The left shoulder connects to the right elbow...errrr...wait...

Mike O'Connor pitched 6 innings for Columbus last night--1 run, 4 hits, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts (!). I thought maybe they might keep Hill in Columbus considering his so-so outing Sunday anc call up O'Connor instead, but apparently not unless Hill can't go at all (the other option in that case being to give Hanrahan a spot start).

To keep 506 BM's inquiry alive, I'm taking the liberty of answering at the new post.

I followed the O's. I actually stopped after Brady Anderson left, I liked his sideburns (and once I could grow them, I had them), and then I thought Bedard and Roberts were awesome.

But then, in 2005, I realized that the National League is simply more fun baseball. I went to 20 games that year. Amazing.

Hahaha, nice on the sideburns. I still call them Brady-burns and grow them in August to annoy my girlfriend.

NattyDelite!,
Thanks for the update dude

I liked Brady Anderson so much, I started using steroids.

Can anyone reading this in Columbus or anywhere else shed some light on what the AAA affiliation situation will be next year...

I'm concerned and interested about the whole AAA reshuffling after this year...

First the facts...
1. Everyone knows the Braves are moving Richmond's AAA Franchise closer to ATL in Gwinett. Leaving Richmond with no franchise
2. Cleveland is currently not renewing Buffalo, it is rumored that they want their AAA team in Columbus.
3. Toronto is currently not renewing Syracuse.
4. this is the last year of the contract between Washington and Columbus. Columbus gets a new stadium next year.
5. Mets are unhappy with being in New Orleans and want to move to Syracuse.
6. Because the AAA Franchise is leaving Richmond, a different AAA would have to fold and move to Richmond if Richmond was to have a team

This is how it will probably go.
1. Cleveland's AAA moves from Buffalo to Columbus. this just makes sense. Columbus is more affluent of a town, there in the state of Ohio and there is a new ballpark.

2. Mets moves AAA franchise from New Orleans to Syracuse. This makes sense for them as well... While Syracuse isn't that close to NYC, anything is better than New Orleans.

3. Toronto PROBABLY moves to Buffalo... this makes sense for them as Buffalo is only 1 hour away from Buffalo. Many of the canadian TV stations are on Buffalo Cable and I used to watch the Jays on CTV growing up, before Rogers cable bought them. However, Buffalo is apprehensive about this. First the beverage laden Hockey Leafs fans and Buffalo Fans get along about as well as Cowboy-Redskin fans. To make matters worse the Buffalo Bills are playing 2 games (1 exhibition, 1 regular season game) in Toronto, which isn't going over well in Buffalo.

4. This leaves the Nationals with the choice of New Orleans (which was there affiliate two years ago) or moving a AAA franchise to Richmond which is only 1 hour and 30 minutes away. The trick is that Richmond has a dumpy stadium and little support, although I'm not really sure how it compares with New Orleans. Maybe the Nats make a move to go to Buffalo... which has a good stadium and is still a lot of fun to go to when the weather is warmer.

Does anyone else care about the nats AAA franchise? can you provide any insight into the Richmond situation? Go NATS!

We all love Brady.

I suspect Hill will definitely start this weekend in Florida- mostly because it will be nice warm weather to start.

haha, no problem anonymous! I love posting if the mood is right. Bickering relegates my status to "annoyed lurker."

Which isn't to say that either side does not have good points, I just like tame discussion. Call me a pacifist if you like. Glad to see a bunch of new posters, regardless of animosity they may or may not exhibit.

Shawn - Stay off the bases and stay out of double plays. K's and good bunts are your best friends behind the plate. We need you on the hill (pun not intended but completely unavoidable).

NatsFan:
Bottom line is Nats AAA team will be in a different city next year. I do believe you left out the Tidewater possibility. I am not sure how long the Orioles contract is with Tides, but it may be up this year too. I believe you'll see Richmond in the Carolina League before you see it in the International League after this year. The city (citizens) of Richmond gets screwed because of who its team owner is, Atlanta Braves. And this owner can pick up and leave because it does not have a long term contract to occupy the stadium with the city. But, the city/state has created this mess which encouraged the Braves to leave. So the real question for Barry to ask the FO is what are they doing about firming up a city for next year's AAA club. Barry??

There is talk that The Richmond Baseball Initiative is in talks to purchase a AAA franchise in the IL and move it to Richmond. I'm not sure how the stadium situation will play out but with local ownership there will at least be more stability. The A-Braves own The R-Braves, hence the move, which actually makes sense. The Richmond purchase is muted by the Pres. of the IL because he doesn't want any public the discussion until the Gwinnett County (Ga.) stadium is well into the building stages. It would stand to reason that if Richmond does get a club they would push for an affiliation with the Nats. It would basically create a foothold on an association with the team in the entire state of VA between Potomac and Richmond and the surrounding areas.

I have been looking all over the WEB for stats on John Patterson. I know he signed a minor league deal with Texas. He's not on the roster of any of their affiliates. Is this guy pitching anywhere? Or, did he hang it up? Where is he?

While i agree the the support has been lacking. I think that has mostly been due the the stadium situation. With Richmond being in the Nats footprint as far as coverage and markets go, i think that fans in Richmond would be supportive of a Nats affiliated team with the big ballclub only being an hour and a half away.

6th & D,
re: Patterson

From Dallas Morning News:

http://tinyurl.com/5fyydt

@Tom: The Tidewater Tides are signed with the O's through 2010...I don't think we'll be getting them for our AAA affiliate, which is really a shame because it is a BEAUTIFUL park, and a great baseball area - the Tides sell out many games, and are a very well-run organization...then again, I'm biased since I'm from there originally.

"Does anyone else care about the nats AAA franchise? can you provide any insight into the Richmond situation?"

My understanding is that after the Braves leave, some other existing AAA franchise would need to relocate to Richmond and then the Nationals would need to affiliate with it (if it already didn't have another MLB affiliate from before the move). The Nationals can't just pick a AAA franchise and ask it to move to Richmond, because they don't own any AAA teams themselves - unlike the Braves, who actually own the current Richmond AAA franchise. So given all that, it's pretty unlikely that the Nats will have their AAA affiliate in Richmond next year.

Barry-

So if we don't see Shawn Hill, who will make the start? Collin Balester? Tyler Clippard? Garrett Mock? Mike O'Connor? Please don't tell me Joel Hanrahan will make a spot start (saw enough out of him last season).

my over-under for hill this season: 10 starts.

Touching again on the nature of fandom in this area... I went to two of the three Marlins games (which other than the fact that the Marlins really aren't usually an exciting team and it was DAMN COLD on Monday - Thursday was beautiful though - and the Nationals lost both games in a most annoying fashion were entertaining, but I digress) and fully half of the people wearing team stuff in the stadium were wearing non-Nationals things (however, I don't recall seeing any Marlins gear at all, funny that). So we do have a way to go around here to get (most) everyone onboard the... Big Zim? Big Slick? Burger King Thing?... Regardless we will always have to contend with the large percentage of people in this town not from here who do not plan to put down roots (and the Philly fans who require 3x more security for their section than the rest of the stadium - annoying as Mets fans can be they aren't even close in the rude and boorish contest).

John Patterson has been working out in extended spring training and threw a bullpen session Monday.

Patterson said afterward that he's about a week away from being ready for game action and the Dallas Morning News speculates that he could begin a minor league rehab assignment in mid-May. Patterson is able to opt out of his contract with the Rangers if he's not in the majors by June 15.
Source: Dallas Morning News

Rotoworld usually give you updates, both minors and majors.
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=2961

BobLHead, thanks for the [AB] explanation. I may print it out and use it to win beers at the bar over trivia questions, sometime in the future.

I would like to see more promotion of the park and team to tourists, and not just those from visting teams. I think the idea of coming on the subway, seeing the stadium in full glory coming down Half Street, and not to mention the fantastic views of the city from the park, would be pretty exciting and quite promotable - and more family four-packs, regularly available, would be a good idea. We were on our way to the park on Sunday, near Dupont Circle, and someone came up to us to ask if we were headed to the game (we were wearing Nats' shirts) - and we were happy to have him come along - gave him directions on how to buy a farecard, assured him that tickets could be purchased at the stadium, etc., and we were all happier for it. Since we do have a big visitor base we should be marketing to it, encourage them to do a Washington thing.

Rally Squirrel!

TNX NatsNut!

==================
Patterson appearance: Right-hander John Patterson, who signed a minor league contract with the Rangers last month, threw a bullpen session for pitching coach Mark Connor. Patterson has been working out with the extended spring training team in Arizona and said he is about a week away from being ready to pitch in a game.

He said he will be on a regular spring training schedule starting with a two-inning outing once he gets into games. That could put him in position to join a minor league team by mid- to late May. Patterson can take his release if he's not in the majors by June 15.

===================

A week away from being ready?

Nuovo alberino

I mentioned McGeary in a post before any of you did. I don't forget about or ignore him. The 07 draft is the one thing that separates the Lerners from being completely abysmal, as opposed to just cheap.

The bottom line is that the Plan has all the makings of representing a continuing plan to "build for the future" that never comes to fruition--see, for example, KC or Pittsburgh. The fact that the Lerners decided to save tens of millions of dollars this season because it is "not time to contend" and are putting a joke of a team on the field speaks volumes about their cheapness.

Some of you talked about contending in 2010 or 2011 as what you would expect. Well, I have news for you: it's not going to happen under the Plan as currently constituted. Who are the starting pitchers who are going to get you there? Who are your middle infielders? Come 2011, the Lerners are going to be talking about 2014, about how it's "not yet time" to dip into the free agent market, and will continue to be cheap.

I hope I'm proven wrong about this, but I haven't seen any indication to date that I am.
_______________
John in Mpls,

I forgot about the Stanford deal McGeary got. Good call.

It's funny how the "Lerners are cheap" crowd forgets about or ignores the millions they have spent on scouting and signing draft picks. If they really were "cheap bastards" they wouldn't even do this.

Posted by: Section 505/203 | April 15, 2008 2:01 PM

New post ->
Nuovo alberino ->
New starter shaft
So it's actually...

"BabelFish"

If anyone should be getting a spot start it's Collin Balester, though Mike O'Connor is also deserving.

I'm guessing they feel that regardless of his success in his AAA start Sunday IF he can pitch w/o pain he should be starting. We'll find out at FLA how smart this is, but qwe don't know what limitations he was given in his start (ie lay off the heat or breaking stuff and just throw whatever) we need to know that you can throw, not that you can get 32 yo AAA lifers to ground out...

I'd go with O'Connor after last night and having seen him pitch a no-hitter for 5 innings in Vero Beach. Hill looks like he needs more time. Both of his last outings saw him tire in the 4th inning. Seems like he could still stand a couple of more rehab starts, at least, to get stamina, leg and arm strength back up to where it needs to be. I believe they have room on the 40-man roster to add O'Connor, if not, they could move Wagner to the 60-day DL. I believe they need to make a 25-man roster move regardless of what they do to make room for a 5th starter. Would almost have to be Schroeder.

my browser

O's Exec has Brady-burns! And now for my alter ego, the reformed O's Exec.....

That you, 506?

Shawn Hill is listed on the official Nationals website as probable pitcher for Friday start against the Marlins and Redding on Saturday.

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