Enjoy the Caps game, Barry.

For a thorough discussion of, among other things, the boo-ing of the President at Sunday's game, see Gene Weingarten's chat from today on this very newspaper's site.

Or use this link:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/ysgazm

I have no further comment to offer on this topic, but it did receive a lot of attention. So there ya go.

Barry,

Can we please refer to our center fielder as only "Blastings Thrilledge" from now on? I saw it written somewhere here on the Journal (I think), and find it appropriate.
That is all, sir.

have to post it again here, since i didn't notice the new thread.

poor Os fans... those that remain.

"The Orioles got thumped before a lot of empty seats that were paid for. There were a huge number of no-shows, writes Peter Schmuck, and this does not bode well."

Thanks to others who cleared up the RCF and magic number question.

Look... I'm as giddy as the next person about the 2-0 start. I've also watched enough baseball to know that two games is 1/81st of the season. As for to comparative strength of the Nats' line up to last year's, it should be better, yes. However, how much better? Milledge should be a big improvement. Nick Johnson should be an improvement. Pinch hitting should be better. After that I'm not so sure. We'll see about LoDuca. Remember his OBP was 20 points LOWER than Schneider's last year. His other stats were better, but he's also a year older. In LF, my prediction is that Dukes/Pena/Harris will not be quite as productive as Church was last year. I'd still rather have them out there because their upside is way beyond Church's. In 2009 and beyond they'll be a lot better thyan Church. However, we're still talking about guys (Pena and Dukes anyway) who are basically rookies. They still don't have a legitimate lead off hitter. Guzman won't hit .346 again. I don't expect Belliard to repeat what he did last year. All in all their line up should be slightly better - park adjusted. I just don't know whether it's worth 10 games or more in the standings. That's a lot.

Lastly, we shouldn't underestimate the wear and tear on the bullpen. Five to six innings a night from the starters isn't good enough if the Nats want to be .500+.

Does this count as taking things from other teams?
**********
Can we please refer to our center fielder as only "Blastings Thrilledge" from now on? I saw it written somewhere here on the Journal (I think), and find it appropriate.
Posted by: Section 138 | April 1, 2008 01:32 PM

Carryover repost from last thread:

"'The other interesting thing to track will be the average outing for each starter. Posted by: #4 | March 31, 2008 10:23 PM'"

"Chico wasn't that bad - 1.3 WHIP, 4Ks in 5.1 and only one walk. That's an improvement over last year in a hitters park. Not efficient - 93 pitches (54 strikes). Barry's notebook says he struggled a bit maintaining his delivery. I suppose he'll get more efficient when he repeats it more often in real games. But last year he walked three guys for every 4 Ks. An extra runner or two, and we'd be saying bring up Lannan. And on one of the first inning runs, Barry suggests Milledge broke wrong allowing a runner who scored."

It wasn't all that thorough, really. A couple of POVs that already came up here, in exchange for the annoying Other W.
******
For a thorough discussion of, among other things, the booing of the President at Sunday's game, see Gene Weingarten's chat from today on this very newspaper's site.
Posted by: i hate walks | April 1, 2008 01:30 PM

Well, we can always come down to the best ballpark on the East Coast, and enjoy the chilidogs and halfsmokes, and the the mid-Atlantic's sports nexus, the Washington Nationals.

********
poor Os fans... those that remain.

"The Orioles got thumped before a lot of empty seats that were paid for. There were a huge number of no-shows, writes Peter Schmuck, and this does not bode well."

Posted by: 231 | April 1, 2008 01:46 PM

As for the offense/batting order: I think its pretty safe to say this year will be a rather significant improvement. Lopez was horrible in 2007. Zimmerman hit .262----he should hit .285+ this year. We had no Johnson, though DaMeat played well. Kearns wants to forget about 2007 as well. Milledge vs. Logan. Yikes. A full year of Pena (absent April) should be interesting. Much better bench hitters, more speed up and down the order, and more power. We're going to see a lot of doubles from this crew.

Reposted from previous post.

Prior to WW I and the rise of mechanization in the English Army, discussion of certain subjects in the officers' clubs was banned in order to reduce the number of duels and, later, fist fights.
Although the officers had freedom of speech, to remain a member in good standing of the officer's club a gentlemen could not discuss women, politics or, most controversial of all, horses. Religion didn't make the list because, well, just about everyone was the same religion.
Now I certainly don't object if we discuss women on this blog, I think most of us men would just show our ignorance. While that might be intertaining to the ladies in our midst, I believe that most converstaions would soon fall of their own weight.
I for one know even less about horses than I do women. Talk away if you must but I'll skim looking for baseball discussions.
We come now to politics. I am much more comfortable avoiding politics and would ask that the rest of you do the same. We all have our positions and when we read something counter to our feelings either kneejerk respond or agonize whether silence is consent. I would ask you to take it outside and let the rest of us enjoy each others' company and the discussion of our favorite sport and first place team.

I'd still like to see Zimm bat third and NJ fourth.

Let's play two!

Here's hoping the Nats can keep their perfect streak going tomorrow in Philly. The 10 in a row streak from '05 was amazing. I felt like I was walking on air every time I left RFK after a game. It'd be nice to recapture some of that this season.

I took a bunch of pictures of the ballpark and the exhibition game and home opener and uploaded them to the net. If anyone is interested in seeing them, the link is http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevharb/collections/72157604345200117/

Regarding MASN and Verizon FIOS:

I called Verizon last night to complain about a variety of things. I was told MASN HD would be available "by December" because FIOS was adding 150 channels for HD. That's right. The guy said by December. Last fall when I signed up for Verizon FIOS triple play for an intended cost savings, I was told that 150 channel upgrade would be in the Spring of 2008.

BTW, Verizon also screed up Wrestlemania for my son. Invited kids over to watch a pay per view (pre-paid) and they just failed to deliver it. The whole crew was disappointed. They also had told me MLB Extra Innings would be available this year. Nope. When I called to complain, they dropped my call after keeping me on hold for 10 minutes. I'm looking into switching to DirectTV or even (gasp) Cox.

Back to the MASN thing. Verizon did show the Monday game on Channel 1, but the DVR only recorded an hour of it. I believe this is because the programming guide was screwed up. Not sure about that, but I have no other plausible explanation.

Channel 1 on Verizon is very grainy at my House. Not as good a quality as the other non-HD channels.

In short, if you are a baseball/Nats fan thinking about Verizon FIOS, think twice.

Any chance you guys could pdf the poster for us far flung folks?

I second the poster pdf idea.

SlowPitch: we've tended to avoid discussions of politics on this baseball blog since it first came online, and I am hopeful that will continue to be the case (if not, like you, I'll be doing some selective reading).

I'm with RCN and have been getting the games since about a month into the very first season. They also gave MASN an HD channel, and now I look at the non-HD as a poor quality product, which it is. So I've been quite satisfied with RCN. that said, they also did not have the game listed yesterday morning so we couldn't record it either, which is pretty annoying. Somehow, I'm sure it is all Angelos' fault.

Re the poster: Yes, it will be nice to be able to get it on thicker paper, even at the cost of having to buy another copy of the Post in addition to my suscription copy. But I'm guessing it will still be on folded stock rather than rolled stock, which means that for mounting and framing purposes it will always have the annoying fold line down the middle. Would it be too much to ask the Post to figure out how to supply it on rolled paper? After all, this is the same newspaper that has already mastered the technology to deliver a bar of Irish Spring soap, a mini-box of laundry detergent and other triumphs of product placement along with my home-delivery newspaper in the past...

While waxing poetic I got my wish wrong. I'd like to see NJ bat 3rd and Zim 4th, especially since Kearns is off to such a strong start. I think NJ's working the count would give either of the first two batters a good chance to steal, would set a fine example for Z and allow Z to see the full arsenal of the opposing pitchers' pitches. In addition, 40% of the time, or more, NJ will be on when Z comes to the plate.

Let's play two!

I know that we all now have had first-hand exposure, but it's still kinda habit to check the webcam (and maybe I'll catch a little nugget of the proejcted first-week improvements); however, who is taking BP at the stadium?

Did the guys come home last night and headed back to Philly in the morning?

"The Orioles got thumped before a lot of empty seats that were paid for. There were a huge number of no-shows, writes Peter Schmuck, and this does not bode well."

What really doesn't bode well is that they have this schmuck named Peter writing about them, and he's not even the biggest schmuck named Peter associated with the team - by far.

Good one, 419!

---

After all, this is the same newspaper that has already mastered the technology to deliver a bar of Irish Spring soap, a mini-box of laundry detergent and other triumphs of product placement along with my home-delivery newspaper in the past...

Good question, Corey. I can't get good enough resolution to make out writing on jerseys when I expand the camera view.

To Section 419-1
If the Post duplicates its 2005 campaign, the posters will be suitable for framing, without a fold in the middle. Why are you guessing it will be on folded stock?

Some of the negativity on these blogs is bringing me down.

#4, what makes you say "I don't expect Belliard to repeat what he did last year"?

his numbers last year are very much in line with his career numbers. he's within 15 points of his OPS for the four previous years.

Great Pictures kevin

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevharb/collections/72157604345200117/

I mean if it is the hometown boys then BP must've been optional because there ain't many guys out there shagging.

Manny give 'em the "enjoy the rest but feel free to come in and get some work in" line?

Those aren't players hitting for BP. It looks like some kind of promotion or family & Friends event.

Could be some P-Nats out there shagging down balls though...

Off-topic (or maybe on with Chad and Dukes injured): We've talked about how some organizations seem to gain an edge from their medical and training resources. Here's an excerpt from a Manchester Union Leader series onthe Red Sox development system, rated by BA as #2 in baseball:

"More recently, the team has dedicated itself to improving the physical, mental and medical support offered to its players. Since 2006, at the behest of Hazen and director of baseball operations Brian O'Halloran, the Sox have focused resources on keeping players in shape and on the field.

"The organization's willingness to invest in these areas has achieved tangible results. Team sources suggest that the Sox minor-league system has one of the lowest rates of arm surgeries in the game, more evidence of the success of a comprehensive commitment to player development."

Whole article isn't worth reading except for the Sox-obsessed, but here's the link:
http://tinyurl.com/yurmgv
My first Tin Yurl!

Congrats, PTBNL!

QUESTION FOR ALL:

I am interested in getting seats off stub hub in the "Red Porch" club level. I understand that you get a $20 food/drink voucher there. Does anyone know if thats included with the ticket,is there a voucher coupon? Am I setting myself up to get ripped off for the $20 voucher? Any info would help

SA_Town,
I'd be careful. I believe the $20 food credit is for Centerfield *Lounge*, not Centerfield *Club*.

Also, the menu at Red Porch is really nothing to get excited about. Hamburger w/chips, hot dog, caesar salad, french fries. Could be the menu is still being worked on, but judging from Saturday's menu, there's much better food in the concourses. Unless you spend the $20 bucks on beer or cocktails, it might not be worth it. Not yet anyway.

On the other hand, the seats ARE comfortable. Cushioned, high backs, nice little side table attached, great view.

Centerfield *club* are the same view, but not the comfy seats.

In 2005 the stores had plenty of extra posters left on Monday, so I bought a $.25 paper and grabbed a poster.

actually, I bet the $20 food credit is just food. Plus the hamburger w/chips was $11, so there's that.

@NatsNut

I am actually looking to get a few beers as this is a Friday game. The tickets are 100L Club Row B.

The price makes sense if 3 beers (voucher) are included in the ticket price. Im just kind of confused if it does.

I tried to call a rep at the Nats, and none of them answer...thats what I call service.

SA_Town,

I'm pretty sure you got the section that does not include the voucher. Great, great view though.

@NatsNut

I think you may be right. I will just show up and demand my 3 free beers. That usually goes over well.

"To Section 419-1
If the Post duplicates its 2005 campaign, the posters will be suitable for framing, without a fold in the middle. Why are you guessing it will be on folded stock?"

I don't remember what they did in 2005, as I don't have one of those posters. I was just assuming they would be the same size as the panoramic photo in Monday's paper, which was the center two pages of the section, with a fold down the middle. If instead they're handing out a rolled up poster when you buy a paper, then great. Maybe I'll buy several of them.

(I know, those who subscribe to the Post feel it's ridiculous to have to go buy the paper again to get the poster. But I'm telling you, if you weren't willing to pay $1.50 for this poster, then you don't really want it anyway.)
====

So what you do is put your subscription on vacation hold for 1 day (which gives you a credit to your bill), and go buy the paper that day

I spoke w/ Verizon FiOS today. This should be taken w/ a grain of salt, but there is a plan to remove much of the old analogue band width and add some HD content b/t April 15 and 20. They told me MASNHD would be added at that time. Don't hold your breath but this does jive with information I've seen on other forums in the last couple of weeks. If you're happy with FiOS I'd wait til May to see if that happens before switching. If thinking of switching to FiOS and MASNHD is crticial - again wait til May.

Someone bring me up to speed please.

Last I heard (month ago?) Barry was leaving the Nats beat and we were awaiting announcement of the new guy/gal.

Did y'all bribe him to stay? Or WaPo couldn't get anyone else to take the job? Or --- what did I miss?

NatsNut, you missed my apology to you the other day, I think, I didn't see you posting. Sorry I looked so dazed when you said hello, I was totally infatuated with the stadium!

No, he's still leaving us poor schlubs behind, and going off to a more contentious pasture. (After the Olympics, right?) We're still waiting for the magical mystery writer. and hoping that his replacement is not FGC (fan generated content (tm))...

Thanks 506. I got it and responded. No worries. I practically pounced on you guys so I should apologize. I think I scared your girlfriend. ;)

"I think I scared your girlfriend. ;)"

My red-headed Cubs-fan girlfriend dates me, she is pretty hard to scare.

The Nats website describes two open houses, one on Friday night and the other on Saturday afternoon when they'll show the game with SL on the tron. Good chance to see the park and figure out where you might want to sit at a game. Also, concessions will be open. A good idea, I think. (I'm too much of a Luddite to provide the tin yurl--sorry!)

I saw the Open House e-mail, but didn't read it yet. That could be fun. I should check the weather report and schedule of my family.

I got the email and sent a RSVP for Saturday.

"an" RSVP. ANYway, hope to see some of you there!

Off day crystal ball contest:

Name the Starting Pitcher staff for the 2009 (please note - 2009, not a typo) Washington Nationals.

Mine:
Hill
Bergmann
Detwiler
Mock
Balester

I think watching the away game on the HD video board with other fans would be so much fun.

I'm trying to convince my friends, who seem pretty 'meh' about baseball, to come with. I think I'm already taxing their patience with my obsession and it's only the first week.

I emailed one of my friends about it, too. Her husband is a fanatic, but she's not (yet). I've often observed the MEGO (my eyes glaze over) effect with friends and family when I'm talkin' a little baseball to them. :-)

From Gene Weingarten's chat today:

Worst, Redux: You've said, and I agree, that W. is the worst president in the history of presidents. . . .
_______________________

Ballgame boos: So...would you have joined in the boos or remained silent?
Gene Weingarten: I would have booed. _______________________

Wheaton, Md.: Hi Gene. Another factor to take into account on whether or not to boo Bush is the fact that he almost NEVER appears in front of a crowd that isn't composed entirely of fawning sycophants. It's about time he was exposed to the views of more than just his die-hard supporters.

Gene Weingarten: I am guessing it really bothered him.
_______________________

Arlington, Va.: re: booing Bush

Given that he keeps himself insulated from real people as much as possible I think it's important for him to know how disliked he is. Boo away! I would have been.

Gene Weingarten: Exactly my point. No one else will tell them.
_______________________

Booing Bush. . .: my mother always taught me that we should respect the office even if we don't like the man. I never understood that I always thought respect had to be earned by deeds not by virtue of a Supreme Court decision or shameless manipulation of the press and the public. Consequently, even though last time I stayed silent, this time I booed. I was two seats away from a Bush supporter who screamed excitedly, why, because she is a supporter is this appropriate? If I shouldn't voice my displeasure, why can she voice her pleasure?

Gene Weingarten: When Harry Truman was once snubbed by MacArthur, he got really steamed, which was very much unlike Truman, maybe the least full-of-himself president we've had. He explained: "He's not insulting me, he;s insulting the president of the United States."

But this was a baseball game.
_______________________

Undisclosed location, Pennsylvania Avenue: I was told there weren't "boos" at the baseball game, but large groups of people chanting "Bush".

Gene Weingarten: Hahahahahaha.

No, they were chanting "douuuuuche."

___________________

Alexandria, Va: I agree with Truman. Booing was disrespectful to the office of the President rather than just to the office holder. It reflected very poorly on the people who booed. If they don't like the President, they should have just remained silent.

I respect free speech and people's rights to opinions, but you can still express yourself with civility and manners. We're not animals, for crying out loud. Some of the most biting and elegant putdowns are the most subtle, as you well know.

Gene Weingarten: Okay. I disagree.
_______________________

Washington, D.C.: It was a baseball game. That's the point. He's not appearing as policy Bush, he's appearing as the President of the United States. I hate Bush! Just had to add that. I don't like defending him, but it was the office, not the man in my opinion who threw out the first pitch. I hate Bush! Sorry.

Gene Weingarten: Nah, it's the office who gives the state of the Union. The office who starts an idiot war. It's the man who goes to a ballgame.

_______________________

Booing: I totally disagree with booing. Silence would have been much more effective. I turned my back and stayed silent. If everyone had done that, it would have been quite powerful.

Gene Weingarten: But that never would have happened! And he would have heard only the cheers. Boos are much more effective than tepid cheering.

I think all Nat's fans owe a big THANK YOU to the Orioles for tanking their opening day performance.

The ballclub just wanted to give the Nats and their new ballpark their due. They figured by losing to the Rays the media would focus more on the "new look" Nats and their brand new toy instead of the O's winning and cementing themselves as an AL East powerhouse.

All Nats fans can send 'thank you' cards to the B&O Warehouse up in Baltimore.

When you have leftover leftovers, and you chop them up really small, you make hash -- it's like recycling. So when you re-hash, you're using leftover leftover leftovers.

I submit we've made a hash of the Boo-Don't Boo discussion by now.

"Nat's" should not be in the possessive form. Also, we have some acquaintances from Jersey who could perhaps help with cementing aspects, particularly as relates to the owner of your team. Some nice shoes, perhaps.

I hate people that hate.

I hesitate to add to the Boo debate, but I can't resist.

I loved the booing, it made me laugh and it made me say to my visiting brother, "Man, I LOVE DC. Only here."

But the sort-of militant arguments for the booing are just as silly as some of the militant arguments against it. The booing isn't going to change the world, but neither does it disrespect the office.

It was just a simple and unified way to show our displeasure, if nothing else, at least for the simple reason that we CAN.

It was not ugly, there were no nasty signs or foul language, just a 10-second boo, then EVERYONE cheered the pitch. It was hilarious and it was American. Even Bush himself looked like he chuckled a little when the booing started.

I just think everyone, booers and non-booers alike, should lighten up about the whole thing.

I like it better the way Tom Lerher put it (from "That Was The Week That Was"):
"I'm sure we all agree that we ought to love one another, and I know there are people in the world who do not love their fellow human beings, and I HATE people like that!"

...ya'll drinking too much hate-orade.

Free speech is a wonderful thing.

You have the right to boo.

I have the right to call you a jerk.

Everyone wins.

Did ya'll see this?

http://tinyurl.com/336nws

Best all-time batting average march/april has...TWO current Nationals.

Worst all-time batting average march/april has...Brian Schneider.

Don't get me wrong. I still mourn Schneider's leaving, but I like the validation.

The boo-debaters should've been with Wigi and me in Philly yesterday.

There, the protocol is quite simple.

Philly fan walks up to Nats fans' face.

Nats fan stands there.

Philly fan: BOO!

Nats fan: Thank you. Thank you very much. [Pope wave.]

Philly fan walks on. Nats fan walks on.

Perhaps not directly productive of world peace... but still, one wishes that all altercations, whether at CBP or around the globe, were so brief and satisfying to all parties. May we live in hope.

We'll be here all week? Check out the v-onderful bar!

Watching the Mets w/Schneider & Church right now. Schneider playing well, has a couple of hits so far. 4-4 in 6th.

Stupid Philly

Yay, Schneiderman! (for old time's sake)

A wonderful ending...Marlins 5 / Mets 4. Robert Andino...(who), hits 10th inning 2 out walk off homerun to win it and give the Mets there first loss...wonderful!

Since it appears this has turned into a Liberal Hate Forum, I will add my 2 cents for the classy Conservative side.

Silence is golden. You don't like President Bush, fine, that is your right. But respect the Office of the President. Leftist's get so caught up in their Hate for this man, that they become flat out dopey.

If I was at a game and President Clinton, whom I find to be immoral, threw out the first pitch I would just stay silent. No booing, no turning my back to the man. I would just stand there and give him a golf clap.

Show some respect for the highest leader of this Country. For the love of God, please keep your misguided secular progressive ideology to yourself.

Well! There's no call to get *personal*.
Hmph.

"For the love of God, please keep your misguided ... ideology to yourself. "

Dang it, I just know there's irony in there somewhere if only I could find it.

Wait. Let me explain something to you. I'm "The Dude." So that's what you call me.

You say that like it's a bad thing.
________________

Leftist's get so caught up in their Hate for this man, that they become flat out dopey.

Posted by: Section 505/203 | April 1, 2008 11:21 PM

Show some respect for the highest leader of this Country. For the love of God, please keep your misguided secular progressive ideology to yourself.

Posted by: Section 505/203 | April 1, 2008 11:21 PM
_________________________________________

Dude, we don't live in a Dictatorship (despite Bush's best efforts) and it's our right as citizens of the USA to show respect to whoever we choose to. Respect is something that is earned and GWB has done anything BUT earn respect during the past 7+ years. Dude's a complete bum and kudos to those who let him have it.

He's lucky he was only booed.

There are two, or three, or maybe four simple reasons why the offense feels different. First, is the leadoff hitter, Cristian Guzman. When he was briefly in the lineup last year, the offense had a different feel then, too. Anybody remember how Guz and Belliard and Young were clicking? Guzman stunk his first year here, as badly as anyone could, and he missed 2006, but he was gangbusters when healthy last year. He's healthy again, and it shows.

The second big difference is the number two hitter, Lastings Milledge. He's explosive. He has power and speed. Have we seen that before? Yes, we had Soriano, two years ago. Yet, we didn't have anyone else at the top of the order then. How many runs can you get even with a forty-plus home run hitter, if the bases are always empty, and the next batters kill off any rally potential?

Since I'm ticking through the order, it's worth noting an improvement in the third spot, as well. Ryan Zimmerman is another year older. He's becoming a seasoned player and hitting in a park more to his liking. In fact, he's on his way to becoming a dominant hitter, a la Chipper Jones.

Fourth in the order, but at least second in our hearts, is Nick Johnson. His return is a big factor in this new feel to the offense. No disrespect to Dmitri, but Johnson is just such a good hitter, and he has that incredible batting eye. Young could produce in that position, and has more power -- but Johnson will probably produce more. More importantly, thanks to the improvement in spots one through three, the Nats will be more productive. We won't just have the one or two good hitters in the lineup, desperate for some help from their mates. As good as Johnson looked two years ago, his numbers could be much more impressive this year, just because he will have more opportunities to make an impact.

And, all of that will make Austin Kearns a much more consistent hitter in the fifth spot. Especially with two more good hitters behind him, Kearns will finally see his fair share of good pitches. With LoDuca and Belliard in the sixth and seventh spots -- or seventh and eighth spots -- the Nationals aren't giving the other teams' pitchers an inning or two off, every time through the order.

I loved Ryan Church, but he had two many rally-killing strikeouts. We've had a forgettable parade of centerfielders that have been huge drags at the plate. And Brian Schneider, whom I liked even better than Church, never had a hit until August. Our regular infield left us with at least one weak spot in the batting order during past years and, in some years, two or three weak spots. This lineup won't give away outs like the team did in past years.

If the Nationals' offense feels different, it's because it is different. Substantially so. This is a quality, legitimate major league batting order, from top to bottom, for the first time since the team came to DC.

Maybe there really is something to this Plan....

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I wasn't sure what I would do. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost fels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers.

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to boo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

Frankly, I think it would have been just fine to have Tony Williams throw out the first ball...

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I wasn't sure what I would do. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost feels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers. That's without the wilfull blindness to the most serious problems, including global warming, which is becoing catastrophic -- our world cooks, while Bush fiddles...

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to boo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

Frankly, I think it would have been just fine to have Tony Williams throw out the first ball...

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost fels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers.

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to booo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

Frankly, I think it would have been just fine to have Tony Williams throw out the first ball...

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost fels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers.

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to booo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

Frankly, I think it would have been just fine to have Tony Williams throw out the first ball..

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost fels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers.

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to booo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost fels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers.

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to booo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

Frankly, I think it would have been just fine to have Tony Williams throw out the first ball...

I was conflicted about how to respond to Bush's appearance. I felt that booing would be disrespectful to the event -- but, not to the man, or to the office. He's universally disliked, unlike President Clinton. He, or his party, stole the elections in both 2000 and 2004, so I don't even feel like he's a legitimate President.

In fact, showing him respect in any situation almost fels as if it's disrespecting this country, its institutions, and the office of the Presidency. That's without even bringing up what he and his cronies have done to disrespect the country, its people and its institutions, while in office: The deceit about public matters, including the need and reasons for going to war; the blatant abuse of power; the disdainful disregarding of the Constitution; and the stunning incompetence, along with the contempt for the problems of ordinary Americans, including this nation's soldiers.

In the end, perhaps the question should be how could anyone not boo? How could anyone offer cheers for this President, even and perhaps especially in that setting, with a national TV audience? When others began to booo, I gladly added my voice to theirs.

Frankly, I think it would have been just fine to have Tony Williams throw out the first ball..

Pedro went out with an injury for the Mets, who lost to the Fish. Schneider had 3 hits- I admit I want LoDuca to heavily outperform him this year, and for Church to tank. I liked both guys a lot, but you always want to get the better of trades.

Even still, I really will root for the Mets over the Marlins, since I still think we are competing more with the Fish. We have hopes for a good record, but I don't yet believe that the Nats are in contention. I just want to be far from the cellar, and reaching for 3rd place this year.

Positively Half St.-'The Trade'-there is absolutely no question, the Nats got, by far, the best of that deal. And the team will, barring major injury, finish above 500.
Still, all the best to Schneider and Church. It's just that their best is not as good as Milledge's.

Guys, the Post has an awesome political blog called "The Fix" that this conversation might be perfect for.

I think that this difference over "should we talk about it here" explains more than anything the difference (I mean, other than the obvious one) between those who booed and those who didn't. I am paid to be partisan politically and baseball is the place where I get a couple hours to care intensely about something of no consequence as a break from all the things I work on all day long. The President throwing out the first pitch is just that. It doesn't matter which one, it's the tradition of DC and I'm happy to have it back.

NatBisquit - re Verizon FiOS. Can you please send me you area code and first three digits of your phone number (703-591, for example) and let me see what I can track down for you?

All - There is a fair amount of talk about FiOS on here. In full disclosure, I work for Verizon (in Business, not Residential) and would like to get everybody real answers if at all possible. I hope you don't mind my doing this. I'm not looking to pitch FiOS, per se, but believe in the product and want to have the most accurate info out there for you if at all possible.

Please take the political talk outside this blog.
If you must vent, and I can understand the need for venting, buy a can of spray paint and paint your slogans on your house, not public property. That way you won't bother the rest of us. I promise to come by and read them.
If you think your postings are going to change someone's mind, please welcome me to your universe, it's probably a nice place to live. Refer back to spray paint discussion.

Let's play two!

Nats and baseball related matters only, please. I can get the newsy opinions in other places...thanks in advance.

Just a few morning thoughts...

If I was at the game I would have booed the President as well. It really is the only time that he can hear the "vox populi", since most of his appearances are staged in front of a controlled audience.

I am euphoric about the Nats at this moment. All positions are contributing. I too will admit that I had misgivings regarding Kearns, I thought he would be the weak link offensively in the outfield. That perfect play of the carom in right field Sunday reminded me of why he is a starter. Odalis also did much better than I expected. So crow does not taste that bad if well seasoned. LoDuca has been ok defensively so far but I enjoy seeing a catcher who is a contact hitter. He made some nice stops on Chico's pitches in the dirt Monday.

Please do not trade Nick or Dimitri. Both belong on this club, period. I can not wait for Dukes or Pena to replace Harris.

I hope the bullpen settles down soon. We can not always count on ninth inning rallies to win, but it sure has been exciting baseball to watch so far.

Please please please can we set aside the politics in this baseball forum? If we can't, I may just bail. (Again, for the record, I do not claim any specific political party, and I am of a like mind to SlowPitch about such discussions generally - neither side is going to change the other's mind here. BTW, how's that for a run-on sentence?) Geez, if we ever needed a new Barry posting, we need it now.

---

Please take the political talk outside this blog.
If you must vent, and I can understand the need for venting, buy a can of spray paint and paint your slogans on your house, not public property. That way you won't bother the rest of us. I promise to come by and read them.
If you think your postings are going to change someone's mind, please welcome me to your universe, it's probably a nice place to live. Refer back to spray paint discussion.

Let's play two!

Posted by: SlowPitch63 | April 2, 2008 07:58 AM

Nats and baseball related matters only, please. I can get the newsy opinions in other places...thanks in advance.

Posted by: SC Nats Fan | April 2, 2008 08:10 AM

Anybody worried about Blastings play in center? I've seen some quotes from scouts that suggest he's sub-par out there.

Nats Fan in NJ,

I too have FIOS and have actually loved the service for everything except baseball and pay-per-view (terrible quality).

I would love to know for sure that MASN HD (and ESPNewsHD) will be available soon?

I agree that booing the President is not going to change the world so we should not do it. Suggesting trades and lineup changes for the Nats is going to change the world. Let's stick with what we know, and what works, and what we know works. That's life in my universe.

most of what i've seen (which is admittedly not that much yet) says that milledge's real problem is the initial read off of the bat. if he can get that fixed (which, i will admit, probably should already be fixed, it's not like he's new to the OF), he'll probably be serviceable. but some of those reads have been really bad.

But it should not go without notice that Fisch Fry has just taken the all-time NJ lead in consecutive duplicate posts. Dude!

Where did the post link to the stadium cam go? I can still access it thru the Times, but why is it not here any longer?

Speaking of reads (not the kind that 231 meant but I'm trying for a smooth segue here), the Post Food section has a rather detailed piece on ballpark concessions today. I hope to test drive a few of their specialties on Saturday.

Headlines (with apologies to Bob L.)

Mets, Tigers move up on Evil Empire list

Below is a complete list of team opening day salaries mentioned in the Notebook piece in the Post today. Lots of movement among the Evil Empire ranks this year. The World Champions, formerly EE#2, drop to 4th. Itnersting to note that (1) the 8 teams behind the NYY all cluster between $118 million and $138 million; (2) median team payroll is around $80 million, and (3) Nats, of course, are near the back of the pack.
N.Y. Yankees -- $209,081,579
Detroit -- 138,685,197
New York Mets -- 138,293,378
Boston -- 133,440,037
Chicago White Sox -- 121,152,667
Los Angeles Angels -- 119,216,333
Chicago Cubs -- 118,595,833
Los Angeles Dodgers -- 118,536,038
Seattle -- 117,993,982
Atlanta -- 102,424,018
St. Louis -- 100,624,450
Toronto -- 98,641,957
Philadelphia -- 98,269,881
Houston -- 88,930,415
Milwaukee -- 81,004,167
Cleveland -- 78,970,067
San Francisco -- 76,904,500
Cincinnati -- 74,277,695
San Diego -- 73,677,617
Colorado -- 68,655,500
Texas -- 68,239,551
Baltimore -- 67,196,248
Arizona -- 66,202,713
Minnesota -- 62,182,767
Kansas City -- 58,245,500
Washington -- 54,961,000
Pittsburgh -- 49,365,283
Oakland -- 47,967,126
Tampa Bay -- 43,820,598
Florida -- 21,836,500

This will no doubt kick off a round of "Lerners are cheap" posts. However, there is a cycle to payroll. When you have a bare organization, which is basically what the Lerners bought, you strip deadwood, look for bargains among others cast offs, develop young talent to fill some holes, reward that talent as it gets to higher earning years, and then spend to fill fewer remaining holes. A/K/A the Plan. There is a pretty good correlation between time a team has been in a town and payroll, with newer teams (expansion and movers) tending to start lower than established teams (I mentioned Eric Van's analysis on SOSH last fall, and commenters there mentioned a Hardball Times piece that comes to the same conclusion). So, Lerners aren't cheap in the sense they are spending less than what people normally in their position would do. In fact, by going over slot in the draft, one could say they are actually spending more than could be expected to build quickly. Acid test will be Zimmerman's contract.

it could be worse, we could be paying 121m (5th highest) to have the talent and prospects for the year that the white sox have. and we're only 14m behind the NL representative to the WS last year.

Section 506 and nastfan1a thanks for the support.
Bob L. I have some concerns about LM's play in center but believe, even if he is not a natural, he is so talented and, apparently, so hard working that he will make himself a good fielder.
Most importantly, thank you for a Nats related post.

Let's play two!

I agree as well about not talking politics in here. But, I just get tired of the snide remarks and liberal hate, that sometimes I can't take it and have to respond.

Interesting post on Nats320 yesterday. Screech's Best Friend suggested shouting "red" during the "rockets red glare" portion of the National Anthem. He admits borrowing the idea from the Carolina Hurricanes but offers it anyway as a way to shout down/combat/drown out the omni-present "O" shouts. Anyone here see this? Thoughts?

505/203, talk about missing the point. Put the keyboard away and look outside for a minute. It's a partly-cloudy, partly-sunshiny day out there, and life's a-okay for everyone if we can talk about our favorite team.

mkevin, i'll post the same thing here that i did on 320's blog. i think it's stupid.

==
sorry, i have to go with no on this one.

i think the "Oh" is lame and disrespectful. so not only a no for copying the Os, but a no for messing w/the national anthem. it may take a few more years for the Oh to die out, but it will fade. let's not replace it with something just as lame.

if we want to start a tradition, let's come up with something original and interesting.
==

"505/203, talk about missing the point. Put the keyboard away and look outside for a minute. It's a partly-cloudy, partly-sunshiny day out there, and life's a-okay for everyone if we can talk about our favorite team."

Life for you can't be that great, you don't want to tell us who you are.

MKevin - I'm not into the shout except when I am at Camden Yards (although around 1/20/92, I thought it was cool to hear on the radio the "O" shout in the background of the Anthem being played at a large gathering on the Mall near the Capitol).

Actually, Dennys Graves version should be replayed on tape rather than having others with less ability try to style it up. Just awesome to hear someone with multiple octave range really pull it off.

MKevin, Re shouting RED, what happens when we play Cincinnati? :-)

I don't like it, for two reasons -
1. Don't want to borrow anything from others (if I could implement one change, it would be to ditch Sweet Caroline) and
2. Two wrongs don't make a right - no one should be yelling anything during the National Anthem. Yelling O at OPACY is marginally ok, but sooner or later the O's fans will realize that it is show-offy and stupid to do it elsewhere.

Part of Milledge's bad break on Utley's bloop hit was due to Utley's big swing on the pitch. He is not one of the better defensive center fielders but has the speed to be able to improve, hopefully.

Can't wait for Verizon FiOS to have a MASN HD channel, but I'm also waiting for my promotional HD TV to arrive.

I did the manual record of channel 1 for Monday's game, and it worked fine. Since the ball game didn't appear on the Guide listing for channel 1 until the day before (I believe), manual record based on the scheduled start time of the game was my only recourse in advance.

...shouting "red" during the "rockets red glare" portion of the National Anthem.
I say no. I've always thought the O! (even in Baltimore) was the ultimate in Tacky (on a par with players who stand at home plate admiring their home run) and I believe that we should not be Tacky to combat the O! idiots. Try this one, sing the anthem.
Arrrgh. I need to go chase the kids off the lawn again.

I'm up!

milledge has had a few more bad jumps than just the utley hit. he broke the wrong way or late a couple of times sunday night, too.

MIB Scrolling, and everyone else. Please accept my multiple apologies. It didn't seem that my posts were going through. So, I kept htting the preview/post options. Won't make THAT mistake again.