Nationals News: Winning Hearts and Minds
by John Quinn on May 5, 2010 11:30 AM EDT
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Thomas Boswell rightly points out that the Nats have been given the opportunity to capture the hearts of DC sports fans. The Caps have collapsed, the Wizards are in shambles, DC United is awful and the Redskins don't start playing for months. The time is now.
MASN will televise Stephen Strasburg's first AAA start, showing it on tape delay at 10:30 pm Friday, May 7th.
Chien-Ming Wang will throw live batting practice sometime in the near future, and Jordan Zimmermann is "well ahead of schedule" in terms of his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
Jim Riggleman wasn't concerned about Livan Hernandez's high pitch count -- 123 total, including 41 in the first inning.
The Nationals have had to reach a number of times to cobble together a starting rotation, but have still managed to win.
Mike Rizzo answered some questions about Stephen Strasburg's promotion to AAA.
Ian Desmond worked through some issues with his swing with the help of Rick Eckstein and AA hitting coach Troy Gingrich.
Frank Robinson returned to Nats Park to talk about diversity, and says he has gotten over his hard feelings toward the Nationals.
The scoreboard (and all secondary scoreboards) went dark a number of times yesterday, but was fixed in time for Matt Capps' 11th save of the season.
Tim Chambers, Bryce Harper's coach, says that Harper is very coachable. The Nationals are trying to hire Chambers as a scout.
Jason Marquis will start throwing off of a mound today.
John Lannan will miss his next start with left elbow discomfort. An MRI revealed a swollen flexor tendon, but no structural damage.
June 4-6 appears to be the most logical timeframe for Stephen Strasburg's first major league start.
Around the League...
Legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell died yesterday after a battle with cancer. Nationals Journal has collected some thoughts from Steve McCatty, who worked with the Tigers after his playing career ended.
A day after a Phillies fan was Tasered for running onto the field, another fan ran onto to the field -- but was not Tasered. A police investigation has determined that that Tasering was a justified use of force.
Breaking news: Milton Bradley is upset. Again.
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The window of oppertunity
I wish the Nats would use this period to do some serious promotional stuff to get fans out to the park.
I recently saw a buy one ticket get one free which I thinks a good start.
Why not give tickets away for a while to build interest?
They seemed to be getting a little more exposure on the local sports radio but I’d like to see more.
The lack of exposure on local sports radio is probably more the result of those shows not having any baseball people as hosts… but hey at least we know everything there is to know about a 4th string wide receiver ability to run a slant route.
As an old manager of mine once wisely pointed out
The problem with promotions is that once you start them, people expect them and won’t come back without them.
Fans will come when the team starts winning. Is a two-games-over-.500 mark in early May enough to be considered “winning”? Of course not. It’s more along the lines of the early part of “Major League”, where the regular-Joes in the diner admit to each other “you know, this team’s not half bad”. It’ll take more than that to get the crowd in.
Rob
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run." -- Branch Rickey
Eckstein = TEH JEENYUS!!
Also, MOAR TAYZURZ on Filly fans.
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
Don't taze me bro! BTW I throw a large hardcover edition...
Of the JINX FAQ at all those writers who had to mention Desmond’s error-less game streak, which of course meant he’d make an error last night…
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 Patrick Reddington on May 5, 2010 12:58 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hah.
Dunn probably could have made that catch if he had stepped off the bag, but it was still a horrible throw from relatively close.
I don't see how
It was way over his head. How does stepping off the bag help that?
Rob
"Man may penetrate the outer reaches of the universe, he may solve the very secret of eternity itself, but for me, the ultimate human experience is to witness the flawless execution of a hit-and-run." -- Branch Rickey
I agree. It was impossible. If Desmond had been able to look at the runner instead of 100% concentrate on fielding and throwing, he could have slowed it down.
Victimless error.
I love how Carpenter has to explain to DIbble every time that every base has to be explained so Dez had to get an error.
Cobbling together a rotation
With the standard disclaimer of it being very early, still, I am so impressed by Riggleman’s management of the team. Our starter’s are not world beaters, but he’s making the right defensive substitutions and using the bullpen very well. The team is really responding with huge defensive plays on a regular basis that have bailed out our starters. Those won’t fall our way all year long, but its more than just luck, IMO.
Brook....
I bet you’re thrilled that your Cubbies unloaded this waste of space…
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/marinersblog/2011785415_milton_bradley_packed_up_left.html
AMEN!
All the pundits said that the Mariners got the better end of the deal and what a GEENYUS move it was by the Mariners GM ! LOL Don’t want to jinx him but have you seen Carlos Silva’s numbers this season?
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
by Princess Jazzy on May 5, 2010 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Ooops, that should read JEENYUS! Sorry.
Patiently waiting for "next year" since 1971.
by Princess Jazzy on May 5, 2010 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I was never in favor of the Bradley signing in the first place...
given his previous track record of behavior with his other teams. I was happy to see him leave and wondered how he’d do in Seattle. Now we’re finding out.
I do feel sorry for him, though. I honestly believe he has some problems that require, dare I say, medical and /or professional intervention.
"Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?"--The Brain
Win or lose, Nats park is just a good place to hang out and watch a ballgame. ...BUT IT COULD BE A "GREAT" PLACE!
One problem. What the hell is going on w/Half Street? The economy is slowly picking up, right? Where’s the continued development for the area adjacent to Nats park. Before and after the Nats game there is “jack” and “$hit” to do around the area. They do have a little pavilion next to the Center Field gate that provides libations and some entertainment, but the city sure could use a nice pre and post game venue. That would definitely help draw fans.
Be that as it may. The weather has been just too damned gorgeous “not” to go to a ballgame; enjoy a dog and a beer; watch a slightly above average team bust their ass and play solid baseball; scratch your head in bewilderment at people donning costumes as former presidents and trying to win a footrace; attempting to catch t-shirts from an air gun that would get a few people at TSA definitely riled up and last but not least – take the opportunity to sit back and relax and decompress from jobs that the vast majority of us probably loathe.
Too many positives, not to go to the ballpark.
This season I will expect the worst but I will be prepared for 'worser'.
by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on May 5, 2010 5:54 PM EDT reply actions
It's getting there.
Mrs D. and I walk down 3rd street to get to the ballpark, and there has been a lot of progress on some condo/rowhouse developments on the way down this season (after nothing all of last season during TEH CRISISSS!). Places to eat and drink will come. For now, you can grab the shuttles to the bars on 8th street (go right out of the CF gate and cross the street by “The Yards” development) after the game—Molly Malone’s, Lola’s and The Ugly Mug aren’t bad places to grab a drink and a snack, although they have a disturbing propensity not to have the Nats game on when they’re on the road and Mrs. D. and I show up wanting to see a game and have some drinks.
GO TO THE BALLPARK!
"And everybody lived happily ever after. Except the Phillies and the Mets. The End." --Sasskuash
Friend of Dukes and Desmond #3
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