Latest Tweet From @misschatter: @Section138 ha! I noticed the same thing! in reply to Section138 5 hrs ago
March 9, 2010
I’ve seriously considered an internet intervention for myself recently as the Stephen Strasburg hype built to volcanic proportions leading up to this afternoon’s highly anticipated first start in spring training. I even found myself getting (*gasp*) sick of only hearing “Strasburg, Strasburg, Strasburg!” nonstop. Cue Brady Bunch, “Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!” – that is if you’re not too young to remember that. That felt very non-fan like and completely un-MissChatter-like to consider giving up the internet, covering her head from the constant bombardment, particularly after championing more interactivity between the team and fans. I think part of the problem is participating in multiple social platforms serving as massive echo chambers, repeating one small tidbit so often with occasionally varying pitch, the frequency grows to an ear-piercing scream in my brain. Heh.. I said pitch! And that’s really the point, right? (Pitching, pitching, eh, you get the idea)
So yeah, that’s what it was all about today – pitching! Would the young phenom live up to all the hype in his first time on the mound facing major leaguers in a Nationals uniform? Ignore the big elephant in the room depicted in numbers involving a lot of sixes. 6-0 record so far into spring training for the Nationals. Before today’s game 67 runs allowed to opponents by Nats pitchers. Fans’ desperation grew with each pummeling and a lonely Nats Town nation raised hopeful eyes to today’s debut. I tried to keep a cool head and maintain reasonable expectations, but it was hard not to get swept along with the Strasburg wave.
MASN rushed the Nats TV crew there earlier than initially planned. National (and Nationals) baseball writers crammed the press box. Curious onlookers crowded Space Coast Stadium seats. All to ogle the young man on the mound with the live arm. All thinking, “Dear God, let that arm stay live!” I had to wonder how all that affected Strasburg, who appears to be a bit shy and introverted. I could only hope he knew to stay off the internet and newspapers and just focus on himself and preparing for today, tuning out the rest. But what if he bombed? What if he was just so-so? The world seemed to expect a lights-out two-inning outing. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in MLB, Players, Washington Nationals 
No Comments »
February 26, 2010
In the wake of the slashing of the Washington Times sports department, many fans have been curious where beat writers Mark Zuckerman and Ben Goessling would end up. Mark Zuckerman has gone solo on Nats Insider and raised enough funding from fans to support him throughout spring training. Ben Goessling was hired by MASN and writes on their website, and presumably will continue appearances on Nats X-Tra pre/post game shows once the season begins.
The Mark Zuckerman experiment has been fascinating to observe. He more than doubled his financial goal in record time. This leads to the question, “what about when the season begins?” If he doesn’t have a print product backing him, will the Nationals still be able credential him under MLB’s archaic rules? His reputation and resume should be the more important factors, right? From what I understand, the loophole may be the fact that he still has a BBWAA card. Zuckerman recently penned a “Special For USA Today” on Strasburg – those gigs can only help as well.
I sat in as a panelist last night at a Women In Sports and Entertainment (WISE) event discussing the changing landscape of sports media and the topic of who’s qualified to cover games under MLB’s rules was touched upon briefly. The AP has gone to bat for photographers posting images online in recent years, and I would guess that battle may gear up again. With more and more journalists going independent due to cuts in the newspaper industry, if teams want coverage, they may need to embrace more independents and buck MLB’s rules (or find those loopholes). Or MLBAM may need to come around in their thinking — online is where it’s at these days. Could that change begin to happen soon? That remains to be seen. (I’ll have more on the WISE event later – I was truly honored to be invited as a panelist and it deserves its own post.)
I wish Zuckerman all the luck in the world! I enjoy his coverage and the more experienced voices out there covering the team, the better. Will the money from fans peter out after the initial dump? I’ve heard many say they won’t support a “subscription model” (although Mike Harris is trying that for his Virginia Sports Now website). Is there a way to make money online? If so, nobody has figured it out yet. Not even the big newspapers.
If I knew the answer, I’d be rolling in dough. My camera equipment would not have been an out-of-pocket expense. My trips to spring training would be financed. Ah, it’s nice to dream. What measly ad revenue I’ve generated, I donated to the Zuckerman spring training campaign. In return, I get audio clips… that Goessling is now posting online for free. Heh. I would have sent the money anyway.
On another note, Adam Kilgore will be the Nationals beat writer for the Washington Post, transitioning the post from Chico Harlan over the next couple weeks day. You may remember Kilgore filled in for Barry Svrluga on occasion way back when. I’m already liking the guy after reading his 10 Questions with Mister Irrelevant and mainly because he has a lighthouse in his profile picture!
Posted in MLB, Media, Washington Nationals No Comments »
February 24, 2010
My bags aren’t packed, I’m not ready to go (yet)…
I finally made my spring training plans and am ready short of reserving the rental car and getting a photo credential (Is anybody out there? –Pink Floyd). Once I get those tasks done, all I have to do is sit and wait until March 18th arrives and I board a plane for Tampa. Yes, Tampa. It was cheap and since I arrive on an off day, I get to spend it with my best friend from high school who I haven’t seen in 5 years, before driving across the very narrow state to my (cheap) hotel near Viera. I’m okay with that. Heck, we used to drive across to Daytona on a whim. I may be older, but I can still hack it.
Initially, I thought I would get five games in during my visit, thus almost assuring a glimpse of (and of course opportunity to photograph) Stephen Strasburg, provided he’s still in big league camp by that point. But since I leave on the 23rd and a night game is scheduled against Detroit, I won’t make it to five. Darn airlines not having flights out around midnight! So I’m down to four. I still thought odds were good. Then Mark Zuckerman reported today that Strasburg will only pitch at home games in Viera. Ok, one of my games is on the road, so scratch that. And then there were three.
But wait, he’s slated to debut on March 9th. So if you extrapolate that out, his third time out would be March 19th! Woo, that’s my first game! So… keep your fingers crossed. Even if the stars don’t align, I’m sure I’ll get other great stuff. I mean really, Strasburg is not the only Nat in Viera, FL. Just the one generating the most buzz at the moment.
Oh yeah, and as Mark points out, that would put him on schedule to make the opening day start at Potomac for those of you who bought the plan that was the topic of my last post!
Posted in MLB, Players, Washington Nationals No Comments »
February 23, 2010
That’s the question on many fans’ minds as spring training gets under way and reports trickle in of Strasburg’s bullpen sessions. I was all geared up to post that he was of course starting the season with the Potomac Nationals in Woodbridge — until I went to look up the $15-Million Plan details on their website. Uh oh. It’s changed – at least in name and some of the wording, but the plan remains the same. I guess nobody knows where Strasburg will start now…
Original Press Release:
The Potomac Nationals introduce the five-game, $15-Million Plan. Now it’s even easier for P-Nats fans to secure their ticket to Opening Day at G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium, when top draft pick Stephen Strasburg is expected to make his Nationals debut.
With the $15-Million Plan, fans could see the 21-year-old with the 100-mile-per-hour fastball make as many as five starts for as little as $40. The first game of the five-game package is designated for Opening Day on April 8. The remaining four games in the plan come with the flexibility necessary to work around any schedule, including the P-Nats’ starting rotation.
Has been revised to:
To go along with the speculation that Strasburg could make as many as five starts for Potomac, the P-Nats released a five-game flex ticket package, now known as the Top Pick You-Pick Plan.
With the five-game package, fans could see the 21-year-old with the 100-mile-per-hour fastball make as many as five starts for as little as $40. The first game of the Top Pick You-Pick Plan is designated for Opening Day on April 8. The remaining four games in the plan come with the flexibility necessary to work around any schedule, including the P-Nats’ starting rotation.
Sounds a little less certain (yet more realistic), eh? I think it’s a great deal and odds are probably still high that Strasburg *could* start the season there. If he does, that’s a coup for local fans to get a sneak peak at him before his eventual MLB debut. However, I don’t think anyone will be able to ultimately declare his season-starting destination until several more weeks of spring training (and you know, actual ST games) have passed. Hmm… I may even need to buy myself that plan.
Posted in MLB, Players, Washington Nationals No Comments »
February 23, 2010
Ah, pitchers and catchers have finally reported to Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. While I’m not there (yet), I got a kick out of the Nats spring training photo gallery on the Washington Post website. No gratuitous breast shots involved. Just plain old familiar warmups, bullpen reps and field drills. There’s a great shot of Collin Balester’s mustache, which is looking like it qualifies as a porn-stache at this point. That’s as dirty as it gets! John Lannan was supposed to grow a mullet since he lost out on a Twitter follower competition between the two, but by all accounts, he’s not growing it yet.
Now that I’ve seen photos, it feels like baseball really is happening. Now if only the snow would melt… What? There may be more snow this week?! Gah.
On a radio show a while back, Stan Kasten mentioned he’d like to see more videos on the blogs. I felt like he was talking to me regarding this offseason break I’ve been taking. So excuse me while I reacquaint myself with the treadmill and start my own spring training program. It’s time to fire up the old video camera soon and resume “That’s Chat’s Nats” episodes. For Stan. I’m touched he misses me.
Posted in MLB, Photography, Washington Nationals No Comments »
content rss