New blogger Mike Rizzo riles up Orioles, Nats fans over Wil Nieves MASN ad.

(AP Photo. On Thursday, MASN announced the release of Mike Rizzo's new blog on MASNSports.com. In his first post, Mike immediately stired up trouble with O's and Nats fans alike.)

Don't look now! It's another Nationals blog!

Over at the D.C. Sports Bog, Dan Steinberg raises concerns over what Mike Rizzo's new MASN blog is going to be all about, based on Rizzo's first post (a Q&A with MASN's Ben Goessling). We're not so concerned.

In the press release by MASN announcing Rizzo's foray into the seedy world of internet blogging, Rizzo says:

"This is a really great opportunity to interact with our fans, to consider their questions, to explain how we reach decisions as a franchise and even to hear alternative ideas and perspectives."
(Mike Rizzo, via MASN Press release, 3/18/2010)

And wouldn't you know it? Right off the bat, Rizzo is confronted with some of those dreaded "alternative ideas and perspectives." Take this comment on the first post from "Johnny B."...an Orioles fan:

Dear Mike Rizzo,

Could you please ask that the Wil Nieves commercial from last year not be played during Orioles broadcasts? The commercial is mildly annoying even with the mustache. We the Baltimore fans would appreciate it and will see if the horrible father/son Oriole commercial from last year would never be shown again.

So, just one post in, and Rizzo is already stirring up trouble with Orioles fans, turning up the heat on the 2010 Battle of the Beltways. Smart play by Rizzo.

But Rizzo clearly struck a nerve with his readers on the Wil Nieves "issue", as seen in a follow-up comment by commenter "023staN":

We the Nationals fans would appreciate not playing the Wil Nieves commercial during home games this year. And also away games. Thank you.

We're glad to hear Rizzo's got his own blog now; here's hoping he gives Nats fans a reason to keep reading. And here's hoping MASN keeps running that Wil Nieves spot again and again and again and...again, throughout the 2010 season:

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Comments

[WFY]

That Orioles hate that ad has elevated Mr. Mustache to a folk hero in my book.

[Big Oil]

WHO?!?!

[The Nationals Enquirer]

I hope they bring it back again this year -- I really do. It somehow numbs all the losing.

WHO?!

[cass]

Wil Nieves!

[Joey Eischen Fan Club]

Don't be fooled. Johnny B. is really HTS's Johnny O trying to rise out of obscurity and regain his place in annoying commercial prominence.

Mr. Mustache, we all knew who Will Nieves was. We cringed everytime he stepped on the field. Please go back into the plumbing business with your brother and focus on saving the princess.

[Positively Half St.]

JEFC-

That got a good laugh out of me.

I will be very amused the first time Rizzo responds to a comment from JayB, periculum, or CoverageIsLacking.

[The Nationals Enquirer]

I just *got* JEFC's comment about saving the princess, plumbing, etc...good stuff...