Are The Nats Loved In DC?

Lack of bar options is a real issue. I’d like to watch Sunday’s game at a bar rather than be cramped by some family stuff going on at the house. I have absolutely where I can go that will not burn a hole in my wallet, show the game, and have intelligent fans worth sharing a brew with.

Radio situation is fine for me. I don’t need FM to listen to baseball. They just need more and more affiliates outside of the immediate DC area. Prince Frederick is as far as they get toward the Eastern Shore. Don’t know if that reaches Ocean City. Frederick’s ok. They need more stuff in southern Virginia, especially the Richmone situation. WTEM’s locked into the Orioles and I imagine that their ratings stink because of it. They never talk Orioles on their shows but their still bound to broadcast them contractually. I’m not crying any tears for Snyder’s network on that one.

Lack of season ticket holders is the double edged storm of the economy and the losing. At least people love Strasburg now, and it’s too bad that they are not winning more when he’s not on the mound due to the starting pitching coming back to where it was expected to be elsewhere in the rotation.

Went out to dinner here on the Hill. Place was packed, but we found a seat at the bar… and the Nats game was already on one of the TVs over the bar (Os and the Women’s Softball World Cup on the other two). One of the bartenders was half-watching as he made his rounds, and he later asked us if we minded if he switched it to the HD feed (which got us to stay for an extra inning). We heard some murmurs in the crowd behind us when Morse went yard, a couple asked us when Stras was pitching next, and a couple of guys stood next to us and watched for a couple of innings while they waited for a table. Last season, places would be showing the Yankees. It’s coming around slowly. I wouldn’t say the Nats are “loved” yet (outside of fanatics like us, heh) but I think that interest is coming back. People are taking another look.

I’m a proud UVA student left bitter from my hometown blog Gaslamp Ball. Since I seemingly watch more MASN anyway (and have someone grown to like the Nationals), am I welcome here? And I have some rooting interest anyway, since I just acquired Adam Dunn in my fantasy league.

I went Saturday for my weekly shopping and noticed it. I went back the next day because I had forgotten something and all of the hats had sold out.

I take that as a somewhat reassuring sign.

I am an Alum of the Troy Trojans (Troy, AL), and a lifelong Alabama Fan…..so, WIllingham and I share a similar love for the National Champion Crimson Tide!

BTW…very happy to read the positive experiences of seeing Nats love within our Region! NatsTown must GROW!

Seems to fit their strategy of broadcasting all DC teams other than the Skins. Would also seem to be a much better partner for the Nats in general.

Maybe I’m just fortunate, but there are four bars here in Shirlington that would generally show sporty things like the Nats, and all of them actually DO show the Nats, without any prompting whatsoever. And this is especially relevant because the neighborhood does not carry Comcast, and hence these bars/restaurants have to pay (a substantial amount) extra for the ability to pick up MASN.

I don’t think that this team can truly be loved and embraced by this region until they start consistently winning. The Redskins (as much as we all hate to admit it) are the only team (besides DC United) to win a Championship recently in the current generation and are the stronghold of most of the DMV area. I do see some tides turning with the rise of the Caps, but the Redskins are the only team that for some reason are unconditionally loved by this area. The Caps are catching on, but as a Caps fan since 1992, I have to reserve judgment for a downturn to happen. The Nationals will not be universally embraced until they’re consistently making a push for the playoffs. Really though, I think this town wants a reason to love them, and whenever they come close to playing respectable (hovering around .500) ball, excitement goes on an uptick, but then they come down to earth and things go back to the way they were, noone caring.

I thought for sure I would be flamed completely off the board! I know how DC fans hate being challenged, even though they literally define “bandwagon” as a whole. Of course, this opinion comes from someone originally from Alabama, and an Alabama football fan. You gotta remember, Alabama had over 92 thousand fans (sell-out) come out to see a SPRING PRACTICE GAME a couple years ago, BEFORE they were good enough to even compete! They were, what, 6-6 that season? I love the Nationals SO much, that I just want to see DC give them a little more support, defend our turf (Nats Park), and NEVER let another team take over our yard! Win or lose, the Nats must be supported! ESPECIALLY after the suffering that this city has been through in its’ baseball history.

Because souldrummer likes those who think like souldrummer almost as much as rickey likes rickey.

Can’t believe this one reached the tripled digits. BTW…another reason that Virginia is Braves country, is most likely due to the former Richmond Braves. Did anyone else ever move into that stadium? I was there the last season the Braves played there, and it looked like it was ready to fall over….not surprised the Braves moved.

plenty of o’s stuff for some reason

I am always being faked out by “their” curly W! No Nationals stuff in Wegmans, but a really cool supermarket nonetheless.

OT but oh well

Too many fairweather fans, too many people from different areas rooting for different teams. Sure, the Capitals sell out every game, but that’s because they’re winning. Everyone loves a winner.

And that’s as it should be. It’s his team. The Nationals will be the team he will grow up with and live and die with and make idols of as they win and lose. The oldsters like us either accepted the change from Montreal and decided to keep the faith or, if you were a DC area resident, accepted the Nationals as the best option available. (I for one could never accept a team that can’t sing the Star Spangled Banner properly.) If we had a winning team, we’d have a lot more people jumping on the band wagon but, as anyone can tell when going to a game at Nationals Park, it too often seems like many of the people at the stadium want to see “their” team play. It’s going to take a generation to make the Nationals “our” team. But when it’s game day, I guarantee you will see my son ready to go with Zimmerman shirt on, red curly W on top and baseball glove in hand running out the door to catch the train.

From the various gyms I have gone to I can say with confidents that the Nationals lead all local teams in shirts used as gym gear by people I have seen in gyms.

Booing when your star pitcher’s photo is displayed on the big board, simply because he was scratched from the game due to a likely injury.