I was trying to find a place to go and buy tickets for the nationals OD tomorrow and I just realized, unless Macy's opens early pretty much no ticketmater outlets are open before 10 AM, so it looks like any tickets will have to be sold either online or at a nats ticket store (which seems like a bad place to go to try and get tickets cause of lines). Anyone else seen the same thing.

Tickets.com is not TicketMaster. You will not be able to buy Nats tickets at Macy's. I'm not sure if there are Tickets.com outlets where you can buy a ticket in person.

A bit off topic, but worth noting that the Braves renewed Jeff Francoeur, who has the same amount of service time as Zimmerman, and a similar profile. Query whether folks on the Braves blogs are calling them cheap today.

Also, Zim's middle name is "Wallace." Shouldn't we refer to him as "Wally," at least occasionally?

Finally, Buster Olney analyzes the Mets' options for replacing Delgado, and identifies our own Nick Johnson as the #1 candidate (although he goes on to say that the Nats asking price for NJ or Meat will probably be too high for the Mets to meet given that they gave away key prospects in the Santana deal). The interesting thing, to me, about Buster's list is how thin it is after Johnson: #2 is Scott Hatteburg (!), who is followed by Richie Sexson (hit .205 last year), Tony Clark and Kevin Millar. So, if indeed we have two healthy first basemen, the market might be there for Jimbo.

Barry:

... where's your curly W cap, or at least a DC version?

Go Jon Rauch! Go Nats!!

Dude, you're the man.

If I recall correctly, tix will be on sale online via the team site or by calling the team. I don't think that the team store will be open tomorrow.

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I was trying to find a place to go and buy tickets for the nationals OD tomorrow and I just realized, unless Macy's opens early pretty much no ticketmater outlets are open before 10 AM, so it looks like any tickets will have to be sold either online or at a nats ticket store (which seems like a bad place to go to try and get tickets cause of lines). Anyone else seen the same thing.

I wouldn't expect to see Barry wearing a Nationals cap. That's not his job.

I thought it was B for Barry on the cap.

That must be it, 419. That or Blogfather. :-)

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I thought it was B for Barry on the cap.

According to the tickets page on the team website, you can only purchase a maximum of 4 tickets for opening day, and you can only purchase them on the team website or over the phone.

what happened to zimmerman... why did they take him out after a single AB...

Barry-

So glad to see this up and running again. Politics has gotten me through the year until now, but thank God for Spring Training! Now tell me, when are you planning on making it over to Bizarro's Pizza in Satellite Beach??

Yah,
It looks that way. Its a little disappointing because it allows ticketbrokers across the country to just come in an eat up all the tickets. I have two for me and my dad, but I want to get some for a family member as a Bday present. By only doing online sales, its going to be a lot harder to get tickets.

PS while the nats used tickets.com in the past, they are back to using ticketmaster this year.

Hey Barry thanks for all the great updates on spring training the news is all really interesting and is definitely getting everyone excited for the new season. I was hoping you could answer something that's been bothering me: how does sending down nearly-ready talent to the minors work because it seems like the Nats are deciding to send players like Jesus Flores down to AA instead of AAA for at least the beginning of the year, why is that? It seems like if you were nearly ready for the majors you would play in AAA but I am clearly missing something as it always seems that Flores-type players are being moved down to AA ball for the time being. Thanks!

"So glad to see this up and running again."

Posted by: Poster formerly known as RFK Sec 309, Row 3 | March 3, 2008 01:34 PM

What? Up and running again? It never went down. Where were you?

They said on the radio that Manny planned to pull Zimmerman after he got his first hit (and that he was in regular season form and didn't need extra at-bats).

Running here since last spring. :)

First blood for the Nats.

barry,

a historic place??? come on dude i would expect that from ladson or zucker, but you?

"PS while the nats used tickets.com in the past, they are back to using ticketmaster this year."

The OD tickets I got came in an envelope with the Tickets.com logo and their web-site links to Tickets.com, so I'm pretty sure TicketMaster is out of the picture.

"how does sending down nearly-ready talent to the minors work because it seems like the Nats are deciding to send players like Jesus Flores down to AA instead of AAA for at least the beginning of the year, why is that?"

A few reasons I can think of. First, the manager is Harrisburg is John Stearns, a former major league catcher who can aid in Flores development. Next, Flores is likely to face better quality competition in Double-A. Triple-A is mostly comprised of major league roster filler, backup infielders/outfielders and spot starters. In Double-A, he'll face some of the up and coming pitching prospects from other organizations. Finally, in Harrisburg, Flores would catch the Nats top pitching prospects like Ross Detwiler, Jordan Zimmermann, etc. A perfect opportunity to develop a relationship with them.

Touche.

Its looks like I was wrong about ticketmaster.

The first home run at HSCS in Grapefruit League play goes to...Elijah Dukes. Into the wind, gone, goodbye.

That one is not broke, my friends.

Tarp completely off
The green grass washed in sunlight
baseball is coming

Nice haiku, NatsNut!

"PS while the nats used tickets.com in the past, they are back to using ticketmaster this year."

Really? Then how come when I bought my Opening Day tickets this year during the STH presale it was via tickets.com? And how come the tickets came in the mail in a tickets.com envelope? What's your source for the Ticketmaster comment anyway?

asked/answered
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Really? Then how come when I bought my Opening Day tickets this year during the STH presale it was via tickets.com? And how come the tickets came in the mail in a tickets.com envelope? What's your source for the Ticketmaster comment anyway?

Does anyone else hear an echo in here?

Brian, thanks for the AA vs. AAA info that was really helpful and that makes a lot of sense.

Way to slide, Slick!

Nick Johnson hits a slicing line drive down the third base line. He rounds first, and, as the throw comes in, he slides into second.

Nick Johnson slides into second. So there's that.

He is removed for a pinch runner. His day was over, having already had three at bats.

Hmmm...this Stanford kid has started in the past. Not with very good results, but he looks pretty good so far this Spring doesn't he?

How awesome is it to hear this!?! I'm so cheering on Nick. What an great, great turnaround he has pulled off so far. Was i the only one worried he might be finished? Or that even if he came back he'd have a hard time really *coming back*?

But man, he's way, way, way ahead of where I even dreamed he could be. Good on you, Slick. Good on you.
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Nick Johnson hits a slicing line drive down the third base line. He rounds first, and, as the throw comes in, he slides into second.

Posted by: John in Mpls | March 3, 2008 02:45 PM

Me, too, NatsNut (re. cheering him on and having had my worries).

three o'clock Shadow
Splits infield grass on Sundays
a swing and a miss

I'll own up to it. I appear to have been frightfully wrong about Nick Johnson. He seems like he IS back to the Nick Johnson of old. And I am so very glad to be wrong.

A very strong haiku showing by Bob L. as well.

New post.