Monday, October 4, 2010

The offseason plan

So, the season's over. Players have dispersed around the world, from Northern California (Drew Storen) to the Netherlands (Roger Bernadina). Mike Rizzo is preparing to go to Viera, Fla., to watch some instructional league games. Stan Kasten is preparing to vacate his office and move back to Atlanta before embarking on whatever is next in his professional career.

Everyone has plans for the offseason, including yours truly.

Before I get to that, let me just say one last time how much I enjoyed covering this season. The interesting storylines on the field helped make that possible, but not nearly as much as all of you did. The daily interaction I had with you loyal readers, whether through comments on the site, email, Twitter or face-to-face at the ballpark, was the real highlight of the season. It made for an experience I'd never had before in 12 years as a professional sportswriter, and it's what kept me going every day for the last eight months through all the highs and lows of a baseball season.

And there were plenty of highs and lows for the Nationals over the course of 162 games. I'm proud to say I witnessed 129 of those games in person (69 at home, 60 on the road) plus another 25 at spring training, and I'm humbled to say that wouldn't have been possible without your generous support.

I've gotten plenty of questions over the last few weeks, with everyone wanting to know what I'm planning to do during the offseason. The answer: The same thing I've been doing every day for the last eight months, and the same thing I've done the last five offseasons. Covering the Nationals.

There will be plenty of stuff to report, address and analyze over the winter. Trade talks. Free agent talks. Arbitration decisions. The instructional and Arizona Fall Leagues. Front-office changes. Player profiles. Press conferences. The winter meetings. Not to mention the postseason, which begins Wednesday. I'll definitely be sharing some thoughts on that along the way.

Yes, the Hot Stove League will be alive and well here at the Insider, as well as at CSNwashington.com. There may be some down periods along the way when there's not much to update, and I'll be taking some actual vacation at various times. But the baseball beat is a 12-month endeavor, and there really is no offseason anymore.

So please make a point to check back around here often as I do my best to keep you loyal readers on top of anything and everything there is to know about your favorite franchise.

As always, it will be my pleasure to keep you informed.

54 comments:

NatsJack in Florida said...

And I can't thank you enough for providing this forum. It has been a real pleasure reading your posts and taking part in the discussions with so many people that have this common love of the Nats and baseball in general.

natsfan1a said...

Thanks, Mark. It's been a pleasure, and I'm happy to hear that the Hot Stove will be up and running in these parts.

Jenn Jenson said...

Thank you, Mark.

Loved your mix of news and analysis. It was exactly the combination I hoped for.

Fine, fine job.

Pilchard said...

Thanks Mark!

Any word on how Bryce Harper is doing in Viera? Have not heard anything since his first game.

Janner33 said...

Thanks Mark for finally providing a place for like minded fans to get together and vent, celebrate and offer opinions. This season was all the more fun because of it! Keep up the fantastic work!

NatsJack in Florida said...

He's hit two homeruns but having trouble adjusting to the breaking ball. Everbody pounds him with fastballs and when they get ahead in the count, lock him up with the breaking stuff. He was much better making adjustments in his second week and I'll watch him again Friday and Saturday this week.

The homerun he hit Friday was crushed 430' or so and the one he hit last Wednesday was an opposite field job into the wind.

Big Cat said...

Yes Mark.....it was a pleasure to find your site and read it every day and comment. Thank you again

Big Cat said...

NatsJack.....Remember about Solis and Cole too.

I think the thing we have to remember about Harper is......17 years old

ronnie d said...

i have enjoyed your info and outlooks this year and look forward to more of your fine work.

congrats and continued success

NatsJack in Florida said...

I got to sit with Solis and Robbie Ray on Saturday as they worked the gun and charted pitches. Needless to say, I had a blast getting to know them. I'll share some of the stuff we discussed when I have more time to post.
Solis has been solid and I'll get to watch him Saturday against the Braves.

dryw said...

Mark,
I'm so glad to hear that I won't have to do without my Nats Insider fix all winter! Thanks.

dj in Fl. said...

Hey NatsJack I was tinking of heading over to the Atlanta game Thursday. Are the Braves playing in Kissimmee?

Glad you will continue through the offseason Mark. I am counting on lots of positive FO developments to discuss.

cadeck13 said...

Mark,
Thank you for completing our fan experience. This site has really been rewarding and I am really thankful that you went out on limb and started it and I'm really grateful to everyone here who contributed their support to make it all possible. I think back to 2005 when I was so hungry for baseball and nothing like this existed - necessity is the mother of invention. My cable company at the time didn't even carry the games except the occasional Sat/Sun on Channel 50 and now here we are. Wow!

I look forward to your winter coverage and my hope springs eternal for 2011!

I've really learned a lot from you and from all of the commenters here and I'm proud to be part of the Natsinsider family.

NatsJack - thanks for the updates from FL and I'm looking forward to your post about getting to know Solis & Ray!

LoveDaNats said...

Mark,
Thank you again for a wonderful year! I'm glad you will be continuing in the off season (after I googled "Hot Stove League".........I learn something new everyday). I look forward to what's next for the Nats and look forward to reading your story "Nats Sign Dunn". (It's not lookin' good, is it?)

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Mark,
You just made my day, knowing that you will remain on top of things during the offseason. Your top-notch reporting, commentary and analysis is off-the-charts good. We are blessed and very grateful to have you on the case. Have a great, healthy, happy offseason to you -- and all the great NI contributors.

Traveler8 said...

In other news, Minaya and Manuel are out. To the Mets' great credit, they seem to have sent the news to their fan base first - I have an e-mail from them (on their list from having bought tickets to Citifield in the past) as of 11:54 am. The posted time on the ESPN story is 12:19 pm.

Sunshine_Bobby_Carpenter_Is_Too_Pessimistic_For_Me said...

Mark sez: "Stan Kasten is preparing to vacate his office and move back to Atlanta before embarking on whatever is next in his professional career."

I hear there's an opening in the used car sales department at Ourisman Chevrolet...

natsfan1a said...

There's also an opening as MLB president and chief operating officer as of Oct. 31. I'm just saying...

P. Cole said...

Mark Zuckerman for MVP!

NatsJack in Florida said...

dj in Florida..... They are playing at one of the side fields at Wide World of Sports(usually field #14 closest to the Hdcp Parking lot) but you have to go to the ticket booth and get a special pass that allows you in for free otherwise, you pay Disney $13.50 for something free.Game starts promptlty at 1:00 PM.
I'll be in Viera Friday and Saturday for those games.

Sec3MySofa said...

Love you too, kid; glad you're sticking around.

Is Roger going back to the Netherlands, in Europe, or CuraƧao? Just curious.

Ed in Alexandria said...

Now that Stan Kasten is gone the Nats would seem to need a baseball person to be in overall charge of the operation. Meanwhile, Cal Ripken sits within commuting distance of Nationals Park, wanting a team to run in order to put to use his lifetime of baseball knowledge and dedication to doing things the right way. I can't think of a better match.

I'm sure Cal would rather run the Orioles, but that does not seem likely to happen as long as Angelos owns the team. Now that Cal's kids are getting older I understand he is itching to get back into Major League Baseball and, absent an opportunity with the Orioles, I would think the Nats would be an attractive opportunity to him for a couple of reasons. First, they are close to home. Second, the Nats represent the closest thing there is to a blank slate on which Cal could place his imprint. Cal, of course, is the primary disciple of what used to be called the "Oriole Way," which was developed by his father, and served as the basis of decades of success in Baltimore. I can't think of anyone I would rather see determine the "Nationals Way."

BethesdaFan said...

Mark --

My wife and I read your blog (several times!) each day -- even when we were traveling in Europe this summer for 3 weeks.

Thank you (and the commentators -- right now especially "NatsJack in Florida").

BethesdaFan

DebbiTaylor said...

Thanks for the coverage, Mark. Top notch reporting and your passion for the game shines through your reporting. Thanks for making a miserable team enjoyable to read about.

Anonymous said...

I've enjoyed your commentary and the debating, cheering, booing, and arguing fan community that has blossomed on your blog. I am so happy and relieved that this will continue through the off season and into the next season.

citizen16 said...

Mark,

I found your blog the day after the Opening Day debacle this year, and I've read it almost every day all summer (multiple times most days). I agree with what so many others have said about your writing...it's great. This is easily the best source about the Nationals anywhere.

Steve M. said...

I am a stat geek but have also loved the intangibles of the game that just don't show up on a score card.

You have done a great job of giving us news, updates and opinions as well as the format to sometimes debate the points.

Great job!

CapPeterson said...

Mark,

Had me worried with your talk about "plans for the offseason" at the top. Much relieved to find out that covering the Nats will be an important part!

Thanks for your great coverage this year!

Anonymous said...

I'm curious Natsjack. Do you think Solis is capable of getting to the majors at some point next year? Or is he a 2-3 year project?

natsfan1a said...

To clarify, that would be the position as Bud Selig's right-hand man, not a position in the Nats' FO.

---

natsfan1a said...

There's also an opening as MLB president and chief operating officer as of Oct. 31. I'm just saying...
October 4, 2010 12:39 PM

NatsJack in Florida said...

If Solis continues to dominate in Arizona as he has in Florida, I expect he'll follow a similar (but under the radar) path as Strasburg. He's that polished. AA, AAA then the big club in June.
I also expect we'll be seeing A.J. Morris in DC sometime next season as well.

nicefellow31 said...

I posted previously about how much I appreciated your work. Glad to see that it will continue. I think blogs like yours will help make baseball popular in D.C. and grow the fan base. Enjoy your time off away from the ballpark and thanks again for sharing your insight with us.

sjm105 said...

This has nothing to do with the Nationals. Just finished reading all the comments with Mark getting a deserved "well done" and only ONE Anonymous among all the posts. Maybe everyone is figuring out how to sign in.

Thanks again Mark and I am hoping it will be a great hot stove league for the Nats

NatsFan2005 said...

Just got to the main story, and I must express my joy at being freed of my greatest anxiety for the off season: what happens to Nats Insider. Glad you're keeping it going, Mark, since this Hot Stove League promises to be better than last year's, and there's simply no one better at covering the nats than you.

nationals anthems said...

Mark - thank you so much for your fine work. I appreciate the effort you have put in covering everything from the closest of close-ups to the 30000-foot overview of the team. I love the persistence, humor, and passion you put into covering this, on the surface, most unrewarding of topics.

Zuckerman's 2010
(Homage to "Zuckerman's Famous Pig" from the Charlotte's Web soundtrack)

Oh wow, look at it now, Zuckerman's 2010

Ooh wee, wadidja see? Mark got cash from folks like me!

My land, not much of a plan, but it all worked out in the end

Harper signed and Strasburg shined, and Mark was there like a friend

Doing one terrific radiant humble heckuva job with the pen

That's Zuckerman's Zuckerman's Zuckerman's Zuckerman's Zuckerman's....

Zuckerman's 2010!

And ours too.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Nats Jack!

Morris in the bullpen? Solis a new left-handed starter? Should be interesting to see.

Anonymous said...

Just because I post anonymously doesn't mean I don't know how to sign in - any more than signing in as sjm105 gives me any clue as to who you are. You're still anonymous.

Ray Knight said...

Mark,

Good work, as always.

BTW, when are we going to get that beer like you promised? Drinking with Bob gets tiresome (he's always pulling out that dang scorebook of his).

Cheers mate!

Berndaddy said...

Mark thank you for a your wonder coverage of the Nats. As a lurker I appreciate all you do I just don't say it as much as I should. Thx again

Anonymous said...

Just because I post anonymously doesn't mean I don't know how to sign in - any more than signing in as sjm105 gives me any clue as to who you are. You're still anonymous.

Ditto. I ride my lungta as seems most fitting to me.

Mark Zuckerman said...

nationals anthems: I am speechless. Truly speechless. That was awesome.

Another_Sam said...

Mark -- Thanks to your work, this has been the most enjoyable season for me in all the years I've been following baseball. That goes back to the '50s Senators. Thank you very much. I'm in for the off season.

Right on regarding highs and lows. For me:

Highs: The early season tease of a winning team; seeing Strasburg in the ballpark; seeing the group in Sectin 409

Lows: Strasburg going down; the pitching staff except for Livan; Riggleman's over the top management style;

Harrison said...

I don't have anything creative like a poem to write, just to say you did a great job all season and I'm glad what started out as an experiment turned into a successful venture. Don't be a stranger.

meixler said...

Thanks Mark! I made it through my first full season as a baseball fan. I'm not sure that would have happened without this site. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to read about what starting pitcher we sign this offseason and what happens with Adam Dunn. Keep up the good work!

How long till spring training?

Matt said...

Just to echo (with less creativity) all the other posters: thank you Mark for great coverage this season. I look forward to continuing to read your work in the offseason.

Doc said...

Great ride MarkMeister. A lot of effort on your part, and a lot of dedication.

Nats Insider will only get better and better!

Thanks!

Arlington Big Fish said...

Keep up the great work, Mark. When can I sign up for next season's gig?

Section 109 said...

Mark, I am definitely cheered up, despite the end of the season, to know that you will be on the case all year long. It has just been wonderful to read your blog, and the comments, all season long (even though I can't get to it at work because my office blocks blogspots). I can't remember who said that he would be at spring training in one of the Insider t-shirts, but once I saw that, I got around to ordering one myself. Thank you Mark! Looking forward to the hot stove and then next season. And BTW, part of the reason I checked in from Italy in September was that this blog feels like home.

SBrent said...

Great news! So glad to hear that you're in this for the long haul! This blog has been the best Nats coverage from day one.

jp23 said...

You know, the Nats are not my #1 (the Cubs are), but I found myself checking this site as religiously as the Cubs site I normally check. It's a testament to what a wonderful site this is and I look forward to continuing to check this site in the offseason and next year.

Thank you for an outstanding site!!

Jim Hoy said...

Since April, Zuckerman and Boswell have been my go to's for the Nats. Thank you, Mark for this web site and your top notch reporting, analysis, and commentary. I couldn't be happier to find out it will continue. And now that I have a new job, I will be able to become a supporter of this site, and plan a visit to spring training.

Thanks again, Mark, and Mrs. Z.

Go Nats!

SonnyG10 said...

Mark,

Thanks for all the wonderful writings you posted for us this season and I really look forward to reading your off season blogs. It will help get me through the long winter until its spring training time again.

Thanks NatsJack in Florida for the updates on our guys in Flordia.

boteman said...

Great coverage, Mark. Time to pass the hat around to keep warm this Winter. There will be lots of stuff to cover and you are the only real journalist covering the Nationals as far as I have been able to determine.

Hey look! I figured out how to identify myself without signing in. Who'd a thunk it?

Xanax said...

Thank you again for a wonderful year! I'm glad you will be continuing in the off season

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