tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074246508221440257.post5849910711602626398..comments2023-10-17T10:45:07.796-04:00Comments on FJB: Expectations ManagementUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074246508221440257.post-85965228178097168292008-12-09T13:21:00.000-05:002008-12-09T13:21:00.000-05:00it won't be me, specifically, being disappointed i...it won't be me, specifically, being disappointed if they come away empty-handed without any big ticket players. i understand how the business works. i was around when Syd Thrift said he was working with "confederate money" while with the O's. <BR/><BR/>sometimes you make the biggest offer and they go somewhere else. sometimes you do it for the press. sometimes you don't do it but say you did. i know how the game is played. but you're correct that there are many, many members of the team's fan base that aren't as, um, nuanced shall we say? those are the folks that will be diappointed, and i imagime those are the folks that aren't re-upping their seasons tickets anyway.Dave Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310191107811609232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074246508221440257.post-34262930993032201982008-12-09T12:21:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:21:00.000-05:00I think the Nats backs are up against the wall and...I think the Nats backs are up against the wall and they will do what it takes to bring in some respectable ML ball player. If its not Tex (which I doubt it will be) it will be an over pay for a Dunn or Burrell. <BR/><BR/>I think when this team didn't sign Crow, wasn't active in FA market and resigned Guzman they lost the ability to say "The Plan". Now it wasn't just for those reasons, the Plan took a blow also b/c even with Crow our minor league system took a hit ( won't be even close to 9th overall in BA rankings this year and I doubt Crow would have made much of a difference) Marerro's injury, Maxwell back on the DL, Detwiler, Smoker struggling, McGeary a long way off. If not for J-Zim, Burgess, and Smiley year 2 we would have nothing to look forward too. Remember Lannan is still the only pitcher we have really developed, and while Milledge, Dukes and Flores have taken starting roles none seem that close to All-star status just yet.Steve Shouphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08995967113869172494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074246508221440257.post-11598148819866741512008-12-09T12:05:00.000-05:002008-12-09T12:05:00.000-05:00I hear you. That's not really what this post was a...I hear you. That's not really what this post was about. Mostly I'm just saying that for someone like you, if they had managed expectations better, then you wouldn't be EXPECTING a big signing. Hoping, sure, but not expecting it. NOw, if they come away empty, people like you will be more disappointed than if they had just said, "the Plan!" all winter.Stevenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14109288910583404941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2074246508221440257.post-56971950621941831442008-12-09T10:30:00.000-05:002008-12-09T10:30:00.000-05:00i think you touch briefly on one of my biggest com...i think you touch briefly on one of my biggest complaints but brush it aside too quickly.<BR/><BR/>after last season, this organization needed to address the product it put on the field. the MAJOR LEAGUE field. as a season ticket holder (one of the rapidly dwindling few) that is what i pay to see. <BR/><BR/>you know i'm a sophisticated enough baseball fan to know that building the farm system is important and fundamentally the right way to go. and while there are differing opinions on how successful Mr. Kasten, Bowden and Rizzo have been at that so far, the thing they have not had ANY success in is attracting folks to come see the major league product.<BR/><BR/>they can talk all they like about being happy with last year's attendance, but that's BS and everyone knows it. marketing aside, you can't expect people to pay for filet mignon and serve them McDonald's (or Ben's Chiil Bowl, if you like).<BR/><BR/>that's the thing that some folks are missing in their assessment of "The Plan (tm)". pundits forget that real people pay real money (a lot) to be entertained.<BR/><BR/>is a ten-year, $200M contract for Teixiera going to bring a WS title? maybe. maybe not. will Mark Teixiera make this team more interesting and add to the idea that the Nats are a viable player in the market? certainly. are the two ideas mutually exclusive? they don't have to be.<BR/><BR/>do we have the right people in place to make both strategies pay off?Dave Nicholshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310191107811609232noreply@blogger.com