Comments on Nats Insider: What can Nats expect from LaRoche?

Or plan CF.

2012-01-24T15:56:51.090-05:00

Or plan CF.

natsfan1a, that's a great question. I truly b...

2012-01-24T15:40:30.375-05:00

natsfan1a, that's a great question. I truly believe that the Nats were "in" for several weeks and were also Boras's fallback safety net. Worse case he does a 7 year with an opt-out or 5 years at $25 mill per year and Boras comes out smelling ok.

With this Detroit deal, the yokes on them. Another case of way over-paying. Detroit probably bought that fake BS yesterday of an imminent signing with the Nats at 8 years. I didn't buy that for second.

Back to Plan C

I'm fine with no Prince, and more than fine wi...

2012-01-24T15:29:44.845-05:00

I'm fine with no Prince, and more than fine with all of the related rumors/speculation being done. Good luck to Nats Insider Dawn and her Tigers now that they've taken a PF flyer. :-)

(And were the Nats really in on it, or just part of the noise generated by Boras and company?)

Steve M. I agree with you 100%. I pushed for a PF...

2012-01-24T15:27:46.091-05:00

Steve M.

I agree with you 100%. I pushed for a PF signing but not for 9 years. Anything more than 6 is ludicrous. Still it's a better deal for the Tigers than the Nats have with Werth.

So it's LaRoche at 1st and Morse in left for starters with a black hole in center and Werth in right. When Harper arrives LaRoche leaves maintaining the black hole in center.

More work for Rizzo. If not now then at the trade deadline or next off season.

I am more upset overall that without Prince the CF...

2012-01-24T15:25:48.030-05:00

I am more upset overall that without Prince the CF spot is more exposed and you can't rush Bryce Harper if he isn't ready. The offensive run production is crucial to the Nats pitchers so they aren't struggling with 1 run leads or those pesky 2-1 deficits.

At least now that the Prince drama has ended, the Nats can move forward and if a deal comes up for them to take, do it.

If Fielder went to the Marlins or Orioles I would ...

2012-01-24T15:16:19.053-05:00

If Fielder went to the Marlins or Orioles I would have come unglued. I'm ok with this. 9 years for an average of $23 mill per year is just nuts.

Now the Nats need to finish Plan C which is extending Ryan Zimmerman and keep negotiating with Morse now and try to add a couple more years to his deal.

Mark Zuckerman was right as usual. No, Zuc...

2012-01-24T15:08:14.230-05:00

Mark Zuckerman was right as usual.

No, Zuckerman was wrong. He maintained from the beginning that the Nats would not be in on Fielder. Clearly they were in on him all along. Just weren't successful in the end. Zuckerman never predicted that.

Heyman just tweeted Tigers. He's not a buddy o...

2012-01-24T15:05:12.535-05:00

Heyman just tweeted Tigers. He's not a buddy of mine, but I'd say he's in the know.

The Prince Fielder to Washington is OVER. The Tig...

2012-01-24T15:04:44.557-05:00

The Prince Fielder to Washington is OVER. The Tigers just coughed off the cash. Mark Zuckerman was right as usual.

I am hearing Fielder to the Tigers but a buddy of ...

2012-01-24T15:01:10.022-05:00

I am hearing Fielder to the Tigers but a buddy of mine in the know says its the Nats but looks like it is happening today.

Twitter world abuzz with Nats & Fielder on an ...

2012-01-24T14:43:38.863-05:00

Twitter world abuzz with Nats & Fielder on an 8 year deal (and not that crazy guy from Sun night, he says O's).

Les - 100% with you on the OF, and Fielder doesn't really change that point about the OF, unless Adam L can play CF.

How would PF help the Nats? Runners on 2nd and 3rd...

2012-01-24T14:34:50.190-05:00

How would PF help the Nats? Runners on 2nd and 3rd, two out, RZim at the plate, LaRoche on deck. How often do teams pitch around RZim to get to ALR? I'm thinking very often. Same situation, PF on deck, RZim gets heat in the strike zone, PF gives him a high five as he crosses the plate while fans outside the ballpark rush after the ball. It's a no-brainer. PF isn't just better than ALR, he makes players like RZim better.

Someone commented that Ross wouldn't sign with the Nats because the Nats OF is too crowded. Huh? They may be the only team in baseball right now that only has two bona fida OFs, one of whom is likely to play the wrong position (actually, if you buy the Morse is better at 1B argument, both the Nats OFs on openning day may be playing the wrong position). There isn't a thinner OF anywhere. The Nats need to sign a decent hitter that isn't a complete defensive nightmare to a lucrative one year contract; then Harper makes it when it makes sense, not because there simply aren't any other alternatives. Bernadina and Cameron are not viable alternatives. If Harper comes up in late June and tears it up, you either have a great bench bat or a trade asset, if he isn't, you have someone that can help offensively all year. I sure hope they are holding off making a move to get that guy in the hope that PF will sign and they can get an OF in a deal for ALR.

I'd prefer Capitol Records Park myself. But w...

2012-01-24T14:29:04.385-05:00

I'd prefer Capitol Records Park myself. But we'll probably end up with Exxon Mobil or Fannie Mae. A local business would be best. The Ben's Chili Bowl?

sign PF, and trade Morse to Tampa for Upton. That...

2012-01-24T14:22:18.795-05:00

sign PF, and trade Morse to Tampa for Upton. That would be a great team.

I've got it: How about calling it "Prince...

2012-01-24T14:21:22.241-05:00

I've got it: How about calling it "Prince Field?"

Just wonderin' said... On naming rights: What...

2012-01-24T14:20:22.859-05:00

Just wonderin' said...
On naming rights: What about "Boras Field at Nationals Park"?

January 24, 2012 2:17 PM

He's already asked for that. LOL

A $200 million naming rights deal for the National...

2012-01-24T14:19:35.944-05:00

A $200 million naming rights deal for the Nationals is not going to happen in this economy. And Ted Lerner is too classy a guy to sell naming rights on a yearly basis for chump change like the Dolphins have done with their stadium that the Marlins have been playing in.

Gio Gonzalez news conference tomorrow. Wonder if ...

2012-01-24T14:18:55.759-05:00

Gio Gonzalez news conference tomorrow. Wonder if Prince Fielder will stop by.

On naming rights: What about "Boras Field at...

2012-01-24T14:17:43.533-05:00

On naming rights: What about "Boras Field at Nationals Park"?

Feel Wood, I don't disagree about the naming r...

2012-01-24T14:14:49.771-05:00

Feel Wood, I don't disagree about the naming rights for the Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs who play on hallowed ground. The Whoreoles would do it if Angelos got his price and I expect the Dodgers will definitely do it when they get new ownership. I think the only reason the Nats have done it is because they haven't gotten their price.

NatsNut - this? @Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal S...

2012-01-24T14:14:38.115-05:00
NatsNut - this?

@Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Sources: #Marlins, #Orioles not in mix for Fielder. #Rangers out, per @BNightengale. Barring surprise, #Nationals appear favorite. #MLB

Fell Wodd -- that is rich. How can anything sound...

2012-01-24T14:14:29.645-05:00
Fell Wodd -- that is rich. How can anything sound better to Ted Lerner than something like $200M for naming rights?

No naming rights deal and just calling it National...

2012-01-24T14:07:19.549-05:00
No naming rights deal and just calling it Nationals Park sounds even better. Money isn't everything. Some of the best and most classy teams in baseball have not succumbed to the naming rights plague, e.g. Yankees, Red Sox, Dodgers, Cubs, even Orioles. The Nationals can hold their heads high having no naming rights deal.

Anyone else see Ken Rosenthal's latest? I don&...

2012-01-24T14:06:55.881-05:00
Anyone else see Ken Rosenthal's latest? I don't have any more opinions because I'm as Prince Fielder-ed out as Mark is, but curious what ya'll think.

I don't know what the Nats will get in increas...

2012-01-24T14:02:09.581-05:00
I don't know what the Nats will get in increased TV revenue but I will go back to a discussion on if they sign Prince Fielder, the increased exposure should net the Nats a favorable window of opportunity to do a stadium naming rights deal.

Okay, they won't score an 8 digit a year deal but if they can't at least match the $4 million Sun Life deal the Marlins had at one time that would be pathetic. Capital One Bank at Nationals Park has a nice ring to it. They can call it the COB and it would pay for around 20% of Prince Fielder's income.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/09/19/In-Depth/Naming-rights-deals.aspx