Elktonnick

There is a concept called market penetration. Let's say for the sack of discusssion I decide to put a MLB team in London and Mexico City. Both are huge markets. The team in London would have a high probability of failure, the team in Mexico City less so. Why because there is greater likelyhood of market penetration in Mexico City than London. That is the situation that the NATS face. Washington is not a baseball town. The NATS are fighting for survival. They may win I hope they do. The NAts do benefit from one of the same things that the O's do. Frequently the NATS and the O's are visiting teams in their home ball park. I know trhat is the case because I've seen the Red Sox play in both ball parks and Red Sox fans out numbered NATS/O's fans every time. Their challenge is to create a market for NATS baseball where none existed before. Until they do they aren't a large market team. Two MLB teams have failed in Washington for a reason.

Knowledgeable observers do not consider either Baltimore or Washington large market teams. I haven't heard one professional sportwriter refer to them as such. It is really silly to think otherwise. The real issue regarding the NATS is whether they can survive in DC until they can build fan loyalty and a fan base sufficient for them to compete on a regular basis for a playoff spot. There are more than a few here who don't think they can.

Knowledgeable observers do not consider either Baltimore or Washington large market teams. I haven't heard one professional sportwriter refer to them as such. It is really silly to think otherwise. The real issue regarding the NATS is whether they can survive in DC until they can build fan loyalty and a fan base sufficient for them to compete on a regular basis for a playoff spot. There are more than a few here who don't think they can.

Considering the number of dunderheads who have been GMs in MLB over the years the first part of your post is an understatement to say the least.

I find it fascinating that some people critcize those of us who make reasonable judgments about the FO based on what it is they do or fail to do. Seems Red Sox fans have been doing that ( criticizing the FO) for the past one huindred years.

Anyone who thinks Baltimore is a big market doesn't live in the Baltimore area as I do. Here are the current facts. The Orioles owners own 86% of MASN now and lose one point a year until it hits 67% ownership down the road. Nats hire media consultant to improve MASN deal By Adam Kilgore The Washington Nationals have hired a high-profile media consultant to increase their share of the rights fees produced by the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, according to a report by the SportsBusiness Journal. The decision and ensuing negotiation could have a significant and positive impact on the Nationals’ revenue. The move comes at a critical time for two reasons. The Nationals’ deal with MASN has reached a five-year “reset” point, which means the Nationals can renegotiate with the Baltimore Orioles and MASN majority owner Peter Angelos to fall within market value. Across the league, newly formed deals with regional sports networks are filling the coffers of baseball franchises and creating an important new form of revenue. The coming negotiation could generate a significant boost to the Nationals’ revenue, which may or may not trickle down to their payroll and on-field product. The Nationals should expect to “at least double or triple” the $29 million they earned last year from MASN, said one individual with knowledge of baseball’s television rights system who spoke on condition of anonymity. The basis for the evaluation, this person explained, will be the recent television deals with regional sports networks in similar markets. The Texas Rangers recently extended their media rights deal with Fox Sports Southwest for 20 years and $1.6 billion. The Houston Astros signed a massive deal with Comcast that will begin in 2013, and the San Diego Padres are close to finishing a deal Fox Sports that reportedly will roughly double their old TV money. The Nationals hired a consultant, Chris Bevilacqua, with rich experience in brokering the television rights deals, according to the SBJ report. Bevilacqua negotiated the Rangers’ deal, as well as many others across many sports. “He’s as good as there is,” the source said. “He’s done every deal.”

The NATs are generally considered a "small " market team because: Revenues from MASN are split 90% Orioles, and 10% Nationals, and that will only shift to a 67% - 33% split in 20 years. It was part of the sweetheart package to the Orioles for swiping half their market away from them and relocating the Expos to DC . BTW the metro Washington area is considered the 9 th largest media market including radio And the Nats divide that territory with the O's. Are the O's a small market team? If your answer is yes then so are the NATS!

You may find interesting and even perhaps alarming but MLB radio referred to the Red Sox as a "second tier" club along with the Blue Jays.. Why because of the weakness of their pitching staff compared to top tier clubs. As to the top three starters Buccholtz is coming back from an injury which means there are questions. Beckett historically doesn't have two good years in a row. Lester tends to start the year slowly. Hey we all can hope but the reality is despite their ability to score there are major questions about their pitching and defense especially on the left side.

And "Bad" Penny

I know it is just an accusation but that being said it is just one more off the field distraction which seems to follow this team. I can't recall any red sox team with this much baggage.

If that were true (re JH and loyalty to Ortiz) then why not just pay Ortiz the 16 million and avoid arbitration all together. This one doesn't pass the smell test.

Now we have Carl Crawford being accused of swindling a former business partner. While I am not going tto prejudge this case but it seems the Red Sox players have more than their share of off field distractions.

Why spend a few million more to try and make the playoffs when they have already spent 170 million. Instead they commit a miniimum of 12 million to a Dh rather than that money to a starter. Everyone in baseball knows DH's win ball games and starting pitching is over rated.

I repeat what I posted several weeks ago, this team is weaker than the team that ended the year and their main competition has improved, significantly. The latest power rankings doesn't have them making the playoffs even with the second wild card. For the life of me why did they trade Scuturo? Even if BV had an issue with him what did they gain by doing it when they did?

"Best interests of baseball" the commissioner has very strong powers when it comes to this kind of thing. Plus both clubs have turned over to the commisssioner to resolve so it essence they have agreed to abide by his decision. Remember when Charlie O sent Vida Blue et al to the Red Sox and the commissioner vetoed the trade under the best interests of baseball "First, the clubs deleted the 1944 language that prevented the Commissioner from finding any act or practice complying with a major league rule to be detrimental to baseball. Also, the language "detrimental to the best interests of baseball" was changed to "not in the best interests of baseball." Finally, the clubs restored the provision waiving any right of recourse in the courts to challenge a Commissioner's decision." source MLB.COM

This move by Oswalt is not surprising. MLB radio called it over a week ago. Several of us thought that the Wakefield option was always going to be a possibility especially since the club made no real move to obtain a ML ready starter. I wonder how much they are banking on Selig delivering them one played a role.

When Youk plays he'll do fine the first half of the year. Over the past several years he tails off the second half. Plus based on his history he is unlikely to play more than 120 games.

Youk is not the player he was lasr year. Bailey is no Paplebon and we still have no 4th or 5th starters. So you are saying is nothing is bettter than Lackey and Dice-K. Give me a team who has contended withoout a Shortstop which is probably the most important position defensively.