Help Send Zuckerman to Viera.

[JMadIV]

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/02/send-mark-to-spring-training_07.html

When I launched this site one week ago, I honestly had no idea what to expect. I knew I wanted to provide another outlet for news and analysis of the Washington Nationals. But with no method of advertising other than word-of-mouth, I didn't know how many people that content would reach.

Well, one week into this venture, I've been overwhelmed by your support. From the comments I've received, both publicly on the site and privately by email and phone. And from the thousands of hits this site has already received, many from right here in the D.C. area but plenty more from around the world. Who knew NatsTown extended to 18 different countries spanning the entire globe? From Japan to Kenya, from the United Kingdom to India, from Australia to Belgium, you've found your way here.

And all of that has led me to change the way I'm thinking about this project. You've all made it clear you want comprehensive coverage of the Nats, the kind that's hard to find elsewhere on the web. You don't just want another run-of-the mill blog that riffs off other media outlets' reports. You want a site that covers it all from the frontline, from someone who has access to every player and team official, and from someone who can provide the kind of first-hand accounts afforded only to a select few members of the media.

In other words, you want a site that covers spring training in its entirety.

So I've decided to make the trek down to Viera, Fla., later this month and join pitchers and catchers when they report to Space Coast Stadium for a six-week camp that's sure to boast all kinds of significant storylines. Jim Riggleman's first spring as manager. Stephen Strasburg's first spring as a professional pitcher. Ivan Rodriguez, Jason Marquis, Matt Capps and Adam Kennedy's first spring as Nationals. Adam Dunn's first spring seeking a long-term extension with Washington.

Unfortunately, it costs money to cover a full major-league camp. When I worked at The Washington Times, the paper would spend approximately $7,500 for each reporter or photographer's six-week stay. By cutting a few corners -- driving from D.C. instead of flying and renting a car, staying at a cheaper hotel -- I think I can do it for $5,000.

This site, though, isn't a money-maker. I'm doing this on my own, receiving no income other than a few pennies each time you click on an ad.

So I need your help to make this happen. At the top of this post, you saw a link with instructions on how to make a donation. I've set up a system with PayPal, a safe and reliable method that allows you to pay by credit card with confidence. You are free to donate as little or as much as you'd like.

If you choose not to participate, no worries. You'll still have access to my full coverage from Florida. But if you do participate, I'm going to return the favor by offering you extra, exclusive coverage all spring.

Here's what you'll get, based on your donation level:

$20 -- Exclusive daily audio file of Jim Riggleman's morning or postgame media session.

$40 -- Exclusive daily audio file of Jim Riggleman's morning or postgame media session, plus another daily audio file of an interview with a Nats player, coach or front-office member.

$60 -- Exclusive daily audio file of Jim Riggleman's morning or postgame media session; plus another daily audio file of an interview with a Nats player, coach or front-office member; plus the opportunity to submit a question to be asked of Riggleman or a prominent player during a spring training interview.

Again, you don't have to donate strictly along those three pre-determined lines. You can enter any amount you like, or none at all. But please note we're working under a pretty tight deadline here: Pitchers and catchers report on February 19, so we've got to move quickly to get this done.

Take a moment to decide what you think this coverage is worth to you. If you decide it's worth a donation, please click on the link below and help make this trip happen.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and thanks for making this site a must-read for Nats fans from every corner of the globe.

here is the donation link:

http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/3aad34cc7a988fdb

you can click there to donate directly, or you can click the blog link at the top of the post, and then follow the link from there.

[Dunnkey]

I put in the plain link since posts like that are sometimes flagged as potentially malicious by search engines and net nannies.

[JMadIV]

I put in the plain link since posts like that are sometimes flagged as potentially malicious by search engines and net nannies.

you're just hating on teh GOOG.

[Dunnkey]

you're just hating on teh GOOG.

Actually I personally find all URL shortening services annoying because I like to see what I'm clicking on before I go, but that's equally applicable to tinyURL, Goo.gl, and all other such services.

It's also exactly the reason that short posts containing URL-masked links are sometimes flagged as potentially malicious.

Now quit derailing your own thread

[JMadIV]

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2010

If You Care about the Nationals, Please Read this Post Now
Mark Zuckerman, the excellent Nationals beat writer recently laid off by The Washington Times, is asking for our help to send him to Viera to cover the Nationals this spring training on his new site, Nats Insider. Mark is generously saying all he needs is a measly $5,000 to cover the team in spring training for six weeks.

But he needs our help to get it done. If you have enough disposable income to pay $7 for a lousy beer at Nationals Park, you have enough to kick in at least $100. Click here to give now and prove that you aren't a lousy cheap bum like Ted Lerner:

http://www.chipin.com/contribute/id/3aad34cc7a988fdb

Or, check out Mark's post here and give from the link on his page (which is the same).

Nationals fans NEED Mark in Viera. The Nationals are on the verge of becoming the first team in MLB ever to have no independent, full-time reporters covering the team. All the MASN TV and radio guys work for the team. Bill Ladson works for the team. Chico Harlan, god bless him, is going to chew his arm off if the Post doesn't take him off the Nationals beat soon. And it's been reported that the Post won't hire from outside because of budget cuts dictated by corporate higher ups, so we're seriously looking at a season with one WaPo paid intern total covering the team.

For average fans who just want some basic coverage of the team, nevermind an occasional scoop, this is really a crisis situation.

Why did it take a week for anyone to report that Chris Duncan had been signed? Why doesn't anyone at the Post have more than 20 months of perspective on the history of this team? (Boswell doesn't count, since he covers the stadium, not the team.) Why was the Smiley Gonzalez story missed for so long? Why are 90% of the news stories covering the team this winter totally fact-less speculation about how the team is "interested" in this guy or that guy whom we never hear about again?

And it's not just the lack of quality content that we're talking about. With no one covering the team in an independent, professional way, Kasten and Lerner will just keep doing what they're doing--putting out a crappy product and pocketing the revenue-sharing money and the revenue from their taxpayer-funded cash cow stadium. If the Nationals are ever going to get better, we need a watchdog media to keep them honest.

It's time for Nationals fans to stop complaining about the coverage of the team and step up. Mark is basically volunteering to do the incredibly hard work of a full-time beat reporter for below cost. He's a proven professional, and you know you're going to get a quality product (unlike all the other money we as fans spend on the Nationals).

Now, if you're assuming that someone else is going to pay, and Mark's going to do this anyway, you're WRONG. I've spoken to Mark about this, and I promise you, if we don't kick in the $5,000, he's not going, and we're going to be stuck with Hamburgler Ladson and Lame Duck Chico.

But really, just think, if every person who comes to FJB today kicks in JUST TENS DOLLARS, he'll hit his goal today.

But guess what--that's not happening. Because most people ARE cheaper than Ted Lerner. Most people are free-loaders. Don't be one of them. And Mark knows who's given and who hasn't, so all you regular commenters, don't think you can pretend you gave and get away with lying. JayBee, ABM, all y'all... we'll know if you're the deadbeat.

http://firejimbowden.blogspot.com/2010/02/if-you-care-about-nationals-please-read.html

[DPMOmaha]

I hope Mark can find a way down there, but I gave my extra pennies to Haiti.  He's as good as it gets though, I hope he can continue to cover the Nats at the high level he does.  It would be a shame for that to end.

[JMadIV]

edited the first post, just for those who don't like to visit blogs.

[JMadIV]

amazingly, he is nearly halfway to his goal, in less than a full day.

[ronnynat]

Is he broke? Why isn't he looking for a job?

It's really not that important to me that he is down there covering the Nats during ST.

[PANatsFan]

[URGENT]?

If he can get down there on other people's dime, great. Otherwise, shrug.

[JMadIV]

Is he broke? Why isn't he looking for a job?

what makes you think he isn't looking for a job?

It's really not that important to me that he is down there covering the Nats during ST.

then ignore the thread and keep it moving. no need to be a jackass.

[ronnynat]

what makes you think he isn't looking for a job?

He wants people to pay for his trip to Florida and he'll be there for a month and a half. I figure he won't be job searching down there while he is supposed to be covering the Nats.

Not a big deal. I was just curious. I don't read his blog.

[JMadIV]

there.

happy now, PA?

what the hell. *shrug*

[Roarin Storen]

Maybe he can spend $10 from that to buy a real domain name.

[CALSGR8]

Maybe he can network with other people in his field to find a job!   

[Obed_Marsh]

I'm hoping his popularity will open some eyes at the Post. I'd be thrilled if he was food critic's replacement.

[Gleason2]

I don't know how many of you read Mark Zuckerman's blog, Nats Insider, but he's soliciting contributions to send him to Viera to provide coverage of spring training.  I've made a small contribution, and I thought that some of you who liked his team coverage in the Times might also want to chip in.  Here's a link to his site:

http://natsinsider.blogspot.com/2010/02/send-mark-to-spring-training_07.html

EDITED BY MOD since we had a thread already.  Gleason.....

[Gleason2]

Sorry about that.  I don't know how I missed the original thread.

[tomterp]

Sorry about that.  I don't know how I missed the original thread.

No problem, just enjoying flexing my omnipotent super global moderator powers.         

[Dunnkey]

No problem, just enjoying flexing my omnipotent super global moderator powers.         

Translation: snowed in and bored

[NatsNut]

One question:  How much for a *date* with Jim Riggleman?   

Just kidding.  Just saw this and donated right away.  FJB is right, Zuckerman may be the best bet for Nats coverage.

[PANatsFan]

If I set up a PayPal, would people give me beer money to keep posting stupid crap about the Nats on WNFF?

[Obed_Marsh]

If you get your ass to a game I'll buy you a beer. Granted, I'm not saying that has anything to do with your posts.

[PANatsFan]

If you get your ass to a game I'll buy you a beer. Granted, I'm not saying that has anything to do with your posts.

Opening day is guaranteed. After that, depends on the kid. Maybe I can get him to part of a game at the end of the season.

[Obed_Marsh]

Opening day is guaranteed.

I am hoping and wishing I won't be out of town again. I have had awful luck for opening day. **crosses fingers**