Random Thoughts Thread Part 4

[bsilver]

Anyone ever buy Wiz tickets from someone scalping outside Verizon Center on the night of the game? Curious if there are bargains, or there's a chance of getting ripped off.

I got a great bargain the first time. Two tickets, bottom section, middle, for $20 a ticket. Next time, same scalper, lured me into an alley, robbed me, raped me with a baseball bat, kidnapped my son and sold him into slavery. Never saw my son again. But, ya never know, I'm willing to try again.

Next time you'll only have to buy one ticket. I call that a win.

Finally some intelligent feedback.

[Higga]

Last week of November and the Skins will be playing for 1st place. Can't really ask for more then that given the expectations going in. Actually thinking of going to the game...

[montestewart]

I got a great bargain the first time. Two tickets, bottom section, middle, for $20 a ticket. Next time, same scalper, lured me into an alley, robbed me, raped me with a baseball bat, kidnapped my son and sold him into slavery. Never saw my son again. But, ya never know, I'm willing to try again.

Next time you'll only have to buy one ticket. I call that a win.

Finally some intelligent feedback.

Still no responses on scalpers? I've bought from and sold to scalpers, and also sold my own tickets in front of Verizon (once even gave one away to someone who was looking to buy), but none of that is within the last five years. It always seemed like there were a few people selling, especially across 7th street along G Street.

My sense is that as the season goes on, if the Wizards are doing well, tickets are more at a premium, but the closer to game time, the more willing they are to drop prices. Be familiar with seating chart and pricing (so you know you're getting a good deal) wait until close to tip off, act like you own the place, and be prepared to walk away if they don't have two 3rd row center seats for $40. It's the Bobcats, and the game is starting in five, four, three…. Be ready to go get dinner in Chinatown or see a movie next door. Show them your willingness to walk. Good luck, and make sure you're carrying a gun.

[bsilver]

Next time you'll only have to buy one ticket. I call that a win.

Finally some intelligent feedback.

Still no responses on scalpers? I've bought from and sold to scalpers, and also sold my own tickets in front of Verizon (once even gave one away to someone who was looking to buy), but none of that is within the last five years. It always seemed like there were a few people selling, especially across 7th street along G Street.

My sense is that as the season goes on, if the Wizards are doing well, tickets are more at a premium, but the closer to game time, the more willing they are to drop prices. Be familiar with seating chart and pricing (so you know you're getting a good deal) wait until close to tip off, act like you own the place, and be prepared to walk away if they don't have two 3rd row center seats for $40. It's the Bobcats, and the game is starting in five, four, three…. Be ready to go get dinner in Chinatown or see a movie next door. Show them your willingness to walk. Good luck, and make sure you're carrying a gun.

Thanks for the advice. I'll skip the gun. Whenever I preparing to get robbed I carry enough money to keep the robber from getting pissed off, but not a whole lot. That's in theory, but I haven't been robbed since 1975 so don't know if it works.

[pineappleheadindc]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Be safe, be happy, be stuffed with great food!

[Higga]

Yes, Happy Turkey Day all. Chomp dat bird!

Won't be going up to NY for Thanksgiving this year. Gonna be doing Thanksgiving with my girl's family this year. Should be interesting. Last time Thanksgiving occured between white people and brown people it didn't work out so well for the brownies.

[pineappleheadindc]

.

This kind of reminded me of AFM and his avatar.

Watch Dog Smile on Command, Just Like a Human

[dobrojim]

have to take both daughters back to school (Roanoke) on Sunday. Not looking forward to the potential
traffic fustercluck on 81 that we experienced last year on the Sunday after T'giving.
Wondering how early we need to start. Last year we were blissfully ignorant of the
potential problem and it took 5.5 hours for what is a 3.25 hour drive under more
normal conditions.

[long suffrin' boulez fan]

I cannot stand leaf blowers!!!!

[montestewart]

have to take both daughters back to school (Roanoke) on Sunday. Not looking forward to the potential
traffic fustercluck on 81 that we experienced last year on the Sunday after T'giving.
Wondering how early we need to start. Last year we were blissfully ignorant of the
potential problem and it took 5.5 hours for what is a 3.25 hour drive under more
normal conditions.

If it's going to be slow anyway, try going over to US-11, parts of which are very pretty, and other parts you can cruise at 50-60 mph, depending on traffic.

[TheSecretWeapon]

have to take both daughters back to school (Roanoke) on Sunday. Not looking forward to the potential
traffic fustercluck on 81 that we experienced last year on the Sunday after T'giving.
Wondering how early we need to start. Last year we were blissfully ignorant of the
potential problem and it took 5.5 hours for what is a 3.25 hour drive under more
normal conditions.

If it's going to be slow anyway, try going over to US-11, parts of which are very pretty, and other parts you can cruise at 50-60 mph, depending on traffic.

Also, try Waze. It can sometimes save significant time with alternate routes.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

[Rafael122]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

Probably not. Keith Law, who's a pretty good journalist suggested Jordan Z is on the decline anyway. He's not a power pitcher, so I want to see how his stuff translates to the AL. It also doesn't help that Jordan Zimmerman didn't want to be here, he pretty much said that w/out really saying it, and the word is this same deal was only slightly higher than what the Nats offered him 2 years ago. He wanted out.

[Higga]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

Probably not, but JZ didn't want to be here. He's also a declining player and had an off year last year. His fastball command dropped and as a guy who's had TJ Surgery in the past that's a concern. I'm rooting for JZ to do well though, one of my all time favorite Natties.


In other news, the Redskins will be 1st in the NFC East in December and playing real meaningful football. Gotta love it, even if its mainly because the division is so terrible.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

Probably not. Keith Law, who's a pretty good journalist suggested Jordan Z is on the decline anyway. He's not a power pitcher, so I want to see how his stuff translates to the AL. It also doesn't help that Jordan Zimmerman didn't want to be here, he pretty much said that w/out really saying it, and the word is this same deal was only slightly higher than what the Nats offered him 2 years ago. He wanted out.

I read Law's piece about 20 minutes after I posted the question. Very interesting read. Law is pretty good.

[bsilver]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

Not based on last year, but Scherzer had been dominant for a few years, so based on when the contracts were offered, I'd have to say the contracts reflected actual value. There's also other factors:
1) Last year the Nats were in win it all right now mode and Scherzer was the last piece needed
2) Knew Zimmermann was going to leave so were going to have to pay big money to someone anyway
3) Maybe they thought Scherzer would hold up better over time

[TheSecretWeapon]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

Not based on last year, but Scherzer had been dominant for a few years, so based on when the contracts were offered, I'd have to say the contracts reflected actual value. There's also other factors:
1) Last year the Nats were in win it all right now mode and Scherzer was the last piece needed
2) Knew Zimmermann was going to leave so were going to have to pay big money to someone anyway
3) Maybe they thought Scherzer would hold up better over time

The first one is debatable -- at least in terms of him being the last piece. I'd have figured they needed another bat somewhere in the lineup. As it turned out, their pitching and defense is what really let them down last season.

[bsilver]

Is Scherzer really worth $8 million more per season than Jordan Zimmerman? Is he really worth $100 million more in total contract value?

Not based on last year, but Scherzer had been dominant for a few years, so based on when the contracts were offered, I'd have to say the contracts reflected actual value. There's also other factors:
1) Last year the Nats were in win it all right now mode and Scherzer was the last piece needed
2) Knew Zimmermann was going to leave so were going to have to pay big money to someone anyway
3) Maybe they thought Scherzer would hold up better over time

The first one is debatable -- at least in terms of him being the last piece. I'd have figured they needed another bat somewhere in the lineup. As it turned out, their pitching and defense is what really let them down last season.

It must be debatable since they weren't very good However, lots of experts made them the pre-season favorites to win the world series based mostly on the starting pitching.

Hitting was also a big problem, mostly due to injuries. Rendon, Zimmerman, Span and Werth missed so much time, and when they came back they were pretty bad for a while. By the time they (not including Span) got back to their old selves, it was too late.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Not based on last year, but Scherzer had been dominant for a few years, so based on when the contracts were offered, I'd have to say the contracts reflected actual value. There's also other factors:
1) Last year the Nats were in win it all right now mode and Scherzer was the last piece needed
2) Knew Zimmermann was going to leave so were going to have to pay big money to someone anyway
3) Maybe they thought Scherzer would hold up better over time

The first one is debatable -- at least in terms of him being the last piece. I'd have figured they needed another bat somewhere in the lineup. As it turned out, their pitching and defense is what really let them down last season.

It must be debatable since they weren't very good However, lots of experts made them the pre-season favorites to win the world series based mostly on the starting pitching.

Hitting was also a big problem, mostly due to injuries. Rendon, Zimmerman, Span and Werth missed so much time, and when they came back they were pretty bad for a while. By the time they (not including Span) got back to their old selves, it was too late.

Yeah, the pitching/defense really under-performed last season -- at least compared to expectations. Interesting that they were third in runs scored and seventh in runs allowed.

[dobrojim]

have to take both daughters back to school (Roanoke) on Sunday. Not looking forward to the potential
traffic fustercluck on 81 that we experienced last year on the Sunday after T'giving.
Wondering how early we need to start. Last year we were blissfully ignorant of the
potential problem and it took 5.5 hours for what is a 3.25 hour drive under more
normal conditions.

If it's going to be slow anyway, try going over to US-11, parts of which are very pretty, and other parts you can cruise at 50-60 mph, depending on traffic.

Also, try Waze. It can sometimes save significant time with alternate routes.

We got an early enough start to not do too badly. Still a long day for me driving
both ways.

Speaking of which, you're the 2nd person who has recently mentioned waze.

I know about 11. It's a mixed bag. Works better sometimes than others. The real question is always
whether to take 29 to 64 to 81 or just go out 66. I took 66.

At least I got a decent hike/run in while I was down there. Read Mountain Nature Reserve/Preserve
is nice but don't rely on a Garmin to find it. You have to know how to get there. McAfee's knob would
have been nicer but further out of the way and a longer hike.