Nats failure thread

[actionjackson]

I don't think you understand the mentality of the baseball fan in DC. IMO it's akin to the football fan of the Ravens. Do they acknowledge the existence of a team prior to the Ravens? Or do they lovingly accept the memory of the Colts?
I am not saying that Expos fans wont see the Nats as "their team" and continue to root for them. But I feel (and I think alot of local baseball fans feel) that the Nationals are more an extension of the Senators than than the Expos.

That being said, Walter Johnson is one the most memorable baseball players to play in DC, so they erected a statue of him, whats not to like about that? Its not like the Twins were jumping up and down to get a statue of the guy.

But Expos fans will never see the Nats as "their team", nor will they "continue to root for them", unless of course the Nationals change course and suddenly it hits them that their history is actually 41 seasons and counting, not 5, and recognize and celebrate their past. It's what classy teams with smart business sense like the Avalanche (as Sipimi mentioned) do. Mickey Mouse outfits like the Natinals are near-sighted and amnesiac about the organization prior to its existence as "their team". Really, there's not a lot to remember about the Nats in their 5 year history aside from all the blunders that this thread is about, but it would be a much more complete picture with the Montreal years in there.

If you look at the Nationals' leaderboard, it's dominated by names like Rusty Staub, Tim Raines, Vladimir Guerrero, Ron Fairly, Larry Walker, Nick Johnson, Ken Singleton, Moises Alou, Gary Carter, Bob Bailey, Tim Wallach, Steve Rogers, Pedro Martinez, Dennis Martinez, Javier Vazquez, Jeff Reardon, Ken Hill, Jeff Fassero, and Bill Gullickson. 2 no-hitters by Bill Stoneman (one in the ninth game of the organization's existence), a no-hitter by Charlie Lea and a perfect game by "El Presidente El Perfecto" Dennis Martinez. All washed away because they didn't happen (Nick Johnson's exploits excepted) in Washington. Sad.

The worst thing the Nats did though was returning the numbers 8 (Gary Carter), 10 (Andre Dawson; Rusty Staub), and 30 (Tim Raines) to circulation. 8 was given to Marlon Anderson and then Aaron Boone. 10 was given to Royce Clayton, Brandon Harper, and then Ronnie Belliard and 30 was worn by Mike Stanton and then Chris Booker. Ugh, what a farce. Kee-rist, At least give them to good/very good ballplayers.

All I'm saying is your organization already has a nice history if you include its pre-Washington history. Why not celebrate it? Why not welcome the old Expos players back into the family, instead of making them baseball orphans? It doesn't take much effort on the organization's part and it demonstrates class instead of whatever the organization is demonstrating right now.

[actionjackson]

I hate to get off topic but when have I ever trolled in these forums? maybe you could refresh my memory....

Does it really bother you that the Nationals organization erected statues to great players (yes I have since updated my knowledge about them) that played in DC not QC (Montreal). Which do you you think means more to baseball in the Capital? Players that played through great years in Canada, or locally? I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to figure that out!

You accused me of trolling. How is it trolling on my part to suggest that Carter, Raines and Dawson were great players worthy of statues? You made this accusation while questioning the merits of those three players and simultaneously admitting that you were not familiar with the accomplishments of Walter Johnson, Josh Gibson, and Frank Howard. How is it not inflammatory (or trolling if you will) to accuse me of trolling when all I was suggesting was that the Nationals embrace their entire history. It's not like I was being one of the kids on this site and trying to start a p!ssfight and then egging it on. Accusing me of trolling when I asked a perfectly reasonable question is in fact trolling, hence the pot and kettle reference.

[CCamels73]

A nice history?

The Expos played baseball for 35 years having won the division ONCE. Had the '94 season not been interrupted, they might have won again, so that gave them 1 post season appearance during their time in QC. Odds were in their favor of producing a few HOF'ers in 35 years time, but we see now how few it really was.

And this is what you think they should reflect on? I think they should be looking for the future because the past was pretty terrible (if you count the Expos as part of that past).

[actionjackson]

A nice history?

This attack on Expos/Nationals history is brought to you by a baseball fan in a city whose teams in various incarnations as the Blue Legs, the Olympics, the Statesmen, the Nationals, and the Senators over close to 100 total seasons have now appeared in the playoffs exactly three times and won the whole enchilada exactly once: in 1924 when you only had to win one four out of 7 playoff round to win it all.

Be grateful that 1994 happened to the Expos because without it, you might still be waiting for a baseball team. What's that oft repeated refrain? "Washington: First in the nation; Last in the American League". Indeed.

[Arctic Blast]

A nice history?

The Expos played baseball for 35 years having won the division ONCE. Had the '94 season not been interrupted, they might have won again, so that gave them 1 post season appearance during their time in QC. Odds were in their favor of producing a few HOF'ers in 35 years time, but we see now how few it really was.

And this is what you think they should reflect on? I think they should be looking for the future because the past was pretty terrible (if you count the Expos as part of that past).

Awesome! Then we can end this argument now, because clearly that means no statues at all are necessary. After all, if it's all about the future, and the past was 100% crap in your opinion, then there isn't anything worth building a monument to.

[CCamels73]

I think you all have missed the point of my posts.

IMO the Nationals have celebrated the history of baseball in the District of Columbia by erecting statues to those greats that have played there. What is not to like about that? It seems like the move would endear more local 'potential' fans to appreciate the local history instead of semantic history. And fans are what count right? not critics that are already fans of something else. So be critical, its not going to make a difference I bet if you ask fans of baseball in DC they would agree with me.

[MichelleWie]

When a team moves I think their record books should be cleared, the name changed, etc,etc. Kinda like when Cleveland kept their name and records and Baltimore basically got the players, but with no records. I also hate teams like the Hornets where they move and keep the name. I find it hard to believe that many people from Montreal care about the Nationals. If I was a fan and my team moved, I wouldn't continue to root for them. If the Brewers moved I would probably root for the White Sox. Their might be a few players I would root for, but over time I would have no connection with the team anymore.

[TheNamelessPoet]

When a team moves I think their record books should be cleared, the name changed, etc,etc. Kinda like when Cleveland kept their name and records and Baltimore basically got the players, but with no records. I also hate teams like the Hornets where they move and keep the name. I find it hard to believe that many people from Montreal care about the Nationals. If I was a fan and my team moved, I wouldn't continue to root for them. If the Brewers moved I would probably root for the White Sox. Their might be a few players I would root for, but over time I would have no connection with the team anymore.

dont forget... they didnt care about them to begin with... the moved because they had no fans in the seats... yes they lost fans... BUT they didnt have many to lose unfortunatly

[Jeffy25]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/0...m-kennedy.html

[Jeffy25]

apparently they are getting ming-wang as well.

They are really getting **** done this off-season

[OregonDuck1989]

If they don't sign Wang to a deal above 1 million or so I think it's a low risk/high reward type signing.

[200tang]

I'd sign Wang to a similar deal as Bedard.

[gRYFYN1]

I'd sign Wang to a similar deal as Bedard.

You don't pass up a chance to get your hands on Wang ...

[Jeffy25]

Added Willy Taveras today.

[Jeffy25]

this isn't a failure.

but Strasburg will start the season in the minors....thought I would share.