Nationals Farm Authority

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In light of his continued struggles, the Nationals may consider putting Cristian Guzman on the bench. He has been by far the worst everyday player in MLB this season (192/229/278 [BA/OBP/SLG]). The Nationals only option currently on the 25-man roster is Jamey Carroll who is best served in his role of utility IF given his numbers are only marginally better than Guzman’s (247/310/279).

Is there any help in the minors? The short answer is no. Nothing of note. As discussed when Junior Spivey went down with a broken wrist, the MI options are limited at best. Below are the shortstops available in the farm system (I have focused solely on players who have actually games @ SS) :

New Orleans (AAA)

Jason Bowers (27 years old) is a light hitting option (224/321/270). He doesn’t strike out much (46 times in 78 games) but he has only walked 33 times in the same timeframe. Bowers is the classic AAAA player. He isn’t appreciably better than Jamey Carroll.
Speaking of Jamey Carroll, his brother Wesley (26) currently serves the same role with the Zephyrs that Jamey does with the Nats, utility IF. He has played 6 games at SS out of his 50 appearances putting up the numbers you would expect from an utility IF (255/287/363). His strikezone judgement is not very good 5BB/20K. A definite pass.
Henry Mateo (28) was placed on the 60-day DL and is not a realistic near-term option.
Juan Melo (28) had a cup of coffee with the Giants in 2000 played a couple of years in AAA Fresno before playing last year in the Independent Northeast League. He has been putting up serviceable numbers (338/377/550) for the Zephyrs in 36 games (17 @ SS). His strikezone judgement isn’t developed 9BB/21K. Of the options available in New Orleans, he may be the best, however not necessarily a solution the Nats problem at SS.

Harrisburg (AA)

Melvin Dorta (23) is only hitting 254/325/380 for the Senators. He has shown some speed which the Nationals do not currently have though his SB pct is only 67% (14/21).
Shawn Norris (24) has been also seeing time at SS in Harrisburg and much like Dorta, the numbers are not that impressive (229/296/319). He doesn’t even bring the speed to the lineup that Dorta does (0/4 in SB attempts)
Josh Labandeira (26) spent September in Montreal with the Expos but was recently demoted from New Orleans to Harrisburg. He is facing a 15-game suspension for violation of the drug policy (amphetamines) and more than likely is not considered an option by the Nationals.

Potomac (High A)

Ian Desmond (19) was recently promoted from Low A Savannah. His numbers in Savannah were mediocre (247/291/334) 20/26 in SB attempts in 73 games. Since his 7/6 callup, in 9 games he is hitting 282/300/462 2/4 in SB attempts. The issue with Desmond is his defense which is still a work in progress. In the combined 82 games, he has made 23 errors. Not necessarily the type of numbers you look for in a middle infielder. Many in the organization consider him the SS of the future after his eye-opening performance in Spring Training. Let’s not put the cart before the horse, Desmond has potential for the future, but he is nowhere near ready for the majors no matter what some may think.
Marcos Yepez (23) and Javier Rodriguez (26) are too old for the level at which they are playing and are not realistic options.

The truth is, the Nationals do not have a realistic option waiting in the wings to fill in for the struggling Guzman. The only course of action the Nationals have is to ride out the struggles of Guzman perhaps platooning him with Jamey Carroll. It’s not what most want to hear but with an additional 3 years and $12M left on Guzman’s contract, odds are, he isn’t going away anytime soon.

2005 07 18

Comments (2)

Farm Authority Report 7/18/05

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost 7-1 to Memphis]

Brandon Watson CF - 0/4 1SB
Ty Godwin LF - 0/3 1BB 2K
Brendan Harris 2B - 0/4

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Altoona 4-3]

Larry Broadway PH/1B - 1/1 1RBI 1SF
Josh Labandeira SS - 1/4 1BB 1K
Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 0/3 1R 1BB 2K
Darrell Rasner SP - 8IP 4H 3R(3ER) 0BB 4K 3HR allowed 1HBP
Danny Rueckel RP - 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K; Win; Scored winning run

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Lynchburg 7-4]

Ian Desmond SS - 1/4 1RBI 1BB 1SB
Frank Diaz CF - 1/5 double
Kory Casto 3B - 2/4 2R
Josh Whitesell 1B - 0/4 1K

Savannah (Low A) [Lost 5-2 to Augusta]

Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 2/4 1R 1SB
Edgardo Baez RF - 1/4 1K
Devin Ivany CA - 2/4; double & solo HR

Vermont (SS) [Lost 6-3 to Williamsport]

Mike Daniel RF - 1/4 1R 1K
John Howell 1B - 2/4
Dee Brown LF - 1/4 1RBI 2K 1CS

GCL Nats (R)

No game scheduled

2005 07 18

Roster Moves

The Harrisburg Senators announced today that infielder Josh Labandeira has been placed back on the Senators’ active roster. Labandeira, an all-star with the Senators last season, joins the team for a second time this season.

Labandeira started the 2005 season on the DL recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. He was assigned to Harrisburg on April 29th and appeared in 13 games for the Senators batting .217 with 3 doubles, 0 home runs and 1 RBI.

Josh was then sent to triple-A New Orleans and played his first game with the Zephyrs on June 11th. Labandeira appeared in 11 games with New Orleans and hit .300 with 1 double and 3 RBI’s.

To make room on the Senators roster, the Washington Nationals moved Victor Mercedes to their single-A club in Potomac. While in Harrisburg, Mercedes played in 18 games with a .234 average, 0 home runs and 1 RBI.

2005 07 17

Comments (2)

Farm Authority Report 7/17/05

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Memphis 12-3]

Brandon Watson CF - 3/5 2R 1SB
Ty Godwin LF - 4/5 3R 1K 1SB
Brendan Harris 2B - 1/4 3RBI 1SF
Jason Bergmann RP - 3IP 2H 1BB 1K; W

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost 11-5 to Altoona]

Larry Broadway 1B - 0/5 1R 1K
Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 1/2 1HR 1RBI 2BB
Danny Rueckel RP - 1IP 3H 2R(2ER) 1K

Potomac (High A) [Lost 8-3 to Altoona]

Ian Desmond SS - 1/5 1RBI 1K double
Frank Diaz CF - 0/4 1K
Kory Casto 3B - 0/3 1R 1BB 1K; picked off of 1B
Salomon Manriquez CA - 2/3 1BB 1K double; 1PB
Greg Bunn SP - 5IP 6H 4R(4ER) 3BB 5K

Savannah (Low A) [Defeated Asheville 6-2]

Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 2/5 2R 1K 1SB
Edgardo Baez RF - 1/4 1RBI 1K
Devin Ivany DH - 0/3 1RBI 2K

Vermont (SS) [Lost 4-2 to Williamsport]

John Howell 1B - 2/3 1R 1BB 1GIDP
Dee Brown LF - 1/4 1RBI 1K triple 1GIDP
Mike Daniel RF - 2/1 1R 1BB 2SB 1CS

GCL Nats (R) [Defeated GCL Marlins 3-2]

Brian Peacock CA - 3/4 1R 1RBI double triple
Tim Pahuta 1B - 1/3 1RBI 1BB 1K

2005 07 17

Any Relief in the Minors?

The Washington Nationals are facing a serious concern with an aspect of their team credited as a key to their early success, the bullpen. Luis Ayala, Gary Majewski, and Hector Carrsco are tiring from their repeated appearance for the Nationals. The question is if there is any help on the farm. The short answer is yes, but the quality of what is available is not necessarily what a team in the playoff race would necessarily count on.

I’ve limited my choices to players in AAA New Orleans and AA Harrisburg. It further culled down by focusing on arms that have been used in relief as it doesn’t make sense to bring up a guy who is already piling up the IP as a starter to replace tired arms in Washington. Here’s what is available:

Travis Hughes - the 27 year old has already been with the Nationals making 4 appearances (4.1IP) allowing 2H, 0R, 0BB, and 3K. In 35G in New Orleans, he has 39IP allowing 28H (1HR) 43K and 16BB. His ERA is 2.54 and WHIP is 1.13.

Danny Rueckel - a 25 year old in Harrisburg has served as both a setup man and a closer (5SV) for Harrisburg. In 33G, he has 50.2IP allowing 55H (4HR) 46K 14BB. His ERA is 4.26 and WHIP is 1.36

Saul Rivera - the 27 year old Eastern League All-Star has pitched in 29G with Harrisburg saving 5 games. In those 29G, he has 63.1IP allowing 50H (1HR) 56K 18BB. His ERA is 1.99 and WHIP is 1.07.

As you can see, the options are limited. Odds are if any help is on its way to Washington’s bullpen, it will be result of a Jim Bowden trade.

2005 07 16

Comments (1)

Farm Authority Report 7/16/05

New Orleans (AAA) [Split DH with Memphis 1-4 & 1-0]

G1: Brandon Watson CF - 0/4 1K
G1: Brendan Harris 2B - 2/4 double 1CS
G1: Ty Godwin LF - 0/4 3K
G1: Josh Labandeira SS - 1/4 2K
G2: Brandon Watson CF - 1/4 1SB
G2: Ty Godwin LF - 1/4 1R 1K 1SB
G2: Brendan Harris 2B - 1/2 1BB 1CS
G2: Josh Labandeira PH - 0/1 1K

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Altoona 3-2]

Larry Broadway 1B - 0/4
Ryan Zimmerman 3B - 1/4 1HR 1RBI 1K
Josh Karp SP - 6IP 3H 1R(1ER) 3BB 4K 1E

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Lynchburg 12-1]

Ian Desmond SS - 2/5 2R double 1K 1SB
Frank Diaz CF - 1/5 double 1RBI
Kory Casto 3B - 2/5 2 doubles 1R 1RBI
Salomon Manriquez CA - 1/3 2R 1RBI 1BB
Josh Whitesell 1B - 3/4 2R 1RBI double

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Asheville 7-5]

Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/5 1HR 1RBI 1K
Edgardo Baez RF - 2/5 1R double 2K
Devin Ivany CA - 2/4 1R 1RBI 2 doubles
Colin Balester SP - 5IP 7H 3R(3ER) 2BB 3K

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Auburn 3-2]

Dee Brown LF - 0/4 3K
John Howell 1B - 0/4
John Lannan SP - 5IP 5H 3R(3ER) 2BB 2K

GCL Nats (R) [Split DH with GCL Marlins 2-1 & 0-5]

G1: Brian Peacock CA - 1/5 1RBI 2K
G1: Tim Pahuta 1B - 1/2 2BB 1E
G1: Ryan Delaughter RF - 2/4 1R 1K
G2: Tim Pahuta 1B - 0/3 2K
G2: Ryan Delaughter RF - 0/2 2K

2005 07 16

Let’s Go Dutch

Jon Seigel catches up with Ryan ‘Dutch’ Zimmerman and highlights his struggles in Double-A Harrisburg.

“I try not to let it get to me at all,” Zimmerman says. “I am still a 20-year-old. I am a young man still learning things. When you sit back and think about it, it is pretty crazy. I just think how lucky I am and look at it that way instead of all the expectations. Just come out and have fun and play ball like you have your whole life.”

He is saying all the right things. The bar was set so high for him with the comparisons to Scott Rolen, Brooks Robinson, and Mike Schmidt coming out of the draft. His manager throws out the names Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and Craig Biggio when he discussed the composure of Zimmerman. All of these comparisons lead to higher expectations and put more focus on his struggles. Zimmerman is not only adapting from college to the pros, he’s doing it on the fly. He is facing guys not only older but more developed than he is. He is doing exactly what he needs to do. He is the future 3B for the Nationals, and though we may see him some time in 2006, his future as a starter may be no sooner than 2007.

2005 07 15

Farm Authority Report 7/15/05

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Memphis 7-5]

Brandon Watson CF - 1/4 2R 1BB 1SB
Brendan Harris 2B - 2/4 1BB 1K; 1E
Tyrell Godwin LF - 3/5 1R 1RBI
Rick Short 1B -0/2 1R 1BB
Josh Labandeira PH/SS - 0/2 2K
Bill Bray RP - 1IP 1H 0R oBB0K; SV

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Altoona 4-3]

Larry Broadway 1B - 1/3 1BB 1K 1 double
Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 2/3 2RBI 1BB; GW RBI on IF single
Armando Galarraga SP - 6IP 2H 0R 2BB 9K
Danny Rueckel RP - 0.1IP 0H 0BB 0K

Potomac (High A) [Lost 4-2 to Lynchburg]

Ian Desmond SS - 0/4 3K; 2E (throws)
Frank Diaz CF - 2/4 1HR 1RBI; 1E (throw)
Kory Casto 3B - 0/2 1R 2BB
Salomon Manriquez CA - 1/4 1K
Josh Whitesell 1B - 1/3 1RBI 1BB 2K 1 double

Savannah (Low A) [Split DH with Asheville 10-2 & 1-6]

G1: Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/3 1RBI 1BB 1K
G1: Edgardo Baez RF - 1/3 2R 1BB 1K
G2: Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/3 1K 1CS (picked off)
G2: Edgardo Baez RF - 0/3
G2: Devin Ivany CA - 0/3 1K

Vermont (SS) [Lost 9-4 to Auburn]

Mike Daniel RF - 1/4 1BB 2K
Dee Brown LF - 3/4 1R 1K
John Howell DH - 1/4 1R 2K 1 double
Andrew Lane 2B - 1/3 1BB
Ricky Shefka RP - 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K

GCL Nats (R) [Defeated GCL Mets 5-4 in 15 innings]

Brian Peacock DH - 1/6 1BB 2K 1 double
Ryan Delaughter RF - 2/5 1R 1BB 2K 1SB 1HBP
Tim Pahuta 1B - 3/5 1R 2RBI 2BB 1 double 1 triple 1CS (picked off)
Coby Mavroulis RP - 4IP 3H 2R(2ER) 1BB 6K 1WP 1HBP; BS

2005 07 15

Minor League Moves

The Nationals made five moves within their minor league affiliates. Matt Cepicky was optioned to New Orleans to make room for Preston Wilson. Larry Broadway has been sent to Double-A Harrisburg from his rehab assignment with the GCL Nationals. Additionally, the Nationals sent Dee Brown (not the 2005 draft pick) from Harrisburg to Triple-A New Orleans, demoted Jason Norderum from Harrisburg to High-A Potomac and activated Jacobo Sequea from the inactive list (due to a death in the family) to the Harrisburg active roster.

Of these moves, only Larry Broadway’s activation is of note for prospects. Broadway, the #2 prospect in the Nationals system, played in 8 games with the GCL Nationals 429/543/714 with 4HR and 20RBI. Broadway has been recovering from a knee injury.

The 27 year old Brown formerly of the Royals farm system is merely roster filler for the Zephyrs. In 43 games in Harrisburg his line was the less than stellar 194/276/347 with 5HR and 16RBI striking out 3 times to every 1 walk (33K/11BB).

The 23 year old Norderum had been pitching out of the bullpen to non-descript results. In 25 games, he was 3-3 with 2 saves. His ERA was 4.60 over 47IP with 25BB and 33K.

Sequea was claimed by the Nationals after the Orioles designated him for assignment on June 8. In 8 games with the Senators, he has pitched in relief logging 10IP with an uninispiring 5.40ERA allowing 14H (3 of them HR), walking 3 and striking out 7.

2005 07 14