The 2006 Washington Nationals Season thread

[El Mudo]

Obviously, the biggest news for my beloved Nats this offseason was probably the whole lease situation, which is going to continue to kill us because we have no owner...

Saw an article today that the Mayor is confident the lease will be approved by MLB, who is more than a lil confused about what's going on right now....

Big acquistion this offseason was Soriano..but I don't believe he's going to be here for any significant length of time...I expect him to get moved by the deadline if only for the fact he's going to be a Free Agent after this year, and will probably refuse to play anywhere other than second

I expect us to be pretty mediocre this year...the big thing is everyone else in the NL East improved (except for the Marlins), and we really didn't at all. After Livan and JP the rotation thins out with Ramon Ortiz and John Rauch and Tony Armas/Ryan Drese....the bullpen is strong at least at the back end with Majewski and Cordero...

We still need a leadoff hitter...right now its Brendan Watson's job to lose, and Guillen and Vidro are banged up as well...They're trying to motivate Cristian Guzman by having brought in 400 middle infielders during the offseason, but I firmly believe its time to start the great Ian Desmond experiment, as the Ryan Zimmerman experiment is alreay underway at 3d....

I wish we could do better this year, but we'll probably finish ahead of the Marlins and thats it...

[cougarjake13]

<p>with everyone wanting to convert soriano to the outfield, nats included, &nbsp;a place he seemingly doesnt want to go, and washington not really being a contender, &nbsp;i would imagine that there's no way he'll resign with washington so they'd be better off trading him so they'll get at least something for him.</p><p><img src="file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Darren%20Jakobsen/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/cougarsigpic2.JPG" align="absBottom" border="0" /></p>

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>There's a simple reason why Soriano will never go to the outfield. His #'s in the outfield are good, top 20% of hitters at that position. At 2nd base, he's one of the best hitters in the game at that position. And he's approaching free agency. Dont forget that Soriano was a prodigy from day 1, and played in Japan rather than make chump change in the US minor leagues. The Yanks got him by offering him more $$ to come to their farm system. <br /> </p><p>He's actually not a bad guy, the Yankee players always said they liked him personally. But he's frustrating to a manager and organization because he's so talented, yet doesn't play smart at times. And the whole world but him knows he'd be better suited in the outfield, in particular center. Where he'd have more time to pick up the ball and can use his speed to catch up with them. But he doesn't act against his personal financial interests. </p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Bulldogcakes on 2-18-06 @ 7:40 PM</span>

[El Mudo]

I really have nothing against the guy trying to make a buck...

But at the same time it really hurts our team....A lot of people are convinced Big Frank will convince/cajole him to move to the OF but that's not going to happen IMO

And we really don't need him in the OF either...I know Guillen is hurt, but he'll be there, and Ryan Church is going to be a great player (he was never the same last year after destroying himself on the wall in Pittsburgh), and Bradon Watson is going to be the leadoff hitter...

I realize none of those guys are going to match Soriano production-wise, but Robert F. Kennedy Stadium has a way of evening things out, which is another reason why Soriano will be quickly out of here, and why hopefully when we get an owner, they will build this team around pitching and defense, until we get new digs....

We really gave up peanuts to get him so its not like we traded half of the roster....I will miss Brad Wilkerson, but he had his faults too in that he (a) struck out about 300 times (b) wasn't the answer at leadoff (that I really don't blame him for, that's more on Endy Chavez) and (c) he broke down at the end of the year

[El Mudo]

I can't BELIEVE this...

They're only going to televise 43 games this year.....36 on DCA, and 7 on Fox....

43 FREAKIN' GAMES....

Go to hell ComCast....and take MASN with you....

Fuckin' Angelos....take a goddamn dirt nap already....scumbag...

[HBox]

<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2344706" target="_blank">Here's some more bad news for ya.</a><br />

[El Mudo]

Is that the Brian Lawrence thing?

Gonna be a setback, but from what I hear, Ramon Ortiz has been pitching very well, so I would probbly pencil him in right now as the three starter, which probably leaves our rotation looking like:

Livan

Patterson

Ortiz

Armas

Drese/Rauch....

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 2-25-06 @ 11:17 PM</span>

[El Mudo]

Here's an interesting lil piece off of Buster Olney's Blog...


<hr color="cococo" align="left"></font>
The good news is Jose Vidro appears healthy. The bad news is that the Nationals appear to have a full-blown second base saturation problem on their hands, with Vidro and Alfonso Soriano intent on playing the same spot. The first meeting between Frank Robinson and Soriano might have been like a blind date, writes Dave Sheinin, but here's the thing: Soriano is polite and friendly and also incredibly stubborn. If they do ever manage to convince him to move to left field, I don't know how he would be in 2006. But I can tell you that when the Yankees did move him to left for a few weeks in 2001, as they tried to integrate him into their lineup before Chuck Knoblauch's throwing problem finally overcame him, Soriano was terrific in left field. As in: Excellent. Got great jumps, ran down stuff in the gaps, shockingly comfortable for his relative inexperience at the position; the Yankees were blown away. Now, the context would be completely different if he tried to play out there this year; he's five years older, and he would be going out there unwillingly. With the Yankees in 2001, he just wanted to find any avenue to play in the big leagues and embraced the idea of left field. That's certainly not his feeling now.
<hr color="cococo" align="left">

Again....you can't really blame the guy...putting up his type of numbers at 2B makes him a HOFer and gets him big money....doesn't translate as well to the OF...

I expect him to not be here long at all....if we're out of it really badly by the deadline....so long....

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 2-25-06 @ 11:24 PM</span>

[curtoid]

<blockquote style=""><strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />&nbsp; Again....you can't really blame the guy...putting up his type of numbers at 2B makes him a HOFer and gets him big money....doesn't translate as well to the OF...

I expect him to not be here long at all....if we're out of it really badly by the deadline....so long....[/quote]<blockquote style=""><br />[/quote]<blockquote style="">I was have a conversation about this today with a good friend - RFK is just not a good fit for him, and we might be able to deal him for several really good players that can really fill some needs. I'd love to have a reliable #3 pitcher in there.[/quote]<p>&nbsp;</p>

[TheMojoPin]

Soriano a HOFer at 2nd base?&nbsp; God, this talk drives me nuts, especially when his name keeps coming up as someone the Cubs might still be interested in.&nbsp; His defense is appalling.&nbsp; If you don't cringe when a ball is hit his way, you will be soon enough.&nbsp; Yeah, he can get some pop in his bat, but really only in certain stadiums.&nbsp; In others he's left out high and dry with his pile of strike outs and his horrible baserunning.&nbsp; The guy peaked WAY early, and his been sliding ever since...his stint in Texas only stalled the inevitable...I felt bad seeing the Nats trade away Wilkerson to get him.

[suggums]

it's just nice being able to go to a mlb game that doesn't require driving to baltimore.&nbsp; who cares if they win or lose, we needed a team<br />

[El Mudo]

Soriano a HOFer at 2nd base? God, this talk drives me nuts, especially when his name keeps coming up as someone the Cubs might still be interested in. His defense is appalling. If you don't cringe when a ball is hit his way, you will be soon enough. Yeah, he can get some pop in his bat, but really only in certain stadiums. In others he's left out high and dry with his pile of strike outs and his horrible baserunning. The guy peaked WAY early, and his been sliding ever since...his stint in Texas only stalled the inevitable...I felt bad seeing the Nats trade away Wilkerson to get him.


Nobody cares about defense in regards to the HOF....sure it helps certain players get in (Ozzie Smith), but no one really ever holds the fact you were terrible defensively against you...

Soriano does strike out too much, but he's also put up some of the best numbers a second baseman has put up since Rogers Hornsby...

I mentioned why Wilkerson wasn't really that big of a loss in comparison to Soriano....I like Wilkie, but he strikes out too much (Soriano does too, but Wilkerson doesn't match his production), he broke down at the end of last year, and frankly, I think Ryan Church is a better solution in the OF on a long-term basis (I know he was never the same after destroying himself in Pittsburgh last year....hopefully he's recovered)...And because Wilkie wasn't the answer at lead off, they've had to bring in Brandon Watson, which really puts the squeeze in the OF...just didn't have room for him anymore

Starting OF now looks like probably Watson, Guillen, and Church or Soriano

[TheMojoPin]

But when I say his defense is bad, I'm talking &quot;coaches are saying he sucks at even catching pop-ups&quot;-bad.&nbsp; People wanting him to play in the OF are just nuts...that's a terrifying option for a guy like that!&nbsp; And honestly, Soriano's numbers are gonna drop WAY off now that he's out of Texas.

[El Mudo]

I don't know...

RFK turns into a pretty good hitters park once summer starts...

Assuming he's still here in the summer...

[Marc with a c]

<p>how does one become a Nats fan? </p><p>werent you guys Orioles fans two years ago?</p>

[El Mudo]

1) I was never an Orioles fan

2) the Orioles belong to B-More, not DC

3) DC is a 'Skins town...so its not like people were nuts over baseball before the Nats got here...I would assume most people were indifferent...

4) So who did people root for in New York before the Mets got there? Who did people root for in Florida before the Marlins got there? In Atlanta before the Braves got there? I could go on like this

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 3-1-06 @ 7:02 AM</span>

[cupcakelove]

I'm with you El Mudo.&nbsp; The Orioles are a Baltimore team, and as
far as I can remember, DC is a football town anyways.&nbsp; I'm excited
to have a team locally that I can route for.&nbsp; Last season I
actually paid some attention to baseball outside of the playoffs.&nbsp;
Who knows what will happen this year.<br />

[TheMojoPin]

<p>Who did people root for in Florida before the Marlins got there?</p><p>Who do they root for NOW?&nbsp; It sure as hell isn't the Marlins...</p>

[Sheeplovr]

whoa when did Dc get a Baseball team?<br />

[mendyweiss]

<strong>Sheeplovr</strong> wrote:<br />whoa when did Dc get a Baseball team?<br /><p>1917</p>

[El Mudo]

Sheepie, the Montreal Expos moved to the District last year and became the Washington Nationals...they did really well in the first half of the season, but fell off the map in the second half as injuries really hurt this team (along with lack of an owner)

I think last year's season thread is still on here somewhere...
Its like a 10 page thread with only me and a couple others posting...



<a target='blank' href=http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/viewmessages.cfm/Forum/82/Topic/43616/page/The_Washington_Nationals_2005_Season_Thread.htm>http://www.ronfez.net/messageboard/viewmessages.cfm/Forum/82/Topic/43616/page/The_Washington_Nationals_2005_Season_Thread.htm</a>

[Marc with a c]

<strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />1) I was never an Orioles fan 2) the Orioles belong to B-More, not DC 3) DC is a 'Skins town...so its not like people were nuts over baseball before the Nats got here...I would assume most people were indifferent... 4) So who did people root for in New York before the Mets got there? Who did people root for in Florida before the Marlins got there? In Atlanta before the Braves got there? I could go on like this <span class="post_edited">This message was edited by El Mudo on 3-1-06 @ 7:02 AM</span> <p>my point is that if&nbsp;you were fan of another team before the Nats got there, what happened to your favorite team?</p>

[cupcakelove]

<strong>evedder</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />1)
I was never an Orioles fan 2) the Orioles belong to B-More, not DC 3)
DC is a 'Skins town...so its not like people were nuts over baseball
before the Nats got here...I would assume most people were
indifferent... 4) So who did people root for in New York before the
Mets got there? Who did people root for in Florida before the Marlins
got there? In Atlanta before the Braves got there? I could go on like
this <span class="post_edited">This message was edited by El Mudo on 3-1-06 @ 7:02 AM</span> <p>my point is that if you were fan of another team before the Nats got there, what happened to your favorite team?</p>
<p>And his point is that most people in DC were never Orioles
fans.&nbsp; They were just the closet baseball team and ended up on our
local sports coverage because of it.&nbsp; You should feel sorry for us.<br />
</p>

[TheMojoPin]

Why ya care?

[Marc with a c]

<strong>TheMojoPin</strong> wrote:<br />Why ya care? <p>it actually goes back to the super bowl in 2000 when all these dip shit Ravens fans popped up out of no where. it annoyed me to no end.</p>

[Freakshow]

<p>What if your former favorite team was the Montreal Expos???</p><p>Edit:&nbsp; Ravens fans were colts fans who had their team stolen from them in the middle of the night.&nbsp; Since it wasn't the 30 years that the Senators were gone, many people had continued to be football fans, but of any team that wasn't the colts.</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Freakshow on 3-1-06 @ 1:15 PM</span>

[Marc with a c]

<strong>Freakshow</strong> wrote:<br /><p>What if your former favorite team was the Montreal Expos???</p><p>Edit:&nbsp; Ravens fans were colts fans who had their team stolen from them in the middle of the night.&nbsp; Since it wasn't the 30 years that the Senators were gone, many people had continued to be football fans, but of any team that wasn't the colts.</p><span class="post_edited">This message was edited by Freakshow on 3-1-06 @ 1:15 PM</span> <p>thats fine if you were an expos fan, but we all no that nobody like those frenchies.</p><p>if ravens fans were colt fans, how could they drop the colts just like that? and root for brian billick. i hate that guy</p>

[El Mudo]

Jose Guillen...out three months (wrist)

Yeesh....*shakes head*

[Snoogans]

<p>OOOO GOODIE</p><p>another Washington Natspos thread&nbsp;</p>

[Bulldogcakes]

<strong /><p>Who did people root for in Florida before the Marlins got there?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Yankees, Mets and Cubs. Since most of the geezers are from NY or Chicago. </p><p>And when any of those teams play in Fla, listen to the crowd noise whenever the visiting team hits a HR. 3/4 of the stadium goes nuts. Its a joke. <br /></p><blockquote /><p>&nbsp;</p><br /><p>&nbsp;</p>

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>TheMojoPin</strong> wrote:<br />Soriano a HOFer at 2nd base? God, this talk drives me nuts, especially when his name keeps coming up as someone the Cubs might still be interested in. His defense is appalling. If you don't cringe when a ball is hit his way, you will be soon enough. Yeah, he can get some pop in his bat, but really only in certain stadiums. In others he's left out high and dry with his pile of strike outs and his horrible baserunning. The guy peaked WAY early, and his been sliding ever since...his stint in Texas only stalled the inevitable...I felt bad seeing the Nats trade away Wilkerson to get him.<p>&nbsp;</p><p>You're overstating it Mojo. His defense is adequate, he's not a hack, at least not when he was playing for the Yanks. He turns the DP well, has an accurate arm. Average to below average hands, and you hold your breath on popups. But he gets the job done. With his bat, especially considering the position, you're fine with it. &nbsp;</p><p>The Cubs or especially the Mets should be asking for him. The Nats have backed themselves in a corner here. They could probably get him for a song. <br /></p><blockquote /><p>&nbsp;</p>

[El Mudo]

Ladies and Gentlemen....

We have a lease....MLB signed off on the deal, finally clears us for an owner....

I feel like weeping gently....

<a target='blank' href=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2355735>http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2355735</a>

[Earlshog]

<font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman">The only thing this team will be competing for in 2006 in the cellar. However the lease is signed and that is good news. Now they can get MLB out of the owners box.&nbsp;Hopefully the third time will be a charm for D.C.</font></font>

[El Mudo]

And it turns out Jose Guillen only has "wrist inflammation" and will be out 7-10 days...

Who the hell reported he'd be out four months?...Thanks ESPN...

[El Mudo]

Its been both a good and bad week on the Nats front...

Good: New stadium plans unveiled, they ripped it in the paper, but I really like it...actually, im just glad we have a stadium coming...but I still really like it

Bad: Injuries, injuries, injuries....Mexicans cost us Ayala for the year, puts a hole in the bullpen, forces more work on to Majewski and the other middle relievers...Cristian Guzman hurt his shoulder, management brought Royce Clayton out of mothballs before spring training, and with the way Guzman played last year, its not much of a downgrade....(actually Guzman had been having a really good camp)

Just want the season to start already....

[Rockvillejoe]

I wish we could do better this year, but we'll probably finish ahead of the Marlins and thats it... <p><font size="2">Keep in mind that this franchise is indeed a work in progress. Year 1: they came to town. Year 2: We locked the franchise here for the foreseeable future by building a new stadium (no easy fete when you consider it had to be done with the approval of that incompetent DC Council). Year 3: New ownership will blow up the team, hire their own braintrust, spend countless millions in salaries, and finally&nbsp; lay the blueprint for the Nationals to win the World Series (by '09).&nbsp;The great thing about baseball is even the most inept team in the major leagues wins at least 60 games a year, so going this year will&nbsp;still be fun.&nbsp;Enjoy the cheap ticket prices while they last, because as sure as&nbsp;&quot;east side&quot; will be flonging his dong before Easter, the new ownership will be jacking ticket prices three fold to compete against the big boys in the league. &nbsp;With DC United planning on building a&nbsp;new&nbsp;soccer stadium near the Nats, and the Nats moving into their new confines, and the Wizards in Chinatown, I think its time to&nbsp;move&nbsp;back to DC (I Just need to hit the lottery to pay for one of those 1 million dollar lofts on&nbsp;G Street).</font>&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Rockvillejoe on 3-19-06 @ 11:58 PM</span>

[curtoid]

<hr color="cococo" align="left"></font><strong>Rockvillejoe</strong> wrote:<br>I wish we could do better this year, but we'll probably finish ahead of the Marlins and thats it... <p><font size="2">Keep in mind that this franchise is indeed a work in progress. Year 1: they came to town. Year 2: We locked the franchise here for the foreseeable future by building a new stadium (no easy fete when you consider it had to be done with the approval of that incompetent DC Council). Year 3: New ownership will blow up the team, hire their own braintrust, spend countless millions in salaries, and finallyÿ lay the blueprint for the Nationals to win the World Series (by '09).ÿThe great thing about baseball is even the most inept team in the major leagues wins at least 60 games a year, so going this year willÿstill be fun.ÿEnjoy the cheap ticket prices while they last, because as sure asÿ"east side" will be flonging his dong before Easter, the new ownership will be jacking ticket prices three fold to compete against the big boys in the league. ÿWith DC United planning on building aÿnewÿsoccer stadium near the Nats, and the Nats moving into their new confines, and the Wizards in Chinatown, I think its time toÿmoveÿback to DC (I Just need to hit the lottery to pay for one of those 1 million dollar lofts onÿG Street).</font>ÿÿ</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Rockvillejoe on 3-19-06 @ 11:58 PM</span><hr color="cococo" align="left"><p></p>

[El Mudo]

Well...

The Alfonso Soriano situation has just officially become ugly...




<hr color="cococo" align="left"></font>
VIERA, Fla. -- Alfonso Soriano refused to play the outfield for the Washington Nationals in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition will go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.

"The player refused to take the field, which we believe is a violation of his contract," Bowden said.

Soriano, a four-time All-Star second baseman, was listed as batting leadoff and playing left field on a lineup sheet posted in the Nationals' clubhouse before Monday night's 11-5 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

But when the Nationals took the field in the top of the first, Soriano wasn't out there. With play just about ready to start, left field was empty.

Confused players and fans looked toward Washington's dugout. The only person to emerge, however, was manager Frank Robinson.

He approached plate umpire Mike Estabrook and made a defensive switch, moving Ryan Church from center field to left and putting Brandon Watson in center to replace Soriano at the top of the lineup.

The Nationals already have an All-Star second baseman in Jose Vidro, so they told Soriano they want him to move to the outfield, and he indicated he doesn't want to do that. But Monday provided his most concrete -- and visible -- objection.
<hr color="cococo" align="left">

Scumbag....BE A MAN AND PLAY WHERE THEY TELL YOU TO PLAY GODDAMIT!!

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 3-20-06 @ 11:15 PM</span>

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>If he doesn't play by thursday, they'll put him on the disqualified list. Which means he'll become a free agent, which is what he's wanted all along. And you guys traded away talent for him for absolutely nothing. You could have asked any Yankee or Ranger fan, he wasn't going to the outfield. Dont blame Soriano, blame your clueless front office. <br /> </p><p>A team that needs a 2B will sign him to a long term deal. Mets could use him, and have $$ with their new network in place.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[curtoid]

<strong>Bulldogcakes</strong> wrote:<br /><p>If he doesn't play by thursday, they'll put him on the disqualified list. Which means he'll become a free agent, which is what he's wanted all along. And you guys traded away talent for him for absolutely nothing. </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/20/AR2005062000884.html" target="_self">Wrong</a></strong>.</p><p>Soriano would not earn service time if he were disqualified. Therefore, though Soriano is due to be a free agent after the 2006 season, his contract would in effect be suspended, &quot;and he would not be a free agent,&quot; Bowden said. &quot;He would still be our property.&quot; </p>

[El Mudo]

Thank you curtoid, I was just about to make that point...

Should be interesting to see what happens in the next few days...i've never seen anything like this before...

[Furtherman]

<p>Alfonso Soriano.</p><p>BABY.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

[Bulldogcakes]

<strong>curtoid</strong> wrote:<br /><strong>Bulldogcakes</strong> wrote:<br /><p>If he doesn't play by thursday, they'll put him on the disqualified list. Which means he'll become a free agent, which is what he's wanted all along. And you guys traded away talent for him for absolutely nothing. </p><p> </p><p><strong><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/20/AR2005062000884.html" target="_self">Wrong</a></strong>.</p><p> </p><p> </p>Soriano would not earn service time if he were disqualified. Therefore, though Soriano is due to be a free agent after the 2006 season, his contract would in effect be suspended, &quot;and he would not be a free agent,&quot; Bowden said. &quot;He would still be our property.&quot; <p> </p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Yeah, I screwed that one up. I guess I was thinking of the ineligble list. This disqualified list is apparently rarely used and has different rules. </p><p>Though my screwup is nothing compared to that idiot GM Bowden. Who might have wanted to ask ANYONE who's managed him, played with him, or anyone walking the street with a Yankee or Ranger cap on whether or not he'd play the outfield. Wouldn't for the Yanks or Texas. He should be fired for this fiasco. Whenever the Yanks (or most other teams) acquire a player, they talk to his ex-managers and people who played with him to get a read on the guy. ANY claim by Bowden that Soriano mislead him is BULLSHIT. From day 1 when he showed up in spring training this year, he made it clear he didn't want to play the outfield, just like he did with both of his previous teams. Now Bowden says he was mislead. Thats him trying to cover his incompetant ass. That fuck up should be fired. <br /></p><p> </p><br /><p> </p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Bulldogcakes on 3-21-06 @ 7:57 PM</span>

[El Mudo]

Well the thing is BDC, I don't even think they were allowed by Texas to talk to Soriano before the deal, and if they had gone outside of that it would have been ye olde tampering

Maybe I'm biased as a Nats fanatic, but I don't think theyre at fault here really....they got a really good offensive player from Texas for next to nothing (essentially Wilkerson only, a trade I would take any day straight up for Soriano, and Armando Galarraga and Terrmel Sledge were throw ins)...Everyone knew Soriano would be reluctant at best to move to the OF, but NO ONE predicted he'd do THIS...And again, if he gets put on the DQ list, nothing happens to him...he doesn't get a year of service, and the Nats retain his rights...

Buster Olney mentioned a compromise where because Cristian Guzman is hurt, they could concievably move Soriano to short, but the Nats can't do that now without losing face...

Theyre going to pencil him in again in left Wednesday against the Cards...we'll see what happens...

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 3-21-06 @ 9:00 PM</span>

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>That DQ list serves no purpose for your team, other than getting out of having to pay the guy (which at 10mil is meaningful). I think its likely they make a deal of Soriano for a LF ASAP. It makes the most sense for all parties involved. You dont want a player on your team that doesn't want to be there, and who's manager and GM doesn't want him. </p><p>You guys traded an outfielder for this guy, now you're in a horrible bargaining position and need an OF back badly. Which means you would have been better off never having made the deal in the first place. Bowden couldn't have fucked this up any worse if he tried. <br /></p>

[El Mudo]

Outfield is well stocked right now between Guillen, Watson, Church, and Byrd...

Its not really going to hurt us in the long term...Soriano probably wasn't going to be here longer than 1 season, maybe a half a season at the most...I think he was an acceptable risk as essentially a rent-a-player...And last year's offense was so terrible, something had to be done to remedy it

I think we have enough young talent between the guys mentioned already and the guys in the minors, plus the fact that an owner is coming that will (hopefully) spend a lot of money on the team that this won't hurt us all that bad...Soriano was a high risk, high reward acquisition...And I think he will suck it up and come back to play, if only for the fact that he's got to prove himself to be of some worth for anyone else to make a deal for him...I think we'll get some good worth in return, cause the guy can rake, and we've got enough talent around where he's not the be all end all...

[BoondockSaint]

<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2379788" target="_blank">Soriano plays left...and turns a double play.&nbsp; Unlike when he plays second.</a>

[El Mudo]

He folded like a cheap suit...

The prospect of having to explain to your wife why you aren't bringing home 10 milly drastically outweighs any principles one would have...

[El Mudo]

Well, latest news involves roster decisions...

Brandon Watson made the team, he's done really well in the spring, and won himself the leadoff job, at the expense of Ryan Church, who's been sent down to New Orleans...

I like Church...he's pretty good...the problem is, he hasn't been the same since he destroyed himself last year in Pittsburgh making that catch that won us the game...he spent most of the rest of the season on and off the DL with a bad shoulder, and when he was back, he wasn't hitting as well....He seems a little upset with being sent down, but at this point in his career, he needs ABs, and Brandon Watson needs to leadoff, and frankly, he played himself into that role

Pitchers also figured him out, and he's got to adjust himself on that level...he struck out a ton late in the year last season...

He may not even be down there that long before he has to come up to replace Guillen

Team looks like this:

Watson CF
Soriano LF
Guillen RF
Nick Johnson 1B
Vidro 2B
Royce Clayton SS (hopefully this will be temporary...Cristian Guzman wrecked his shoulder, God knows how long he's going to be out...I hope they make a deal here cause Clayton's about a thousand years old and plays like it)
Ryan Zimmerman 3B

Pitching (in no particular order)
Livan Hernandez, Tony Armas, Pedro Astacio, John Patterson, Ramon Ortiz...

Relievers: Gary Majewski, John Rauch, Joey Eischen, Iron Mike Stanton et cetera

Closer: Chad Cordero

We are 9-21 over the Spring, defense has been a big problem...I just hope we are at least competitive for a little while this year...

[Jennitalia]

im going to see the yankees play the nationals down in dc in june. i cant wait to check out the ballpark

[cupcakelove]

<strong>Jennitalia</strong> wrote:<br />im going to see the yankees play the nationals down in dc in june. i cant wait to check out the ballpark<p>Its just RFK, the old Redskins stadium. I don't think they've even broken ground on the new one.<br /></p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by cupcakelove on 3-30-06 @ 10:15 PM</span>

[Jennitalia]

well, i've never been to rfk, so it'll still be an experience.&nbsp;

[El Mudo]

Well, to be honest, the RFK really is a dump...

There's really no shade, so in the summer you bake like a Christmas Turkey, and the seats are a lil too cramped

But the site lines are great...I had great seats at the game I went to that were really cheap and I could see everything

The new stadium is expected to be open in either 08 or 09

[cupcakelove]

My favorite thing about RFK is all the seats are still burgundy and
gold.&nbsp; And thats about it, everything El Mudo said is correct.<br />

[El Mudo]

2-3...not a very good start to the season, but we've played a couple of good teams in Houston and NY

We are scoring a ton of runs, the problem is, we're also giving up a ton or runs, the pitching has not been very good...Hopefully some home cookin' at RFK will do us some good


And I STILL haven't been able to watch a game this year on TV....all radio...

[El Mudo]

Now we can hit the ball well and score runs, but we can't pitch...

And when the pitching comes around we won't be able to hit...

And then you get something like today and just completely crap the bed...although it started to get interesting there in the 9th till Zimmy struck out on three pitches from Wagner...

Beltran sure hit a moon shot off of Rodriguez though...

[cougarjake13]

<p>well i'm just glad the expos are gone cause they used to kill the mets but since the move to dc the mets have fared much better</p><p>we were 11-8 against wash last year and so far 3-1 this season </p><p>glad to see maybe beltran showing he's worth that contract</p>

[mendyweiss]

Went Opening day today, It is going to be a long season I'm afraid. Soriano appears to be counting the days till he&nbsp;is done here!

[El Mudo]

well i'm just glad the expos are gone cause they used to kill the mets but since the move to dc the mets have fared much better

we were 11-8 against wash last year and so far 3-1 this season


Enjoy it while you can....cause big changes are coming...once we get an owner, this franchise is going to become big-time

[cougarjake13]

<strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />well i'm just glad the expos are gone cause they used to kill the mets but since the move to dc the mets have fared much better we were 11-8 against wash last year and so far 3-1 this season Enjoy it while you can....cause big changes are coming...once we get an owner, this franchise is going to become big-time <p>well hopefully the mets can a world series before you guys go big time and attempt to out do the braves consecutive division championships</p>

[El Mudo]

Well, we're on kind of a roll....won a couple here...won a couple there...lost tonight to the Phillies

Bigger news is our GM Jim Bowden got arrested in FL for DUI...and they arrested his chick for domestic violence for beating the crap out of him...

[cougarjake13]

<strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />Well, we're on kind of a roll....won a couple here...won a couple there... <p>kaiser or deli ???</p><p>hey you win some you lose some</p>

[A.J.]

<p>I went to my first Nats game last night and had the best seats of my life -- first row, behind home plate.</p><p>Had Soriano not dropped to fly balls, they might have won.&nbsp; </p><p>Baseball in DC?&nbsp; GOOD.</p>

[curtoid]

<strong>A.J.</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Baseball in DC?&nbsp; GOOD.</p><p><img height="150" src="http://www.npr.org/news/images/2005/apr/14/reuters/nationals200.jpg" width="200" border="0" /></p><p>WELCOME ABOARD!</p>

[Gvac]

Don't worry guys.&nbsp; I won't rub it in that my mighty Cincinnati Reds came into town and swept ya.&nbsp; <br />

[El Mudo]

We're strugg-a-ling right now...Saw that game on Sunday night vs. Atlanta...Armas pitched great, only problem was we had like 20 baserunners and got only one run...and then Tex Majewski made on bad pitch

RFK really is a dump, there's no shade, the sound stinks and the seats are cramped

But there's not a bad seat in the place...I sat in section 115, which was literally directly above home plate...best seats ive ever had at a ball game

And frankly GVac, I'm just glad theres a team here to get swept by the Reds...they may stink, but theyre OUR stink....

[A.J.]

<strong>Gvac</strong> wrote:<br />Don't worry guys.&nbsp; I won't rub it in that my mighty Cincinnati Reds came into town and swept ya.&nbsp; <br /><p>AND that former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo capped it off with a 1-hitter.</p>

[Gvac]

<p>And I was upset seeing Wily Mo Pena get dealt.&nbsp; </p><p>I just hope Arroyo continues to pitch this well throughout the year, but we all know what usually happens to pitchers who change leagues; they're dominant until everyone sees 'em a few times. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

[El Mudo]

We finally have an owner...MLB selected the Ted Lerner group (Ted founded Tyson's Corner and White Flint Malls)

To be honest, I really don't know much about the various gropus, but Mr. Lerner has tried to buy teams for many years (he even tried to buy the Giants in the late 70s for 10 million and bring them here, which is a plus, since he's a local guy people won't get freaked out he'll move the team). His son Mark is going to run day-to-day stuff, as Mr. Lerner is pushing 80. I just hope they let the baseball people run the baseball stuff, and only provide money

Other news: Stanton back to setup...Tex Majweski kept messing up on that front, between throwing the ball a mile over the second baseman's head the other day, and the other game he blew against the Braves...Stanton has been good this year against righties and lefties, although righties are pushing .200 against him...

It REALLY hurts not having Luis Ayala...thank you Mexico...

On the TV front, the DC Government is considering passing legislation to make Comcast put MASN on their networks, but I don't think it will be binding (i dont think local municipalities can decide cable regulations)...Just give it up already Comcast..you already lost in court, give up

I blame MLB for this....they were so freakin afraid of Peter Angelos that they caved before even fighting and signed the Nats to this RIDICULOUS TV deal, and now the Nats are only on TV to most people about once or twice a week at most

This is a 600 million dollar investment here by DC...put em on TV dammit...

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 5-4-06 @ 8:19 AM</span>

[El Mudo]

Breaking ground on the New Stadium!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://espn-att.starwave.com/photo/2006/0504/mlb_a_nationals_275.jpg


This is amazing...I STILL can't believe all this his happening...I NEVER thought i'd see any of this

What a great day

[A.J.]

Were those shovels rented like <a href="http://www.nbc4.com/news/9142963/detail.html" target="_self">the new black owners</a>?

[El Mudo]

Cubs and Orioles in the same week?

Mojo? Mikey? Any Bets??

[Marc with a c]

i bet nobody in the dc metro area will be able to watch any of the games.

[El Mudo]

Not the Cubs series...those are MASN only unfortunately

But all three Baltimore games are on WDCA Channel 20 (which I can pick up with my bunny ears)

[Ogre]

<p>If you don't have DirecTV or Cox Cable you def. get screwed by Peter Anal-Os and his Bud Selig secret steambath society.&nbsp; I too love RFK..I remember seeing Jim Hart and the St Louis Cardinals play&nbsp;in my first NFL experience,&nbsp;as a wee lad...I attended the last Redskin game there as well.&nbsp; I even have some turf and dirt from the stadium floor from that day&nbsp; 37-10 over the Hated Cowboys...Now, I have a 20 game plan for the Nats, yeah the food sucks and the place is old, however, there is just something about the history that is in that place.&nbsp; Soon enough we will no longer be a Ward of the MLB Courts.&nbsp; When that glorious day finally comes, by the Power of all that is just and right...Peter Angelos and his henchmen will be vanquished.&nbsp; Then as we draw the women of our vanquished hated enemy close to our breast and watch thier villages burn.&nbsp; Then and only then will they realize what over 3 decades of deprival will bring them..we will wipe&nbsp;the memory of the Os from our minds,like a baby's shitty ass..So Peter Angelos go suck a Natty Bo...All Hail Ted Lerner...If you are ever in RFK section 527 row 8, the view is great, watch out for the peanut shells...I'll be the Idiot acting like we got a chance...Go Nats !!</p>

[El Mudo]

<hr color="cococo" align="left"></font>
Then as we draw the women of our vanquished hated enemy close to our breast
<hr color="cococo" align="left">

No thanks, Hon...I could do without any Baltimore "women"

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 5-15-06 @ 10:31 PM</span>

[Greggie44]

Thursday's game is on WGN-TV if you get that on your Cable or Dish out there.&nbsp; If not, try out Pat and Ron doing the broadcast on XM.

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Greggie44 on 5-15-06 @ 10:37 PM</span>

[El Mudo]

Well, I get WGN on my cable, but more than likely its going to be blacked out here locally

All the games they play against the Braves on TBS get blacked out here....I wrote Comcast about this, but they say its because MLB says so

[Ogre]

<p>I found this article in the Washington Post.&nbsp; It outlines the details of the MASN creation deal.&nbsp; I found it odd that it was written on April Fools Day.&nbsp; Who's the fool now ? &nbsp; Huh Bud ?&nbsp; Fuckin Selig. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15731-2005Mar31.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A15731-2005Mar31.html</a></p>

[TheMojoPin]

These blacked out games make zero sense.&nbsp; Sometimes I see a Nats game with my Extra Innings cable package, sometimes I don't.&nbsp; When are they blacked out?&nbsp; And I swear to Christ, if I can't watch Kerry Wood's return this Thursday because of a Nats blackout, someone's gonna pay big.&nbsp; This season is going to be a long haul of misery, and I want my brief fleeting bright spots when I can have them, goddammit.

[Bulldogcakes]

<p>&nbsp;</p><strong>TheMojoPin</strong> wrote:<br />These blacked out games make zero sense. <br /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Baseball's just as good or better on radio, anyway. You have XM or the MLB thing online and you're set.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

[Ogre]

<strong>TheMojoPin</strong> wrote:<br />These blacked out games make zero sense.&nbsp; Sometimes I see a Nats game with my Extra Innings cable package, sometimes I don't.&nbsp; When are they blacked out?&nbsp; And I swear to <strong>Christ, if I can't watch Kerry Wood's return this Thursday because of a Nats blackout, someone's gonna pay big.</strong>&nbsp; This season is going to be a long haul of misery, and I want my brief fleeting bright spots when I can have them, goddammit. <p>Dude advanced warning but I think you are gonna be pissed&nbsp;off..I am showing no local TV for this series...its not on WDCA20 or FOX5 so if they blackout the Chicago feed then...If you have directv then they are on 626 MASN...And the bit with Extra Innings sometimes they just do not carry all the games...they come off like they do but some games are left off thier schedule...don't have a clue why...Actually I don't have a clue about much.</p>

[El Mudo]

These blacked out games make zero sense. Sometimes I see a Nats game with my Extra Innings cable package, sometimes I don't. When are they blacked out? And I swear to Christ, if I can't watch Kerry Wood's return this Thursday because of a Nats blackout, someone's gonna pay big. This season is going to be a long haul of misery, and I want my brief fleeting bright spots when I can have them, goddammit.



Well, first of all, tonights game is not on WGN...theyre showing "Glengarry Glen Ross"

Secondly, I've NEVER been able to see the Nats on Extra Innings...I'm officially in the Nats TV market, although i cant see them cause my cable system sucks balls

The way its been explained to me is this: All Nats games are on MASN, but some are simulcast on Channel 20. Now Comcast does not carry MASN, because they are throwing a shit fit and filing lawsuits, because they claim they have the right to match any offer for the Baltimore Orioles TV rights, which they say they were not allowed to do. The Orioles counter this by saying their contracts basically allowed them to go to MASN (thats the short story), and a judge has held that position to be true, as a judge has thrown out Comcasts suit (its on appeal right now). As a result, Comcast does not carry MASN, but every other cable system in the DC area does. Channel 20 is only broadcasting like 40 or 50 Nats games for the entire year....pretty much only friday and saturday games (but rest assured, every single game with Baltimore this weekend's on TV *rolls eyes*)

Now I had an issue with this last year when I tried to watch the Nats on TBS. They were blacked out, and when I contacted Comcast, they said it was because Major League Baseball gives priority to the home team's network when they are on a cable network. Basically, in this area, if the Nats are playing the Braves, they want me to watch the Nats feed. Therefore, I am officially SOL, because I cannot watch anything on MASN, as Comcast does not carry it, and I only get games on Channel 20 with my bunny ears.

Basically, as mentioned before, this is all MLB's fault. They were so afraid of Peter Angelos dragging them into a messy lawsuit that they folded like a cheap suit, and came up with a "compensation" package, where he gets 90% of the Nats TV revenue. I understand Angelos is a pretty good lawyer, but he claims the O's TV area stretches from B-Mo and West Virginia, all the way down to North Carolina and Virginia, which probably is the most ludicrous thig ive ever heard. And how could losing the DC area hurt him all that much? This is the same sonofabitch who claimed there were "no real baseball fans in the district"

I hope the FIRST THING Mr. Lerner does when he officially takes over is KILL that deal. The DC government is really trying hard to at least put pressure on Comcast to put on the Nats...they have 600 MILLION DOLLARS invested in this team, and they can't do ANYTHING to promote it.

[TheMojoPin]

<strong>Bulldogcakes</strong> wrote:<br /><p>&nbsp;</p><strong>TheMojoPin</strong> wrote:<br />These blacked out games make zero sense. <br /><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Baseball's just as good or better on radio, anyway. You have XM or the MLB thing online and you're set.&nbsp; &nbsp;</p><p>Well, I don't have either, so that's that.</p><p>Well, the MASN broadcast was shown on EI tonight.&nbsp; Mudo, I have seen quite&nbsp;a few Nats games shown on EI, and just as many blacked out...there really seems to be no rhyme or reason to it with DirectTV.&nbsp; I'm working when Thursday's game is on, so that's a bust anyways.&nbsp; Ah well.&nbsp; GO CUBS!&nbsp; Way to go, Big Z!</p><p>Jacque Jones, stop being retarded.</p>

[El Mudo]

I checked EI....it was blacked out where I am

[Snoogans]

Boo Hoo they blacked out the Washington Expos. Who fuckin cares<br />

[El Mudo]

Well, Spoon Jr., A lot of people fuckin' care...so stop tryin to start petty fuckin' fights...

[Ogre]

<strong>Snoogans</strong> wrote:<br />Boo Hoo they blacked out the Washington Expos. Who fuckin cares<br /><p>I do </p>

[cougarjake13]

if the nats lose and nobody sees it, did it really happen ???

[Ogre]

<strong>cougarjake13</strong> wrote:<br />if the nats lose and nobody sees it, did it really happen ??? <p>Sadly, I say Yes....18 innings&nbsp;0 runs 5 hits 4 Errors...PlumFuckinPitiful</p>

[El Mudo]

Not lookin' good for your boy Kerry Wood right now Mojo...

Damian Jackson and Ryan Zimmerman both just took him yard

[El Mudo]

As did Big Alfonso just now...

[Ogre]

<p>Lookin Shaky Mundo...I am surprised Ortiz looked this good...I think frankie will give him the Hook. In comes the Wookie</p>

[Ogre]

Here we go Cubs score 3, bullpen falls apart.....PFP (plumfuckinpitiful)

[El Mudo]

Beautiful....Dusty has one of his trademark brainfarts (has Perez bunt with two out and two on), and the B-29 bullpen holds

[Ogre]

Anyone in DC catch the &quot;techincal difficulties&quot; at the beginnig of the Nats/Os game on WDCA 20 ?&nbsp; All I could picture was Peter Angelos in the tV truck with the &quot;clapper&quot; rigged up.&nbsp; &quot;Clap Clap&quot;&nbsp; I give DC Baseball on TV.&quot;Clap Clap&quot;&nbsp; now I take it away..HAHAHA.&nbsp; Is there any any other market where an owner of another team..FROM ANOTHER GODDAMN CITY..controls another teams viewability.&nbsp; Never a problem when the games are broadcats on MASN..but the minute it is on broadcast TV for the masses to see..they fuck it up..on purpose I do contend.&nbsp; Fox 5 and WDCA 20 have 40 games out of 162 to carry..40 just fuckin 40...I think Wayne and Garth get better tech support on Public Access Cable.&nbsp; BY the way we still stink...Ill be there on Sunday...Sec 527...cheap seats baby...Go Nats

[El Mudo]

I might be there sunday...I'm trying to get 516 or 517, both are beautiful sections right above home plate (plus its also a major/minor doubleheader that day, I may stay and watch Potomac)

O'Connor didn't pitch too badly last night...he should sue for lack of support (except for Soriano's moon shot, which happened far too late to do any good, but still broke up the shutout)

I really hope Guillen can start today.....Daryle Ward is an embarrassment

[Ogre]

<p>WoooooHoooo&nbsp;&nbsp;Grab a Natty Bo' Hon.&nbsp; Rubber Game of the match today...Livan is due for a good outing...Soriano might not be able to play outfield to well..But that guy can STROKE !!</p><p>GoNats</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Ogre416 on 5-21-06 @ 7:52 AM</span>

[cougarjake13]

<strong>Ogre</strong> wrote:<br /><p>WoooooHoooo&nbsp;&nbsp;Grab a Natty Bo' Hon.&nbsp; Rubber Game of the match today...Livan is due for a good outing...Soriano might not be able to play outfield to well..But that guy can STROKE !!</p><p>GoNats</p><p>that was always the issue with him at second base also, he wasnt that great but you couldnt keep his bat out of the lineup</p>

[El Mudo]

<img src='http://www.mlbscoop.com/washington.jpg' border=0>



Baby we can talk all night
But that aint getting us nowhere
I told you everything I possibly can
Theres nothing left inside of here
And maybe you can cry all night
But thatll never change the way that I feel
The snow is really piling up outside
I wish you wouldnt make me leave here

I poured it on and I poured it out
I tried to show you just how much I care
Im tired of words and Im too hoarse to shout
But youve been cold to me so long
Im crying icicles instead of tears

And all I can do is keep on telling you
I want you
I need you
But -- there aint no way Im ever gonna love you
Now dont be sad
cause two out of three aint bad
Now dont be sad
cause two out of three aint bad

Youll never find your gold on a sandy beach
Youll never drill for oil on a city street
I know youre looking for a ruby in a mountain of rocks
But there aint no coupe de ville hiding at the bottom of a cracker jack box

I cant lie
I cant tell you that Im something Im not
No matter how I try
Ill never be able
To give you something
Something that I just havent got

Theres only one girl that I will ever love
And that was so many years ago
And though I know Ill never get her out of my heart
She never loved me back
Ooh I know
I remember how she left me on a stormy night
She kissed me and got out of our bed
And though I pleaded and I begged her not to walk out that door
She packed her bags and turned right away

And she kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
She kept on telling me
I want you
I need you
But there aint no way Im ever gonna love you
Now dont be sad
cause two out of three aint bad
I want you
I need you
But there aint no way Im ever gonna love you
Now dont be sad
cause two out of three aint bad
Dont be sad
cause two out of three aint bad



<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 5-21-06 @ 3:57 PM</span>

[Ogre]

<p>Big fun at the RFK today.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hernandez looked good for 7..Stanton 1,2,3 8th &nbsp;and Cordero shuttin her down...Manufactured runs, put the pressure on the other guys and force them to make the mistakes..hit em where they aint..smallball boys, smallball..nice afternoon at the park..and ya know RFK may be old but it still rocks when 30K+ start making some noise.&nbsp; next up Astros..only trip into town for the team that will probably play St Louis for thr NL Pennant in the playoffs..</p><p>Stadium scouting report..they palyed a Major/Minor doubleheader today at RFK.&nbsp; As a result I noticed the beer stations did not call last call in the 7th inning.&nbsp; They were still serving into the second game.&nbsp;As a result there was an abundance of&nbsp;piss drunk Baltimorons piling into tour buses on the way out.</p><p>....And knowing is half the battle....</p>

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by Ogre416 on 5-21-06 @ 7:25 PM</span>

[Ogre]

<p>Good night at the park again...Since I ripped on Ortiz last week he is 2-0.&nbsp; He pitched 7 innings of 1 run ball, so obviously&nbsp;I don't know dick.&nbsp; Soriano looks more comfortable in LF everytime I see him.&nbsp; Do you think we will keep him thoughout the year?&nbsp; I say re-sign him, but I think they will try and trade him to get something for him.&nbsp; Although a Top Shelf starting pitcher would be a nice swap for him.</p>

[Marc with a c]

<p>i miss matt lecroy</p>

[El Mudo]

Holy cow...

7 stolen bases

Schneider can't come back soon enough...I've only heard of a player being pulled mid inning once before, when Billy Martin pulled Reggie that one time

[El Mudo]

Digging the Homestead Grays throwbacks

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/608c1cf7-99e5-430e-9640-7d35e12e53c9.jpg

http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/97096098-5c62-41b5-b50c-2895b39c0b86.jpg

[Snoogans]

<p>&nbsp;</p><p><span class="postbody">
Schneider can't come back soon enough...I've only heard of a player
being pulled mid inning once before, when Billy Martin pulled Reggie
that one time</span>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>he remembers that but not any others. If im not mistaken, spoon said it happen to a Blue Jay this year, and if you remember the big deal that was made when Andruw Jones dogged it on a ball that he woulda caught, and Cox walked all the way out to center and pulled him off the field&nbsp;</p>

[cougarjake13]

<strong>Ogre</strong> wrote:<br /><p>&nbsp;Soriano looks more comfortable in LF everytime I see him.&nbsp; Do you think we will keep him thoughout the year?&nbsp; I say re-sign him, but I think they will try and trade him to get something for him.&nbsp; Although a Top Shelf starting pitcher would be a nice swap for him.</p><p>the nats may want to keep him but there's no way he'd resign unless he was given a guarantee writen into the contract that he'd be the everyday second baseman, so i'd trade him now while you can still get something for him, rather than letting him go for nothing, then you'd traded wilkerson and others and have nothing to show for it</p><p><img height="100" src="http://home.comcast.net/~bob80/RFnetCougarJake13.jpg" width="300" border="0" /></p>

[Ogre]

I really think he would be comfortable playing the outfield.&nbsp; The primary reason that he wanted to play 2B is that there are maybe 2 or 3 in the MLB that produce like he does: thus warranting a huge payday this offseason.&nbsp; If he gets paid the 15 mil or so a season he wants then he might stay and play OF, Vidro is having his first injury free season (knock wood) in 3 years. &nbsp;Soriano went 1 for 1 last night but scored 4 runs how you may ask?&nbsp; He works every count now and walked twice, then steals second.&nbsp; Oh yeah he went yard too.&nbsp; I really think you could make the argument for not only an All Star roster spot in the OF, but MVP as well.

[Ogre]

<p>Any you Yankee Fans happen to catch today's game?&nbsp; From what I understand it was exciting.</p><p><table class="textSm" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="372" border="0"><tr class="primaryBg white"><td colspan="6">&nbsp;</td><td align="center">1 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">2 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">3 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">4 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">5 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">6 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">7 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">8 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">9 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">&nbsp;</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">R</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">H</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">E </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td></tr><tr><td class="borderColor" colspan="32"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td></tr><tr><td class="borderColor" width="1" rowspan="3"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td class="cellBg" valign="middle" align="center" width="38" height="45" rowspan="3"><img height="45" alt="Nationals" src="http://www.ronfez.net/mlb/images/team_logos/logo_was_small.gif" width="38" border="0" /> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1" rowspan="3"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td width="5"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="5" border="0" /></td><td align="left" width="100">&nbsp; <strong><a href="http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=nyy">NYY</a> </strong>(38-28) </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>1</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>1</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>7</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img

[AKA]

[quote]<strong>Ogre</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Any you Yankee Fans happen to catch today's game?&nbsp; From what I understand it was exciting.</p><p><table class="textSm" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="372" border="0"><tr class="primaryBg white"><td colspan="6">&nbsp;</td><td align="center">1 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">2 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">3 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">4 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">5 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">6 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">7 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">8 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">9 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">&nbsp;</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">R</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">H</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">E </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td></tr><tr><td class="borderColor" colspan="32"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td></tr><tr><td class="borderColor" width="1" rowspan="3"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td class="cellBg" valign="middle" align="center" width="38" height="45" rowspan="3"><img height="45" alt="Nationals" src="http://www.ronfez.net/mlb/images/team_logos/logo_was_small.gif" width="38" border="0" /> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1" rowspan="3"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td width="5"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="5" border="0" /></td><td align="left" width="100">&nbsp; <strong><a href="http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=nyy">NYY</a> </strong>(38-28) </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>1</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>1</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>7</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width

[Jennitalia]

[quote]<strong>Ogre</strong> wrote:<br /><p>Any you Yankee Fans happen to catch today's game?&nbsp; From what I understand it was exciting.</p><p><table class="textSm" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="372" border="0"><tr class="primaryBg white"><td colspan="6">&nbsp;</td><td align="center">1 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">2 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">3 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">4 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">5 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">6 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">7 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">8 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">9 </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">&nbsp;</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">R</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">H</td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center">E </td><td width="1"><img height="1" alt="" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td></tr><tr><td class="borderColor" colspan="32"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td></tr><tr><td class="borderColor" width="1" rowspan="3"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td class="cellBg" valign="middle" align="center" width="38" height="45" rowspan="3"><img height="45" alt="Nationals" src="http://www.ronfez.net/mlb/images/team_logos/logo_was_small.gif" width="38" border="0" /> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1" rowspan="3"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td width="5"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="5" border="0" /></td><td align="left" width="100">&nbsp; <strong><a href="http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=nyy">NYY</a> </strong>(38-28) </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>1</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>1</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17"><strong>7</strong> </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width="17">0 </td><td class="borderColor" width="1"><img height="1" src="http://www.ronfez.net/images/trans.gif" width="1" border="0" /></td><td align="center" width

[kdubya]

<strong>evedder</strong> wrote:<br /><p>i miss matt lecroy</p><p>Me too, when he was with the Twins he was the man, I love big fat ball players</p><p><img src="http://xs102.xs.to/xs102/06251/11111111111111111111.png" border="0" /></p>

[Ogre]

<strong>Jennitalia</strong> wrote: <p>yechhhhhhh.&nbsp; we drove down to dc this weekend to go to that game.&nbsp; it started out fucking great!&nbsp;&nbsp; most of the people there were yankee fans, which rocked.&nbsp; fucking awful.</p><p><strong>oh, and those fucking stairs in the stands are just horrendous!</strong></p><p>Waiting for someone to spill to thier death this year.&nbsp; Someone fell at the beginning of last year off of the ramps and went splat.&nbsp; We had an assload of Yankees fans in my section too, on Father's Day.&nbsp; Zimmerman shut them up nicely.&nbsp; I will have to say that the Yankee traveling roadshow is one of the best in sports.&nbsp; The fans are obnoxious and loud.&nbsp;&nbsp;That brought out the &quot;rowdy&quot; haha of the Milk Toast DC fans.&nbsp; It was nice to be a part of the largest crowd ever,&nbsp;to see baseball in RFK.</p>

[Jennitalia]

it actually was nice to sit at a game and not have to listen drunken, obnoxious yankee fans.&nbsp; actually, after the game as everyone was walking over to the metro (very awesome system, by the way), one ass kept screaming and chanting stuff like a typical assfag superfan, but when he saw that the crowd thought he was a total dousche and ready to kill him, he shut up.&nbsp;

[El Mudo]

*sigh*

Let the firesale begin


<hr color="cococo" align="left"></font>
CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds overhauled their rickety bullpen Thursday, getting Gary Majewski and Bill Bray in an eight-player trade that sent outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez to the Washington Nationals.
<hr color="cococo" align="left">

That was the gist of the deal...the rest is other pieces, the Nats also gave up Royce Clayton and another minor leaguer and got Ryan Wagner

I think the Nats gave up a little too much in this deal..Bill Bray is supposed to be a really good prospect, and Tex Majewski is pretty young too...but maybe they will make it up when/if they deal Soriano, the Angels have some really good prospects and a deep farm system and so do some of the other interested parties. Actually, its kinda funny but recently, Soriano has made overtures in the media that he'd like to stay, but the Nats haven't even offered him a contract...oh well. It was great watching him (when I could) while he was here

This probably also means Jose Guillen is headed out of town shortly...him and Kearns play the same position, and Kearns has always been one of Jim Bowden's guys

I look for Livan Hernandez to go to the Mets shortly, and I expect some other veteran pieces to go too. Someone would probably love to have Mike Stanton


I HATE rebuilding...Grrrrrr

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 7-13-06 @ 4:40 PM</span>

[AKA]

<strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />*sigh* Let the firesale begin CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds overhauled their rickety bullpen Thursday, getting Gary Majewski and Bill Bray in an eight-player trade that sent outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez to the Washington Nationals. That was the gist of the deal...the rest is other pieces, the Nats also gave up Royce Clayton and another minor leaguer and got Ryan Wagner I think the Nats gave up a little too much in this deal..Bill Bray is supposed to be a really good prospect, and Tex Majewski is pretty young too...but maybe they will make it up when/if they deal Soriano, the Angels have some really good prospects and a deep farm system and so do some of the other interested parties. Actually, its kinda funny but recently, Soriano has made overtures in the media that he'd like to stay, but the Nats haven't even offered him a contract...oh well. It was great watching him (when I could) while he was here This probably also means Jose Guillen is headed out of town shortly...him and Kearns play the same position, and Kearns has always been one of Jim Bowden's guys I look for Livan Hernandez to go to the Mets shortly, and I expect some other veteran pieces to go too. Someone would probably love to have Mike Stanton I HATE rebuilding...Grrrrrr <span class="post_edited">This message was edited by El Mudo on 7-13-06 @ 4:40 PM</span> <p>Yeouch!</p><p>I don't mind Stanton going, but I liked Bray and Majewsky - I hoped that they would keep either Guillen or Alfonso, but that's unlikely. I have a softsport for Livian, but it's time, i think, for him to go; same with our other Pedro.</p><p><br /><br />&nbsp;</p>

[Marc with a c]

<p>its tough to give up those relievers, but lopez is solid, and kearns apparently has potential.&nbsp; i think ryan wagner is a really good pick up.&nbsp; he has really gotten beaten around in his few stints in the bigs but he does have nasty stuff, and he is young.&nbsp; however he is terribly ugly.</p>

[cougarjake13]

<p>i would love it if the mets got livan , he's been pretty good in his postseason career and to be able to trot out pedro glavine and livan would be sweet</p><p><img height="100" src="http://home.comcast.net/~bob80/RFnetCougarJake13.jpg" width="300" border="0" /></p>

[El Mudo]

Don't forget Coug, they have El Duque too, who is absolute money in the playoffs...

Only question for them would be age at that point

[Ogre]

<p>I was surprised at the fact that Bowden was kept, but that's last week. &nbsp;Kasten knows how to build a team and if he says Bowden is the man well here is his first test.&nbsp; Hated seeing Majewski go.&nbsp; After a rough start this season he brought some gas with his outings.&nbsp; I think that it will be Guillen not Soriano traded.&nbsp; Whatever they do from this point on will have to shore up the starting pitching.&nbsp; Livan has lost some of his magic, he has been very hittable.&nbsp; John Patterson has not been physically right all year.&nbsp; I think that Livan to the Mets would be good for both teams.&nbsp; While we dont have much of a chance this season, I think that Bowden and Co. are looking actually to 2008 when they move to the new digs.&nbsp; They wont be boring that's for sure.</p>

[El Mudo]

Bowden positioned himself behind the Lerners a long time ago...so i think his job is relatively safe

Kearns means Guillen will almost certainly go, the only thing is, will teams want to take on a guy famous for being a clubhouse cancer?

At this point, they have to trade Soriano just because they can get so much for him, and maybe try to re sign him in the offseason

[cougarjake13]

<strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />Don't forget Coug, they have El Duque too, who is absolute money in the playoffs... Only question for them would be age at that point <p>yeh as i was typing that i knew there was a 4th guy and i couldnt remember who it was but you're right duque has been money in the postseason, hopefully he maintains it</p><p><img height="100" src="http://home.comcast.net/~bob80/RFnetCougarJake13.jpg" width="300" border="0" /></p>

[spoon]

I'd love the Jays to take Vidro off your hands.

[cougarjake13]

<strong>spoon</strong> wrote:<br />I'd love the Jays to take Vidro off your hands. <p>would they trade vidro and also run the risk of losing soriano to free agency if they dont trade him ?</p><p><img height="100" src="http://home.comcast.net/~bob80/RFnetCougarJake13.jpg" width="300" border="0" /></p>

[El Mudo]

They won't(and can't) completely gut the franchise so I doubt Vidro is going anywhere. With a new stadium coming and a relatively new franchise that needs to attract fans that would be the worst thing they could do. They're going to obviously keep Vidro and Nick Johnson and Zimmerman and Schneider. The infield is going to be solid for at least the next 4-5 years. The only real question in the infield is at SS...Guzman was doing great in the spring before he wrecked his knee, and Lopez is supposed to be pretty good, plus there's always the Ian Desmond factor

I like getting Matos from Baltimore, I think he's an upgrade over Marlon Byrd, but its still like upgrading from a cow poo sandwich to a bird poo sandwich, although Alex Escobar has looked REALLY good in action this year, plus if Ryan Church can put his head back together we can have some really good young players coming up the next few years

Our problem has ALWAYS been at leadoff hitter. Endy Chavez, Tyrell Godwin, Marlon Byrd, Brad Wilkerson, Alfonso Soriano...and thats in less than two years. Soriano's a great hitter, but I'd rather have him hitting with guys on base than at leadoff

The pitching is a whole other story...the rotation was hurt by injuries (Brian Lawrence) and ineffectiveness (Livan, Ramon Ortiz before he turned it around) and the bullpen struggled terribly early, especially the guys who had pitched in the WBC (Majewski, Cordero) and let's not forget, one of the rocks of our pen, Luis Ayala, thanks to team Mexico, wrecked his elbow and will be back next year

Bottom line, theyve got some really good pieces in place, and I don't think its really going to take much for them to compete on a high level relatively quickly, especially if the Lerners get in there and start spending money right away on the right people. We have a very good base here as far as players go...we've just got to add a few more arms and a couple more lively bats, which we're certainly capable of doing, either by dealing Soriano and Guillen or signing FA's

<span class=post_edited>This message was edited by El Mudo on 7-14-06 @ 11:18 PM</span>

[Ogre]

<p><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2533030" target="_self">Stanton goes west.</a>&nbsp; I wonder if he left with the Giants?&nbsp; I went to the Tuesday game of the latest series, Bonds played and was booed with passion by the crowd of 33k+.&nbsp; He looked totally uninterested in being in the ballgame.&nbsp; He was slow to balls hit in front of him.&nbsp; His at bats looked average at best.&nbsp; He looked kinda like John Goodman at the end of &quot;The Babe&quot;.</p>

[El Mudo]

Two issues of late

1) Livan Hernadez was dealt today to Arizona for two prospects, who I hear are supposed to be pretty good

2)The Nats are finally going to be on ComCast starting September 1, and I'll finally be able to watch them more than one day a week

[cougarjake13]

<strong>El Mudo</strong> wrote:<br />The Nats are finally going to be on ComCast starting September 1, and I'll finally be able to watch them more than one day a week <p>one month left in the season and they'll finally show the games ... thats fucking bullshit</p>

[El Mudo]

Everyone shares in the blame....Comcast had a boner over putting MASN on their cable systems, because they felt they should have had first right of refusal on Orioles rights. MLB made a hack deal with Peter Angelos cause they were so afraid of going to court that now the Nats don't have their own TV rights

I'll enjoy the last month of the season, and get ready for next year, when all the games will be on TV

[Ogre]

<p>Well there is the genius that is Jim Bowden.&nbsp; If all goes well with the physical NOT trading Soriano looks like a BIG BIG waste of evryone's time.&nbsp; I understand that the Cubs offer is huge, but if you had no realistic plans to lock him up, why not&nbsp;have done something with him when you had a chance to get some value.</p><p><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061119/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_cubs_soriano">article here</a>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p>