a few notes about the conversation:

Mark Zuckerman says:(paraphrasing, of course)

-- The entire organization is preoccupied with the recent scandal.

-- Doesn't think this is going away any time soon.

--There is a chance Jim Bowden loses his job.

-- The Nationals really need to change the perception of the team. Ownership taking a long look...Even if Bowden didn't do anything wrong...

-- Manny Acta? No insinuation of Acta's involvement in any of this, but there's a lot of pressure on everyone in the organization.

-- '09 Nationals? The team is healthy, which they were not in '08, a better offense with Dunn, Willingham added...w/out injuries should be a better team, at least doesn't think they'll lose 102 again.

9 months ago Ed Chigliak 23 comments 0 recs |

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There are some things in the National's favor:

1. The A-ROD PED scandal definitely takes away a greater deal of reporter attention to THAT than THIS.
2. Bad publicity is still publicity. If it does one thing, it puts the team in the National spotlight. What might that do? Bring more attention to this blog? Not a bad thing, right?
3. Perhaps it might light a fire under the teams butt to focus even more on winning resulting in a better team and/or record. One can always hope.

Yes, usually I’m the most jaded and pessimistic blogger around, but today…I have hope. Take it for what ya will, Nats Towners!

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 10:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

How about they release that list to take the heat off...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 23, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

!

RELEASE THE ~~HOUNDS~~ LIST!

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 11:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Get This...

I recorded MLB Tonight (Formerly Hot Stove) and fast forwarded through most of it intending on watching the section about Bowden or Odalis or Smiley Lugo. Unless it was a quick blurb, I saw no mention of the Nationals at all. Nothing.

I think the only place the Nats are mentioned is out here on the interweb.

Ladson posted a Q&A with Adam Dunn. I liked what he said. He’s gonna be good for the young hot heads.

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. -- Winston Churchill

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 10:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

MLBn

Interesting. They’re beginning to piss me off. I was really enthusiastic and intrigued by the idea of the network on its inception, however, I’ve got a few bones to pick.

*How many times do I need to see grainy footage of a world series from yester-year?
*Their 30 teams in 30 days broadcasts some of the east coast teams at 11 or 11:30pm. What brain child signed off on that?
*Their coverage of the Red Sox is a wee bit much.
*Their neglect of some teams (as you mentioned above) is just bewildering.

They do some things well though:

*Baseball, the documentary is a phenomenal piece, however, this wasn’t a MLBn production. It belongs to Ken Burns.
*Their one on one with star players is spot on! Ricky Henderson and Tim Lincecum being two of my favorite interviews.
*Hiring Bob Costas for Saturday Night Baseball play-by-play was a smart move.
*The four main contributors on hot stove are a good mix and bring a lively and articulate discussion.

Final analysis? Six in one hand, half a dozen in the other.

I think Dunn will be a good fit, but he leaves something to be desired in his latest promotion of Nats Town! “Sheesh!”

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 10:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Interview with Cecil Fielder was brilliant...

Someone asked if Prince Fielder did anything better than his father and before the question even ended, Cecil yelled, “NOTHING!” and laughed and laughed…it was a great interview if it’s archive anywhere. footage of a 13-year old Prince taking BP were crazy…

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 23, 2009 10:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Too bad I missed that one.

MLBn’s interviews are very good because they’re not scripted to death and the hosts do a really good job having a really good time.

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 11:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

XM was all over the Bowden scandal(s) today, but it's not getting as much traction as I thought...

I guess bonus skimming isn’t as sexy as steroids…

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 23, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

!

…As sexy as steroids…

really deserves a horrible gif placed here, but I’ll hold off…
…This time “E”.

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 11:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One last MLB Network observation

They said they will be live in the studio from the first pitch on the east coast to the last pitch on the west coast. Live looks in on any game. Sort of like Baseball Tonight for 6 or 7 hours.

Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm. -- Winston Churchill

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 10:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That sounds good actually, are they covering live games, Game of the Week? Night? Haven't looked ahead in the schedule...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 23, 2009 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Saturday night game of the week.

MLB Network will air 26 live games throughout the season

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 23, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

26?

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 24, 2009 12:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

mmmm hmmm.

Why the question mark?

" That will be enough Mr. Selig. Thank you. "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 24, 2009 8:39 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just seemed like an odd number to settle on...hmmmm...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 24, 2009 8:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why is this such a riddle?

They are only doing one Saturday night game a week. They start on April 11th and end on Oct 3rd. That gives you 26 Saturdays. Am I missing an inside joke? Am I not in the loop on something.

TELL ME! TELL ME DAMMIT!

" Rebecca Gomez-Diamond. Will you marry me? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 25, 2009 6:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh...we got you Lou.

Hey Ed…we got Lou good.

The two most common elements in the world are hydrogen and stupidity.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Feb 25, 2009 7:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey Lou...what's up with Ed?

Baseball season is half a year. 52 weeks in a year. Half of 52 is 26. What’s the major malfunction?

The two most common elements in the world are hydrogen and stupidity.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Feb 25, 2009 7:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I LOVE YOU GUYS!

" Rebecca Gomez-Diamond. Will you marry me? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 25, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't know it was a weekly broadcast, so I wondered why randomly 26 games...

…oh, wait, I mean, aww well, I blew the it’s a big joke you don’t get thing…I guess I could hit backspace, but nah…

“How you uh, how you comin’ on that novel you’re working on? Huh? Got a a big, uh, big stack of papers there? Got a, got a nice little story you’re working on there? Your big novel you’ve been working on for three years? Huh? Got a, got a compelling protagonist? Yeah? Got an obstacle for him to overcome? Huh? Got a story brewing there? Working on, working on that for quite some time? Huh? Yeah, talking about that three years ago. Been working on that the whole time? Nice little narrative? Beginning, middle, and end? Some friends become enemies, some enemies become friends? At the end your main character is richer from the experience? Yeah? Yeah? No, no, you deserve some time off.”

- Stewie Griffin

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 25, 2009 6:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"Belly Laugh"

Some may call it a waste of two hours of my life, but last night I had to set the books and all seriousness aside to watch four episodes of this show. To me it’s on par with the Simpson’s with one exception. The people look human. W/the exception of Stewie of course. While I hate the show The Simpson’s I love The Family Guy.

If you want to understand what makes Lou tick I’d have to say it would be a compilation of: Carroll O’Connor as Archie Bunker then, Dennis Leary and Stewie. Mostly anger and the utter contempt for the stupidity of mankind.

" Rebecca Gomez-Diamond. Will you marry me? "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Feb 25, 2009 8:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe they were running a half year special on broadcasting. Maybe they had to pay Costas for a whole year if they went over 26. Maybe there’s a Jim Carrey movie coming out about The Number 26.

The two most common elements in the world are hydrogen and stupidity.

by ROSCOEtheNATSfan on Feb 24, 2009 9:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

That numbers everywhere, 12 + 14....28-2...crazy...

Vivian Jaffe: "Have you ever transcended space and time?"
Albert Markovski: "Yes. No. Uh, time, not space... No, I don't know what you're talking about."

by Ed Chigliak on Feb 24, 2009 5:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs