Mark Lerner spoke to the fans and had a lot to say!

WASHINGTON, DC – September 28, 2022: Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner on the field; (Photo by Sol Tucker/TalkNats)

Be seen and not heard is a mantra that many sports team owners follow. Mark Lerner has not spoken publicly for over a year. Instead he has used the written words to get his messages out to the fans. The last two written pieces were very optimistic, and his interview with Dan Kolko was a lot of optimism if you allowed yourself to really understand what was said.

There were not a lot of specifics in the five minute interview. But it really takes a few listens to make your own opinions. On selling the team, Lerner would not give a direct answer except to say they have not made any decisions, and they would look at all of their options. Sure, if someone offers him $3 billion to buy the team with no contingencies, then maybe he sells. Otherwise it sounds like it is business as usual.

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Game #1 Opening Day 2023 and the standings are 30 teams tied right now for first place!

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Welcome to Opening Day 2023. When you don’t make the postseason, the offseason gets real long, and Washington Nationals’ fans have real baseball today after nearly six months without baseball that counts. This Opening Day is historic with all of the new rule changes. The Nats have the Braves in town just like 15 years ago to the day when Ryan Zimmerman hit the walk-off home run against Atlanta for the first game ever at Nationals Park. In 15 years since, some things have not changed, the stadium, despite some efforts, is still called Nationals Park. There is a scheduled day-off tomorrow and then these two teams play on Saturday and Sunday to wrap up the first series of the season. Expect full sunshine today but some chilly weather and 47ºF at first pitch at 1:05 pm. The game should see temps rise as the afternoon moves forward.

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OD 2023 Part 2: A Different Direction

William Henry “Wee Willie” Keeler came to bat 8,591 times in his career. He struck out 136 times (1.5%) averaging 7.1 strikeouts per year. One of his approaches led to another permanent rule change.

A continuation from Part I.

The RSN boon that fueled MLBs rapid influx of cash was starting to peter out over this past winter.  This wasn’t the result of anything nefarious.  Rather, technology changed.  Something called “Streaming” had grown past its awkward infancy.

The usual progression for a technology-based change is fairly standard: Initial resistance and ridicule is followed by growing acceptance until it is the norm.  Then only the strongest performers of the old technology hold on until a bitter and forlorn end.  Robert Fulton’s 1807 debut of the steamboat would take hold firmly within a few decades.  Yet, over 100 years later World War 1 German U-Boat Captains would still see the occasional tall-masted sailing ship in their periscopes.  Often they’d let the ships go.  Sinking a rusty cargo ship was one thing.  Killing an aging beauty of the sea was another.  But, their leniency wouldn’t spare what little was left of the sailing fleet from the Knacker’s Yard.  The economics simply were no longer there.   Whether it is vacuum tubes, photographic film, commercial sailing ships, or cable television the outlook for the old ways when a new technology emerges to replace it is uniformly bleak.

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Exhibition baseball today with the Nats and Yankees!

Last week’s Nationals and Yankees starting lineups; Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

We have noon-time exhibition baseball in the nation’s capital today! This will be the Washington Nationals and New York Yankees final warmup before Opening Day on Thursday. Expect some sunshine through the clouds and 51ºF at first pitch at 12:05 pm. Yes, this game will be broadcast on MASN and on the 106.7 The Fan radio.  Continue reading

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A Different Opening Day

The dreaded baseball “Shift” started in an attempt to slow down Cy Williams in 1929. He dominated Philadelphia’s short-porch Baker Bowl to the extent that many rival managers would park three outfielders to the right of straightaway Center Field. A later, more radical shift was employed against another Williams. Some guy named Ted. Ironically, the Cy Williams shift is still legal despite new rules. It is for the time being, at least.

Part 1 of 2

For the briefest of moments in March the earth is oriented such that the Sun is directly above the celestial equator as it heads north.  The Vernal Equinox brings with it a full entourage of promises and hopes.  Thoughts arise of what lay ahead.  It is oh so familiar, but always different.  Ten days later baseball joins the party.  It has its own assemblage of aspirations and dreams.  It too has the feel of being the usual.  Every year brings with it the changes of landscape within the system.  This team is ascending, that team is descending, these players have moved, and have you seen that new kid?   On it goes.   In most years the system enters Stage Left with little if any differences from the last sighting.  The old Organizational Development saw is that the longer an organization exists the more resistant to change it becomes.  A history of continued success within a paradigm dooms many long-term ventures when the seas change.  Only the alert ones successfully navigate through the turmoil.  Hence, this year will be different.  Major League Baseball (MLB) has instituted a number of rules changes.  If not familiar with them here is a good primer(https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/27/mlb-rules-2023-shift-pitch-clock-bases/11358317002/)

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Talk Nats 2023 Seasonal Positional Preview – Third Base

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

Welcome to the 2023 Talk Nats season positional preview! Between now and Opening Day, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about a particular position, eventually covering every spot on the diamond. Below is a deep dive into the third base position. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section, and as always, Go Nats!

The Starter – Jeimer Candelario 

Jeimer Candelario signed a one-year contract with the Washington Nationals early in the offseason and will start his 2023 campaign as the team’s third basemen. The 29-year-old started his career in Chicago before being traded to Detroit. Candelario has also played 60 games at first base with a .989 fielding percentage. The veteran is a switch hitter who has constantly been able to produce numbers. I believe Canderlario will earn the cleanup spot in the lineup this spring. Candelario was an above-average hitter in Detroit and looked sharp early in his career. He ranked third with Detroit in WAR in 2020 and got himself on-base often. Continue reading

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Game #27 Nats wrap-up their Grapefruit League schedule today!

Photo by Andy Ward for TalkNats

We have our final game of the Grapefruit League schedule today, and then the Washington Nationals head to their charter jet for their trek to Washington, D.C. There could be some question as to who is on the plane after the most recent cuts. While Matt Adams was not cut, he was told that he would not make the team leaving Michael Chavis only competing for the spot against possible waiver claims or trades before Opening Day.  Continue reading

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Game #26 Corbin gets final tune-up prior to Opening Day!

Photo by Sol Tucker for TalkNats

This is Patrick Corbins’ final tune-up before Opening Day in five days on regular rest. You would have thought they would have aligned Corbin to get that extra day of rest, and maybe they go easier on him today on his pitch count. The Nats record in Grapefruit League play this year as the 12-11-2 as the Washington Nationals take on the Astros in their shared stadium complex at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. Continue reading

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Thoughts and Notes around the Washington Nationals as Opening Day is just 5 days away!

Open Day graphic by Steve Mears

The Washington Nationals 2023 season officially kicks off in five days. The Nationals are building from the ground up in what general manager Mike Rizzo has called a quick rebuild or a reboot. He has shipped away three stars from the 2019 World Series team and, by doing that, restocked his farm system. Enough of rehashing the past; the future has been teased before us in the form of top prospects, and the next few years should make most people happy. I compiled my thoughts surrounding the start of the Nationals season. As always, leave your thoughts in the comments, and Go, Nats!

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Game #25 Chad Kuhl’s turn!

This is Chad Kuhl‘s final tune-up in Grapefruit League play this year as the 12-10-2 Washington Nationals take on the Cardinals in West Palm Beach.  Continue reading

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