Asset rich and cash poor is how many sports team owners live!

Posted on October 22, 2024 by Andrew Lang

Owning a major sports franchise guarantees that you are rich beyond belief. The leagues will only approve you as a team owner after their due diligence audit and their cashflow test. Almost all owners buy their teams on credit. As billionaire Warren Buffett once said about borrowing against your asset, “I’ve seen more people fail because of liquor and leverage – leverage being borrowed money. You really don’t need leverage in this world much. If you’re smart, you’re going to make a lot of money without borrowing.” Tell team owners about that because they borrow as far as they can in leveraging their assets, and some like their liquor too. There are few stories in recent years of sports franchises failing.

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The Nats future outfield with something in the Rafters

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Andrew Lang
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Photo by Garrett Lang for TalkNats
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

While Juan Soto is far from signing a deal with the Washington Nationals as a free agent, we can confidently pencil in from left to right: James Wood, Jacob Young, and Dylan Crews as your starting 2025 outfield with Alex Call as your bench outfielder. A new name has emerged from the Salt River Rafters roster in the Arizona Fall League (AFL): Robert Hassell III. Kind of left for roadkill next to the armadillo I passed on Interstate 8 back in 1988, Hassell is rocking in October as Bobby Barrells again.

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The Evolution of the Baseball: A Century of Change

Posted on October 19, 2024 by Grant Cole
Photos by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

A Timeless Tool of the Game

The baseball, the heart of America’s national pastime, has undergone significant transformations over the years. From its early days as a crudely crafted ball to its modern-day precision, the baseball has evolved to meet the demands of the game.

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Grading the 2024 Washington Nationals: position player edition

Posted on October 17, 2024 by SaoMagnifico
Jacob Young makes a sliding catch in a July 3 game. (Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats.com)

Last week, we took an unsparing look at how the Washington Nationals pitching staff fared in 2024. Today, we’re grading the rest of the roster: position players, including designated hitters, who don’t actually play a real position but whatever.

As usual, player grades are arbitrary, although I’ve tried my best to be fair. I’ve also graded players against expectations. To earn an A, a player would have to exceed reasonable expectations for themselves and their role on the team. For a B, a player would have to generally meet expectations. A C grade is on the borderline, as it’s a passing grade but generally indicates a player could have done quite a bit more (in my view) with the opportunities they were given. A D grade represents a qualified failure, as the player had their moments, but ultimately, they did not make a good case in the time they had; many of my D recipients were ultimately demoted or designated for assignment during the season. An F grade is reserved for truly disastrous seasons, usually over a sustained period of time and despite many opportunities.

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Juan Soto Contract Options

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Andrew Lang
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

There is no doubt that Juan Soto will test the waters of free agency — even if he eventually signs back with the New York Yankees. The Yankees and Mets are listed as the top two favorites to land him. On one sports betting site, they are taking early prop bets on Soto’s contract over/under which is set at $500 million, and then you can bet on the team that signs him. The Washington Nationals are in their top-half of teams, and tied at 13th with Houston in top odds to sign Soto.

The Shohei Ohtani contract was for the highest pitcher/batter contract in baseball history as he is a starting pitcher and DH. One thing we all expect is that Soto will sign for stupid crazy money and be poised to set a record for a pure position player on a free agent deal. He actually could have set the record in 2022 when the Nats offered him $440 million with room to negotiate that further. Truth be told, Soto wants to test free agency — and the mighty Yankees cannot dissuade him from filing as a free agent. He has earned that right. The Yankees will have to compete for Soto’s services with probably a handful of teams that will be offering over half-a-billion-dollars.

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A Muddy History: The Evolution of Baseball Mud

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Grant Cole

A Seemingly Mundane Substance with a Rich History

Baseball mud, a seemingly mundane substance, plays a crucial role in the game. It is used to condition baseballs, enhancing their grip and durability. While it may seem like a simple product, the history of baseball mud is surprisingly rich and complex.

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Grading the 2024 Washington Nationals: pitching edition

Posted on October 12, 2024 by SaoMagnifico
Kyle Finnegan pitches in a win August 9, 2024. (Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats.com)

While we enjoy watching the MLB postseason, the Washington Nationals are once again playing golf in October. And that means it’s time again for our annual look at how each National performed in 2024.

Players here are assigned a letter grade or an “incomplete”. I would encourage you not to read too much into minuses or pluses, and to keep in mind that there is somewhat of a grading curve in effect. The expectations for a journeyman pitcher are and should be entirely different than the expectations for an established member of the team. Similarly, the expectations for a rookie aren’t the same as the expectations for a veteran. And, indeed, the expectations for a guy making the major league minimum are less than they are for a guy raking in tens of millions of dollars. (You know of whom I speak.)

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Take Me Out to the Ball Game: A Timeless Anthem

Posted on October 12, 2024 by Grant Cole
Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

A Century-Old Classic

“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is more than just a song; it’s a cultural touchstone that has captivated audiences for generations. Its enduring popularity is a testament to baseball’s timeless appeal and the music’s power to evoke emotion and nostalgia.

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Assembling a 2025 roster for the Nats

Posted on October 11, 2024 by Andrew Lang
Photos by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

Assembling a roster starts with a reality check and that is called the budget. The Washington Nationals have many needs for the offseason, and they have to maximize their opportunities in Dollar/WAR acquisitions. Obviously, Juan Soto‘s +8.1 WAR would be a big plus if the Nationals acquired him — but as we know, Soto will have his choice of suitors. He would almost transform this Nats’ team from 71-wins to 80-wins by himself. The Nationals purged a lot of “addition by subtraction” off of the roster also. Certainly, -4.0 WAR will not be on next year’s roster, and that alone could take this team from 71-wins to 75-wins before any new acquisitions.

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The Washington Nationals’ Spirited Finale and a Season of Growth

Posted on October 10, 2024 by Stan4Nats
Photo by Andrew Lang for TalkNats

As the curtains fell on the 2024 MLB regular season, the Washington Nationals took the field at Nationals Park with the drive and determination that were characteristic of a team undergoing a profound transformation. Their final game of the 2024 season against the Philadelphia Phillies, despite a 6-3 loss, highlighted both the strides made — and the challenges that remain.

With the Phillies securing a 95-win season, their most impressive record since 2011, we all watched that even a great record in the regular season means little in the postseason as the Phillies were quickly knocked out. Today, it is the offseason for both teams. Baseball can be cruel. Here’s the difference — the Nats were not supposed to make the postseason this year. The Nationals’ journey tells a story of young budding talent and hard-earned experience.

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