The Home for Washington Nationals Game Talk

Photo by Mitchell Layton for the Nationals

With another team entering the Bryce Harper auction, it is time to discuss the intricacies involved in signing a contract for a player like Harper. Any signing of Harper will require a ratification from the principal owner of any team. Be it Ron Fowler of the Padres, Jerry Reinsdorf of the White Sox, John Middleton aka “Stupid Money” or Ted Lerner of the Washington Nationals, the owners will make the ultimate call before pen is put to paper.  Continue reading →

Photo by Paul Kim of Kevin Long on Nats social media

This off-season has been flying by, and I imagine I’m not the only one who’s extremely hyped for the 2019 season. So why don’t we talk hitting? Just over two years ago, before the 2017 season, I made this post on Reddit. In it, I argued that the Nationals were slowly shifting their focus towards making contact. We had just seen stealth bullpens, defense, athleticism, speed and a high rate of batter’s contact win the Royals a World Series in 2015, and it seemed apparent that the Nats were trying to emulate that approach.  I think it’s safe to say, this is at least somewhat true.  Continue reading →

So, you might start by asking “what’s a SABR Day?” SABR, the Society for American Baseball Research, has chapters around the country, and indeed, around the world (see www.sabr.org). These chapters hold an annual meeting, typically the last Saturday in January (some local variations occur due to facilities availability). Besides the election of officers and the opportunity to talk about baseball with other fans, most have a slate of programs. Some of them include papers that have been presented at the national SABR conference, but there’s a real variety—no worries if you’re not a stats geek: there are plenty of other options. Authors and filmmakers often present their work. If there is a local team, the organizers try to bring in someone from the team. Scouts, media, and former players are also popular presenters. Oh, and there are often raffles for baseball-related items. Here’s a summary of the 2019 presentations for the DC Chapter. Continue reading →

Ed Barrow was the General Manager of the Yankees from 1920-1945 overseeing 14 A.L. pennants and 11 World Championships

The job of a Major League Baseball General Manager is a study in complexity.  There are skill sets that require years of immersion to obtain.  Responsibilities are abundant.  Performance expectations are of the highest magnitude.  And, the baseball world is now a 24/7/365 experience.  If you wish to find a job with, ”Burnout” written all over it, the GM job is just the ticket.  It’s worth a peek under the hood to see some of what is involved.

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