The Inevitable Montreal Expos Relocation

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (114 of them)
so tonight i left dupont circle in washington, dc at 4:55pm and arrived in my seat (without food or drink) at camden yards at 7:01pm for a 7:05 start. the game ended at 10:35pm. i arrived home in dc at 12:10am.

FUCK YOU PETER ANGELOS

-- mookieproof (mookieproo...), September 11th, 2004 1:07 AM. (mookieproof)

mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 24 September 2004 14:36 (nineteen years ago) link

Beyond the distance between DC and B-more, the Expos are a NATIONAL LEAGUE team, so what is Angelos problem other than wanting to somehow get some cash out of this deal.

Earl Nash (earlnash), Friday, 24 September 2004 14:38 (nineteen years ago) link

do the hats still say "elb"??

You've Got to Pick Up Every Stitch (tracerhand), Friday, 24 September 2004 15:01 (nineteen years ago) link

Yep, they still say "elb" (even for Canadians, it's not readily apparent that it's supposed to be a big "M").

The Bmore-DC distance isn't really relevant, although Angelos wants everyone to think that it is. Simply put, the population of the Bmore-DC area is plenty big enough to support more than one team. The Ravens and Redskins are doing fine in the NFL. And the population of that area is larger than the Bay area, which also supports multiple sports franchises in multiple sports.

MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Friday, 24 September 2004 15:59 (nineteen years ago) link

well, the ravens/redskins comparison isn't really relevent either, in that the two teams have 16 home games to fill vs 162 between the orioles/expos. but yeah: the bay/chicago/la/ny wtf.

mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:44 (nineteen years ago) link

that leads us to big point #2, of course the o's will be able to comepete w/ reduced revenue: read moneyball!

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:46 (nineteen years ago) link

Shit, the way they spend money, they SHOULD be forced to spend less!

David R. (popshots75`), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:47 (nineteen years ago) link

i hope that's changing, but the money spent on marty cordova, david segui, omar daal, rick helling and mike dejean is obscene.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 24 September 2004 16:51 (nineteen years ago) link

haha--they were able to get tejada this year because it's the first year they've gotten out from under ALBERT BELLE

mookieproof (mookieproof), Friday, 24 September 2004 19:36 (nineteen years ago) link

There was a "Save Les Expos" march on Saturday which I was unable to attend, but the media up there is resigned to their fate. It's kinda sad to see kids at the game wearing Expo gear.

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 27 September 2004 14:20 (nineteen years ago) link

Appears to be a done deal, les Expos are moving to DC.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1890915

Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 01:07 (nineteen years ago) link

so: Senators then? NOMINATE HERE:

mookieproof (mookieproof), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 02:15 (nineteen years ago) link

It'll be something safe like the Washington Blue Skies or the Happy-Faced Rainbows, just you wait.

Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 02:22 (nineteen years ago) link

senators

this is really good news

John (jdahlem), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 11:15 (nineteen years ago) link

Did I hear speculation they might move the O's to the NL to keep Washington in the AL? Angelos might want to get away from the Yanks and Boston?

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 13:36 (nineteen years ago) link

Bullets.

Leeeter van den Hoogenband (Leee), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 14:11 (nineteen years ago) link

Oh, well, my dream of a Memphis Suns or Memphis Kings, complete with a Sun Records-style logo on the cap, was never going to happen, anyway. That would have instantly been my favorite team.

Senators, while the logical choice, does sound rather stodgy, and is associated with what was historically a loser franchise. I dread a push for some more politically-weighted name, like the Washington Freedoms or some goddamn thing.

How about the D.C. Dukes?

briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 15:05 (nineteen years ago) link

Okay, I'm re-thinking some of the implications of that one now.

The Ambassadors: too awkward, and it contains the word "ass."
The Monuments: "Let's go Mons?" "Let's go 'Ments?"
The Potomacs: Hey, a team called the 'Macs could be huge!

The D.C. Potomacs!

briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 15:50 (nineteen years ago) link

Dr. M, indeed that has been discussed.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/col/story/235692p-202412c.html

As for dissident Orioles owner Peter Angelos, sources have speculated that part of MLB's appeasement settlement with him would be to move Baltimore to the NL East or give Angelos the option of owning the Washington team. If the latter pans out, MLB would auction off the Orioles.

__

Peter Gammons said that Jerry Reinsdorf has expressed interest in having the White Sox move to the AL East (!) and Toronto going to the Central, too. JR apparently wants to guarantee the Sox never see the postseason ever again, if that's the case.

Baked Bean Teeth (Baked Bean Teeth), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 17:17 (nineteen years ago) link

omg - toronto going to the central¿ too good to be true¡

dysøn (dyson), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 17:29 (nineteen years ago) link

I don't like any of those options, although Jays-Tigers is a great natural rivalry. Reinsdorf is clearly mad.

briania (briania), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 18:17 (nineteen years ago) link

It doesn't make any sense to realign the divisions.

jaymc (jaymc), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 19:15 (nineteen years ago) link

I think that story is probably bullshit. There would be massive fan mutiny in Chicago.

k3rry (dymaxia), Wednesday, 29 September 2004 20:45 (nineteen years ago) link

Jim Caple on how MLB trashed the Montreal fans:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=caple_jim&page=caple_jim


And he's not the only writer I've seen who thinks it's even money they play one more year Up North!

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:05 (nineteen years ago) link

and if marion barry has his way, the dc city council won't approve financing for the team, and then who knows what will happen.

maura (maura), Thursday, 30 September 2004 16:22 (nineteen years ago) link

i'm not so sure that the location of the stadium is going to be quite the financial boom that its backers predict. while it's true that the area around the mci center has prospered since it was built (with private money by abe pollin, god bless him), the chinatown/gallery place neighborhood is practically in the middle of the city's business district and there was already a lot going on there (the shakespeare theater, etc). the anacostia waterfront is not. i don't see too many people going there for any reason but ballgames, and with suburban parents' (absurd) complaints about safety around the mci center, they're not going to be all that enthused about a park in southeast.

the district government is touting its financing plan by saying that only businesses, not individuals, will bear additional taxes to pay for the stadium. but come on, who will the costs be passed along to? it's already ridiculously expensive to live here in comparison to the services offered by the district. i really want baseball to come here, but making citizens pay for it is stupid. also, i feel bad for montréal.

mookieproof (mookieproof), Thursday, 30 September 2004 19:05 (nineteen years ago) link

the washington fatcats

Symplistic (shmuel), Saturday, 2 October 2004 09:44 (nineteen years ago) link

There are two options:

1) Embrace change and follow this new team as if it were my dear deceased Expos.

2) Remain bitter and wish plagues upon this new team in honor of my dear deceased Expos.

My dear deceased Expos also drafted and developed Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach, Scott Sanderson, Steve Rogers, Gary Carter, Warren Cromartie...

They had the good sense to trade Dan Schatzeder for Ron LeFlore in 1979, and they also had the good sense to dump LeFlore off on the White Sox after the 1980 season.

Andy K (Andy K), Monday, 4 October 2004 12:09 (nineteen years ago) link

Quite a few Montrealers were scattered throughout the stands at Shea yesterday. No cameos by Coco Laboy, alas.

Kinda fitting that their last batter's name was Endy.

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 4 October 2004 12:26 (nineteen years ago) link

Hurray, this "Swindle of the Century" allows me to post a Counterpunch rant to ILB!

http://www.counterpunch.org/zirin10022004.html

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 20:45 (nineteen years ago) link

sorry, but the dude has no idea what he's talking about.

fair use? try eminent domain.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 5 October 2004 20:51 (nineteen years ago) link

one month passes...
motherfucker!

i can't believe linda cropp is going to kill dc baseball!

i am so pissed, but only a dc politcian could fuck up such a golden opportunity.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Saturday, 6 November 2004 22:18 (nineteen years ago) link

ah, the games.

linda cropp's proposal doesn't have the votes to pass city council and it looks like the tony williams/mlb plan does!

bienvenue, expos/nats!

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 15:13 (nineteen years ago) link

Could you summarize the current political games for us non-Beltway types?

I hear the Grays are the leading team name.

Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 17:44 (nineteen years ago) link

man i hope so!

cinniblount (James Blount), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 17:56 (nineteen years ago) link

So do I! MLB acknowledging the Negro Leagues more than once or twice a year = A VERY GOOD THING.

David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 19:38 (nineteen years ago) link

thirded, that's better than senators and definitely better than any whackass 'original' nickname they would come up with these days

John (jdahlem), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 20:49 (nineteen years ago) link

I think they should be the Chrysler Sebring Zima Gold Dorito's Wow Spongebobs.

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 20:52 (nineteen years ago) link

Hang on ... wait ... checking ... uh ... yep, gygax is back.

MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 21:41 (nineteen years ago) link

Sorry. Yes, I'm back. I ate 10 tacos next to Jeff Weaver.

He got a hair cut. His bro was there too along with another guy (didn't recognize).

gygax! (gygax!), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 21:47 (nineteen years ago) link

I think they should be the Chrysler Sebring Zima Gold Dorito's Wow Spongebobs.

No sorrys required ... I was just noting how that post was rather inimitably GYGAXIAN.

MindInRewind (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 9 November 2004 23:44 (nineteen years ago) link

back to the games: cropp had pledged support for the initial dc/mlb plan. she stealthily drew up her own plan, then publicly w/drew support of the dc/mlb in favor of her own. it is now clear that she doesn't have the votes for her plan and tony williams does have the votes for his plan.

i guess the latest wrinkle is that cropp pulled some parliamentary shenanigans to delay vote on the dc/mlb plan citing some source of private finanicing. if the private financing plan is legit, i'm all for it, but i have a sneaking suspicion that it's purpose is to kill dc baseball by continually putting off an up or down vote.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Wednesday, 10 November 2004 19:10 (nineteen years ago) link

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/041118

espn had a uni design contest. not that it matters, but i like the first and last.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 18 November 2004 23:56 (nineteen years ago) link

Paul Lukas! Ha! Christ, I had no idea he'd been doing stuff for ESPN.

Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 19 November 2004 01:32 (nineteen years ago) link

i really like the sleeve piping on that one

cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 03:50 (nineteen years ago) link

who's paul lukas? sounds familiar.

agreed about the first and last. and the ppl designing alternate unis need to be shot.

John (jdahlem), Friday, 19 November 2004 06:29 (nineteen years ago) link

oh, he did that Beer Frame fanzine in the 90s. Sort of: 'rock critic-style' reviews of quirky consumer products and design, both new and old. I guess he's got a website now:

http://www.core77.com/inconspicuous/

He's a smart and funny cookie.

Stormy Davis (diamond), Friday, 19 November 2004 06:39 (nineteen years ago) link

he did uniwatch for the voice originally (or at least i read it there first haha), it moved to slate briefly when the voice stupidly stupidly got rid of their really great sports section, now it's at page 2 which is the perfect place for it.

cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:17 (nineteen years ago) link

my friend got runner-up in one of their baseball quizzes!

cinniblount (James Blount), Friday, 19 November 2004 08:18 (nineteen years ago) link

aha, i've been to that website! i don't think it's been updated for years, though.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylc=X3oDMTBpcDBuM2RlBF9TAzk1ODYxNzc3BHNlYwN0aA--?slug=ap-expos-namechange&prov=ap&type=lgns

washington NATIONALS, folks

John (jdahlem), Saturday, 20 November 2004 01:47 (nineteen years ago) link

Don't forget the BULLETS!

David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:35 (nineteen years ago) link

And the Potomac Basin Indigenous What-The-Fuck-Evers.

David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:35 (nineteen years ago) link

FOGGY BOTTOM!

gygax! (gygax!), Monday, 22 November 2004 21:37 (nineteen years ago) link

I liked the Washington Bullets names. All of DCs other team names have sucked though (except the Redskins whose name is just beyond sucking into the realm of superhumanly awful and bizarre at the same time.)

Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 November 2004 22:15 (nineteen years ago) link

I like the Redskin color scheme, though. Maybe, to save the colors & kill the embarrassment, they can change their name to the Washington Bacon Cheeseburgers.

David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 22 November 2004 22:18 (nineteen years ago) link

The Washington BLTers has a nice ring.

Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 22 November 2004 22:19 (nineteen years ago) link

the bullets were baltimore-based first, though.

as for the skins, they should change the helmet logo back to the 60's "r" and call themselves the washington servicemarks. washington's legal population would applaud!

i like "nationals" just fine. the logo is pretty weak and i'm not wild about the proposed unis or resurrecting the "w" hat given the current political climate.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 23 November 2004 14:29 (nineteen years ago) link

So the Nat'ls are going to play in All-Star uniforms throughout the season?

Leeeter van den Hoogenband (Leee), Wednesday, 24 November 2004 00:50 (nineteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...
linda cropp, political genius?

mookieproof (mookieproof), Tuesday, 21 December 2004 15:30 (nineteen years ago) link

maybe?

especially if tony williams doesn't run, she's got to be a favorite if the mlb accepts the newly amended proposal. she could then claim responsbility for holding mlb accountable to the people of dc AND bringing a team to dc.

a lot of ifs there, though.

jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Tuesday, 21 December 2004 16:23 (nineteen years ago) link

thirteen years pass...

Stephen Brunt, who I view as a pretty smart analyst, was on the Fan yesterday talking about this. (Weird to say, but I lived one street over from the Brunts as a kid; we played street hockey. Lost track of him after high school, then one day he was everywhere sports-related.) He said that for the longest time, right up till six months ago, he was certain Montreal would never get another team. He's revised that, and now he thinks it will happen.

clemenza, Saturday, 22 December 2018 01:02 (five years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.