Tex and the Nats...

[hammondsnats]

take a look @ the line-ups

Catcher
Flores vs. Wieters
Breakdown: Tough call because we have nothing to base Wieters on, other than AA numbers.  He's supposed to be a stud (I've seen him, he has been pretty good), but at least Flores has shown flashes of being a very solid everyday catcher.  I'd give the edge to the O's, but I think our guy will have two All-Star trips under his belt before it's all said and done.

2nd base
TBA vs. Roberts
Breakdown: I'd give it to Roberts and the Birds..  He's one of the best 2nd basemen in baseball and one of the best leadoff hitters.  If we get Hudson it'll be a closer race, although all reports have Anderson Hernandez as an on base machine since mid summer.

Shortstop
Guzman vs. Izturis
Breakdown: Nats have the advantage.  Guzman raked the ball last season and seems like his hand/eye coordination has gotten a lot better over the past year.

3rd base
Zimmerman vs. Mora
Breakdown: Nats have the advantage.  Mora is a fine player, but he's lost a step and doesn't have much time left on the field.  Zimmerman isn't even in his prime yet and has had a fine career already.  Imagine him and Teix manning the corners for years to come.

Right Field
Dukes vs. Markakis
Breakdown: If we're going to give Wieters the benefit of the doubt based on potential, I really want to say this is a toss up.  Markakis is one of the better right fielders in the game.  He's smart, hits for average and plays a solid corner outfield.  When healthy (mentally and physically) Dukes has a cannon, unbelievable power, plus speed, can hit for average and given experience can man the corner well.  Markakis has done more in his time on the field, though.

Center Field
Milledge vs. Jones
Breakdown: I have done every study in the world countless times with O's fans regarding this subject.  If you're looking for defense - Jones.  If you're looking for the better offensive player?  It's Milledge.  It's that simple.  Both are younger than young and will continue to get better and better.  Good problem to have.

Left Field
Willingham vs. Scott
Breakdown: Toss up.  Willingham had 120 less at bats than Scott and still had more 3Bs, a better OBP and wasn't far behind on doubles, HRs, RBIs either. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I think the BlO's actually have a better farm system at this point.  We had a fall-off since the heralded #9 ranking after 2007.

We have Burgess, Zimmermann, and a lot of question marks or guys in the lower level.

I do think we will be absolutely STACKED after this coming season, though.

[sportsfan882]

ok,

but do you, as an Orioles fan, think that the Orioles are SOOOOOO far ahead of the Nationals on the road to contention, like the folks at OH seem to?

to them it is inconceivable that we have ANY talent *at all* anywhere in our system, majors or minors.

what do you think?

I think the teams are fairly close in their development but I think we are ahead. The O's talk about all of these young guys in their High Minors. Hell, we have a ton of our "biggest prospects" in the Majors. The O's have Wieters, Jones, and Markakis at the Major league level. We have Milledge, Zimmerman, Flores, Dukes, Lannan, etc, etc.

It also helps that we play in the NL East and the O's are in the same division as the Sox, Rays, Yanks, and Jays.

[wpa2629]

The orioles have some good things going on with their farm ...there's no disputing that -- they've been doing it alot longer afterall and they did have some marquis pieces to trade to acquire prospects -- the Nats aren't there yet, but this FO has only conducted 2 drafts -- we'll get there - we've got some quality prospects, Strasburg is a stud prospect, we also have a second pick in the first round and all our other picks next year - it's just going to take some time ... with the Lerner's willingness to spend money -- things are looking up

[KnorrForYourMoney]

take a look @ the line-ups

Very interesting.  It's essentially a push at this point, although I give Markakis the edge over Dukes because he's stayed healthy and showed some consistency in those impressive numbers.

I didn't realize how closely match the two teams were.

[MrMadison]

I think the teams are fairly close in their development but I think we are ahead. The O's talk about all of these young guys in their High Minors. Hell, we have a ton of our "biggest prospects" in the Majors. The O's have Wieters, Jones, and Markakis at the Major league level. We have Milledge, Zimmerman, Flores, Dukes, Lannan, etc, etc.

exactly.

we don't have very much in the way of top prospects playing in AA and AA, because they are mostly already on the Major League Roster and receiving significant playing time in the majors.

we promote our players very quickly, so long as they produce at each level.

[eckseid]

This was the update that i'm assuming JeffCMSB was talking about.

Update: Sources close to the situation tell the CMSB that the Nationals have the high offer on the table and have since late last week. No word on what it is, but with offers ranging from 8/160 and 8/184, it would be higher than that. In last week's article, it was known that Teixeira's family wants him with the Nats, and Boras was "blown away" that the Nats would be the high bidder, so he figured getting a higher offer from Boston was a "slam-dunk". Thinking that the Nats offer could be a starting point, Boras re-shopped his client. He tried to get the Red Sox to match, but to no avail apparently (see link in first update). The Angels are not budging off of 8/160, and the Orioles are not going above 150 mil. Barring an unforeseen circumstance (ie another team jumping in) or a change of heart amongst one of the organizations, expect Mark Teixeira to sign with or agree to terms with the Washington Nationals within the next 24 hours. Much of this coincides with posts made by Yahoo's Gordon Edes, and let's face it, it fits like a glove doesn't it? The team that is most desperate would be the one willing to go ten years, and if the BoSox and Angels are not, ladies and gentleman, it leaves the Nationals. The CMSB has reached out to other organizations involved for comment on the matter, updates when (or if) they come....

http://www.centralmainesportsblog.com/

[sportsfan882]

I think the BlO's actually have a better farm system at this point.  We had a fall-off since the heralded #9 ranking after 2007.

We have Burgess, Zimmermann, and a lot of question marks or guys in the lower level.

I do think we will be absolutely STACKED after this coming season, though.

The orioles have some good things going on with their farm ...there's no disputing that -- they've been doing it alot longer afterall and they did have some marquis pieces to trade to acquire prospects -- the Nats aren't there yet, but this FO has only conducted 2 drafts -- we'll get there - we've got some quality prospects, Strasburg is a stud prospect, we also have a second pick in the first round and all our other picks next year - it's just going to take some time ... with the Lerner's willingness to spend money -- things are looking up

Absolutely. By the end of 2009 our Minor League system could REALLY be looking UP. This is a huge year for our minor leaguers. The draft is going to be very big too.

[natsfan4evr]

Update: Sources close to the situation tell the CMSB that the Nationals have the high offer on the table and have since late last week. No word on what it is, but with offers ranging from 8/160 and 8/184, it would be higher than that. In last week's article, it was known that Teixeira's family wants him with the Nats, and Boras was "blown away" that the Nats would be the high bidder, so he figured getting a higher offer from Boston was a "slam-dunk". Thinking that the Nats offer could be a starting point, Boras re-shopped his client. He tried to get the Red Sox to match, but to no avail apparently (see link in first update). The Angels are not budging off of 8/160, and the Orioles are not going above 150 mil. Barring an unforeseen circumstance (ie another team jumping in) or a change of heart amongst one of the organizations, expect Mark Teixeira to sign with or agree to terms with the Washington Nationals within the next 24 hours. Much of this coincides with posts made by Yahoo's Gordon Edes, and let's face it, it fits like a glove doesn't it? The team that is most desperate would be the one willing to go ten years, and if the BoSox and Angels are not, ladies and gentleman, it leaves the Nationals. The CMSB has reached out to other organizations involved for comment on the matter, updates when (or if) they come....

http://www.centralmainesportsblog.com/

I REALLY HOPE HE IS RIGHT!

[JeffCMSB]

The Post is up....

http://www.centralmainesportsblog.com/2008/12/not-so-fast-red-sox-nation.html


in a nutshell our source confirmed the Nats have been the highest bid from the get go...thus 99% sure...Boras reshopped the Sox/Angels and O's to no avail...Unconfirmed rumor had Teixeira wanting to sign last week and Boras wanted a "winner" Boston/Angels etc....

[cmdterps44]

eckseid, CMSB, helllll yeeeeaaaa boyyyyyy, Ive stuck with it and believed!

[MrMadison]

I think the main difference here, is that the Orioles have the typical prospect system where the player tends to stay where he's at for a while and moves up gradually.

while we rapid-promote, because our Farm System and Major league club was so barren that we need to get people up the ladder quickly so that we can start building from the top down.

as long as you produce at each level and keep improving, the Nats will promote you very quickly.

[PANatsFan]

The Post is up....

http://www.centralmainesportsblog.com/2008/12/not-so-fast-red-sox-nation.html


in a nutshell our source confirmed the Nats have been the highest bid from the get go...thus 99% sure...Boras reshopped the Sox/Angels and O's to no avail...Unconfirmed rumor had Teixeira wanting to sign last week and Boras wanted a "winner" Boston/Angels etc....

RSS added you. You go in the top of the sports blogs when Tex signs

[natsfan4evr]

The Post is up....

http://www.centralmainesportsblog.com/2008/12/not-so-fast-red-sox-nation.html


in a nutshell our source confirmed the Nats have been the highest bid from the get go...thus 99% sure...Boras reshopped the Sox/Angels and O's to no avail...Unconfirmed rumor had Teixeira wanting to sign last week and Boras wanted a "winner" Boston/Angels etc....

Can you give us any clues who your sources are and how you know them?
You have to understand how disappointed we have been lately.

[PANatsFan]

The Post is up....

http://www.centralmainesportsblog.com/2008/12/not-so-fast-red-sox-nation.html


in a nutshell our source confirmed the Nats have been the highest bid from the get go...thus 99% sure...Boras reshopped the Sox/Angels and O's to no avail...Unconfirmed rumor had Teixeira wanting to sign last week and Boras wanted a "winner" Boston/Angels etc....

Boras is a dick then He wanted more money Tex needs to A-Rod him and sign the contract

[Why Not?]

ok,

but do you, as an Orioles fan, think that the Orioles are SOOOOOO far ahead of the Nationals on the road to contention, like the folks at OH seem to?

No, not really.

I wouldn't assume that everybody at OH feels that way, just some outspoken folks. There's always going to be some home team bias...both here and there.

[Dave B]

eckseid, CMSB, helllll yeeeeaaaa boyyyyyy, Ive stuck with it and believed!

yeah but you've also seen the leprechaun. thats kinda freakin crazy

[eckseid]

eckseid, CMSB, helllll yeeeeaaaa boyyyyyy, Ive stuck with it and believed!

No clue if you're implying that i'm apart of CMSB, but i'm not. Was just posting the update that was posted.

Fixed my post as well to say that.

[MrMadison]

my point in all this, is that the Nats are a lot closer to respectability than people assume they are.

they are basing their assumptions off of the fact that we lost 100 games last season, and little else. that's how I feel.

Tex gives us exactly what we need in the middle of our lineup.

we need pitching help, yes. that's the next step.  but our offense has been a MAJOR, MAJOR problem for the past 2 years, and we've gone a long way towards fixing it.

I agree with one OH poster who says that the Orioles need Tex more than we do, and it isn't a "do or die" situation for us if we don't get him. i'll agree with that. but i don't agree with his reasoning.

The Orioles need the publicity hit more than we do. "Hometown boy comes home to lead the Orioles back to glory" is something that Peter Angelos desperately needs.

the Nats need "The Lerners spent some money and got us a power bat."  It doesn't really matter if it is Tex, or Dunn, or Fielder, or whomever.  as long as they provide our offense what we need.

but this silliness of "the Nats are soooooo far behind" is ridiculous. we're just as close to competing as the Orioles are. possibly closer, simply because of the division we play in.

[Dave B]

RSS added you. You go in the top of the sports blogs when Tex signs

but then you are going to read about maine football?

[GMUTrkstar]

Considering that Strasburg is also a Boros client -- I would imagine that was part of the discussions ...

The Strasburg issue is a very interesting point that many ppl haven't looked at...Good dealings with Boras here would make it easier to get a deal done with Strasburg later :-)....

Strasburg
Zimmermann
Lannen
Olsen
Balester

I'm loving that rotation!!

[JeffCMSB]

All I can tell you is that we are new to this game and feel a sense of honor in producing the truth...I know there are 1 million and one blog sites with 2 million "sources" but we would not have stuck our necks out unless we were solid with the source. Look it isnt over until Teixeira holds up that new jersey....but we felt strong enough to stick with it...look up here in Maine, Sox fans were all dead sure Tex was a Sox...I NEVER bought it. Go listen to some of our archived shows...I have never thought the Sox would pony up what Boras wanted..

[houston-nat]

Shmuck should be a personal reporter for Putz.

LOL! Zeiten ist meshuga.

[PANatsFan]

If 8/184 is not enough, are we looking at 10 years, 220? Gawd!

[DPMOmaha]

I can't wait to listen to the radio (internet streams) at work tomorrow and hear all the collective talking heads give a big WTF?  None of then even mentioned the Nats when asking about Tex today except for the analysts who always came in with a "don't forget about the Nats" type of comment.  The typical response was, yeah, whatever.