Chat Details

Nationals Chat 08-27-08

This chat will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2008.

Times beat writer Mark Zuckerman takes your questions on the Nats.

Hi everyone and welcome to another week of fans venting their frustrations over the worst team in the majors and me trying to offer up reasonable and (every once in a while, though not often enough) humerous responses. Let's do it...

Transcript

1. • As the Nats slouch to a record with losses somewhere north of 100, I hope the Lerners are cognizant of the continuing implosion of their alleged baseball organization. Miniscule television and radio ratings - no fault of Charlie and Dave - and the loss of hope that the current regime (yes, I'm talking about the general manager) can reverse the erosion. And when rival scouts notice how uninspired the players seem, that's another dagger. Right now, the best thing about going to Nationals Park is the stadium itself. Bowden can talk about all of the prospects he wants, but the major league roster needs a talent infusion to at least present a palatable product to the public. The more I look at the Nationals way of doing business – consistently playing with less than a full compliment of players - I don't see much difference from how business was done under the Bob Short regime where corners were constantly cut to save money. This team and this organization has lost so much momentum and good will that should have been used to build a larger and stronger fan base. What can be done to stop this erosion? by Silver Spring, MD
   • Answer: And here we go. I wasn't around (either in D.C. or in this world) for the Bob Short regime in 1971, but I'd be careful about comparing that owner to this ownership group. For one thing, I have no reason to believe the Lerner family EVER would move this team out of Washington. ... But as for what can be done, short of fielding a contending team in 2009 (doubtful) I think it's important for the organization to reconnect with the fan base this winter. Holds lots of events in town, with real, live players in attendance. Offer discounts on tickets, parking and concessions. Put up Nats banners and billboards wherever they can. Run TV ads. In other words, be visible and be sympathetic to fans. by Mark Zuckerman
2. • Any rumblings on who the Nationals might be recalling on September 1st? by Alexandria, VA
   • Answer: This is one of those subjects that the Nats are always hesitant to leak out. As Jim Bowden says, he wants the player to find out before the media does. Fair enough. But I'm picking up hints that one of the players called up could be Mike Hinckley, the left-hander and former top pitching prospect for the organization who fell off the face of the earth but has resurfaced this year as a reliever with Columbus. by Mark Zuckerman
3. • You get to see Greg Maddux tonight. ... how does he compare to the other great hurlers you've seen while covering baseball? Top five, or higher? by Fairfax, Va.
   • Answer: Ooh, that's a good question. I'm now remembering a Maddux game I covered years ago as an intern at the Daily Southtown in Chicago where he beat the Cubs with a 76-pitch complete game. Absolutely awe-inspiring. I'd say he's definitely top 5 among pitchers I've seen in person, maybe top 3. I'd maybe put Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez in their prime ahead of him. Of course, if I was basing this only on great pitching efforts I've seen against the Nats, I'd have to include Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, CC Sabathia, Ben Sheets, Derek Lowe, Cole Hamels, Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum, Rich Harden ... by Mark Zuckerman
4. • "Holds lots of events in town, with real, live players in attendance. Offer discounts on tickets, parking and concessions. Put up Nats banners and billboards wherever they can. " You forgot to add "question every expense down to the thousandth of a penny and pay bills late." by Rosslyn, VA
   • Answer: You said it, not me. by Mark Zuckerman
5. • Mark everyone keeps saying we need to make a splash in the free agent market this off season. But I think that is going to be difficult. So lets play a little game today. I'll be a big time free agent and you can be Jim Bowden. You have matched my best offer money wise. How do you convince me that Washington is where I want to play. by Fredericksburg
   • Answer: OK, I'll take the bait. Now channeling Jim Bowden... "Look, I know this team isn't going to win right now. But you get a chance to play in the best ballpark in America -- have you SEEN the giant HD scoreboard and the HUGE clubhouse? -- and become an instant star in this town. Besides, I've given up on trying to acquire all my old former players from Cincinnati. We're doing things the RIGHT way now! It's time to ACTA-vate, baby!" by Mark Zuckerman
6. • So who gets fired first? Current GM Jim Bowden or former GM Omar Minaya? My money is on the latter. by Fredericksburg
   • Answer: Last I checked, the Mets were right in the thick of the playoff race again. If they suffer another September collapse, I could Omar being in trouble. But if they win the division? I don't know about that. by Mark Zuckerman
7. • Austin Kearns played for three weeks on a stress fracture in his foot. What on earth is wrong with the medical professionals associated with this team? Or should we be pointing the finger elsewhere? by Third World Medical School Student
   • Answer: In this case, and only this case, I don't think you can point the finger at anyone but Kearns himself. He played through the pain for three weeks and it wasn't until a few days ago that it became noticeable something was wrong. The medical staff can't know a guy is hurt until he first tells them that he is. by Mark Zuckerman
8. • Where do you place the odds on seeing Shawn Hill or Dmitri Young before the end of the 2008 season? by Mount Vernon, VA
   • Answer: I'm going to say we see both of them before the end of the season. Maybe not much of them, but at least a little. I say Hill returns to pitch an inning or two out of the bullpen and test how his forearm feels. And I think Dmitri will get some pinch-hitting opportunities down the stretch, though perhaps not any time in the field. by Mark Zuckerman
9. • Mark, since you weren't around when Bob Short owned the Senators in 1971 he said the public would pay to see a lousy team. He said "people will pay to see (Frank) Howard strike out; people will pay to see (Denny) McLain give up home runs." How is that any different from what we're seeing nightly at Nats Park? bad baseball is bad baseball in any era. by Silver Spring, MD
   • Answer: Fair enough. All I was saying was that I don't see the Lerners taking that final, horrible step that Short did and relocating to another town. But clearly, this ownership group needs to understand how upset the fan base is -- and I suspect when it comes time for season ticket renewals, they will -- and start taking steps to fix that. by Mark Zuckerman
10. • As far as Kearns goes, you know what they do in horse racing when they break a leg................. by Fredericksburg
    • Answer: Ouch. That's harsh. ... I don't know that Austin Kearns would make good glue. Not powerful enough. by Mark Zuckerman
11. • Of the current 25 men on the roster, how many won't we see in 2009? (You don't have to name names unless you feel like it). by Washington, DC
    • Answer: I'll take a guess on a few names who probably won't be back next year: Jesus Colome, Odalis Perez, Aaron Boone, Charlie Manning, Anderson Hernandez, Pete Orr. by Mark Zuckerman
12. • OK that's gonna do it for today. Based on this week's questions, I can see a couple of wins over the Cubs and Dodgers aren't going to change most fans' feelings about this team. Perhaps if they beat Maddux tonight... Until next week, thanks for joining in! by Mark Zuckerman
    • Answer: by Mark Zuckerman