Chat Details

Nationals Chat 07-09-08

This chat will begin at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2008.

Nationals beat writer Mark Zuckerman answers your questions Wednesday at 1 p.m.
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Hi everyone, welcome back for another weekly live chat. So, what's on your mind -- the Nats' six-game losing streak? Low ratings on MASN? Odalis Perez's potential invitation to Angel Hernandez's Thanksgiving dinner? You pick your question, send it to me and I'll fire back with a semi-educated answer.
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OK, let's get going...
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EDITOR'S NOTE: Apparently the newest Q&A's are being listed atop the previous ones, backwards of how it usually is. Not sure why that's happening, but just wanted to make everyone aware that if you're reading this, start at the bottom and work your way up to read everything in chronological order.

Transcript

1. • Good afternoon, Mark. You had an article a couple of days ago suggesting the Nationals were going to continue promoting their younger players (a la Roer Bernadina & Collin Balester). I have one question, are these younger players going to be brought up to play regularly or just to get "the major league experience" (i.e. sitting on the bench)? If it's the former, sounds like a good idea. If it's the latter, pass. by
   • Answer: I think it'll be a combination of the two. There are a few guys who should and will get a legitimate look (Mock, Clippard, Bernadina and Balester already are). I could see some relievers also being in that group, like maybe Zinicola. But there will probably be others who get the Ross Detwiler treatment (ie. a couple of token appearances). Those are more likely the younger guys who haven't advanced past Class AA yet. by Mark Zuckerman
2. • What do the terrible TV ratings for the Nats say about support for the team, overall, and what do you expect will happen when the attendance drops off after the first year excitement of a new stadium wears off? by
   • Answer: It's a fascinating subject, because I don't think anyone really knows the answer. But I think you can point to three reasons for the MASN ratings being what they are: 1) the team is terrible (this is by far the most important reason), 2) the Nats don't do a good enough job marketing themselves to the mass public (let's see some more ads on non-MASN stations, more signs around town, more promotion of community events that allow fans to interact with players), and then 3) MASN itself is a start-up network with a load of issues to sort out. by Mark Zuckerman
3. • Mark, Great job last night by both you and Ben....lots of news out yesterday to cover. I have Three questions. First, Pena is just not working out at all. He has no chance with a breaking ball and it must be killing the clubhouse as much as the fan base to watch night after night. When is enough, enough (for Jimbo, who never admits a mistake it seems)? Second question is about MASN numbers. Will these numbers force MASN to improve their product any, or better sell out so Stan and the Nats can do what it takes to upgrade the TV product to industry standard. I trust you are not able (forced) to watch the product much but it really does suck in a whole host of ways, not the least being No HD on FIOS! Third, several weeks ago Jimbo proclaimed Lenny Harris a part of the solution, not part of the problem and that Nats would break out of hitting slump is a few days. I understand injuries are a problem but honestly there is more to this problem than that, when does Harris go? by
   • Answer: Re WMP: Fans aren't the only ones frustrated by him. It extends to the clubhouse. But as I've repeatedly said, he's already guaranteed at least $2 million from the Nats next year, so I don't see them cutting him loose altogether, not yet. ... Re Harris: Bowden continues to stand by his hitting coach. I wouldn't expect any coaching changes during the season. After the season? I think everyone will be evaluated closely, and Harris' status certainly will be uncertain. by Mark Zuckerman
4. • Mark, I asked this question a few weeks ago and you said the time had not yet come. So, have the Nats now officially hit rock bottom? Also, what's the deal making Kory Casto baseball's youngest full-time pinch hitter when the team should be playing him at first base, third base and in the outfield to gauge his potential while continuing to give wasted at-bats to Meat Loaf and WMP? by
   • Answer: I refuse to concede that the Nats have hit rock bottom. This team keeps finding a way to sink lower, and I don't doubt they'll find a way to do it again before this season's over. by Mark Zuckerman
5. • Hiya Mark, Hey, just how serious is Bowden in regards to the supposed "Youth Initiative" he's talking about, as stated in one of your stories a few days ago? Is it just "save-my-job" talk that he has no intention on following through with? Or should we really, actually expect him to start replacing the Wily Mo Pena's, Felipe Lopez's and Jesus Colome's with prospects? In regards to Wily Mo Pena, to quote a famous sailor, "That's all I can stands, and I can't stands no more!" How much longer does this futile Wily Mo Pena experiment linger on before we do the right thing and cut ties? Last season was a fluke, and he's not going to magically get any better. It's long past time for the Lerners to eat his 2M contract and let him go on his way. by
   • Answer: Bowden and the Nats have no choice but to take a look at their kids over the next three months. What else is there to accomplish in 2008? by Mark Zuckerman
6. • Mark, I need you to be honest with me. At this point as bad as things have gotten, is the best I can hope for from the 2008 season is the number one pick in the 2009 draft? Or will this team some how mess that up too? by
   • Answer: Well, there's still 2 1/2 months to go, but I'd say the Nats, Mariners and Padres are in prime position to go after the No. 1 pick (early consensus is that it's a right-hander from San Diego State with great stuff). Should that be the Nats' goal the rest of the way? No, their job is to go out and win as many games as they can, and every player and coach in there would say that. That said, let me ask you this: Would you rather see the Nats finish 65-97 and have the No. 3 pick, or 58-104 and have the No. 1 pick? by Mark Zuckerman
7. • Who do you see being traded over the next three weeks and what do you expect in return? by
   • Answer: I think the most likely candidates are Odalis Perez (assuming he doesn't get suspended for 15 games or something, doubtful), Tim Redding and Paul Lo Duca. How much can they get in return? For Perez and Redding, probably a mid-level prospect. For Lo Duca, maybe a low-level prospect. The bigger gain there would be to lose his salary (and roster spot) for the rest of the season. by Mark Zuckerman
8. • Mark, Nats seem way behind on signing draft picks this year compared to last year. What are you hearing about this and does it make any economic sense to lose development time on your top picks to save a small about of money.....keep in mind just how much money Nats have wasted this season alone on Pena, Estrada, Lo Duca, Lopez, Rob M. (the OF they cut already).....does it make sense to spend a extra million or so and sign all the top 20 by July first and get them in the pipeline? by
   • Answer: They're one month into the two-month signing period, so I wouldn't jump on their case quite yet. I expect a flurry of activity over the next few weeks. I also don't believe it makes sense to fork over millions of dollars to high school and college players who have zero pro experience and no real bargaining position to boot (other than going back to school and re-entering the draft next year). by Mark Zuckerman
9. • Does anyone at the Nats draw any corelation to the empty seats in camera range and the low TV ratings? Will there be changes in the ticket prices in the lower level next year? Any progress on signing Guzman? Zimmerman? Zimmerman's price continues to go up. Why are they waiting? by
   • Answer: The empty Presidents Club seats, while an eyesore, aren't affecting TV ratings. I don't see the correlation there. ... Nats and Guzman are still talking contract. Guzy wants to stay in D.C., but you better believe his price went up when he was named to the All-Star team. Zimmerman is injured, his value is not increasing and there's no reason for either side to agree to an extension right now. by Mark Zuckerman
10. • How much of Stan Kasten's cheerleading is just that and how much is realistic, when he points to the future competitiveness of the Nats? by
    • Answer: Probably a combination of the two. Stan knows how to talk up his product. But there is some sincerety to it. We don't know how many (if any) of the Nats' prospects are going to pan out, but we do know they have stocked up with a lot of talented players, which increases the odds that a couple of them do blossom and lead this team to the promised land ... someday. by Mark Zuckerman
11. • Would it be appropriate to start a collection to help pay Wily Mo Pena's contract next year so we don't have to watch him play? by
    • Answer: Well, if those Neilson numbers really are accurate, if every Nats TV viewer would just donate $1 a piece, the Nats would only have to cover $1,991,000 of WMP's 2009 contract. by Mark Zuckerman
12. • The Marlins were scrambling desperately for a catcher over the past few days after two of their catchers went down to injury. We've got 4 catchers. Has this come up at *all* in any way within the walls of the Nats BrainTrust? the Marlins have Dallas McPherson sitting in AAA who is absolutely demolishing AAA pitching(he's batting something ridiculous like .330 with 30+ HRs in AAA), but won't be called up for some reason. I hear he's been moved to 1B, which calls into question the future of Mike Jacobs. Whaddya think, Mark? by
    • Answer: I do know that the Nats gave Paul Lo Duca permission to seek a trade, and while the team was in Florida last week, he expressed some interest in returning to the Marlins. So far, the Fish aren't biting. by Mark Zuckerman
13. • In light of the Zimmerman injury, is the minor league system teaching the feet first slide? Ty Cobb would tell you it's better to spike the other guy than get kicked by him. by
    • Answer: Coaches and organizations can encourage players to slide feet-first, but they can't force it. And players, including Zimmerman, would tell you there's just as good a chance of getting injured sliding feet-first (especially into the plate) as there is going head-first. It's a no-win situation. by Mark Zuckerman
14. • Why didn't the Nats trade Nick Johnson for Rich Harden? by
    • Answer: Did I miss something? Was that an actual offer made at some point? Let's see: one really talented-but-oft-injured position player for one really talented-but-oft-injured pitcher? Sounds like a fair deal, but I don't think that one was ever in the works. by Mark Zuckerman