by Andrew Lang
by Andrew Lang
The Expos ended the 1970 season, their 2nd in existence with a 73 – 89 record and while the goal for that year was ’70 in 70’, everyone agreed that the goal going forward would not be ’71 in 71’ etc but guess what? The Expos finished 1971 with a 71 – 91 record because in the end talent matters and the Expos didn’t have much talent. Continue reading
Photo by Marlene Koenig for TalkNats
For the first time since the season ended, it feels like a reunion with Bryce Harper is a real possibility. So that begs the question, does Bryce Harper want to re-sign with the Washington Nationals? The answer to that question lies within Harper, and he will do the grand reveal in the next few weeks we believe. Until then, it is a daily soap opera with few clues to the ending. It is a tortured journey for some as they feel like their heart-strings are being tugged.
Two months ago, Harper left us at the end of the season with some wonderful soundbites that led many to believe he wanted to stay if he was in the Nationals’ plans which we later learned from principal owner Mark Lerner that Harper absolutely was in the Nationals plans, and Harper knew that based on the timeline of when he received that $300 million Nats offer — but yet said “I’ve got to know if I’m in the team’s plans”. He was clearly in the plans and even though the door seemed almost closed — the door is open again.
Even though the Nats did not have a great season in 2018, I still had a lot of fun following the Nats and going to games. Last year, I wrote about my top ten favorite moments of the 2017 season, and now here are my top ten moments from 2018: Continue reading
The Circle of Trust finally looked like a circle after many days of practice. Good job!
Mike Rizzo: Sign Tony Two-Bags to an extension.
Anthony Rendon: Sign an extension with Mike Rizzo.
Ryan Zimmerman: play so well that the Nationals want to pick up your 2020 option or sign you now to an extension. Continue reading
Every year, young first-round draft picks in their respective sports sign multi-million dollar deals. Some spend those signing bonuses on Ferrari cars, Rolex watches, blinged-out jewelry and pocket money for long-lost relatives. For the Washington Nationals 2018 1st-round pick, Mason Denaburg, he spent his money on real estate — and in particular his parent’s home as he paid-off the mortgage on their home which is minutes from the Nats old spring training home in Viera, Florida. Continue reading
Zim’s 2018 Spring Training on the back-fields; Photo by Craig Nedrow
For months our readers here have discussed our suggestion about the advantages of extending the contract of the face of the franchise for the Washington Nationals. In case you did not know, Ryan Zimmerman happens to be one of the top offensive players in baseball when facing left-handed pitching which is one of the reasons to retain him for a few more years at a lower salary. There is a perfect storm of need brewing for the Washington Nationals and Zimmerman because he wants to stay with the Nats, and the team needs to lower their 2019 payroll. They can both accomplish these goals together creatively speaking. The Nats can actually lower payroll by extending Zimmerman’s contract to include the 2019 season and at a market rate for the 2020 and 2021 season which would take Zim to his retirement at the age of 37.
For the two-time All-Star, he has repeatedly said he wants to extend his career in Washington, D.C., but determining his future value could be the sticky point. With Matt Adams signed to a new $3 million deal for 2019, the market seems clear what a 30 year old Adams is worth — but what would Zim’s value be for his age 35-36 season and his age 36-37 season? Would Zim agree that Adams’ salary is his true value? Hopefully he would as the 34 year old first baseman once again hurt his value by spending too much time on the DL and playing poorly for the first month of the season. Zim finished with just a +1.3 WAR that ranked at only the 22nd highest ranked among 1st basemen in 2018 while he is among the highest paid at that position and set to pocket $18 million more in 2019 if no renegotiation happens. Continue reading
"Opening Day should be a National holiday"
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