Nationals Farm Authority

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p>Bill Ladson takes a look at who the Nats are likely to call up on September 1. He states the Nationals could call up as many as 10 players. The obvious and oft-discussed candidate, 3B Ryan Zimmerman is one. Ladson drops this bit of knowledge regarding Zimmerman:

“Zimmerman is likely to be the regular third baseman once he is promoted.”

Let me be one of the first to say, God I hope this is true. If Bowden is bound and determined to bring up Zimmerman, he needs to play every single game. Regardless of how Frank feels about it. There is no reason to add him to the 40-man roster to sit on the bench.

Ladson also mentions outfielders Brandon Watson, Kenny Kelly and Tyrell Godwin and reliever Bill Bray. That makes five, who could be the other five guys?

• [#6] Odds are Jason Bergmann will be back after more than likely being sent down today to open up a spot for Deivi Cruz
• [#7] Ryan Church will return from the DL in about a week
• [#8] A third catcher would be another likely choice (Keith Osik or Hector Ortiz are with New Orleans)
• [#9 & 10] Matt White, Rick Short, and Brendan Harris would be the most likely candidates

The inclusion of Zimmerman, Kelly, and Bray (not to mention the near certainty the Nats add a 3rd catcher) raise an interesting question: Who is going off of the 40-man to make room for those four? Moving Jon Rauch, Ryan Drese, and Junior Spivey to the 60-day DL is a possibility. But that only accounts for three spots. There guys who could be outrighted a la Danny Rueckel: Josh Karp, Darrell Rasner, and Matt White or Rick Short, if not called up. The next few days will be interesting

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Oklahoma 5-3]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 1/4 1R 1BB 1K
• Brandon Watson RF - 2/4 1K 1GIDP
• Ty Godwin LF - 0/3 1R 1HBP; picked off 1B
• Rick Short 2B - 1/1 1BB
• Edgar Gonzalez 3B - 0/2 1GIDP
• Bill Bray RP - 2IP 0H 0R 1BB 1K

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Reading 4-2]

• Ryan Zimmerman 3B - 2/3 1BB
• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/4 1R 1RBI 1HR
• Josh Labandeira SS - 1/3 1R 1BB 1K
• Darrell Rasner SP - 4IP 2H 0R 0BB 1K

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Myrtle Beach 6-1]

• Ian Desmond SS - 1/5 1K 1CS (picked off)
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/4
• Kory Casto 3B - 0/2 2BB 1K
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 1/4 1GIDP
• Josh Whitesell 1B - 2/4 1R 1RBI 1K double 1HR

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

• Devin Ivany DH - 0/4 1K
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/2 1R 2BB 1K
• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/3 1BB 1K

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Lowell 6-4]

• Mike Daniel LF - 0/5 1K 1E
• John Lannan SP - 4IP 7H 5R(2ER) 0BB 4K 1WP 1HBP; Loss
• Clint Everts RP - 2IP 5H 1R(1ER) 0BB 2K

As a follow-up to the outrighting of Danny Rueckel, the Nationals acquired 2B/3B/SS Deivi Cruz from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for 23 year old Savannah RH RP Ben Cox.

Cruz will assume Rueckel’s spot on the 40-man but a move will need to be made to add him to the 25-man active roster. Jason Bergmann or Marlon Byrd could be optioned back to New Orleans or Luis Ayala could be placed on the DL.

As for Cruz as a player, nothing special. He’ll join Guzman/Carroll as the shortstop/utility IF (with Carroll/Cruz occasionally filling in for Vidro). In comparison:

• Guzman 114G - 196/238/276 - 20BB/62K
• Carroll 90G - 246/331/271 - 28BB/48K
• Cruz 81G - 268/301/397 - 10BB 31K

As you can see, it’s certainly nothing to get excited about. Though it apparently puts the brakes on the Ryan Zimmerman experiment. He may not get called up at all though I expect Bowden to preen by adding him to the big league club.

What did the Nationals give up? Once again, not a whole lot. Cox was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 19th round (564th overall) of the 2004 amateur entry draft. He spent last year with Vermont and this year in Savannah.

• 2004: 22G of relief, 33.1IP 31H 18R(11ER) 1HR 20BB 37K 2.97ERA 2-0 with 3 saves
• 2005: 42G of relief 63IP 55H 24R(21ER) 6HR 33BB 51K 3.00ERA 4-4 with 6 saves

Cox is not unlike any other RH RP in the minors, he could be good but more than likely will not be anything more than minor league roster filler. All in all, a deal barely worth noting.

Nationals sent RHP Danny Rueckel outright to Double-A Harrisburg. In other words, Rueckel has been removed from the 40-man roster in preparation for roster expansion on September 1. I’m surprised no one took a chance on the 25-year old Rueckel.

9-5 3.89ERA 51G 6SV 74.0IP 81H 36R(32ER) 6HR 19BB 65K

A moment of silence for Basil

Eastern League: David Maust, Harrisburg 2 G(2GS) 1 CG 1-0 1.20ERA 15IP, 12H, 3R(2ER) 1BB, 17K

Back in Harrisburg for a third consecutive season, David Maust seems to have the Eastern League figured out lately. After going a combined 6-14 over his past two campaigns with the Senators, the 26-year-old southpaw turned in two more outstanding efforts last week, picking up a win to raise his record to 5-3, while allowing just two earned runs in 15 innings to lower his ERA to 2.13. On Monday, Maust set a career high with 10 strikeouts over six innings against Binghamton. Then, 11 days after tossing his first career nine-inning complete game, he threw another one, allowing just one unearned run on four hits while striking out seven in a 6-1 win over Erie. The West Virginia native is 3-1 with a 1.00 ERA in his last five starts, striking out 43 while walking just three.

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Oklahoma 10-7]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 2/6 2R 1RBI triple
• Brandon Watson RF - 3/4 2RBI 1BB 1K triple 1CS
• Ty Godwin LF - 2/4 1R 2RBI 2BB 1K double
• Rick Short 2B - 1/5 1R 1RBI 1K 1GIDP
• Brendan Harris 3B - 0/4 1RBI 1BB
• Jon Rauch SP - 1.1IP 1H 1R(1ER) 0BB 2K 1HR
• Josh Karp RP - 1.2IP 4H 4R(4ER) 3BB 1K 1HR 1WP 2HBP; Win
• Travis Hughes RP - 1IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K

Harrisburg (AA)

• No game scheduled

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Kinston 5-2]

• Ian Desmond SS - 2/5 1R 3K 1SB
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/4 1R 1K
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/2 1RBI 2BB 1K
• Salomon Manriquez DH - 1/4 1K
• Josh Whitesell 1B - 0/2 2BB 1K
• Mike Hinckley SP - 6IP 7H 4R(4ER) 2BB 8K; Loss

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

• Devin Ivany DH - 0/4 1K 1GIDP
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/2 1R 2BB 1K
• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/3 1BB 1K

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Oneonta 11-4]

• Mike Daniel LF - 0/4 2K
• Francisco Guzman CF - 0/1 1RBI
• Andrew Lane 2B - 0/3 1BB 1K
• Ricky Shefka SP - 2.2IP 10H 10R(10ER) 2BB 2K 1HR; Loss

September 1 is the date which major league teams can expand their rosters to 40 (anyone on their 40-man roster). As of today, the Nationals have a full 40-man roster (* = not on 25-man presently)

PITCHERS (20) Tony Armas Luis Ayala Jason Bergmann Hector Carrasco Chad Cordero Ryan Drese * [15-day DL] Joey Eischen John Halama Livan Hernandez Mike Hinckley * [Potomac] Travis Hughes * [New Orleans] Josh Karp * [Harrisburg] Esteban Loaiza Gary Majewski John Patterson Darrell Rasner * [Harrisburg] Jon Rauch * [New Orleans] Danny Rueckel * [Harrisburg] Mike Stanton Matt White * [New Orleans]

CATCHERS (2) Gary Bennett Brian Schneider

INFIELDERS (10) Carlos Baerga Larry Broadway * [Harrisburg] Jamey Carroll Vinny Castilla Cristian Guzman Brendan Harris * [New Orleans] Nick Johnson Rick Short *[New Orleans] Junior Spivey * [15-day DL] Jose Vidro

OUTFIELDERS (8) Tony Blanco Marlon Byrd Ryan Church * [15-day DL] Ty Godwin * [New Orleans] Jose Guillen Brandon Watson * [New Orleans] Brad Wilkerson Preston Wilson

The candidates from the 40-man not already in Washingtom I expect to be called up are: Travis Hughes, Matt White, Brendan Harris, Rick Short, Ty Godwin, and Brandon Watson. That expands the roster to 32 (including the return of Ryan Church in a week or two).

Additionally, the Nationals will likely want to recall a third catcher. Keith Osik and Hector Ortiz are in New Orleans, both are 35+ and are nothing more tha roster filler. That will require opening up a spot on the 40-man. This can be accomplished by moving Ryan Drese to the 60-day DL if surgery is decided necessary.

Ryan Zimmerman will be called up as well (ideally after the Double-A season ends) requiring an additional roster move, most likely Junior Spivey to the 60-day DL.

That brings the roster to 34 (14 pitchers [5 SPs and 9RPs], 3 catchers, 9 infielders [5 corner IFs and 4 middle IFs], and 8 outfielders).

The only other guy I believe has a chance that would not facilitate another roster move is Danny Rueckel from Harrisburg. Jon Rauch and Josh Karp are rehabbing from injuries and should be allowed to finish out the season in the minors playing rather than in the majors not playing. Darrell Rasner and Larry Broadway could be called up but again, it makes more sense to allow them regular PT in Harrisburg. Though both could potentially be a mid-September call-ups.

New Orleans

• Marlon Byrd (583/643/1083) - 7/12 3R 3RBI 2HR 2BB 0K
• Ty Godwin (294/333/471) - 5/17 3R 1RBI 1HR 1BB 3K 1SB
• Edgar Gonzalez (625/625/875) - 5/8 6R 2doubles 1K
• Brendan Harris (222/300/389) - 4/18 2R 4RBI 1HR 2BB 4K 1SB
• Kenny Kelly (182/250/227) - 4/22 2R 1RBI double 2BB 6K 1CS 1GIDP 1OF Assist
• Rick Short (222/263/222) - 4/18 2R 1RBI 1BB 1K 1SB 1GIDP 2E
• Brandon Watson (348/375/391) - 8/23 2R 3RBI double 1BB 3K 2SB 2GIDP
• Jason Bergmann (3.00ERA/1.00WHIP) - 2G 3IP 2H 1R(1ER) 0BB 6K 1HR 1W
• Bill Bray (3.00/1.00) - 3G 3IP 3H 2R(1ER) 0BB 3K 1HR 1L
• Travis Hughes (9.00/1.50) - 1G 2IP 2H 2R(2ER) 1BB 2K 2HR 1L 1BS
• Jon Rauch (0.00/2.99) - 1G 0.2IP 1H 0R 1BB 1K

Harrisburg

• Larry Broadway (269/333/423) - 7/26 4R 2RBI double 1HR 3BB 8K 1SF
• Josh Labandeira (190/393/190) - 4/21 3R 1RBI 7BB 2K 1SB 1CS
• Ryan Zimmerman (462/533/654) - 12/26 7R 4RBI 2doubles 1HR 3BB 1K 1SB 2CS 1HBP 2E
• Armando Galarraga (3.00/1.33) - 1G 6IP 6H 3R(2ER) 2BB 3K 1WP 1HBP 1W
• Josh Karp (3.00/1.00) - 1G 6IP 3H 2R(2ER) 3BB 5K 1HR 1WP 2HBP 1W
• David Maust (1.20/0.87) - 2G 15IP 12H 3R(2ER) 1BB 17K 1HBP 1W 1pickoff
• Darrell Rasner (1.29/1.00) - 1G 7IP 7H 1R(1ER) 0BB 11K
• Danny Rueckel (3.60/1.60) - 3G 5IP 5H 2R(2ER) 3BB4K 1HR 1WP 1BS

Potomac

• Kory Casto (150/227/250) - 3/20 2R 1RBI 2doubles 2BB 8K 1GIDP 1E
• Ian Desmond (100/182/150) - 2/20 2R 1RBI double 2BB 10K 1GIDP 2E
• Frank Diaz (370/452/630) - 10/27 6R 6RBI 4doubles 1HR 3BB 1K 1SB 2CS 2E
• Salomon Manriquez (167/200/250) - 4/24 1R 3RBI 2doubles 1BB7K
• Josh Whitesell (692/778/1231) - 9/13 2R 7RBI 4doubles 1HR 5BB 2K
• Greg Bunn (9.72/2.16) - 2G 8.2IP 9H 9R(9ER) 9BB 12K 2WP 1HBP 1L
• Mike Hinckley (3.86/1.29) - 1G 7IP 8H 6R(3ER) 1BB 1K 1HR 1HBP 1L
• Mike O’Connor (0.00/0.44) - 1G 9IP 2H 0R 2BB 9K 1HBP 1W
• Jason Stevenson (7.20/1.80) - 1G 5IP 7H 5R(4ER) 2BB 4K 1HR 1L

Savannah

• Edgardo Baez (071/133/214) - 1/14 3R 1RBI triple 1BB 2K 1SB
• Rogearvin Bernadina (250/400/500) - 3/12 2R 3RBI 1HR 2BB 5K 1SB 1HBP
• Devin Ivany (143/200/214) - 2/14 1RBI double 1BB 1K 2E; Picked off runner
• Collin Balester (3.60/0.90) - 2G 10IP 8H 5R(4ER) 1BB 12K 1HR

Vermont

• Mike Daniel (250/333/250) - 4/16 5R 1RBI 2BB 3K 1GIDP
• Francisco Guzman (200/200/350) - 4/20 2R 2RBI 1HR 0BB 4K
• Andrew Lane (000/000/000) - 0/9
• Marco Estrada (0.00/1.00) - 1G 5IP 3H 1R(0ER) 2BB 6K
• Clint Everts (0.00/0.33) - 1G 3IP 1H 0R 0BB 4K
• Craig Stammen (0.00/0.50) - 1G 2IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K 1W
• Jeff Taylor (80.60/8.96) - 1G 0.2IP 1H 6R(6ER) 5BB 1K

GCL Nationals

• Ryan Delaughter (167/231/417) - 2/12 2R 1RBI 1HR 1BB 2K 1E
• Tim Pahuta (125/222/125) - 1/8 1R 1RBI double 0BB 2K
• Brian Peacock (429/500/571) - 3/7 1R 1RBI double 1BB 1K
• Andre Enriquez (0.00/0.67) - 1G 3IP 0H 0R 2BB 3K
• John Lannan (4.50/1.17) - 1G 6IP 4H 3R(3ER) 3BB 3K 2HR 1W
• Eduardo Pichardo (9.00/6.00) - 1G 1IP 2H 1R(1ER) 4BB 1K

New Orleans (AAA)

• Game cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Erie 5-1]

• Ryan Zimmerman 3B - 2/4 1SB
• Larry Broadway DH - 1/3 1RBI 1SF
• Josh Labandeira SS - 0/3 1BB
• Danny Rueckel RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Kinston 12-10]

• Ian Desmond SS - 0/5 3K
• Frank Diaz CF - 3/5 2R 1RBI double
• Josh Whitesell 1B - 3/3 2R 5RBI 2BB double 1HR
• Salomon Manriquez CA -1/5 1R 1K double
• Greg Bunn SP - 3IP 7H 6R(6ER) 3BB 5K 1HBP

Savannah (Low A) [Defeated Columbus 7-4]

• Devin Ivany CA - 1/4
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/3 1R 1BB 1K 1SB
• Collin Balester SP - 5IP 3H 2R(2ER) 0BB 8K 1HR

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Oneonta 4-0]

• Francisco Guzman RF - 1/4 1K
• Andrew Lane 2B - 0/3

The Harrisburg Senators announced today that pitcher Josh Karp has been sent to the Nationals’ triple-A team in New Orleans.

Karp returns to New Orleans, where he started the season. With the Zephyrs, Karp worked out of the bullpen making 19 appearances. He built a 2-1 record and a 5.65 ERA while in triple-A earlier this year.

Karp’s first appearance with Harrisburg was on June 25th as a starter. Josh started 11 games with the Senators and was 2-5 with a 4.68 ERA.

The Nationals did not announce a replacement for Karp on the Senators roster. Harrisburg currently has 23 active players, one below the maximum limit allowed by the Eastern League.

Three Vermont Expos pitchers have left the team to return to finish college and have been replaced by three position players from the Gulf Coast League Nationals, who ended their season yesterday in Florida.

Pitchers Marco Estrada, Jeff Taylor and Craig Stammen have all left Burlington to return home to school. Joing Vermont from the GCL are infielder Johan Figuereo, catcher Agustin German and outfielder Francisco Guzman.

Figuereo hit .259 (45/174) wit 16 runs, nine doubles, two homers and 16 RBI in 47 games for the Nationals, while German batted .198 (21/106) with 13 runs, four doubles, one homer and nine RBI in 29 games.

Guzman hit .344 (53/154) with 20 runs, six doubles, seven homers and 24 RBI in 40 games at Gulf Coast. He led the team in average, homers and RBI, while striking out just 20 times in 154 at bats.