Great stuff from Sabernomics and Off Wing Opinion on the to-ing and fro-ing over a baseball team for DC. OWO thinks DC is more valuable as an extortion tool for MLB.

Washington is simply more valuable to MLB without a team, as a bargaining chip to blackmail other cities into paying for publicly funded stadiums, than it is as a home for the wayward Montreal Expos.

It's an insightful point. Sabernomics crunches some numbers to see if OWO's argument holds water.

I'd only point out that if MLB was using DC as an extortion chit, it would be extremely unwise. Of all the cities with which to play this game, DC is an imprudent choice. Members of Congress would like nothing more than a baseball franchise at the end of East Capitol Street or just up North Capitol Street where they can go to be seen on camera by their hometown TV stations. Baltimore's just 45 minutes up the road but it's not as fundraiser friendly. Never underestimate the desire of lawmakers to rig conditions for their own benefit. It explains the DC taxicab zoning system.