WP: Nats MASN deal renegotations will have a huge impact

[tomterp]

Me too, but the dependence on TV money is based on the preference of ownership, not their ability to spend.  They're already a top 10 payroll team, and there is really only one other tier: major market clubs that are willing to operate at a loss.  The Nationals will never be in that group, and they already spend enough to be competitive, so I don't really know what the clamor for the TV money is.  It's not going to transform anything.

$30m more in revenue gives them additional payroll flexibility.  I'm not saying they're going to spend every nickel of it, but it could allow them to add a nice final piece.  You know, a last minute bullpen guy like Soriano or sumthin'.   

[NatsDad14]

Even if the Lerners are cheap (which they are), they probably spend $10 Million of that and pocket $20 Million. But thats an extra $10 Million to spend that we didn't have before. Could be the difference between having Jordan Zimmermann and no Jordan Zimmermann.

[Mr Clean]

Everbody is getting some but us: http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/102845656/blue-jays-renew-tv-deal-with-french-language-broadcaster-tva?adbid=539505665627013121&adbpl=tw&adbpr=41468683&partnerId=as_mlb_20141201_36511817

[imref]

a win for the MASN side

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/12/15/ny-judge-grants-masn-partial-discovery-in-dispute-with-mlb-nationals/

[JCA-CrystalCity]

a win for the MASN side

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2014/12/15/ny-judge-grants-masn-partial-discovery-in-dispute-with-mlb-nationals/

classic use of discovery to make the process onerous for the other side.  Note that the approach here is to question the legitimacy of the arbitrator as a way to attack the award and not the award itself (i.e., the interpretation of the contract and application of the correct formula).   At a minimum, delay is a victory for Angelos, so attacking the process makes sense.

[HalfSmokes]

Isn't the only way to attack an arbitration award to attack the arbitrator- hopefully mlb retaliates against the Os (who aren't a party to this)

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Isn't the only way to attack an arbitration award to attack the arbitrator- hopefully mlb retaliates against the Os (who aren't a party to this)

dunno, in truth.  I don't know if interpretation of a contract is a pure law question that a court can review or whether the arbitrator's determination on a q of law is definitive.

[blue911]

The whole trial is about MLB standing to gain financially if the Nats win their dispute against MASN and Manfred using his office to influence the panel. I can't imagine why a judge wouldn't grant them discovery.

[OldChelsea]

[...]hopefully mlb retaliates against the Os[...]

Doesn't seem likely, not with these rumours of Preparation H Park at Camden Yards being a top contender for the 2016 All-Star Game: http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/story/2014-12-12/2016-all-star-game-mlb-baltimore-orioles-camden-yards-opac.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The whole trial is about MLB standing to gain financially if the Nats win their dispute against MASN and Manfred using his office to influence the panel. I can't imagine why a judge wouldn't grant them discovery.

well, isn't about the award of the panel?   The angle is to upset the award by pointing out the lack of objectivity due to conflicts of interest.  Angelos isn't trying to collect monetary damages from MLB due to some sort breach of duty or contract that resulted in MLB's financial gain. 

Of course, discovery is appropriate if it goes to the objectivity of the panel, which it may. The request is reasonably calculated to lead to admissable evidence of bias.  It might be overbroad, which is what I think MLB is claiming, but that is tough to win from a trial judge. They don't like injecting themselves into disputes about scope.

[wj73]

More filings from the O's claiming MLB bias against the O's:

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2015/01/13/masn-court-filing-advances-claim-of-mlb-bias.html

[Slateman]

More filings from the O's claiming MLB bias against the O's:

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2015/01/13/masn-court-filing-advances-claim-of-mlb-bias.html

lol, Angelos must be desperate.

Baltimore gets all the TV rewards from a Top 10 market, but still get revenue sharing from not being in a Top 10 market. So much bullcrap

[Mathguy]

Peter's philosophy is "Whatever I Can Get Away With"

lol, Angelos must be desperate.

Baltimore gets all the TV rewards from a Top 10 market, but still get revenue sharing from not being in a Top 10 market. So much bullcrap

[welch]

Angelos has always been desperate. Why else would he have claimed that DC is part of Baltimore? I think there was even a protest march in the District against Angelos's geographic over-reach. CALSGR8 was probably there!

Considering the players Baltimore has lost this off-season, and considering how well-organized the Nationals are, Angelos ought to be looking at a long shift toward Washington.

The Word from more than 60 years ago: "Baltimore is a bush-league town". With "league" pronounced in Washingtonian: "lig".

[wj73]

More details!  Pretty interesting stuff. 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/tv-broadcaster-challenges-mlbs-secret-763335

[Kevrock]

Force a sale of the O's, move them to London. Burn OPACY to the ground.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Force a sale of the O's, move them to London. Burn OPACY to the ground.

A modest proposal.

[Kevrock]

I think I posted it after I read this line":

At the time, Rifkin thought that MLB was going to pay the Nationals $7.5 million and believed this was a mistake because he says it "would only encourage the Nationals to believe that they were entitled to telecast rights fees in excess" of what the team deserved.

[PebbleBall]

More details!  Pretty interesting stuff. 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/tv-broadcaster-challenges-mlbs-secret-763335

This should be cross-posted in the offseason thread to drive home the point that their lack of spending is about MASN and not having a complete roster by any means.

[Mr Clean]

Nats fire back: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2015/01/30/nationals-mlb-shoot-back-at-masn-over-court-claims/

[welch]

It is a delight to have big money behind the Washington ball club. Clark Griffith, and his family, had no clout when the new owners of the St Louis Browns decided to move to Baltimore...Washington's territory.

The previous owner of the Browns, Bill Veeck, had tried to move the team to Kansas City, arguing that fans of the team in St Louis could still follow them by radio and newspaper. Same state. Several owners wanted Veeck out of baseball because they disliked some of his marketing stunts. My favorite: "let the fans decide". During one game, every fan was given a placard saying "yes" or "no". If the Browns manager wanted, for instance, to replace the pitcher, fans at the stadium got to vote.

Imagine fans at Nats Park deciding whether to replace Jordan Zimmermann with two outs in the 9th inning of playoff game 2!

[varoadking]

Imagine fans at Nats Park deciding whether to replace Jordan Zimmermann with two outs in the 9th inning of playoff game 2!

There was only one person in the park that would make that call, and he/she wasn't in the stands...

[Mr Clean]

This proves Peter Angelos is right! Call the police.

https://twitter.com/masnCJ/status/563066646181728257

[mitlen]

This proves Peter Angelos is right! Call the police.

https://twitter.com/masnCJ/status/563066646181728257

Yep, looks like collusion to me.

[Mr Clean]

Manfred predicts an end to dispute: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/02/04/manfred-predicts-resolution-in-orioles-nationals-tv-dispute/