The Nats Thread (old thread link inside, too many load issues)

[Dan T.]

LOL at "Where's Adam."

I'm keeping my eye on Christian Garcia. He might be the surprise of the staff in 2013.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...1d6_story.html

MLB seeks creative solution to MASN rights fees dispute between Nationals, Orioles


Hoping to find a solution to the dispute between the Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles over the value of the Nationals’ television rights, Major League Baseball has asked a private investment bank to seek potential new owners for the rights that are now held by the regional sports network controlled by Orioles owner Peter Angelos.

Allen & Co., a New York-based investment bank, is seeking buyers to acquire the two franchises’ broadcast rights from the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity.

A new owner would essentially separate MASN and Angelos from the Nationals by creating a new regional sports network.

Fox Sports and Comcast are candidates to purchase the rights, according to one of the individuals. Both companies, Fox Sports in particular, have delved heavily into the regional sports network market.

Fox Sports recently spent $1.5 billion to increase its stake to 49 percent in the YES Network that broadcasts New York Yankees games and is negotiating a $6 billion deal to secure the rights for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Comcast, in a joint venture between the Houston Astros and NBA’s Houston Rockets, recently created a network that would broadcast both teams’ games and pay the Astros a reported annual average rights fee of $80 million.

The Nationals and MASN have been in a disagreement over the size of the Nationals’ TV rights fee since the end of the 2011 season. The Nationals have asked for between $100 million and $120 million per year, far more than the $29 million they received in the 2011 season, according to one person familiar with the request. MASN proposed paying Washington $34 million for the 2012 season, according to another individual, who like others spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.

[skinfan2k]

Lannan joins the Phillies to be their 5th starter. 1 yr 2.5M Guaranteed

[skinsfan_1215]

Lannan joins the Phillies to be their 5th starter. 1 yr 2.5M Guaranteed

Oh how the tables have turned.

[AsiaticSkinsFan]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports...1d6_story.html

its not creative, its what should have been done originally.

[10]

....almost an embarrassment of riches today for Washington sports fans.....


Power rankings: Nationals, Reds 1-2

December, 16, 2012
By David Schoenfield | ESPN



There are some big free agents out there -- Michael Bourn, Nick Swisher, Kyle Lohse, Edwin Jackson, Adam LaRoche and Rafael Soriano being the biggest -- and some trades that may yet to be completed, such as R.A. Dickey to the Blue Jays, but let's take stock on where we're at right now and rank the top 10 teams.

1. Washington Nationals (98-64, plus-137 run differential in 2012)

The Nationals had the best record and the highest run differential in the majors in 2012, and there's no reason to believe this young team won't improve or at least hold steady. They've traded for Denard Span to play center field, moving Bryce Harper to a corner to give them a terrific defensive outfield, and replaced Jackson in the rotation with Dan Haren, which could be a small upgrade if Haren recovers from back and hip problems that slowed him down last season. If catcher Wilson Ramos returns from his knee injury, the lineup looks deep from No. 1 through 8.

Bryce Harper and the Nationals rank as ESPN's top team in the majors thanks to some inspired youth.Strengths: starting rotation; depth; youth.

Weaknesses: left-handed power if the Nationals don't re-sign LaRoche; nobody in the rotation threw 200 innings in 2012; closer Drew Storen will have to mentally come back from his playoff meltdown; only one lefty reliever (Zach Duke) on the 40-man roster.


rest at link


http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/po...onals-reds-1-2

[STBonecrusher21]

My brother was talkin' about buyin a hat. But then he read to hold off on buying a hat for now because they are talking about getting new hats for next year.

Has anyone heard about that?

[PleaseBlitz]

BaseballAmerica top prospects.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...3/2614474.html

Interesting read. Can't wait to see Golito. Also interesting that they break it down by tool.

[bcl05]

Cubs give Edwin Jackson $52million for 4 years. Wow.... I love what he did for the nats last year, but I can't believe they gave him that much.

[CoolHandLuke]

Cubs give Edwin Jackson $52million for 4 years. Wow.... I love what he did for the nats last year, but I can't believe they gave him that much.

Wow no wonder they blow so hard! Still can't forget the Cubs series in DC. Their fans were so butt hurt and rightfully so...

[Forehead]

BaseballAmerica top prospects.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today...3/2614474.html

Interesting read. Can't wait to see Golito. Also interesting that they break it down by tool.

That 2016 starting rotation looks sick if we can hold it together and Giolito is everything advertised. The lineup doesn't look half bad either.

[stevemcqueen1]

Cubs give Edwin Jackson $52million for 4 years. Wow.... I love what he did for the nats last year, but I can't believe they gave him that much.

Thought Theo Epstein was supposed to be brilliant.

I feel bad for Cubs fans. It's been so long since they won a championship the characters of Downton Abbey could say, "Damn, been a while since the Cubbies won."

[GoSkins0721]

Another hole in the bullpen? Gorzo off to the Brewers...

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/87...tom-gorzelanny

[skinswillwin06]

Zach Duke will be this year's Gorzo

[CoolHandLuke]

Another hole in the bullpen? Gorzo off to the Brewers...

http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/87...tom-gorzelanny

This is getting ridiculous! We need to sign JP Howell like now and possibly another lefty in the bullpen