Neither the club nor the network has announced the hiring yet, but two sources familiar with the decision confirmed Santangelo was selected out of a sizable group of ex-players who applied for the job that became available after Rob Dibble was fired in September.
Santangelo, who will serve as analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Bob Carpenter, assumes the job previously held by Dibble, who lost his job after making critical comments about Stephen Strasburg on his satellite radio show. Ray Knight, who filled in for the rest of the season, is expected to return to his original duties as pre- and post-game analyst alongside host Johnny Holliday.
The Nationals have now had six different TV analysts in seven seasons: Ron Darling (2005), Tom Paciorek (2006), Don Sutton (2007-08), Dibble (2009-10), Knight (2010) and Santangelo (2011-).
Frank-Paul Santangelo, 43, played seven seasons with the Expos, Giants, Dodgers and Athletics, posting a career .245 average with 21 homers and 162 RBI. Primarily an outfielder, he also played second base, third base and shortstop in the major leagues before retiring following the 2002 season.
After spending time hosting a sports talk radio show in Sacramento, Santangelo became a regular on the Giants' post-game radio show last year while also filling in on game broadcasts on both TV and radio.
Santangelo was one of 89 current or former MLB players named in the 2007 Mitchell Report, which accused him of purchasing human growth hormone and steroids from former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski in 2000 and 2001. Santangelo later admitted using HGH on two occasions but denied ever buying steroids from Radomski.
93 comments:
Hopefully Jose Canseco never cruises on down to DC.
Santangelo might not last the year with that crazy guy chasing him!
Shucks, I was hoping for Robert Fick.
I just hope F.P. is a step up from Don "Don't I sound good?" Sutton.
For sure, he has the name of a star :)
I remember the days when F.P. played with the Expos. Not a lot of talents, but a lot of guts. A passionate guy who could be colorfull if he brings his color on the air.
Paul from Quebec
will his wife be his replacement when is cannot be there?
Anyone is a step up from Ray Knight. The last month of the season was painful to listen to on MASN.
When you're watching bad baseball you at least want the broadcast to be an easy listen.
That was quick! A former Expo!
Love the Hire. Welcome F.P..
Especially glad to have a franchise guy.
And for the record, I enjoy Ray Knight, Johnny Holiday, and Bob Carpenter too.
I love Ray Knight, but not as our color game analyst. He's alright on the pre and post game shows but he was tedious doing the games. I don't know what Santangelo will be like, but I hope he learns to love the Nats the way I do, or at least acts like he does. I like my announcers to be homers.
With the HgH admission he won't be getting Mark's HOF vote.
Seriously though, I don't like that fact of PED use with regard to ethics.
I guess he and Canseco had an intersting convo at the Playboy mansion!
Great hire, listening to him as he interviews Bob Carpenter on knbr right now. JTinSC
Thank god Ray Knight wasn't picked. He's a nice guy but TV is not his calling. Poor Ray really ruins the pre and post game broadcasts.
I just wish they could find some way to get rid of Debbi Taylor. As far as I'm concerned, that would make this off season a complete success.
Knight reminds me of Brooks Robinson when he did the O's games way back when. That high pitched, weasilly voice. Gets very irratating
Count me in the "Ditch Debbie Taylor" group.
I go back to her Golf Channel days here in Orlando, Fl. Didn't like her work then, don't like her work now.
Sonny - I like announcers to be homers too. Most people complain that announcers aren't on/part of the team and shouldn't use "we" when calling games etc. But I disagree, first the Nationals own 30-40% of masn and they made the decision on hiring to hire him. In my world that makes him an employee of the Nationals and is well within his right to speak as one.
Debbi Taylor isn't Erin Andrews but I think she does a good job. She is kind of like the sideline Katie Couric with the smiley face.
Heck yeah. Former Expo. Let's take over the whole operation. What're Peter Bergeron and Butch Henry up to?
JT
FP Santangelo was listed at 5'10" and 165 pounds during his playing games. When he is on the field pre-game they may think he is a Bat Boy.
I wonder how tall he was before he started taking HGH?
no juicer...
NatsJack in Florida said...
JayB... the Nats have an offer in front of Carl Pavano and his agent.
Njack.....looks like you were wrong about Rizzo and his approach....Now events are confirming what Boz said.....and not what you said....2 year contract is all that he is getting from Twins and Nats are not even playing in that length...just as Boz said....Rizzo is accountable for not getting any pitching this off season just as I said.
Drop Debbie Taylor now! Drop Charlie and Dave too! While you are at it drop Hilliday, Knight and Wood! Letr Byron Kerr do the "sideline" reporting and get some new folks for the pre and post games. I am hoping FP's out of market experience will put Crap in his place more than once!!!
I don't mind going on record as saying that I'm disappointed the Nats hired a juicer. I understand the situtation guys like FP were in, trying to make it or stay in it and the huge motivations in terms of money and success. If I were in their shoes, I certainly may have done the same.
But at the same time, he knew it was wrong, he knew it was illegal and he knew it would give him an advantage over other guys fighting for the same job, the same money, the same fame.
I don't judge him, for sure.
But he knew he was doing something wrong, and apparently it comes with no consequences.
But if MLB allows players to play (like JC Romero winning 2 WS games while MLB knew he was on the juice), and if they allow users to coach, then obviously MLB doesn't care.
But it's a sad commentary.
MLB can't take a stand against these guys because these guys still know way too much untold stuff, and MLB wants to just pretend it never happened.
JayB, you're seeing this only the way you want.
Rizzo understands the parameters that Pavano's agent wants. He told Pavano's agent what he'd be willing to formally offer. That's how this usually works. Pavano's agent had these discussions with lots of GM's, and has an understanding from a few what they'd be willing to do. He also has had a standing 2 year offer from the Twins. He's waiting for someone to blink.
It looks like Rizzo's not going to. Just like he didn't on LaRoche. So we may not get Pavano. Because Rizzo can't get him at the terms he wants.
So what?
You think Pavano at 3 years is a good idea?
If Pavano has a standing offer for 2 years from the Twins, Rizzo knows he not only has to beat it, he has to beat it by a large enough margin that the Twins will back down. That could be a lot.
Rizzo seems to have decided there's no sense chasing this any further.
I'm cool with that.
I agree with Sunderland.....it just does not ring truth and integrity.....so many other choices of those who are not proven cheaters to pick from....still no Knight that is a great thing.
I understand that but that makes Rizzo accountable for the team and it's total failure to improve the pitching....he has failed each attempt and he has the money to over pay....He should have over paid Jorge Del a Rosa back in November...by a big amount to get this done....Team is stuck in a death spiral of losing....bold action is needed...Jason W was a good start but a bad ending if that is all they do.
What Sunderland and JayB said re. HGH.
Charlie and Dave a great. Don't drop them. I also like Debbie Taylor. I'd be disappointed if she left. Ray is good with me too, but only for the pre- and post- game show.
JayB... The offer was to discuss a 2 year contract with a POSSIBLE 3rd year option.
I saw Tom O'Connell (Pavano's agent) and Mike Rizzo at the Winter Meetings. While he may have been there, I didn't see his royal High Azz Bozwell.
Minnesota was not willing to discuss anything more than two years.
Rizzo's recent comments were made out of frustration in that he realized O'Connell had no intention of discussing contract specifics since his initial contact in Orlando last month. Mike is a master at leaving discussions open for further exploration and when O'connell didn't get back, he called him out.
Count me for one, thankfull. The whole effort to obtain a front line starter has been commendable but giving up valued prospects or offering extended years to a 35 yo were not someting I wanted to happen.
The growth of this organization has to come from within, initially and then the free agents will come.
JayB, it's a bit of semantics, but I'm fine with holding Rizzo accountable for his decisions (which this offseason seems to mean not doing what it took to get pitching at this time in this market).
What if three years from now it looks like committing untold millions on Pavano or De la Rosa or Vasquez would have been foolish?
How do you give him credit for that now?
You can't.
He inked Marquis last year.
For the most part, people were OK with it.
But June, Rizzo was getting ripped for it.
What seems good now may seem bad tomorrow, and vice versa.
We're not in a death spiral.
Zimmermann will be more useful than last year.
Marquis will be more useful than last year.
Maya will be more useful than last year.
The rotation could not in any way be classified as good right now, but the whole organization is stronger than it was a year ago.
There's just way too much we don't know about what goes into Rizzo's decisions. There's stuff we can't possibly know, and never will know, and that just the way it is (and should be).
Glad we're together on the PED issue, although it seems like we're in the minority.
While I'm clarifying, let me correct my earlier post on Debbi Taylor. She was with Sun Sports here in Orlando and not the Golf Channel. I confused her with another female talking head that I didn't like at the Golf Channel.
But I'm still for replacing her.
Until we win more than we lose....this problem of overpaying for talent and no trade to Nats clauses invoked is going to prevent the team progressing....they have to break that cycle of 2006-2010...they need to be .500 or better this year and if that costs some bad contracts so be it.
To expand a bit, and in part as posted over on the NJ, I did have the same reaction re. the Mitchell Report connection. But I don't think that fan opinions factor into such decisions all that much, if at all. Evidently he did man up and confess after the fact (although, how many of those guys admitted to have used just once or twice, and coincidentally in the same time frame that random drug tests were being done). I agree with JayB about the integrity question, and not only for players, but for MLB as an organization.
OTOH, I don't give a rat's patoot about who the man's wife is, or whether he engaged in fisticuffs with Canseco. (I'm not big on gossip, and I prefer to form an opinion based on my own observations rather than on what others say about a given person.)
As far as F.P.'s broadcasting skillz, I've never heard him work a game, so I'll wait to form an opinion until I've done so. (Wait, this *is* still the Internetz, right? :-))
Do people who are so upset about an admitted HGH user talking about the game on TV, not playing it think that he should have to do his job on beer and hot dogs, like Howard Cosell did? I don't recall any MLB sanctions or testing programs related to announcers using drugs. It's a job, folks, not an honor like HoF or such. Get off your PC high horses.
Huh? This isn't about being PC, it's about ethics and integrity. Being PC is not my thing. Trust me, Mr. or Ms. Anonymous.
fyi:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/politically+correct
Almost all color commentators are ex-ballplayers. It's a primary qualification of Santangelo. And clearly his cheating by using illegal drugs is what gained him MLB status and allowed him to earn $2M over parts of 7 seasons.
If he cheated in college to pass exams and get a degree, the Nats would never hire him.
But he cheated on the baseball field, so that's OK.
If he admitted to using crack cocaine the Nationals would never hire him. But he admitted to HGH so that's OK.
And don't pretend I'm somehow on a high horse and your somehow keeping it real. Your position is just as sanctimonious, it's just different.
And you're the one judging me, not me judging you or even me judging Santangelo.
I don't have an issue with him doing what he chose to do. I have issue with the Nats being willing to ignore it, when they'd never ignore other professional cheating or other illegal drig use for a position this visible.
NatsJack in Florida said...
JayB... The offer was to discuss a 2 year contract with a POSSIBLE 3rd year option.
I saw Tom O'Connell (Pavano's agent) and Mike Rizzo at the Winter Meetings. While he may have been there, I didn't see his royal High Azz Bozwell.
Minnesota was not willing to discuss anything more than two years.
Rizzo's recent comments were made out of frustration in that he realized O'Connell had no intention of discussing contract specifics since his initial contact in Orlando last month. Mike is a master at leaving discussions open for further exploration and when O'connell didn't get back, he called him out.
I think you are really close to how the actual discussion played out with this as I have talked to someone close to the negotiations as I was curious after the Boswell article.
The Twins said they wouldn't go more than 2 years initially and that probably hasn't changed.
The agent initially wanted 3 years for $33 million which was not close to being offered by anybody.
The agent talks to several teams that were willing to go only 1 or 2 years and Rizzo wouldn't go more than 2 years. With everything being equal, Pavano liked the success he had in Minnesota and Gardenhire.
It looks like the only way the Nats get Pavano would be to go to 3 years or substantially offer a better 2 year deal.
Looks like Pavano is staying in Minnesota.
I'm not trying to stir the pot or to take anyone's side or to condone any potential wrongdoing, but I do have a question pertaining to FP's admission of using HGH:
If FP retired after the 2002 season, and MLB didn't ban the use of HGH until the 2005 season, then did he really cheat?
Again, I'm not condoning what he did, but he has admitted to using HGH (which to my limited knowledge is neither illegal nor banned by MLB at that time). He also has stated that he never used steroids (again, my limited knowledge tells me that steroids were/are illegal and banned by MLB).
I'm also not looking to have a deep philosophical discussion about ethics. I'm just looking for confirmation as to whether HGH was allowed during his playing days and whether or not they are deemed illegal, as steroids were/are.
Wonder what this guy's paltry career stats would look like if he hadn't used roids???
My one memory of F.P. as a player:
Back in '95 I went to see the Expos in Spring Training in West Palm Beach. I got chosen to compete in a wing-eating contest on the field between innings. I made short work of my opponent and, as I walked off the field, F.P. leaned over the dugout fence and asked, "Hey, were they hot?"... thought it was cool.
I am for replacing the hyper Debbi Taylor too but I doubt that will happen since I believe her husband (Wade Taylor) is an advance scout for the Nats. She comes across as a complete airhead during her corny interviews. She acts like someone is tickling her with a feather while she conducts an interview.
I fail to see how using HGH as a player casts doubts on the ethics and integrity of a PBP or color guy up in the booth. So he broke some rules in a former phase of his life. Big deal. Banning a guy whose job now is to sling words because he may have cheated when his job was to play ball makes about as much sense as telling a kid he can't play ball because he plagiarized on an esaay in HS English class.
erocks, concerning whether HGH was banned or illegal when he used, from the Mitchell Report:
There is a widespread misconception that the use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances, such as human growth hormone, was not prohibited in Major League Baseball before the inclusion of the joint drug program in the 2002 Basic Agreement. In fact, as early as 1991 baseball’s drug policy expressly prohibited the use of “all illegal drugs and controlled substances, including steroids or prescription drugs for which the individual … does
not have a prescription.”53 Even before then, however, the use of any prescription drug without a valid prescription was prohibited in baseball, and even earlier under federal law.
Also, anecdotally, everyone doing it hid their use. Everyone doing knew that to some degree, what they were doing was not totally ok.
News Flash.... Garza to the Cubs.. Can't wait to see what they had to give up.
"I am for replacing the hyper Debbi Taylor too but I doubt that will happen since I believe her husband (Wade Taylor) is an advance scout for the Nats."
Not any more. Wade Taylor has moved on to another team, I think maybe the Dodgers to work with Mattingly. However, at the same time that was revealed it was also revealed that Debbi Taylor will still be with MASN. So suck on it and like it, Nats fans.
Sunderland, spot on! Well said. It really is an integrity issue.
Once a cheater always a cheater. Did he possibly take away a roster spot from someone who was clean? Did he get a hit that would have been an out and cost an earned run on a clean pitcher's stats?
Not everyone cheated. More admiration for the Jamey Carroll's of the world that show that you can make it on hearts, hard work and your own talent.
"If he cheated in college to pass exams and get a degree, the Nats would never hire him."
The Nats hired Elijah Dukes, who did a lot worse than that.
"If he admitted to using crack cocaine the Nationals would never hire him."
The Rangers hired Josh Hamilton, who admitted to basically the same thing. And I bet the Nats wish they had hired him.
By your logic, anyone who does anything wrong ever (like getting a DUI, being sued for child support, etc, etc) would ever work again, in any position. That's downright draconian.
Here's audio of F.P. on his show (click on the Dorell Wright podcast):
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sportsphone-680-f-p-santangelo/id389205955
Every one who's ever had a moronic post here should be ban..................................
Now if we could just get rid of Bob Carpenter.
Anon @ 11:01, your comparisons aren't apples to apples.
I am in the camp that says he is a cheater but I don't think that excludes you from getting a TV gig.
I just think in the back of our minds we know what he is. If he makes himself out to be God's gift to baseball, we all know what he is.
This is Santangelo's burden and conscience, not ours. If he can look himself in the mirror great.
I am more interested in how he calls the game and will make my decision then.
I feel that Pavano @ $10mil per is a bad signing because I don't think he projects to do better than Craig Stammen.
I would love the Nats to sign Francis or Penny because there is significant upside.
NatsJack in Florida said...
News Flash.... Garza to the Cubs.. Can't wait to see what they had to give up.
-----------------------------------
MLBTR says the Cubs may be giving up 3 of their Top 10 propsects (#1 - SP Chris Archer; #4 - SS Hak-Ju Lee; #10 - OF Brandon Guyer and C - Robinson Chirinos. That's a HUGE haul to get Garza.
If this is true, I wonder if the Cubs would then consider trading Carlos Zambrano. I know they're tired of his shenanigans and would love to get rid of his salary.
"If this is true, I wonder if the Cubs would then consider trading Carlos Zambrano. I know they're tired of his shenanigans and would love to get rid of his salary."
And his bat is easily as good as Matt Stairs.
Well said, PtoP.
PAY TO PLAY said...
Anon @ 11:01, your comparisons aren't apples to apples.
I am in the camp that says he is a cheater but I don't think that excludes you from getting a TV gig.
I just think in the back of our minds we know what he is. If he makes himself out to be God's gift to baseball, we all know what he is.
This is Santangelo's burden and conscience, not ours. If he can look himself in the mirror great.
I am more interested in how he calls the game and will make my decision then.
January 7, 2011 11:35 AM
Trust me; we don't want Zambrano.
erocks said:
MLBTR says the Cubs may be giving up 3 of their Top 10 propsects (#1 - SP Chris Archer; #4 - SS Hak-Ju Lee; #10 - OF Brandon Guyer and C - Robinson Chirinos. That's a HUGE haul to get Garza.
***
This may show why we can't get Garza. Our best minor league SP's are too new to the franschise to be allowed to be traded (Solis and Cole). That's why other teams ask for Zimmermann. We don't have any other very highly regarded SP prospects. After these guys, we've got Peacock, Malone, Tatusco and not much else.
I thought Stan K told us last year our SP talent in the farm system was the envy of other MLB teams.
The cubs gave up their minor league pitcher of the year (22 years old who went 15-3 at A and AA last year) and their minor league player of the year (24 years old .344 13HR) + A ball SS (20 years old - big prospect) + 29 year old Sam Fuld who had a couple of trips to the bigs and is not a big prospect + 27 year old AA catcher.
Tampa also sent back an unnamed pitcher and an unnamed outfielder. It looks like the Cubs used all their prospects not named Andrew Cushner in this deal; I am glad the Nats didn't go there.
Anonymous said "However, at the same time that was revealed it was also revealed that Debbi Taylor will still be with MASN. So suck on it and like it, Nats fans."
I don't have to suck on it. When she comes on the screen, I mute my TV and cover my eyes. It works.
I,m with you phil dunn. I can live without Carpenter too.
People who are interested in Zambrano are like people who line up for the 8-pound hamburger: they've left all sense of proportion and good judgment behind.
JD agree on the Garza trade. I don't know that much about the Cubs or Rays prospects, but the Cubs gave up their 1, 4 and 10 plus two other players. And while it's not apples to apples, it would be like us giving up Bryce Harper, A.J. Cole and Brad Peacock plus two others for Garza. Seems a little steep to me.
Anonymous,
It's nothing like your comparison.
Harper is substantially better than anyone the Cubs traded. I think we'd be able to get the deal done if it was just Garza for Harper (though it would be impossible to do at this time).
The Cubs farm system isn't exactly the best. The only important names involved are Archer and Lee, the rest project to be utility guys at best. Note that Guyer put up those impressive numbers in AA at age 24. Most real prospects are getting their first shot at the big leagues by that age. I'm sure if you kept Marrero in AA through 2012, he'd post better numbers. Chirinos is the same story, 26 and still playing in AA. 'Nuff said.
However, this is a pretty good haul for the Rays, while our options to improve our rotation are basically nonexistent now...
OMG. What kind of a database do you guys use to keep track of everything you hate?! Must be impressive.
Another note on the Garza trade:
Both Lee and Chirinos were international signings, which just goes to show how much more productive our farm system could be if we didn't ignore everyone outside of the 50 states and Puerto Rico.
"OMG. What kind of a database do you guys use to keep track of everything you hate?! Must be impressive."
When you hate everything, you don't have to keep track of anything. You just hate.
& 1a et al., wadr, *he's just a [AB] baseball announcer!* What "integrity" are you talking about? It's not like he's handling your 401K
Actually the Cubs system is much improved. BA just had a chat regarding the Cubs organization (prior to the Garza trade), and IIRC, BA rated the Cubs as a top 10 organization (ahead of the Nats). THe Cubs gave up too much unless the pitcher they get back is either Jacob McGee or Matt Moore.
Tampa's array of starting pitching studs is really amazing.
I don't hate the man. I've never even met him. I shared that I had a similar reaction to that voiced by other commenters here. I'm not attacking anyone who feels differently about the matter. They are entitled to their opinions, just as I am.
Sec 3, My sofa--
This blog is for discussion and Nats fans have a right to dislike things if they deem it appropriate, especially in view of the sad fact that this franchise has lost 300 games over the past three seasons. If you want to be Little Mary Sunshine, then go to a Yankee, Red Sox or Philley blogs where there are lots of things to be positive about.
"I'm not attacking anyone who feels differently about the matter. They are entitled to their opinions, just as I am."
No one said you were, and of course you are, in that order. Neither am I, and so am I.
But saying he doesn't have enough integrity to hold Rob Dibble's old job because he took HGH is unfair and unreasonable. That's my opinion.
and the captcha for that was "gonat"
Anon @ 12:40, I see the Cubs gave up 3 Top 10 guys in the Minors and to your point Bryce Harper is not your typical #1 prospect. Hopefully, Bryce is as good as Heyward or better and I wouldn't do Heyward for Garza straight up.
Garza is not an Ace pitcher however in 2011 would be the Nats persumptive #1. On a good staff like the Rays he is a #3 and with Hellickson they could trade him off. The Rays are smart and setting themselves up for another run at the World Series in a few years.
I know everyone is entitled to their opinions but comparing the Cubs #1 to Bryce Harper is crazy.
Sec 3, My sofa--
This blog is for discussion and Nats fans have a right to dislike things if they deem it appropriate, especially in view of the sad fact that this franchise has lost 300 games over the past three seasons. If you want to be Little Mary Sunshine, then go to a Yankee, Red Sox or Philley blogs where there are lots of things to be positive about.
***************
So let me get this straight--to get your permission to post here, I'm obliged to be negative, because the team loses. Do I have to spell like crap, too? Just wanna know.
How's that? Negative enough for ya?
To review, I am PC, a hater, unfair, and unreasonable. And I have yet to label another commenter in the course of this discussion. I simply shared my point of view.
OFF TOPIC [and more pleasant.] I'm in. Just bought tickets to Florida, third week in March. See you guys in the ball parks. I'm ready.
Another_Sam, very cool, have fun.
Sofa-dude, rag on me anytime. You've more than earned it. And I likely more than deserve it. In that order.
1a, now let's not add whiner to that list :-)
Warning:PED email and too long. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Skip at your leisure.
I am not in the camp of boycotting PED users. Yes, they cheated (and my belief is almost all did so knowingly), and should be punished. But, imo, the punishment should come from MLB, be administered and then put behind them. There are lots of instances of rule breaking that MLB punishes, we all accept the punishment and then move on. I see this as fitting the same category, not something much more heinous. Obviously we as fans can make whatever choices we like individually regarding spending our entertainment dollars, but I don’t think someone should be banned from jobs in the industry by teams. I am not judging anyone else’s conclusion, just offering my own.
There are two kinds of bad behavior - malum prohibitum (the act is bad because we legislate it to be bad – driving the wrong way on a 1 way street), and malum in se (the act itself is bad –murder, assault, rape, etc) . I think those kinds of behavior are two very different things, and should have two very different responses. Which is PED use? I think that they have to be in the prohibitum category. They are legal and licensed for beneficial use in many medical cases, because they help. But they are bad in this context, because MLB said don’t use them here. Players violated those rules, did them and should be punished. But the appropriate remedy should be created by MLB, which outlawed it in the first place. They weren’t always enforcing it, but they are now, and the punishment is a suspension of games, depending on the number of violations. I don’t think that we need to apply a higher level of punishment, and refuse to let these guys move on with things. They broke a rule, were punished (or weren’t punished because MLB wasn’t punishing back then). Once that is behind them, I think that we should let them move on. I don’t think I would feel that way for the malum in se stuff, tho.
I don’t expect much agreement, just wanted to say it, I guess. Apologies for the wanton use of latin.
Wow, TB got a lot for Garza. Let’s sign Francis and get to ST.
Wally, as long as you stay away from Latin use of wanton, you're aces in my book.
FYI, MLB Networks rating of today top 10 right fielders has Jayson Werth as the #3 RF in the game today.
Disappointed in the selection. Agree with all of those that question the hiring of a juicer.
More disappointed in that someone that is virtually unknown here with no DC ties was hired. This ain't the Expos. Try as MLB might. There is no Montreal connection here to the fans that are paying the bills here in DC.
I would have preferred Knight or Magraine. At least I knew who they were before they came here and had an appreciation of their experience in the game.
If they were going to hire a juicer, they should have hired Nook Logan or Paul LoDuca. At least they were ex-Nat juicers.
Saw the MLB countdown on RF. Werth at three isn't bad, until you realize that Sin Soo Choo is 2 and Ichiro (Mr. Personal Statistic) is number 1. Yeesh. And if I see that highlight of that girl screaming like Beatlemania when Ichiro touched her on MLB Network once more I'm going to scream.
Sunderland, perhaps I'm a little reactive as present, given that I'm grieving the recent loss of my brother, who was a SFO fan. Had he still been alive, I would have asked his opinion of Santagelo's broadcasting skills. It sucks that I can't. That is all.
Correction: Santangelo.
That's okay, 1a, you made me think of a good dessert for Christmas: Santa Jell-O.
Yum.
(Santa shaped, not flavored. Sickos.)
((I just figured out how to do italics here; that's why I keep doing 'em. What can I say; I like learning new things.))
I have been underwhelmed by all of the color analysts thus far. Ray Knight provided the best insights IMHO but I understand how some might be put off by his voice/delivery. Ron Darling was the worst. I understand that even he thought he was awful that year.
I liked Tom Paciorek as a player and he had a lengthy record in both leagues that should have provided lots of material. Sadly, he had little to say that was of any interest.
Sutton had a wonderful record on the field and featured a comfortable voice/delivery (as a one-time radio guy myself that's important)but his heart wasn't in the Nats and it showed.
Somewhat to my surprise, I'd rank Dibble highest on the contribution front.
I'll give the new guy an open mind and ear and hope for the best.
Count me in the camp that likes the Expos connection. I see no reason to ignore the history of the team we received any more than I see any reason to ignore any part of baseball history here in DC.
Sorry 1a, hadn't made that connection.
Was just aiming for a smile
That's okay, Sunderland. I hadn't made the connection myself, initially.
(And I wish I knew how to do special fonts here, Scooter. That's pretty awesome.)
Re the HGH taint: Put me in the Disappointed camp. It does matter to me and I don't like it one bit.
I'd weigh in on what's wanton, but I'm headed out for wonton.
P.S. To natsfan1a: Sorry for your loss.
Don't know if this guys is any good but he sure was a nobody in the MLB as a player. All of the other guys we have had over the years I have at least heard of before. Not this guy. Good news is I do hear his wife is a hottie.
FP is a great choice...very few players ever played as hard as the kid with "Reckless Abandon" under his hat...I am sure he will bring rare insight to the Nationals telecasts!
WElcome aboard Mr. Santangelo!
I have been underwhelmed by all of the color analysts thus far. Ray Knight provided the best insights IMHO but I understand how some might be put off by his voice/delivery. Ron Darling was the worst. I understand that even he thought he was awful that year.
You fucker's are in for a real treat. This guy has got personality, baseball knowledge, guts, attitude and a sense of humor that is missed in the Bay Area. Your damn lucky to have him.
-taormina
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