So long Nats’, we hardly knew ya

As I sit here pondering what just happened over the past 24 hours, the best phrase to summarize it is “stunned, but not surprised”. For decades, Washington DC has been trying to woo Major League Baseball (MLB) to set up shop once again in our nation’s capital. A few months ago MLB agreed, as long as a sstadium could be built, and financing was secured by the end of the year.

Well last night, at an 11th hour push, Linda Cropp dropped a bombshell, and amended the agreement to demand at least 50% private funding for the stadium. The measure passed, and the former Expos future was immediatly in doubt.

Now we can all argue that MLB is a monopoly and holds cities hostage to build stadiums on their own dimes, and MLB comes out on top always. Unfortunatly it would take an act of Congress to change that.

So today MLB responds but naturally not agreeing with the city council’s decision, and go further to virtually eliminate any future for baseball in DC. They are even going to the legnths of refunding season ticket holders. That my friends is the final nail in the coffin for DC baseball.

Linda Cropp should be labled for what she did, she killed baseball plain and simple. Why not bring up these financing issues in the past? MLB agreed to numerous concessions yesterday to help drive the vote for the stadium, and in one swoop it’s gone.

So goodbuy Washington Nationals. I am sure Nofolk, NoVA, or even Puerto Rico will love you, and the people of DC will continute to be under the death grip of Peter Angelo, owner of the O’s. No one wants to drive hours to watch a baseball team in the gutter for years straight, and this is coming from a true O’s fan!