Nationals Drawing Fewer Radio Listeners Than Game Attendees

Nationals' On-Field Woes Not Helping Radio Audience

NATIONAL CRISIS? SI.com's Jon Heyman cited sources as saying that Nationals GM Jim Bowden "still appears to have the support of his bosses, who blame others for problems that have beset Bowden and the club," including the "failure to sign No. 1 draft choice Aaron Crow and reports that Bowden is being investigated in baseball's scout skimming scandal." Sources said that Nationals execs are "blaming the failed Crow negotiations squarely on Crow's advisers," Alan and Randy Hendricks. And Nationals execs are "blaming the attention being given to Bowden in the scout skimming scandal on erroneous press reports." Heyman: "While they are showing confidence in Bowden, they'd be better served placing their faith in club president Stan Kasten" (SI.com, 8/22). In Boston, Tony Massarotti reported the Hendricks brothers reportedly were "seeking a $9[M] signing bonus" for Crow. The Nationals "ultimately climbed to $3.5[M] before the Hendricks Brothers dropped to $4[M], leaving the gap at a mere $500,000." Massarotti: "If you're a team like the Nationals and you are clearly not going to invest in free agents, $500,000 seems like a trivial amount to come between you and your first-round pick" (BOSTON HERALD, 8/24).

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