Distinguished Senators, the Washington Nationals Blog That Is Great

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

Clayton Moore Day

First off, let me point you to a dissenting opinion. Reader Olibou thinks the Expos are staying right where they are. He also thinks Livan Hernandez is a dead man walking. Or rather, he's attached to a dead arm throwing.

Speaking of dead people, MLB has developed an interest in the paranormal that fits in nicely with their interest in putting the Expos in Washington.
Major League Baseball's relocation committee will make another trip to the Washington area this week to meet with officials on both sides of the Potomac River to discuss their respective bids for the Montreal Expos.
The panel will repeat a trip made Aug. 24-25 but this time will reverse the order. Northern Virginia will go first today, with the District following tomorrow. Like those sessions three weeks ago, the new meetings will delve deep into each jurisdiction's proposed plan to finance a new ballpark for the Expos and negotiate detailed lease terms for the use of that ballpark.
First they get to go find some spooky ghosts in Loudoun, then they get down to business in the District. Hey, I see one now!

Field of Schemes thinks they're stalling until RICO gets settled.

You civics buffs out there may be aware the today was the DC Democratic primary. Who gives a rat's ass, you say? Well, comedians have a stake in it. They're salivating at the prospect of having Marion Barry to kick around again. As to how this pertains to baseball, I'll let Marc Fisher do my talking for me.
There is definitely a relationship between today's election and the rather sudden moves by major league baseball to get the Expos decision done fast. The reports I'm hearing are that Commissioner Bud Selig will announce sometime this week or next that the Expos will move to the Washington area, without specifying whether the team will be based in the District or northern Virginia. Under this scenario, Selig would then open the bidding on the Expos--meaning that the D.C. and Virginia ownership groups would be removed from the awarding of the franchise to Washington and would merely be two among however many other groups might want to own a baseball team. Then, whoever wins the bidding war would get to decide between DC and Va.
But the time is short: The Virginia baseball authority's money and legal powers run out at the end of this year, and if incumbents lose today in the District, the majority supporting a ballpark could be gone when the new council is seated at the start of next year.
This is the same idea Thom Loverro put forth last week. I do hope it's true, though I'm still skeptical. I'm hoping we'll hear more in the fallout of the elections tomorrow.

3 comments:

Olivier said...

Life is, sometimes, absolutely worth it. I hoped, when I posted that comment, I'd look like someone who's somewhat able to write in english. Well, looks like I can't. At least, the whole thing is still understandable... I guess...

I mean, I just got cranky about some Livan Hernandez's outing. You know, some Robinsonesque 143 pitches effort? Even Camus would say "ça n'est que trop absurde! Laissez le pauvre homme tranquille! N'avez vous pas honte, bourreaux?!"

Obviously, the Judge doesn't see it that way. More power to him, I guess.

But still, I disgress. Let me, once again, chase a minute of fame. Marc Fisher let out that gem:

"There is definitely a relationship between today's election and the rather sudden moves by major league baseball to get the Expos decision done fast."

Get a grip Mark. The franchise already lost Guerrero, Vazsquez, Colon (wether you like it or not: just look at Cleveland) and Cabrera. We, here, are getting ready for our, what, fourth adieu bid? What are we talking about when one blurts out "rather sudden" whilst referring to the eventual expos relocation in Washington? Big Ass investors? Sure shot Stadium deals? Better food?

RICO is, I guess, the key to the whole thing. Selig just wants to get out of Montreal but can't until things settles down. As far as business is concerned, it's idiotic to quarantine such a nice market. Then, the only question remaining is one of timing, so who cares about what a serious, dedicated organisation with MLB's clout could have done for Montreal Baseball 6 or 7 years ago?

Nobody, until they get a new stadium. It's just not happening.

Olivier said...

Re: RICO

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=1882470

Anonymous said...

Does "bourreaux" mean what I think it does?
Hey, "Diamond" Bob DuPuy says RICO's frivolous! If you can't trust Diamond Bob, whom can you trust?