tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post1791912356889168085..comments2024-02-15T05:42:18.307-05:00Comments on Nats Insider: So ... now what?Mark Zuckermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-41374555127877848312010-02-17T08:18:31.858-05:002010-02-17T08:18:31.858-05:00I'm way late on this but echo others who want ...I'm way late on this but echo others who want details about the players. I always go to ESPN for box score and game recap, I like theirs the best. So game recaps are of very little value to me. I want analysis of what happened in the game and between the games w/ the players. And I especially want insights on how the front office is developing the team. Also, how guys like Wang, JZim are rehabbing. How is Dukes coping w/ the loss of his dad or Willingham w/ the loss of his brother. I'll never find that in the ESPN recap and only rarely from the Post. Those are the kinds of things I would pay for. Not that it's all about that but I know that's a factor. You have to pay the rent.<br /><br />Thanks again very much for your willingness to try this crazy idea. I had my own business for a while and I know it's stressful. Please thank your wife for us too. She could easily be freaked out and want you to grab a job w/ a salary. Not to get too sappy but that kind of adventurism is what has made this country great. Enjoy Spring Training!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-25741155922496335682010-02-15T18:01:35.352-05:002010-02-15T18:01:35.352-05:00Mark:
As someone who had the privilege to cover ...Mark:<br /> As someone who had the privilege to cover the Nationals alongside you and also edit your outstanding copy, I am delighted that you will continue to write about the team. I also urge Nats fans to check out my columns at dickheller.wordpress.com.Dick Hellerhttp://dickheller.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-39512653122427355162010-02-15T15:36:28.073-05:002010-02-15T15:36:28.073-05:00Use the excess to take a salary.Use the excess to take a salary.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-18412153678778432042010-02-15T15:16:08.874-05:002010-02-15T15:16:08.874-05:00Positively Half St. said...
Anonymous-Well of cou...Positively Half St. said... <br />Anonymous-Well of course you can say whatever you want, and disagree with me on Nats320! <br /><br />A little confusion on which Anon posted which and which you are referring to which is sort of irrelevant. I posted one of the comments above and cannot take credit for all of them or ABM's. <br /><br />Opinions are just that, opinions. Maybe some of them will help those mentioned. We all have critics in life. Some are mean-spirited and some are just honest to the core.<br /><br />Turn the mirror around and look. As someone mentioned here or somewhere else, it is like Chinese take-out. You may not like everything in the bag.Anonymous#8noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-1563938830273195832010-02-15T11:00:07.336-05:002010-02-15T11:00:07.336-05:00Anonymous-
Well of course you can say whatever yo...Anonymous-<br /><br />Well of course you can say whatever you want, and disagree with me on Nats320! You didn't even have to donate to Mark for that to be true, but we thank you for joining in. I just offered a different interpretation. <br /><br />BTW, I hope that when Adam Kilgore returns to Nationals Journal it does become the daily news again. The frequency of posts has become really pathetic. Hat tip to CIL on that.Positively Half St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07048223068323120438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-3339535845551576852010-02-15T10:42:08.385-05:002010-02-15T10:42:08.385-05:00Natbiscuit: You're breaking up with me? On Val...<i>Natbiscuit: You're breaking up with me? On Valentine's Day??? Excuse me, I need to go sit in the dark and eat a pint of Haagen Dazs while listening to U2's "All I Want is You" on continuous loop.</i><br />It's okay, you can always come home to me.Mrs. Zuckermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-82867452521131081902010-02-15T10:39:41.029-05:002010-02-15T10:39:41.029-05:00Mark, just do what you have always done - stellar ...Mark, just do what you have always done - stellar reporting - with integrity, great insight, supurb writing and human interest - that way you won't go wrong. You are the journalist here and I for one, greatly appreciate what you are doing and there's no one better who I want to be our eyes and ears at ST and through the season! With you reporting on this blog I really feel like a Nats Insider and I will continue to support you morally and financially as best I can. Let's keep this site what it is - Nationals Baseball and not tear down anybody else. I believe the fact that since we all supported Mark's endeavor to ST shows that we have good hearts and good intentions. Remember the line in one of my favortie baseball movies "if you build it, they will come".cadeck13noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-2054664384246485922010-02-15T09:17:31.757-05:002010-02-15T09:17:31.757-05:00Positively Half St. said... chucking flames toward...Positively Half St. said... chucking flames toward Nat320 is unnecessary, and off the point. I enjoy it for the additional interviews and the many pictures. It is not a journalistic site, but a wide-eyed, we-are-obsessed-with-this-team, hey-look-who-we-talked-to-today chronicle of two folks who live the Washington Nationals.<br /><br />Sending in a lot of my hard earned money to Mark should give anyone the right to discuss a reasonable amount of Nats talk. While we are discussing topics and formats gives this the perfect format to discuss what is right and wrong in the Nats Blogosphere.<br /><br />To each their own with respect to Blogs. Some are real negative, some real positive, and some are inacurrate and some are just right.<br /><br />NFA is amazing and informative and no need to replicate that format.<br /><br />WaPo NJ is the daily news.<br /><br />MASN has decent content now.<br /><br />Nats320 seems to be a story of a couple telling us time and time again that they are the greatest fans. I dont need that as part of my daily dose of Nats education. Those people need help as I think they really believe they are part of the story. Don't give them the limelight and free publicity. <br /><br />See, I am the type that can't stand the schtick of Umpires dancing behind homeplate and distracting from the entire game. It was cute for a few minutes, not a whole game.<br /><br />I don't want copycats. I want the behind the scenes too as it is not being sufficiently covered however dont expect me to read Nats320 with one eye closed.<br /><br />Can you help out Mark?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-8642522118099300922010-02-15T08:11:58.705-05:002010-02-15T08:11:58.705-05:00I agree that Mark and Natbiscuits are too funny. D...I agree that Mark and Natbiscuits are too funny. Don't worry, Mark. No doubt it's not you, it's him. Perhaps he just needs some space. Maybe to see a few other bloggers. Actually, I think you two should take your act on the road.<br /><br />Mark: You visited the *Post* site?!<br />Natbiscuits: But we were on a break...<br />:-D<br /><br />In other news, only a few more days until pitchers and catchers report, and the Zuck-man will be on the ground there. Woohoo!natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-55370803266289083082010-02-15T08:03:58.422-05:002010-02-15T08:03:58.422-05:00I feel kind of silly to bother saying that some of...I feel kind of silly to bother saying that some of you are pretty harsh (and after 5 seasons I already knew this), but chucking flames toward Nat320 is unnecessary, and off the point. I enjoy it for the additional interviews and the many pictures. It is not a journalistic site, but a wide-eyed, we-are-obsessed-with-this-team, hey-look-who-we-talked-to-today chronicle of two folks who live the Washington Nationals.<br /><br />There's no need to psychoanalyze; just read the portions you like, skip what you don't, but recognize that he is providing content others are not.<br /><br />As for the bickering on this site? It feels like proof of success. When we had at it (often under other monickers back then) early on with Svrluga on NJ, the site was rollicking and sometimes bogged down. Mark already has most or all of the long-timers here, and hopefully we'll reach or equilibrium a little more quickly.Positively Half St.https://www.blogger.com/profile/07048223068323120438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-61062350212465221112010-02-15T07:56:10.484-05:002010-02-15T07:56:10.484-05:00Mark - That is funny with you and Natbiscuit. I a...Mark - That is funny with you and Natbiscuit. I am taking a wait & see approach to this as it is new territory in blogging.<br /><br />There are so many variables and factors in what can happen as I am sure you are still pursuing full-time paid employment so on April 3rd you may be telling us that you are leaving.<br /><br />I also agree with many of the other comments that we need different which we will get just in Mark's structure he set for Spring Training.<br /><br />So for me, this relationship is one day at a time! I just hope Mark doesn't break up with us any time soon.Andrewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-40643251217882809402010-02-15T00:26:26.812-05:002010-02-15T00:26:26.812-05:00Mark - one other thing I thought of - simple, easy...Mark - one other thing I thought of - simple, easy guaranteed to increase clicks -run a list of links similar to the wapo's nj - but better. I always start with nj and use the links, not just to nats blogs, but to poznanski and fangraphs and all the rest. Make a similar but more extensive list of links, keekp it up to date, and I would gladly start here in my rundown of natsnews.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-37012473220902514432010-02-15T00:04:24.410-05:002010-02-15T00:04:24.410-05:00Natbiscuit: You're breaking up with me? On Val...Natbiscuit: You're breaking up with me? On Valentine's Day??? Excuse me, I need to go sit in the dark and eat a pint of Haagen Dazs while listening to U2's "All I Want is You" on continuous loop.Mark Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-80781644314568723002010-02-14T22:12:19.129-05:002010-02-14T22:12:19.129-05:00I'm with 1a. I'm not looking for subscrip...I'm with 1a. I'm not looking for subscription model. This is a fling not a marriage. <br /><br />(Sorry Mark, I din't mean to break it to you this way ... um, we can still be friends right?)natbiscuithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08190184266124697567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-44696863698654247792010-02-14T22:10:48.293-05:002010-02-14T22:10:48.293-05:00The most important thing to do is to keep a detail...The most important thing to do is to keep a detailed journal of this experience. You may get a Lifetime movie of the week deal!<br />Seriously, you and Ben are the only reporters with any sort of long term Nats knowledge. The Post is starting over (again). You have developed a strong Rolodex and have a loyal group of readers who trust what you write. The most valuable thing you can do is provide perspective on what the Nats are doing. If something comes to fruition that was put in place years ago, tell us - no one else will even know the genesis of the event. Likewise, throw the BS flag on Rizzo and Kasten when they do something contradictory - few will be able to offer that knowledge.<br />I hope you have a job before then, but if not, I love the idea of covering the minors when the team is out west.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-48831005649217963292010-02-14T21:03:57.313-05:002010-02-14T21:03:57.313-05:00Farid, no offense to you and other bloggers, but s...Farid, no offense to you and other bloggers, but speaking only for myself, I made my financial contribution with the idea of exclusive content from Zuckerman here rather than content from other bloggers. I can already visit their sites when I wish to read their content. On a related note, and again speaking only for myself, I'd not be able to make a $20 monthly contribution, but I was happy to make a spring training donation.natsfan1anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-84244619139338673522010-02-14T18:19:52.791-05:002010-02-14T18:19:52.791-05:00Thanks, everyone, for the thorough suggestions. So...Thanks, everyone, for the thorough suggestions. Some great ideas in there. As I said, this will probably be an ever-evolving process, but I'm definitely planning to try some new things out, take a few chances. If something works, we'll stick with it. If it doesn't, we'll try something else. As always, your feedback will be much appreciated.Mark Zuckermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13525315258889435961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-11782426059966236312010-02-14T18:12:36.385-05:002010-02-14T18:12:36.385-05:00I had to check this clown out for myself and found...I had to check this clown out for myself and found the NatsFest story. I couldn't read past the 2nd paragraph. Unreadable.<br /><br />http://nats320.blogspot.com/2010/01/natsfest-2010.html<br /><br />They have 41 photos of NatsFest and they are in just about half of them plus all the stories about themselves in the recap. <br /><br />Hilarious yet very sad watching them mug for the camera. Do they carry a photographer with them?<br /><br />If that isn't extreme narcissism I don't know what is and that isn't a pschological diagnosis as a 1st year psych student would probably diagnose them for immediate need of clinical help.<br /><br />I agree that if this is the best available in the Nats blogosphere then yeeesh, and yes Mr. Zuckerman can definitely fill this void with journalistic integrity. PLEASE!<br /><br />I would commit to a monthly donation if that is what is needed per Farid's analysis.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-85664019824568881752010-02-14T17:22:02.127-05:002010-02-14T17:22:02.127-05:00No, we're not sure that Mark will give us &quo...No, we're not sure that Mark will give us "more" than the other sights. I think he will, though, and I'm willing to pay to find out.<br /><br />The Post continues to show us that we (Nationals' fans)are unimportant to them. <br /><br />I am a blogger and write volumes about the Nationals but I am neither a professional writer nor do I have the access to the team that Mark does. <br /><br />So let's give this a try.<br /><br />263 people donated to Mark thus far, an average of about $40 per person.<br /><br />If 200 people commit to $15/month, that would pay Mark $3,000/mo to live on through the summer. He could make more, but I'm not sure it would be much less.<br /><br />Things in the Nats' Nation are about to change. We have better players and more hope. Mark could provide us with a great amount of depth about the team and give us an inside peek as the team goes from the worst in the league to a competitive one.<br /><br />Mark could create a one-stop shop for Nats' fans. He could have several of us bloggers write unique stuff for him in lieu of paying for that "upgraded content."<br /><br />I live in Idaho and bleacherreport.com has told me that as a Featured Columnist I can get credentials to many MLB games. I could put some eyes on the Nationals when they play in Denver and Arizona. <br /><br />The point is, this could be not just Mark's place, but all of ours. We can support him through money, stories, etc., and he could give us one writer who treats us with respect.<br /><br />I'd sure pay $20/mo for quality coverage and I'd be happy as a blogger to write as much (or as little) as Mark would like. There are several outstanding blogger-writers who could flesh out a site like this.<br /><br />Many of you are right; it might not work. But it also could be something special, and all it would cost to find out is a few thousand of our dollars and a summer of Mark's valuable time.<br /><br />Think big, Mark. You have available to you what all of us would give anything to have: fans willing to pay you to write about baseball.<br /><br />He could cover the team at home live and follow them via live feeds when they are away (or cover a select number of games as finances dictate).<br /><br />And he is just getting his site up and going - don't assume that what we see now is what we'll see during the summer.<br /><br />And no, Mark's stuff isn't just like everyone elses. <br /><br />It's better.Farid Rushdihttp://bleacherreport.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-5754161357741928772010-02-14T16:56:44.463-05:002010-02-14T16:56:44.463-05:00natsfan1a said...
FWIW, I've grown to enjoy ...<i>natsfan1a said... <br /><br />FWIW, I've grown to enjoy the Nats320 blog. I appreciate that they take the time to post full transcripts of interviews, pressers, and so forth, so that I can read the quotes in context and make up my own mind. As for the narcissist diagnosis, in my opinion anyone who creates a blog likely has a healthy ego, at the very least.</i><br /><br />I am not a journalist and do run a Blog and would never put myself in such an EGO driven public format. My disdain for people that try to make themselves celebrities alongside the athletes they write about need to get a life and a whiff of reality. <br /><br />They have really blown smoke of Kasten's butt as he puts up with them and maybe thinks they are an asset to the Nats. They caught a foul ball and you would've thought it was a Zimmerman Walk Off HR ball. Give me a break.<br /><br />Now you have given me the perfect request for Mark Zuckerman. Can you please post full transcripts of interviews, pressers, and so forth, so that we can read the quotes in context. Regards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-15489933617969241912010-02-14T16:48:17.676-05:002010-02-14T16:48:17.676-05:00Miss Chatter, great point to add expert photograph...Miss Chatter, great point to add expert photography as you are the Best! Love your photos on Flickr!<br /><br />You would make up a good team. Just don't cut and paste photos of Mark into all the photos ;>)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-69850108236750623152010-02-14T16:14:11.164-05:002010-02-14T16:14:11.164-05:00Hi Mark
There's enough ideas in the 50 commen...Hi Mark<br /><br />There's enough ideas in the 50 comments above for you to put together a plan of great stuff. So I won't add any. But please follow your own plan.<br /><br /> My expectation is good journalism and good writing, not a lot of "rah-rahing" or editoralizing (there's enough of that already). As a remote fan of the Nats in Nairobi, I like reports that follow the breaking stories and stories that you the journalist dig up.<br /><br />Good luck.Nattydreadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-6179538545918536742010-02-14T15:40:37.903-05:002010-02-14T15:40:37.903-05:00I think you need a photographer :-)
Just do what ...I think you need a photographer :-)<br /><br />Just do what you do best!Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05998262039355561986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-66649913798706457132010-02-14T15:22:25.440-05:002010-02-14T15:22:25.440-05:00but natbiscuit, that's all ABM knows. if he i...but natbiscuit, that's all ABM knows. if he isn't telling someone how ignorant they are(and by extension how wonderful and intelligent he is), then he has nothing to say.<br /><br />Mark, just do what you do. I'll be happy with a standard level of reporter coverage. We barely get that from out supposed "news" sources as it is. Just cover the team like a Major League Baseball team should be.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3442809928829881676.post-74860008514230037882010-02-14T15:16:15.554-05:002010-02-14T15:16:15.554-05:00Well, natbiscuit, that has kind of been my underly...Well, natbiscuit, that has kind of been my underlying point all along. Mark needs to cover what <i>he</i> thinks he should cover, and produce what <i>he</i> thinks he should produce, rather than try to satisfy the desires of those readers who bother to comment here. Because if he tries to do that there's no way he'll ever be able to satisfy them all. And the ones he doesn't satisfy will be <i>really</i> dissatisfied. Instead, Mark needs to set his own agenda, be his own editor, and take the gamble that what he's doing will be attractive enough that people will want to support him. Unfortunately, though, he made the mistake of making promises and raising expectations that will be very difficult for him to keep. That's a recipe for disgruntlement down the line. Just ask Barack Obama about that.An Briosca Morhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06855174362787324401noreply@blogger.com