tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post5753323621242276030..comments2023-10-20T04:28:04.547-04:00Comments on Nats320 -- A Washington Nationals Blog: Mini-Season Ticket Plans Now AvailableScreech's Best Friendhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01094199653375184305noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-79841052235046140392009-02-13T10:47:00.000-05:002009-02-13T10:47:00.000-05:00While these mini-plans are an excellent idea and l...While these mini-plans are an excellent idea and long-overdue (the Caps have had a variety of these plans for years), why didn't the Nats offer these last fall when decisions had to be made as to renewing full season's tickets?<BR/><BR/>I have split full season's tickets with a number of other people since the first season in 2005. Quite honestly it is a royal pain having to deal with so many people wanting big games (e.g, opening day, first day in the new ballpark, Yankees, Red Sox, etc.) and generally moaning about everything from seat location to parking.<BR/><BR/>I only end up getting 10 games a year, many that I don't want because of our procedure for allocating tickets. Had these options been available last November when we had to renew our full season's tickets, I would definitely have cancelled.<BR/><BR/>My guess is that is exactly the reason why the Nats waited until now to unveil these new ticket plans. They probably knew they would have had an even worse drop off in full season's tickets than they have already.<BR/><BR/>You can be sure I will be cancelling my full tickets for 2010 and picking up one of these more reasonably priced plans.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-79198185034677656692009-02-12T12:13:00.000-05:002009-02-12T12:13:00.000-05:00he is not the highest paid free agent for National...<I>he is not the highest paid free agent for Nationals either, as Soriano got $10 million (albeit for only one season)</I><BR/><BR/>Soriano wasn't a free agent, SenatorNat, they traded original Nat and Chevy Chase Bank spokesman Brad Wilkerson for him. As a side note, is Wilkerson the last (and maybe only) Nat to garner an endorsement deal from a local business?<BR/><BR/><I>Manny Acta: jury very much out of him - his moves seem transparent to the other dug-out. Can the Nats' deeper line-up help him to manage in a way that can make a difference to win games, and inspire the team.</I><BR/><BR/>Except for the last game at RFK, where Manny was clearly pulling out all the stops to get a win, I can't recall a single instance over his two years here where Manny's moves would have made any difference one way or the other to the outcome of the game. From his 2007 performance, it's clear that he has it in him to inspire a substandard team to be more than the sum of its parts. Given a better coaching staff this year, I think he also has it in him to do the same with a much better collection of parts. Expect to see them pick up his 2010 option year very soon into the season. The only way that won't happen is if the team totally tanks, and that would be a disaster rivaling Katrina.An Briosca Morhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06855174362787324401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-35314001147691231292009-02-12T11:34:00.000-05:002009-02-12T11:34:00.000-05:00I was happy to see mini-plans being offered. My mi...I was happy to see mini-plans being offered. My mini-group (two or three tix per game) has been putting together our own mini-plans since 2005.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-70973497940912501602009-02-12T10:50:00.000-05:002009-02-12T10:50:00.000-05:00These are nice plans and should help keep attendan...These are nice plans and should help keep attendance above 2 million in the second year, especially since the team now has a chance to win 75 games with Willingham and Dunn in the line-up.<BR/><BR/>Chico Harlan's article got it wrong on two accounts in generally positive article for him: Soriano was a very legitimate power threat in 2006 (i.e. Dunn will not be the "first" since baseball returned to D.C.), and he is not the highest paid free agent for Nationals either, as Soriano got $10 million (albeit for only one season). Signing Dunn for less than he made in Arizona, committing for only two years, and giving up nothing for that right was extremely prudent, incidentally.<BR/><BR/>As for trade possibilities in wake of Dunn signing: Kearns seems to have very small return value despite having above average defensive skills and a great ML disposition. D.Young actually might be attractive to AL team as DH (Orioles?) should he be in camp in decent physical shape. Belliard poses very marginal return - agree with SBF that his range is terrible. Willie Harris actually proved last year to be a super utility player, but doubtful that he would garner a starter - perhaps a reliever. Leaves Lastings Milledge as the guy with most potential to draw a middle of the rotation starter - I would hesitate to make that move since he could become another Kenny Lofton - COULD - and Nats fans would rue that move for years...<BR/><BR/>I propose making Milledge into that lead-off hitter that the Nats can never seem to find - and work with him hard to track balls in center: too much potential to give up on him after only one season, and one in which he seemed to improve over the course of the year, overall. He was able to draw walks as the year went on, and can bunt a bit too.<BR/><BR/>Line-up (reserves):<BR/><BR/>1. Milledge CF (Harris)<BR/>2. Guzman SS (Gonzolez)<BR/>3. Zimmerman 3B (Belliard)<BR/>4. Dunn 1B (Johnson)<BR/>5. Willingham LF (Kearns)<BR/>6. Dukes RF (Kearns)<BR/>7. Flores C (Nieves)<BR/>8. Hernandez 2B (Belliard)<BR/><BR/>This line-up is good to strong defensively, except at first base and in spots in center. It has average to good overall speed. It is young, but with the exception of second-base, experienced due to substantial playing time for Dukes, Flores, Milledge in 2008. They are grew-up in dismal season.<BR/><BR/>The batting coach is much better than last year (Screech would be better than L. Harris!), and I think we will see the results of that very clearly this season. Overall, the team should hit .265 or better. This line-up and reserves should produce 50 more HR's, with 100 more runs overall. <BR/><BR/>Pitching, pitching, pitching will be the three questions, and more, going into 2009. With all the stars aligned: Shawn Hill beats injury mystery jinx and is a stud he can be; John Lannan just continues to show his smarts and command; Scott Olson is an innings eater and the dean of the staff; Colin Ballister grows; and Jordan Zimmermann is the second coming of Zimmerman. Odalis Perez would not be a bad sixth starter based on last year, either.<BR/><BR/>Bullpen, consisting of Mock and Bergmann (both of whom can fill-in as starters in a pinch); Shell and Rivera; <BR/>and Joel Hanrahan as closer equally promising and simultaneously questionable as the starting rotation - no old tired arms in the bunch though.<BR/><BR/>Manny Acta: jury very much out of him - his moves seem transparent to the other dug-out. Can the Nats' deeper line-up help him to manage in a way that can make a difference to win games, and inspire the team. His stoical nature verges on Depression from this vantage point. I suspect that the new batting coach may be the Nats skipper in 2010 should Acta not be viewed as growing in his position...<BR/><BR/>Trust in the Plan and the Man, and Bow-Bow and his traveling Reds. All Humming, If Not Buzzing.SenatorNathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10049860385485455410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-75327970451714642622009-02-12T10:32:00.000-05:002009-02-12T10:32:00.000-05:00So, are people who purchase these new plans now Se...So, are people who purchase these new plans now Season Ticket Holders who get to avail themselves of all the exciting benefits enjoyed by 21, 41 and 81 game plan holders? <I>[Pause until gales of laughter subside.]</I> Will they get to complain when their tickets don't come in a fancy box with a pin? If they don't like what they see on the field, are they allowed to threaten to cancel their season tickets? And most importantly, does this mark them as a higher class of person than Tom Boswell?An Briosca Morhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06855174362787324401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28676208.post-46036831730655499832009-02-12T10:23:00.000-05:002009-02-12T10:23:00.000-05:00This is excellent news and probably something that...This is excellent news and probably something that should have been initiated the very first season the Lerners took ownership of the team. I think this will help ticket sales, because in a depressed economy, it's a method for people to go to games without spending exorbitant amounts of money. I can split a 12-game package in lower right field terrace, get tickets to 6 games (many of them premium), for $99 per person. That's not bad.<BR/><BR/>What hasn't been announced is whether there will be the right to purchase postseason tickets with a 12-game package. HAHAHAHAHA!<BR/><BR/>But I would actually like to know if you have the right that regular season ticket holders have to keep your seats from season-to-season.Jeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324190091568057197noreply@blogger.com