NationalsProspects.com

In Case You Hadn’t Heard…

About a month ago, the folks from MASN came to me—sans pitchforks and torches—and asked me to join their rotation of guest bloggers for this season. Now that I’ve thoroughly buried the lede, I said “yes.”

While my MASN posts will be posted on Wednesdays, I’ll probably write them on the weekends and file them early.

But this isn’t about me per se. It’s about you. No, really.

One of the first things that occurs to me is that there will be newbies, and they will have questions. This means we need some sort of glossary, which some of you may actually enjoy, too.

This is where you can help. Off the top of my head, I figure folks will ask:
• What’s up with the bulldogs?
• What is an OG?
• What is a “sportswriter’s win?”
• What is the “Hellenic flu?”
• What is the “Curse of the GBI?”
• What’s the difference between promoted, transferred, and reassigned?
• Seriously, what’s the deal with the dogs?

What are the others you guys (and gals) can think of? This is your chance to ward off the askholes or just simply to make this site a little better.

Please, discuss in the comments or send me an email.

20 Commments

  3. Congrats again!

    For a FAQ for minor league players … we freely talk about stuff like DFAs, outrights, opt-out dates for vets, MLFAs, options and service time. You could do a quickie FAQ about all things player movement related and stick it right underneath the “too old for the level” link.

    Unless you think your audience actually knows what a DFA is w/o having to define it.

    1. I thought of the ‘too old for thw level’ issue when reading the laughable updates on Tim Tebow.

      Hey Todd! You’re next for the guest writer series.

    2. Hey, congrats Luke! Regarding Todd’s comments, a descriptor about options would be invaluable. Even a lot of knowledgeable fans I know have no concept of they work and how they put rookies competing against veteran players for roster spots at a distinct disadvantage as far as making the team each year.

      And no, I don’t find that most fans really understand the DFA concept, nor how not being on the 40 man roster makes it much less likely that a player will be recalled to the big club during the year, especially if they aren’t a blue chip prospect.

  4. And to think, we knew you when . . .

    While a “technical” column every few weeks might be good, my guess would be that such stuff is more interesting to a lot of us who are already here than it would be for the average reader. I’d suggest talking more about players than the details, although details could be worked into a story. For example, in discussing Ian Sagdal, you could note that he was a senior draftee and therefore has been borderline “old for the level” even as he has progressed, and even though he has hit well, he hasn’t made many prospect lists because of age and lack of established position. (From what little I can glean, he also seems to have had a late growth spurt.) Things like that.

    For my personal interests, though, Potomac is going to be loaded with some interesting guys this year, and I’ll be very interested in Luke’s take on them, seeing them over time. I’m glad for what little minor-league news we get from Byron Kerr, but all of his pieces make every player sound like a sure-fire major leaguer!

    Anyway, I expect Robles to start the season back in Potomac this year, probably in an OF with Wiseman and Agustin. Gutierrez will be back and is sort of at a make-or-break time where he really needs to start showing some power. Reetz will be at Potomac, and Sagdal will be there as well, playing somewhere. Baez, Crownover, Borne, Guilbeau, Rivera, etc., should be on the mound, and Tyler Watson may move up by mid-season. (I think I just convinced myself to try to make it to a few more Potomac games this year!) All of these guys have potential to play at higher levels in the organization, and I’ll be interested to see what Luke thinks of their chances.

    1. The FAQ part of the FAQ/Glossary is already done; the glossary is in the works, but it will be very basic. My goal with this post is to suss out anything that you’ve always wondered about. I’m sure I’ll be adding to it, and it’s probably something I should have done 3-4 years ago anyway (though 3-4 years ago, I was able to spend more time on it than I can now?!)

    2. KW, you just made about the most perfect advert for someone to be a PNats season ticket holder I’ve ever seen!

      Is this collusion? 🙂

    3. Your point about Kerr is exactly why MASN needs Luke’s column. It’s like during the TV broadcast when they hype up a great game or week by a marginal prospect who you know is going to be lucky to ever get a cup of coffee, let along be the Nats’ future second basemen.

      1. “He’s ready, call him up!” But F.P., no he’s not . . .

        Mark, I sure wish I was in a position to be able to go more regularly. I definitely want to try to make it to an earlier game or two as I assume Robles won’t be sticking around long, unless he struggles.

  5. Oh, Luke, please post notice here when you’ve got a new column up on MASN. I generally just glance at that site and often don’t see the guest columns posted unless I’m really looking for them.

  6. Congrats, Luke. I’ve always enjoyed your dry (or wry) take on baseball and dedication to the minor leagues and its players. To see that expanded is something I’ll look forward to.

  8. Speaking of cups of coffee … many might easily exclude JD Martin … but one feature about him is that this guy is one hard core, competitive athlete … still remember Lannan’s video of the guy easily making a full court shot at a local indoor basketball court …

    If anyone can learn to be a knuckleballer … and rapidly its that guy. I have my suspicions that his attempts might be what inspires former faux major league pitcher (AAAA for most franchises) Johnny Lannan … now a sidearm pitcher.

  9. Much prefer your posts on the MASN site to some others there … especially the strange man from Federal Baseball. Congratulations.

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