Fouled-Off Bunts: Brunell Still Stinks Edition

The WaPo had their big Expos-é on the Sunday before Tuesdays' big vote. Their stunning conclusion? MLB got a pretty sweet deal. Apparently the sun is set to rise in the east as well.

It's an interesting enough story, but I don't know that there's anything new here for anyone who's been paying attention to these issues. It looks into trends in past stadiums, which they haven't done before, but otherwise it's a pretty ho-hum attempt at making a big splash two days before the actual news is created.

Over the weekend, the Washington Times looked at the opposition to the park, and attempted to read the tea leaves. The story quotes some stadium opponent from a group called "Friends of the Earth." Two thoughts sprung up. First, what the hell would a group called friends of the earth have to do with the stadium? Secondly, couldn't they come up with a better name than that? I know I'd be disinclined to listen to anything someone from a group with that name would say. Now that I think about it, I wonder if that was the intention of our friends from the Moonie Times? That right-wing conspiracy is tricky, especially with Karl Rove manipulating all those strings.

O CAPTAIN! my Captain! our fearful trip is done.
Rick Short is turning Japanese; I really think so.
It's just a matter of when, and how much that Bowden can get for him. Rick gave the Nationals a great moment or two. I'm glad he got the chance.

Nationals Farm Authority has started work on the Big Board -- a blatant ripoff homage to the one at USS Mariner. The board is an orginizational depth chart, and gives an at-a-glance view of our crappy prospects. It's something I'd have loved to have done, but it's hard work. Thank God for the division of labor.

Speaking of the Mariners, they are on the verge of signing Jarrod Washburn to a 4-year deal. USS Mariner has been ripping Washburn pretty much since the end of the season. Their latest screed is an interesting look at why his ERA doesn't represent the quality of his pitching. They certainly make a persuasive case.

With Washburn out of the picture, it's pretty much Kevin Millwood and Jeff Weaver left as the "aces" *cough, cough*. The Nationals had had an offer in to Millwood, but I haven't heard anything in connection with Weaver. Millwood would be an excellent addition, but given how little money we have to work with ~$6-7 million next season, I can't see us slotting him in the budget. Same goes for Weaver.

Where have you gone Tomo Ohka? The Nationals turn their lonely eyes to you. Woe, woe, whoa.

Minor League Guru John Sickles has a Rate the GM feature, starring the loveable Cap'n Leather pants, Jim Bowden. Some of the evaluations are good; some are boiled down to "Duuuh outfielders! Bowden is teh suck!"

My short version: Good at bringing in crap from the scrapheap and sorting through to find useable players. Loves to have one central star to build the team around, but gets caught up in flash, and doesn't account for how that fits into building a team. He gets and deserves a lot of crap, but he's not the doddering idiot that he's made out to be -- most of the time!