2006 Nationals Discussion Thread

[welch]

Frank howard works for the Yankees now. I went to a bunch of Yankees spring training games and he is there as a hitting instructor, I didn't realize he is like 8 ft tall, not really but he is huge. He is the nicest guy, after warm up's he goes to the side and signs autographs for like 45 min. before the game starts, and he'll shot the bull with you too.

Big Frank has worked for the Yankees for about 20 years. Every time I think Steinbrenner is the lowest possible form of lunatic, I remember that he still employs Howard.

In his playing days, I think that Howard was about 250 - 260 pounds, and he is 6 foot 7. I think he played center/power forward at Ohio State as well as baseball.

There was an article in the Post last spring about what a wonderful person Howard is. He still lives in the DC area -- Fairfax County, I think -- and said that he would love to work for the new Nats, but that "Mr. Steinbrenner has been very good to me", and he is loyal to the Yankees.

Old story: when Howard was very young and playing for the Dodgers, Leo Durocher was hired as coach. One day in spring training, Durocher got truly into Howard's face, cursing him at about one inch distance. Howard picked up Durocher and sat him on top of a locker, and said, firmly, "Don't ever talk to me like that again". And he didn't.

[Redskins Rule]

Old story: when Howard was very young and playing for the Dodgers, Leo Durocher was hired as coach. One day in spring training, Durocher got truly into Howard's face, cursing him at about one inch distance. Howard picked up Durocher and sat him on top of a locker, and said, firmly, "Don't ever talk to me like that again". And he didn't.

That is awesome!!! I wish I had been alive to see it! Hopefully, Our new owner (when we finally get one) will be able to talk Frank Howard into coming back to Washington. It would be awesome if we had him back here!

[skinsRin]

Well, Baseball starts Sunday allready and I'm looking forward to this season. The last couple of months between football and baseball really stink for me. I hate NBA and I'm not a NHL fan so these last couple of months have been kinda boring. I really hope the Nats can win their division, it's a difficult task with the Braves and Mets but maybe they can pull a George Mason.

[wormer]

Anyone get thier freakin seasons tickets yet?

[Redskins1974]

Anyone get thier freakin seasons tickets yet?

I just got mine the day before yesterday. I called my ticket rep and left a message on Monday. A few hours later I got an email saying they were being send via DHL and they arrived on Wednesday - I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence. The moral of the story - call your ticket rep. If you need the number of a direct line, PM me.

[skinsRin]

Does anybody think the Nats can win the division? I really hope they do but I think it will be the Braves, Mets, Nats, Phillies, Marlins.

[andyjens89]

SORIANO WAS SAFE!

[SkinsFanInHawai'i]

Yeah he was.
Ump had a bad angle though. Not much you can do.

[skinsRin]

He was safe, but the throw beat him so he should of been out. The problem was the 3rd base coach should of held him at 3rd, there were no outs. That was the bad call! esp; when Vidro hit a nice single later that inning.

[wormer]

Anyone get thier freakin seasons tickets yet?

I just got mine the day before yesterday. I called my ticket rep and left a message on Monday. A few hours later I got an email saying they were being send via DHL and they arrived on Wednesday - I'm sure it wasn't a coincidence. The moral of the story - call your ticket rep. If you need the number of a direct line, PM me.

Thanks dude- I got mine over the weekend. Nothing like waiting till the last minute!

[Steve Spurrier III]

That was the bad call! esp; when Vidro hit a nice single later that inning.

Well, Vidro actually didn't get a hit in that inning (Clayton grounded out, Schneider struck out) - but I agree that you should usually hold the runner in that situation. But in the 8th inning, down by 1, with your three weakest hitters coming up, with your 30-steal, $10 million man on the bases? I don't think it was a terrible decision.

[skinsRin]

He should of been held up at 3rd. With no outs there are a 100 ways you can get that run home and if the next guys are weak then use a pitch hitter just to drive the ball, or have one of those weak hitters bunt and squeeze him in. He was safe but Soriano was beaten by the throw. Regardless, it's over now and I can't express enough how much I hate the Mets as much as I hat the Cowboys. That said, I really hope they can finish ahead of the overpaid Mets.

[Jake]

Comcast Wants to Show Nats

Man, I hope Comcast finally gets to show the Nats. I think it's ridiculous that they can't.

Hopefully something will get done.

[Redskins Rule]

Comcast Wants to Show Nats

Man, I hope Comcast finally gets to show the Nats. I think it's ridiculous that they can't.

Hopefully something will get done.

I couldn't agree with you more on that! I would rather have Comcast show it for two reasons:

One: Comcast is not owned by that butthead Angelos.

Two: Its Comcast and they show games in HD. That cheap butthead Angelos won't show games in HD. At least not yet.

Hopefully, they can put the rights up for auction and let the highest bidder (Comcast) win the rights.

[Redskins1974]

Pedro and the Mets were dirty in the first series. They plunked 6 of our batters to 1 of theirs. This series is going to be heated all season! I can't wait 'til next week when they venture into RFK.

[Redskins Rule]

Pedro and the Mets were dirty in the first series. They plunked 6 of our batters to 1 of theirs. This series is going to be heated all season! I can't wait 'til next week when they venture into RFK.

Tonight is the night when we play Pedro again. Is anyone else hoping to see Pedro get hit right in the butt? I'll be pissed if we don't hit him! He deserves to get nailed and Armas better do it!

[Redskins1974]

Pedro and the Mets were dirty in the first series. They plunked 6 of our batters to 1 of theirs. This series is going to be heated all season! I can't wait 'til next week when they venture into RFK.

Tonight is the night when we play Pedro again. Is anyone else hoping to see Pedro get hit right in the butt? I'll be pissed if we don't hit him! He deserves to get nailed and Armas better do it!

I will be there... changing shortly into my jersey and heading to RFK. I'm hoping to catch a little BP and sip on some brews within the next hour!

Bring it on Pedro!!

[skinsRin]

Pedro and the Mets were dirty in the first series. They plunked 6 of our batters to 1 of theirs. This series is going to be heated all season! I can't wait 'til next week when they venture into RFK.

Tonight is the night when we play Pedro again. Is anyone else hoping to see Pedro get hit right in the butt? I'll be pissed if we don't hit him! He deserves to get nailed and Armas better do it!

I will be there... changing shortly into my jersey and heading to RFK. I'm hoping to catch a little BP and sip on some brews within the next hour!

Bring it on Pedro!!

Well, Pedro did bring it! The Nats are in the basement right now, they need to start playing better. I'm not to worried about the Mets they will cool off and Pedro will be on the DL before the break.

[EA7649]

You guys should check this Phillies site out even if you dont like the phillies have some good discussions all over the league http://www.philliesfanpage.com/forums/index.php

[John Manfreda]

Soriano 3 home runs in one game at RFK, that is one hell of a performence.

[BernieSki]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 01121.html

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig called Bethesda-based billionaire Theodore N. Lerner today to tell him he will be the new owner of the Washington Nationals, team sources said.

An announcement by Major League Baseball is expected shortly.

[welch]

Currently: ugh.

This is why there are true Senators/Nats fans. Anybody remember the '59 season, when the team broke the major league record for consecutive losses? When our kid at third base played every ball off his chest and forearms, more like beating a grounder into submission than fielding it? The kid was Harmon Killebrew, and he could do a few other things, in addition to making us remember how Eddie Yost played the position.

Hang in here. It's a long season.

And things will change if there is really an owner, finally.

[Redskins1974]

Free at last! It's about freakin' time...

[Redskins Rule]

05/04/2006 12:02 AM ET
Lerners to buy Nationals from MLB
Family-led ownership group has long ties to DC



After a yearlong search and decision-making process, Major League Baseball has sold the Washington Nationals to a group headed by Theodore and Mark Lerner.
The news was given to Ted Lerner by Commissioner Bud Selig in a telephone call on Wednesday, and by that evening the 80-year-old was ready to go.

"It's some kind of day," he said. "You can't imagine how proud and humble I feel standing here as owner of the Nationals. For a kid from the District [of Columbia], this is a very exciting day. It's a lifetime dream. It is a dream of mine and a dream for my family. It wasn't long ago that I paid 25 cents to sit in the bleachers at Griffith Stadium."

That was two Washington Senators baseball franchises ago.

Selig formally announced that MLB has begun the process of divesting itself of a franchise it has owned and operated since Feb. 15, 2002, during an afternoon conference call. In doing so, he praised the eight groups that seriously vied for the franchise and said that choosing one was "one of the most difficult decision I've ever had to make."

"I am very excited about the Lerner family and what they will bring to the Washington Nationals, the community and Major League Baseball," he said. "From the very beginning of the process, they have been committed to the goals of stable yet innovative ownership, diversity within the ownership group, and solid baseball management. Throughout the long application period, they have not varied from those goals and have scrupulously followed our procedures."

The sale price is $450 million, and approval of the owners should be perfunctory at their next quarterly meetings, scheduled for May 17-18 in New York City. Considering the time it will take for the signing of final papers, the Lerners will probably take over the club shortly thereafter.

Selig said he has grown accustomed to 30-0 votes on these type of franchise transfer issues and expects the same in this instance.

"Let's say I don't expect any problem," he said.

Two local groups headed by Lerner and Fred Malek, a former minority partner of the Texas Rangers, were considered to be the finalists, with Jeff Smulyan, once the owner of the Seattle Mariners, having fallen well into third place.

The Lerners, though, were considered to be the frontrunners for at least a week, particularly after they were paired with Stan Kasten, the former president of the Atlanta Braves. Kasten will serve as the team's president.

At the same time in Atlanta, Kasten was also the president of the NBA Hawks, the NHL Thrashers and oversaw the construction of Philips Arena, which opened in 1999.

Kasten said on Wednesday night that building the Nationals into a powerhouse will be a formative challenge.

"I was looking for something bigger and better and this is it," Kasten said. "If you are a guy that does what I do, the opportunity to build a stadium from scratch and a team from scratch in the most important city in the world, it doesn't get better than that. This is the top of the mountain in professional sports. I am proud to be here."

Lerner is the head of a Washington-based real estate empire that spans the Maryland and Northern Virginia suburbs. As one of the main shareholders of Puck Holdings, the Lerners are already ingrained in the local professional sports culture. That entity owns the majority of the NHL's Capitals and a minority share in the NBA Wizards, the WNBA Mystics and the Verizon Center, the downtown arena where all three teams play.

The Lerners join the likes of John Moores of the Padres, Frank and Jamie McCourt of the Dodgers, Carl Pohlad of the Twins and Fred Wilpon of the Mets as the newest of baseball's family-run ownerships.

"In the end, I determined that family ownership and major investment by a central person has served baseball well in the past and will continue to serve the game well in the future," Selig said. "Accountability is critical in a situation where teams must compete on the field but be partners off the field and in the community. I am confident the Lerners will be accountable to their fans and to baseball."

The baseball team the Lerners are buying was born in 1969 as the Montreal Expos, and after a lengthy relocation process, moved to the District in time for the 2005 season, during which the newly christened Nationals drew 2.7 million to 45-year-old RFK Stadium. MLB briefly considered the Expos to be a candidate for contraction after the 2001 season, but decided instead to purchase the franchise from Jeffrey Loria and his partners for $120 million.

The decision regarding which group to sell the team to was an agonizing one for Selig and comes a day before the groundbreaking of a hard-fought, $611 million ballpark and redevelopment project near the waterfront just south of the U.S. Capitol.

MLB president and COO Bob DuPuy and Chicago White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf spent almost six months negotiating a 30-year lease for the Nationals to play in the new ballpark. That process was fraught with problems and the lease was nearly voted down by the D.C. City Council.

By contract, that stadium is supposed to be available in time for the 2008 season.

Despite some acrimony in recent days among local Washington politicos about which group should be sold the team, Selig and DuPuy attempted to calm jangling nerves on Wednesday with very positive results.

"I'm pleased that Major League Baseball has selected an owner for the Nats," said Mayor Anthony A. Williams, who publicly supported the Malek group during the course of the process. "The fans, the District government and most of all the team need the stability of a single owner. I'm also pleased with the selection of Ted Lerner as the new owner of the team. Ted Lerner was born and raised in the District, attended high school and college here, and grew up watching the Washington Senators.

"I spoke with Ted Lerner today after he was awarded the team and I firmly believe he will make an excellent owner and a good partner. I look forward to working closely with the Lerner family."

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060503&content_id=1431114&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was

A good article about our new owner! I like this guy! I like the fact that he was born and raised here. I was so worried we were going to get someone that wasn't local, who would probably end up selling the team after a few years. But this guy seems like he'll do us alot of good. What do you guys think?

[Redskins Rule]

05/04/2006 12:45 AM ET
Ownership focused on farm system
Group wants to build Nationals organization from ground up



WASHINGTON -- Once it hit the podium, the Lerner group -- led by managing principal owner Ted Lerner, his son, principal owner Mark Lerner, and team president Stan Kasten -- didn't waste any time announcing its vision for the Nationals. The group wants to rebuild the farm system and give back to the community.
Kasten indicated he wants to build the Washington franchise like the Braves, who have won a record 14 consecutive division titles, five National League pennants and one World Series. And in order to do that, according to Kasten, the team must rebuild the farm system, just like the Braves, not increase payroll at the Major League level.

He should know. Kasten was an integral part in helping the Braves become the model franchise when he was president of the organization from 1987-2003. During that period, the Braves won more Major League games than any other big-league team.

It's no secret the Nationals' farm system has been dry since then-general manager Omar Minaya traded players such as Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee and Jason Bay in 2002. Kasten said the Lerner group plans to fix the farm system, but it's going to take time, patience and money to get it done. The emphasis will be on pitching. Even when the Nationals trade players, they will want young arms in return. Kasten acknowledged the team is starting from scratch.

When Kasten was with Atlanta, it took from 1986 to 1990 to build the Braves into pennant winners.

"It's a long process. It takes time, care and attention," Kasten said. "People want to, naturally, ask about payroll at the Major League level. You are asking me the wrong question. That's not what you should be asking. What you need to be asking me is, 'Are you going to spend the money right away on Minor Leaguers? Are you going to spend money on expanding your scouting? Are you going to be spending money on enhancing your training facilities? Are you going to spend money opening up new scouting complexes in parts of the world? Are you going to be spending money signing additional draft picks?' The answers to those questions are, 'Yes,' and that's the way you do it.

"If you put the time in and the resources, which we are, we will have long-term success. We are not in it for the short-term. We have a lot of building to do in front of us. [When I was with the Braves], we actually stopped signing free agents every year. We rededicated that money in all the things I was talking about. This comes down to a philosophy question that I have to have with the GM and the manager."

General manager Jim Bowden said progress has been made in trying to improve the Nationals' farm system, but it still has a long way to go.

"Stan and I have had discussions, philosophically, on a lot of different issues. No doubt, we both understand the importance of development and scouting," Bowden said. "The main thing is Stan's strong belief in scouting. That's how they did it in Atlanta."

Building a winning farm system isn't the only thing that drives the Lerner group. It wants to be successful in the Washington community by interacting with fans and making baseball popular again in the area.

"We will encourage community involvement from our managers, coaches and players. We want to be accessible to the young, diverse fan base," Mark Lerner said. "The baseball programs are sorely in need of new and upgraded playing fields [and] equipment. We want to bring baseball back to the families of Washington, D.C., and both inside and outside the city."

In terms of the immediate future, no one from the Lerner group would comment on the future of manager Frank Robinson, team president Tony Tavares and Bowden. Kasten said changes most likely will not be made until the sale of the team is approved by the other 29 Major League owners.

Kasten did say, however, that all three did a great job under unusual circumstances.

"They are three terrific professionals, who had to work under the worst conditions I've ever seen," Kasten said. "It's an amazing job they have done. None of us would want to be in that position. They had awful limitations, and that's where the team finds itself today."

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060503&content_id=1431522&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was

Another good article about our new team president, Stan Kasten. He seems like he knows his stuff........And I don't care so much about the changes that they make just as long as they keep Bowden! If they let go of Bowden I'm gonna throw stuff at their owner's box! Heck, they need to keep everyone! They did a great job with what they had to work with.