tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post4788778845516813798..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Updating With The PresidentScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-55165844437917181162007-05-11T11:47:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:47:00.000-04:00We shall look back on these days and these intervi...We shall look back on these days and these interviews with great fondness - SBF and Stan the Man have a chemistry, obviously, and Kasten deserves a lot of credit for appreciating the energy and the SPIRIT which is conveyed through these periodic exchanges.<BR/><BR/>A few comments: "limited resources;" "money to go into the stadium to last 30-40 years" etc. Well, that translates into Soriano's potential $18 million to keep him is a 360 degree baseball, etc. above the new stadium, and a high-tech scoreboard screen. <BR/><BR/>I think we are would prefer that these two line items NOT BE LINKED - D.C. sprung for a $650 million stadium, and Bud Selig hand-wrapped the franchise for the Lerners and gave them the brain, experience, and energy of Stan Kasten as a trustee besides!<BR/><BR/>As to the Village Idiot line, overused now by Kasten, while it is appropriately self-deprecating, and deflects attention from the Lerners and their Landover Mall persona (cheap and tone-deaf), he should recognize that as long as former Mayor Barry and current President Bush are around, the best he can finish in the VI race is third! (And Linda Cropp still lives in the area, so fourth, in all probability...)<BR/><BR/>Zimmerman thinks that next year the Nats have "$40-50 million" to spring for power hitter; lead-off hitter; and two starters!!<BR/><BR/>Best in can hope for is another $25 million to current budget: that buys half the loaf, and keeps the current nucleus in tact. <BR/><BR/>Lerners are on a pay as you go budget (Hoover economics) and they aren't about to front another dime, since they are banking on 3 million fans for the novelty of new stadium, and want to net $20-40 million each year, with no exceptions. <BR/><BR/>Plus, in 2009, we lose Guzman's contract, putting a Big $4 million back in the kitty - means that we can have Roger Clemins pitch one game in 2009 for Nats!!<BR/><BR/>Trust in Kasten. All Good.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-49154980663468183012007-05-11T11:42:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:42:00.000-04:00What Stan needs to do to attract fans is to have a...What Stan needs to do to attract fans is to have an entertaining product-he does not have anything close to that now. Everyone knows he needs to redevelop the Nat's minor league system, what does that have to do with putting an entertaining product on the field? Fans would accept the loses better if the team was at least entertaining. <BR/><BR/>The Plan so far = boring. <BR/><BR/>Still hard to believe that he threw in the towel on this season so thoroughly and expects fans, especially the young ones, to ride it out with him.Brenathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17977373836807077512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-38411688017039325042007-05-11T11:17:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:17:00.000-04:00I like "the plan," but some of us are going to hav...I like "the plan," but some of us are going to have reservations about it as long as Jim Bowden -- a holdover from the old MLB-owned days, ostensibly as a caretaker --is general manager. Especially since Bowden has no visible track record with building starting pitching. If Kasten had installed his own GM, many of us would have more confidence.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and would you <I>please</I> tell Stan to have the music people stop playing "Sweet Caroline"? Send her back to Boston where she belongs and let's get something original.VP81955https://www.blogger.com/profile/11792390726196611188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-17714508770684403482007-05-11T10:26:00.000-04:002007-05-11T10:26:00.000-04:00I am more excited than ever to be a Nats fan becau...I am more excited than ever to be a Nats fan because, for once, a Washington DC sports team is focusing on building from within and setting long-term goals. It is very refreshing to watch the Nationals build the franchise the right way. I am proud to call myself a Nationals fan and I cannot wait until we "turn the corner". <BR/><BR/>Great post today!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-3347923735025261042007-05-11T07:08:00.000-04:002007-05-11T07:08:00.000-04:00Excellent interview, as always! So often we see s...Excellent interview, as always! So often we see sounds bites, one liners, and editorializing that claims to be analysis. No, I don't have anyone in particular in mind, because it seems to be the case throughout the media. (I suspect being the epicenter for politics here inside the beltway may means it come with the territory.) It's a breath of fresh air to get beyond all that and read an interview with incisive questions that allow an interviewee to SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-42026673439812165472007-05-11T05:44:00.000-04:002007-05-11T05:44:00.000-04:00Very interesting read.....My question is, what wou...Very interesting read.....<BR/><BR/>My question is, what would Stan say differently if things were truly going poorly? How would we ever know? If it is true we would not ever know, is that a good thing are bad thing?JayBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11448827055342357809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-34732248211662339182007-05-11T00:29:00.000-04:002007-05-11T00:29:00.000-04:00Excellent news all around.Stan Kasten and Jim Bowd...Excellent news all around.<BR/><BR/>Stan Kasten and Jim Bowden have seen the lean times, and they have a valuable degree of perspective. Yeah, this year may be almost historically bad, but someday when things are great, we'll look back on this year and have a good laugh, I'm sure of it.Crashhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03269599289882922109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-90855564624629278652007-05-10T22:30:00.000-04:002007-05-10T22:30:00.000-04:00SBF=Stan's go to man.A blogger who is a real repor...SBF=Stan's go to man.<BR/>A blogger who is a real reporter.<BR/>We ARE LUCKY OU ARE A NATS FAN.<BR/>See you Sat evening.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-17826924446927444192007-05-10T22:10:00.000-04:002007-05-10T22:10:00.000-04:00Dear SBF,I feel so fortunate to read your blog, pa...Dear SBF,<BR/><BR/>I feel so fortunate to read your blog, particularly when you get these interviews with Nats officials. Great job!<BR/><BR/>Like you, I am a faithful believer in the plan. To me it makes perfect sense that a franchise that was neglected and left to rot for 4 years while owned by MLB is one that needs to be rebuilt from the bottom up. It's the only way to sustain any level of excellence that this team might enjoy in the future. Those who are complaining about this season are, in my opinion, very short-sighted and demonstrate a somewhat childlike sense of entitlement to immediate gratification. <BR/><BR/>I'm glad that we have an ownership group that is approaching the construction of a team in a mature and realistic manner with a sense of long-term success in mind.<BR/><BR/>I am really looking forward to the second part of your interview with Stan. Keep up the good work!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com