Nationals Farm Authority

Where Will You Be Wintering?

Jim Bowden discusses the status of the Nats farm system as well as the organization’s plans for some of its top prospects in his weekly Examiner article.

We added two teams in the Dominican Republic and placed them at one of the best complexes in the Dominican. We were able to put half a team in Venezuela that we didn’t have before. And we’re able to do an accelerated program in spring training for the developmental program. And most recently we’ve instituted participation in the Instructional League for our top prospects that runs from October through December. We’ll also be the first team to have that Instructional League team in the Dominican at our complex.

This is good news for the Nats. Unfortunately, it basically resets the farm system to what would be considered normal for a marginal to average major league franchise. I’m happy the foreign pipeline has been re-established but it will require an increased investment as well as time to begin paying dividends. Let’s hope the new owners see the value in having a presence in not only the Caribbean and South America, but also branch out to include Central America, the Pacific Rim, and Europe.

Additionally, Bowden discusses where some of the higher rated prospects are going to spend their fall/winter.

Arizona Fall League: Ryan Zimmerman (no position mentioned), Larry Broadway 1B, Brendan Harris (2B/3B), Chris Schroder and RHP Josh Karp with the 6th player to be determined. Schroder is the only one of the five guys mentioned that I have not been following. Thus far the 27-year old Schroder has spent time with the GCL Nationals (7/18 to 7/20), Potomac (7/20 to 8/1), Harrisburg (4/7 to 5/4 and 8/1 to present) and New Orleans (5/4 to 7/18). In 37G, entirely as a RP, he is 2-3 with 5 saves in 50.1IP with 42H 29R(24ER) 10HR 23BB 69K [4.29ERA 1.29WHIP 4.1BB/9 12.3K/9 1.8HR/9]. Not necessarily a long term prospect (case in point, Gary Majewski is 25 and is already in the majors).
The Instructional League:In the Dominican and include 40 of our top minor league prospects including 3B Kory Casto, SS Ian Desmond, CA Devin Ivany, RHP Collin Balester and RHP Clint Everts.
Winter Ball: Tony Blanco and Alex Escobar (no country mentioned). Brandon Watson and Tyrell Godwin in Mexico.
Names Not Mentioned: These guys were not mentioned by name but that does not necessarily mean they won’t be playing in the winter: Mike Hinckley LHP, Bill Bray LHP, Daryl Thompson RHP (if healthy), Darrell Rasner RHP, Danny Rueckel RHP, Rogearvin Bernadina OF, Edgardo Baez O, Shawn Hill RHP (if healthy), Jason Bergmann RHP, Erick San Pedro CA (if healthy), Greg Bunn RHP, Shawn Norris IF, Josh Labandeira SS, Chris Lugo RHP, Brian Peacock CA, Armando Galarrraga RHP, and additionally the 2005 draft picks: Ryan DeLaughter, Marco Estrada, Mike Daniel, Jack Spradlin, John Howell (if healthy), Dee Brown (if healthy), John Lannan, Craig Stammen, Andre Enriquez, Deryck Johnson, Michael Watkins, Josh Palm, Eduardo Pichardo, Tim Pahuta, Ricky Shefka, Coby Mavroulis, Antonio Evangelista, Jeffrey Taylor, and Andrew Lane.

2005 08 25

Farm Authority Report 8/25/05

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Iowa 5-0]

Kenny Kelly RF - 0/3 1BB
Brandon Watson LF - 2/4
Marlon Byrd CF - 1/4 (batting 0.400)
Rick Short 1B/3B - 0/4 1GIDP (batting 0.392)
Brendan Harris 2B - 0/4 1K 1E
Jason Bergmann RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K
Bill Bray RP - 1IP 2H 1R(0ER) 0BB 2K

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to Binghamton 4-3]

Josh Labandeira 3B - 0/3 2BB 2K 1CS
Larry Broadway 1B - 0/2 1R 2BB 2K
Ryan Zimmerman SS - 0/2 1R 2BB 1K 1CS; Three fielding attempts (6-3, 6-4, & 6-3)

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Salem 7-5]

Ian Desmond SS - 1/4 1R 1RBI 2K double 2E (#35 & 36)
Frank Diaz CF - 2/5 1R 1RBI double
Kory Casto 3B - 2/5 1R 2K 2 doubles 1GIDP
Salomon Manriquez DH - 1/5 2RBI 2K double
Josh Whitesell 1B - 2/4 1RBI 1BB double
Mike Hinckley SP - 7IP 8H 6R(3ER) 1BB 1K 1HR 1HBP 1E; Loss

Savannah (Low A)

No game scheduled

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Lowell 12-11 in 10 innings]

Andrew Lane 2B - 0/6
Mike Daniel LF - 2/5 2R 1RBI 1K
Marco Estrada SP - 5IP 3H 1R(0ER) 2BB 6K
Jeff Taylor RP - 0.2IP 1H 6R(6ER) 5BB 1K
Craig Stammen RP - 2IP 1H 0R 0BB 3K; Win

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Mets 5-1]

Francisco Guzman CF - 0/4 1K
Ryan Delaughter RF - 0/4
Brian Peacock CA - 1/3 1R 1BB 1K

2005 08 25

Farm Authority Report 8/24/05

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Omaha 8-7]

Kenny Kelly CF - 1/5 2R 1RBI 3K double 1E; OF assist (runner at 3B)
Brandon Watson RF - 2/5 1R 2RBI 1K 2SB
Marlon Byrd DH - 2/3 1R 1RBI 2BB 1HR 1SB (batting 0.406)
Rick Short 1B - 2/4 1RBI 1BB 1SB (batting 0.397)
Ty Godwin LF - 2/4 1R 1BB 1SB
Brendan Harris 2B - 1/4 1R 1BB 1K
Travis Hughes RP - 0IP 2H 2R(2ER) 2HR; Blown save & loss [called up to Washington after game to replace Ryan Drese who was placed on the 15-day DL]

Harrisburg Senators (AA) [Defeated Binghamton 9-4]

Josh Labandeira 3B - 1/4 1R 1BB
Larry Broadway 1B - 1/4 1K
Ryan Zimmerman SS - 1/3 3R 2RBI 1HR 1HBP Unassisted putout at 2B Assist on 6-3
Josh Karp SP - 6IP 3H 2R(2ER) 3BB 5K 1HR 1WP 2HBP; Win

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Salem 8-2]

Ian Desmond SS - 1/4 1GIDP
Frank Diaz CF - 2/4 double; OF assist (runner at 2B)
Kory Casto 3B - 1/4 2K
Salomon Manriquez CA - 0/4 2K
Josh Whitesell DH - 1/3 1BB 2K
Greg Bunn SP - 5.1IP 2H 3R(3ER) 6BB 7K 2WP; Loss

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Rome 5-4]

Rogearvin Bernadina 2/4 1R 2RBI 1BB 1K 1HR 1SB
Edgardo Baez RF - 1/4 1R triple
Devin Ivany CA - 0/4; 1 pickoff (runner at 2B)

Vermont (SS)

All-Star Game: NL 5 AL 4
Jose Contreras SS - 0/1 1K
Leonard Davis 3B - 1/3 1R 1RBI
Gene Yost RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 0K; Win

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Dodgers 5-4]

Francisco Guzman CF - 1/4 1R
Ryan Delaughter RF - 1/4 1K 1E
Tim Pahuta 1B - 1/4 1R 1RBI

2005 08 24

More Minor League Notes

As mentioned below, 2005 draft pick John Howell has been shut down for the season with shoulder pain. Additionally, 2005 draft pick Dee Brown is likely done for the season with a broken finger. Both players were selected for today’s NY-Penn All-Star game but obviously will not play.

2005 08 23

Lots of Good Minor League Information

The Washington Times has an article on Nats prospect Ian Desmond and other Nats prospects.

“He makes plays I’ve never seen before. He has a chance to be special defensively. There are things he needs to work on to be more consistent, but based on his age, there are other guys who are older and at higher levels who need to work on those same things. If he could do that, he’d be in the big leagues right now regardless of how he hits.”

I had the opportunity to watch Desmond play a couple of games this weekend and they’re right, Desmond has some amazing range and blazing speed. He gets to balls that you would not expect. I saw him track down a fly ball in mid-range LF along the foul line (the LF was playing in left center).

“We firmly believe the error totals are a result of him getting to more balls and making attempts on plays that other guys wouldn’t have a chance on,” Wogan said. “There are certain routine plays where he doesn’t set his feet right or he doesn’t position himself properly. Anything he does [wrong], he never makes the same mistake twice”

I agree wholeheartedly with this assessment. He has the ability defensively and just needs to relax at times and the errors should abate.

The thing that will be Desmond’s greatest challenge is his bat. There are similarities to the problems that “Inning” Endy Chavez faced. Desmond needs to improve his plate discipline and find ways to reach base given he is not, at present, a gap hitter. It will be interesting to see how he develops.

Another note from the article: the identification of AZ Fall League participants from the Nationals.

Washington director of player development Adam Wogan said Zimmerman, Larry Broadway and likely Brendan Harris will be three of the six Nationals prospects to play in the Arizona Fall League. The league consists of six teams, and each organization sends six of its top prospects primarily from Class AA and Class AAA.

That’s good news to see that Brendan Harris is still on the radar for the Nats. Some other candidates could be RHP Armando Galarraga, LHP Bill Bray, and perhaps RHP Collin Balester.

As well as a Zimmerman update:

“The word is that he looks just as comfortable at short as he did at third,” Wogan said. “We know his hands and his arm are very, very good from what we saw at third base. It’s just a matter of how he reacts and how he turns the double play. So far, he’s been solid.”

Two Nats prospects shut down for the year:

A pair of Nationals prospects will not play again this season because of shoulder troubles. Pitcher Daryl Thompson had minor shoulder surgery, and Wogan said he expects Thompson to be ready next spring. Outfielder John Michael Howell — the organization’s ninth-round pick in this year’s draft — was off to a great start at short-season Class A Vermont (.363 in 113 at-bats) but complained of shoulder soreness and was shut down

2005 08 23

Carolina League Player of the Week Part Deux

Jason Stevenson, Potomac 2 G, 2 GS, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 2-0, 2.08 ERA, 17.1 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 14 SO The suddenly hot Stevenson became just the fourth pitcher in the Minors to win his league’s Pitcher of the Week honors in consecutive weeks. After struggling to a 2-12 record and a Minor League-worst 8.04 ERA through Aug. 4, the 6-foot-1 lefty has gone 3-0 the past two weeks, tossing a pair of complete games in that period. First, Stevenson celebrated his 24th birthday by tossing his first career shutout and the very next day, earned his first POW award. Then, last week, he nearly pitched two more shutouts, taking a two-hitter into the ninth inning against Frederick on Monday before running out of gas and allowing three runs in a 5-3 win. Against Kinston on Saturday, the Sacramento City College grad allowed just a two-out solo shot in the opening frame before settling in to toss 8 1/3 scoreless innings in a 7-1 Nationals victory. Stevenson has now improved to 4-3 with a 3.38 ERA in Potomac.

2005 08 23