Comments on: Almost But Not Quite

By: Wooden U. Lykteneau

Wooden U. Lykteneau — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:44:09 +0000

Has Boswell not noticed that this strategy has not worked for the Orioles? Ordinarily, I think this guy is a worthy successor, but this is lazy writing (notice the chimera about the Braves winning 14 straight titles, when in fact, it was only 11 — 1995 does not follow 1993 in succession) and completely glosses over, if not ignores the fact that the Nationals farm system was essentially on autopilot from 2002 to 2006.

By: Wooden U. Lykteneau

Wooden U. Lykteneau — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 12:50:32 +0000

[to the likes of Roger Kahn and Roger Angell]

By: VladiHondo

VladiHondo — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 16:23:09 +0000

Couldn’t agree more, I am definately going to Hagerstown to see Marrero and Esmailyn play, and am looking forward to seeing the rest of that team, too. Harrisburg would also be a good weekend trip, want to see the ballpark on the island.

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:30:21 +0000

When was the last time Boswell was seen in a minor league ballpark?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 15:52:07 +0000

If Boswell thinks I’m not excited to go down to Hagerstown and watch two of our top young prospects(Marrero & King) play, on a beautiful day, drinking $1 beers, he’s crazy as hell…

By: Eric H.

Eric H. — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 03:00:35 +0000

This BOZ piece I frankly found to be very puzzling. It seems more than intuitively obvious that spending ones way to fielding a competitive team is a fool’s game. Yet this is precisely what BOZ suggests. I look no further than the Orioles, Yankees of a few years ago, and Mets. They are forever in a mode of having to pay huge sums to bring in replacement parts and those parts tend to be old. I find it far preferable to having a strong system and players who are inculcated in “The National’s Way” from the time they arrive as youngsters. Oakland has done it this way and instilled a philosophy in their players from the very beginning. The Braves do it that way. The only difference I would suggest is that when our players become free agent eligible THEN spend the big bucks and keep them! Nothing more infuriating as a fan than following a guy from the draft and through the system, then to stardom, only to see the traitor walk out the door and play for the Yankees… Look no further than Giambi or Tejada or Zito who bolted Oakland. Oakland would be a perennial world series team if they could afford to pay their developed talent. That’s where I hope the Nats are different.. That we keep our talent once developed and only use the FA route for some key parts.