Call it the Chien-Ming Wang/Michael Morse effect: the Prince Fielder-to-the-Nationals rumors are being covered on TV over in Taiwan; check the video of a report on FTV on Thursday.
If you run the text from FTV.com story through google translate, you're left with something like:
Attempt to recruit people to fight Field upgrade
Wang belongs to the national team once again demonstrated to be the front-line teams ambition, national senior team and famous brokers have been meet Porras, intends to recruit the most current free market batters Felder, if to do so true, investment and fighting a war of national power, will reach its peak. ...
If and when people look at Fielder, coupled with Zimmerman, Michael Morse and Jason Werth, center of a solid line will be very strong, do not forget, people have a strong monster hit Bryce harper waiting in the minor leagues fly...
...which makes as much sense as anything else we've read on Prince and the Nats over the last few weeks. Oh, here's the latest from the mouth of Mike Rizzo, via Amanda Comak of the Washington Times on Thursday:
"We feel that we’re settled at that position. But when I get asked the question: Does Prince Fielder help the club? Of course he helps the club. He’ll help any other club he’s with also. Nothing has changed since we discussed this stuff in the winter meetings. There are a lot of comments that we’re the frontrunners, and I don’t know where that comes from because we haven’t gone beyond where we were at since the winter meetings." (Mike Rizzo, via Washington Times, 1/5/2011)
Let's say, hypothetically speaking, that the Nats made it clear to Boras that they wanted an answer by this afternoon, and Ted Lerner has put his best-and-final offer on the table. Let's say Boras doesn't get back to the Nats today, decides to wait out the Rangers and Darvish. Does Ted Lerner pull his offer off the table?
The good news is, there's only ~45 days until pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training. But who's on first?
Befriend the Nats Enquirer on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Oh sweet I can understand this because I'm taiwanese and i speak mandarin :P
And lol, "Prince fielderlah"
Posted by: Ben L | January 06, 2012 at 12:45 PM
I could translate it literally if you wanted to? My mandarin vocabulary's pretty poor though so .. :P It'll be limited but better than google translate xD
Posted by: Ben L | January 06, 2012 at 01:03 PM
Eh, just went ahead and translated it :p
Woman: The next topic is about is about the most recent happenings in MLB.
The Washington Nationals that Chien-Ming Wang plays for has once again proven that they have the same ambitions as big market teams.
The Washington National’s front office has met with Scott Boras about acquiring the most powerful hitter available via Free Agency, Fielder.
Man: Since Pujols signed with the Cardinals, Fielder has become MLB’s strongest hitter available via free agency.
Reports have emerged saying that the Washington Nationals – which Chien-Ming Wang plays for – is about to make a move.
Because the Nationals’ front office will meet with the “vampire” agent Boras (referring to the massive contracts that Boras’ gets for his clients sucking the money out of the teams the players sign with, I guess) in the near future to pursue Fielder despite not wanting to pursue him earlier,
if this succeeds, besides bolstering an impressive rotation, their batting lineup will almost be complete as well.
Even the strong teams of the NL East such as the Phillies, Braves, etc. will fear the Nationals!
If Fielder joins the Nationals, Zimmerman, Michael Morse, and Jayson Werth, the middle of the lineup will be very powerful.
Don’t forget, the Nationals still have hitting-prospect Bryce Harper in the Minor Leagues waiting to succeed and be promoted to the Majors.
Of course, if the Nationals do sign Fielder, then they will have to solve some problems.
That problem is about 1st base. The primary candidate to be traded away seems to be Adam LaRoche, who has been injured for nearly a year.
As for Michael Morse, he will stay in the outfield – he wont go back to 1st base.
Chris Marrerro will be stuck in the Minors, and if Bryce Harper skips AAA, even the outfield will be full.
Now all we can do is wait and see if the Nationals can sign Fielder, who definitely wont be cheap.
Posted by: Ben L | January 06, 2012 at 01:55 PM
Ben - fantastic work! Thank you. Would have been better if the translation said simply: "The Nats have signed Fielder", you know?
Posted by: The Nats Enquirer | January 06, 2012 at 04:59 PM
No prob :]
I might've mistranslated some parts though so don't blame me if I accidentally gave you false info :P
Posted by: Ben L | January 07, 2012 at 07:20 AM