The Nationals prior to yesterday's season-opening game against the Mets were officially awarded the '18 MLB All-Star Game, and Commissioner Rob Manfred said the team and the Lerner family were "absolutely dogged in their pursuit" of the event. Manfred appeared on MASN's telecast of the game and said DC is "such an important city internationally," and having the game at Nationals Park will be a "great showcase for our game." The NHL in January staged its annual Winter Classic at the ballpark, and while Manfred noted he and his office were "aware" of how that event was handled, it "was not a big part of our thinking" in awarding the All-Star Game to the Nationals ("Mets-Nationals," MASN, 4/6). In DC, James Wagner writes securing the game "is a victory for the Nationals" and the city. Nationals Principal Owner Mark Lerner, since assuming ownership in '06, "sent nearly 20 letters" to former MLB Commissioner Bud Selig "pushing for" the All-Star Game to be held at Nationals Park. Lerner yesterday at a news conference said, “I totally harassed Commissioner Selig. ... It’s something we wanted since Day 1. It was a high priority" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/7). Also in DC, Thomas Boswell writes fans can "assume the Nats are pleased that Baltimore, which also wanted the 2018 game, didn’t get it." The clubs are "locked in a multi-year battle over re-setting" regional cable TV rights for their MASN broadcasts. Boswell: "Is this, in part, an MLB thumb in the eye to Orioles owner Peter Angelos? Maybe" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/7).
SYMBOLISM HARD TO IGNORE: In Baltimore, Peter Schmuck wrote the Nationals landing the All-Star Game "is sure to be viewed in Baltimore as another cold slap in the face" from MLB. It is "hard to believe there's no connection between the decision to award four straight" Mid-summer Classics to NL cities and the "long-running dispute between MLB and the Orioles over the Nationals' annual television rights fee." MLB officials "have long denied any vindictive intent," but the All-Star Game "is not awarded in an Olympic-style bidding process and the decision where to place it should be based on an even-handed regional and league-sensitive manner" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 4/6).
