tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post9142360787560935743..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Sawx'dScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-55882978477831927102009-06-24T19:22:13.872-04:002009-06-24T19:22:13.872-04:00SenatorNat, at least "Washington Generals&quo...SenatorNat, at least "Washington Generals" is not as bad as "Nubinals."<br /><br />I wish I could say I had a good time last night, but it made me sick to my stomach to see Nationals Park turned into Fenway South. The crowd actually tricked me into cheering for a Nationals strikeout at one point.<br /><br />The worst of it is this---if the Nationals ever become a playoff contender, we are unlikely to become as big a draw on the road. The Toronto Blue Jays were the worst drawing road team in MLB when they started playing as an expansion franchise. Incredibly, they were STILL the worst drawing road team after they not only became a contender, but won the World Series two consecutive years.<br /><br />Think that's an aberration because they are a Canadian team? I saw a powerful Detroit Tigers team come to RFK Stadium that was hitting home runs into the upper deck. It was a much better team than the Yankees (whom they beat in the playoffs) and I think even this Red Sox team. However, the crowd was sparse because they had the wrong name written across their jerseys.<br />I honestly think that if the 1927 Yankees were to come back in a time machine and play today, nobody would watch them on TV or travel to see them on the road if they wore the uniforms of the Chicago White Sox.<br /><br />Enough babbling. My feelings can be summed up in a text message I sent last night---"My sympathy for Yankee fans is growing expodentially."Edward J. Cunninghamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11925008506185290162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-51776840232979139652009-06-24T14:37:56.938-04:002009-06-24T14:37:56.938-04:00Chris Behrman (sp?) refers to Nationals derisively...Chris Behrman (sp?) refers to Nationals derisively as the "Washington Generals" with the connotation that we are the stooges playing patsy to the Harlem Globetrotters night in and night out - in this case, to the "true" major league teams like the Boston Red Sox.<br /><br />Growing up, the Red Sox, KC Athletics, and the Washington Senators were the bottom feeders of the American League - this changed, of course, with Yaz and Lonborg and the 1967 pennant, brought to Boston in part by the Mob breaking Tigers' Denny McClain's foot with weeks to go in the regular season. Red Sox can point to 1967 as the turning point when their Nation began to form. Prior to that, they booed Ted Williams, etc., and had a miserable team. They have a fantastic team ethic and the best fans outside of the Bronx in the U.S. The Patriots, deserving of such rabid loyalty, do not get it - so it is unique even within the Grasshopper City...<br /><br />Nationals started Josh Bard, who cannot catch or throw, Adam Dunn, who cannot catch or throw, and Josh Williamham, starting in right for only a handfull of games in his life prior to last evening.<br /><br />Mr. Yipps showed up for the eighth time last evening at 3rd base, unfortunately. Red Sox are the best dirtbag, Ty Cobbesque, take advantage of every opportunity, cut-throat bunch - timeless, wonderful baseball players.<br /><br />When Colume came in, they indeed most have grinned in unison to themselves - he is a cancer like Cabrera and must go for the good of the Nationals' spirit. Wells tries, but... And Hanrahan will have a revival in his career, hopefully, but I suspect that he feels like a veritable Dan Quayle in a public debate inside...<br /><br />I am for Manny for the duration; for Stan; for Mike; for the Nationals. I am concerned that the purse stings are still tied too tightly; and very concerned that the CFO may feel that the Washington Generals is not a bad moniker for a tacit business plan which benefits from an abundance of "Harlem Globetrotters'" fans generating the ROI.<br /><br />Trust in First in War, First in Peace, and First Stop in D.C. for Expatriates. (Not ex-Patriots!) All Perplexing.<br />(Opinions expressed herein are simply the musings of a middle-aged man, and can be copied, dismissed, and ridiculed by any and all interested parties)SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-73957923548878635852009-06-24T11:41:46.865-04:002009-06-24T11:41:46.865-04:00So, you got to see RED SOX nation last night. Is i...So, you got to see RED SOX nation last night. Is it not great to hear in the visiting ballpark<br />"LET'S GO RED SOX !!!"<br /><br />By the way great interview with Hondo, and I like the Arlington Chargers Photo.<br /><br />GO SOX<br /><br />Your BRO MSSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-33654197758906485812009-06-24T11:39:42.840-04:002009-06-24T11:39:42.840-04:00So, you got to see what RED SOX Nation is all abou...So, you got to see what RED SOX Nation is all about last night. Is it not great to hear in the visiting ballpark "LET'S GO RED SOX"<br /><br />GO SOX<br /><br />Your BRO MSSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-74241193643161193162009-06-24T11:09:41.932-04:002009-06-24T11:09:41.932-04:00As a native New-Englander and life-long Sox fan, b...As a native New-Englander and life-long Sox fan, but also a 5-year season's ticketholder for our beloved Nats, I felt schizophrenic last night. So I wore my Sox jersey and my Nats hat and cheered for both teams. Like playing with house money in Vegas...I could not lose.<br /><br />I was in the men's room when 5 Sox fans came in and they thought my outfit was so hilarious that everyone wanted my picture taken with them. And, I agree for us Sox lifers a lot of these bandwagon jumpers are an embarrassment and have no sense of history of the franchise. It is "Just Win Baby" for them. <br /><br />But mark my words there will be a lot of bandwagon jumpers when the Nats turn it around. Remember how RFK used to rock that first year? All those fair-weather fans will be back in droves. <br /><br />Those who complain about all the Sox fans at the games this week need to understand for a lot of these folks the only way they can go to a game, without paying ridiculous prices to scalpers, is to see them on the road. Fenway has had 505 consecutive sellouts and they have the most expensive seats in MLB.<br /><br />We may not realize how lucky we are to have such a beautiful ballpark. This is a quote from the Providence, RI Journal, "As far as the ballpark goes, David Ortiz stood near the cage during batting practice and said "Boston needs a place like this." <br /><br />I told my wife while I soaked in how beautiful our ballpark looked filled with people and energy that someday it will look really nice during a World Series game!yazzy1956https://www.blogger.com/profile/17547480988367313462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-13844897965072032702009-06-24T11:04:46.219-04:002009-06-24T11:04:46.219-04:00Actually I found a needy nats fan near me here in ...Actually I found a needy nats fan near me here in courthouse thru Craigslist. He showed me his Chief bobblehead, clip from the Post from Zims walkoff in the opener last year and a Hondo autographed helmet for proof.<br /><br />But thanks for the ESPN reminder. Forgot about that.Softball Girlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-25531052353123331762009-06-24T10:36:25.795-04:002009-06-24T10:36:25.795-04:00softball girl: Thanks for the offer. Sohna and I h...softball girl: Thanks for the offer. Sohna and I have season tickets and attend every game anyway. But we would be more than happy to give them to a worthy Nats Fan if you like. I will be at the ESPN Zone at 12 Noon today for Wil Nieves and Charley Slowes in Downtown DC--if you can make it there.Screech's Best Friendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-63931028875552647542009-06-24T10:18:08.402-04:002009-06-24T10:18:08.402-04:00The Globe said it best about the difference right ...The Globe said it best about the difference right now between the Sox and the Nats:<br /><br />"No one would argue the talent level in either dugout is anything but disparate. But last night’s outcome came about in part because, at each pivotal moment, the Red Sox did small things that help a team win night after summer night and the Nationals did things that help a team lose night after summer night.<br /><br />The Red Sox took the lead, for the third and final time, in the seventh after a rally that began with the Nationals’ league-high 65th error.... Kevin Youkilis grounded to third base, which, when a team is 20-48, can manage to be the beginning of the end.<br /><br />Ryan Zimmerman picked up the ball and fired to first, a short hop that Nick Johnson could not handle. The ball trickled away, and Youkilis stood on first base.<br /><br />Bay rolled a single through the left side. Youkilis dashed to second and watched Adam Dunn lumber toward the ball. There is a difference between a fast base runner and a good base runner, and Youkilis is the dictionary example of the latter.<br /><br />“You can call Youk athletic,’’ Francona said. “Put your name next to it, not mine.’’ But there was Youkilis, darting around second base and headed toward third. He slid feet first, in time by a couple steps. “Huge,’’ said Bay, who followed behind to second. The Nationals intentionally walked Mike Lowell, and Jason Varitek belted a sacrifice fly to Dunn.<br /><br />It was obscured an inning later, but consider how the winning run scored: A routine play botched, an intelligent base running maneuver, a plain sacrifice fly. In baseball, the difference between the worst teams and the best teams is often reduced to small things done well."<br /><br />In fact, Pedroia's double in the 9th also could define the difference between the Sox and the Nats. Pedroia saw the lazy approach to his outfield shot and never hesitated on his way to second. Wham, a single becomes a double. No excuse for that.<br /><br />Nick Green's superb double play another example of how great teams just seem to make the right plays when needed. <br /><br />And, of course, it all fell apart for the Nats once the relievers entered the game.<br /><br />Nice to see a packed house, a festive environment at Nationals Park, and Red Sox fans were loud but respectful.<br /><br />Nats management has a lot of work to do if it wants to see crowds like that on a regular basis to watch the Nationals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-68850316263490628312009-06-24T10:00:12.460-04:002009-06-24T10:00:12.460-04:00Love the blog, and as a Red Sox fan, enjoyed the D...Love the blog, and as a Red Sox fan, enjoyed the DC hospitality last night. Great pics! All best wishes to the Nationals -- starting Friday!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-60485581627632724852009-06-24T09:20:43.075-04:002009-06-24T09:20:43.075-04:00Hi SBF. I have 2 tix to tonight's game which I...Hi SBF. I have 2 tix to tonight's game which I can't use. I know this is odd, but I want to give them to you to make sure they don't fall into a Sox fan's hands. Any way to do that? Or I'll give them to any of your readers for free provided they're Nats fans.Softball Girlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-65731946228708700192009-06-24T08:49:41.547-04:002009-06-24T08:49:41.547-04:00How could there be so many Boston fans in DC?? It ...How could there be so many Boston fans in DC?? It felt like a Boston stadium on our home turf, I almost didn't want to go or stay for that reason. You captured it all perfectly - hopefully the Nats stadium will pack it in like that for our own team!<br /><br />Willie Harris continues to do great and Zim needs to step it up. So disappointing to see how well we held it together and to see it all drop in the 7th inning. It felt like it could be such a close win... maybe tonight?cherylnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-85120348361011492882009-06-24T07:45:40.158-04:002009-06-24T07:45:40.158-04:00There was quite a crowd last night. I had several...There was quite a crowd last night. I had several Red Sox sitting around me. They were pretty nice, but they thought the KC and the Sunshine Band (That's the way I like it) was being played in their honor. I thought (again) that it makes no sense to play it at the seventh inning stretch when we don't have a safe lead. Can't we find something else to do?janetnoreply@blogger.com