Nationals pitchers and catchers officially report for spring training today. Here's what's on tap, plus a shoutout to some other local sportswriters on Substack.
So happy to hear you landed in a great spot. Living out of the DMV area, you and Nats Chat are my fix. Can’t wait to see your expanded coverage this year.
Josiah Gray is potentially one of the most important members of the rotation, and I am looking forward to seeing if he can regain his 2023 form. That would be a huge boost to what Fangraphs is projecting to be the second worst starting rotation in MLB.
With the demise of the Washington Post sports department there will be an opportunity for an entrepreneurial journalist to create a comprehensive sports digital site incorporating coverage of all the DC area professional teams as well as the many Div 1 colleges. I am originally from Pittsburgh and over 10 years ago a local sports columnist, Devan Kovacevic did just that (DK Sports) and it is a fantastic success. DC is a huge and affluent sports market and it is incomprehensible that local coverage of all sports will be fragmented into a variety of separate Substacks and sites.
I am really looking forward to hearing from you about the press conferences this afternoon and about all the changes in how ST will be run this year. As always, and especially this year it will be interesting to see how the roster moves continue and what it will look like heading into the regular season!
I am so happy Mark is still here and covering the team as Dan Steinberg pointed out there were SEVEN professional orgs covering the Nationals in 2019 now there are just TWO and they have been ignored by the Flagship and MLB Networks so Mark will be the Prime information and deservedly so
As excited for the comments-based discourse with fellow fans as I am for Mark’s coverage (which is saying something). Looking forward to taking all with you, everyone
Please keep us appraised regarding ownership as well as the on-field product because, well, you know its relevance. (ref: 09.30.1971 "SHORT SUCKS" sign hanging from the upper deck that magically reappeared during the home opener on April 14, 2005.) I will hope that situation parallels the evolution of DC/RFK stadium's potential phoenix-like rebirth instead of the current spectre of "Peter Angelos Lite" where the promotional giveaways take precidence over commitment and professionalism on and off the field.
Mark - as a long time fan, this roster looks to be the weakest ever since the Nats came to town. No legit first baseman and the pitching a disaster. I would like to understand what management really thinks about those apparent weaknesses and why they haven’t signed competent additions to the roster. Do they really think they are better or at least will competitive enough to get fans into the stands? I accept that the Rizzo rebuild wasn’t good enough and support the types of changes the organization is making… but my understanding of the lottery is that the best slot they can acquire in the next draft is #10 since they had a top pick last summer. So being abysmal to me doesn’t make sense, they can and should show improvement - not try to replicate the White Sox and Rockies misadventures of recent years.
Thanks so much for the tip about Jesse's Substack. He was one of the best sportswriters ever hired by the Post, and I've read his book Buzzsaw three times.
Looking forward to hearing from Butera and Toboni im sure there are a boatload of questions for them.
So happy to hear you landed in a great spot. Living out of the DMV area, you and Nats Chat are my fix. Can’t wait to see your expanded coverage this year.
First base seems to remain a black hole, did you pack your glove?
Josiah Gray is potentially one of the most important members of the rotation, and I am looking forward to seeing if he can regain his 2023 form. That would be a huge boost to what Fangraphs is projecting to be the second worst starting rotation in MLB.
With the demise of the Washington Post sports department there will be an opportunity for an entrepreneurial journalist to create a comprehensive sports digital site incorporating coverage of all the DC area professional teams as well as the many Div 1 colleges. I am originally from Pittsburgh and over 10 years ago a local sports columnist, Devan Kovacevic did just that (DK Sports) and it is a fantastic success. DC is a huge and affluent sports market and it is incomprehensible that local coverage of all sports will be fragmented into a variety of separate Substacks and sites.
I am really looking forward to hearing from you about the press conferences this afternoon and about all the changes in how ST will be run this year. As always, and especially this year it will be interesting to see how the roster moves continue and what it will look like heading into the regular season!
Thanks, Mark and GO NATS!!
⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️⚾️
I am so happy Mark is still here and covering the team as Dan Steinberg pointed out there were SEVEN professional orgs covering the Nationals in 2019 now there are just TWO and they have been ignored by the Flagship and MLB Networks so Mark will be the Prime information and deservedly so
As excited for the comments-based discourse with fellow fans as I am for Mark’s coverage (which is saying something). Looking forward to taking all with you, everyone
I'm happy for you. Congratulations
Hello Mark et.al.
Please keep us appraised regarding ownership as well as the on-field product because, well, you know its relevance. (ref: 09.30.1971 "SHORT SUCKS" sign hanging from the upper deck that magically reappeared during the home opener on April 14, 2005.) I will hope that situation parallels the evolution of DC/RFK stadium's potential phoenix-like rebirth instead of the current spectre of "Peter Angelos Lite" where the promotional giveaways take precidence over commitment and professionalism on and off the field.
Play Ball!
Mark - as a long time fan, this roster looks to be the weakest ever since the Nats came to town. No legit first baseman and the pitching a disaster. I would like to understand what management really thinks about those apparent weaknesses and why they haven’t signed competent additions to the roster. Do they really think they are better or at least will competitive enough to get fans into the stands? I accept that the Rizzo rebuild wasn’t good enough and support the types of changes the organization is making… but my understanding of the lottery is that the best slot they can acquire in the next draft is #10 since they had a top pick last summer. So being abysmal to me doesn’t make sense, they can and should show improvement - not try to replicate the White Sox and Rockies misadventures of recent years.
The beat has been decimated, but I hope there are still enough folks around for the annual predictions piece.
Oh snap, thanks for the tip about Jesse's substack.
Thanks so much for the tip about Jesse's Substack. He was one of the best sportswriters ever hired by the Post, and I've read his book Buzzsaw three times.
So glad to have continued Nats coverage!! Can't wait to read on my monthly plan!!