Nationals Farm Authority

The first New York-Penn League All-Star Game on Aug. 23 in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Vermont Expos have 5 representatives: SS Jose Contreras, 2005 10th round pick OF Dee Brown, 9th round pick OF John Howell, 3B Leonard Davis and LHP Wendell ‘Gene’ Yost.

Quick review of each representative

• Contreras - the 20 year old Venezuelan is in his 3rd year in the Nats organization after being signed as a free agent in 2001. He spent 2004 splitting time between Brevard County (Low A prior to Savannah and Vermont) with less than noteworthy results. This season with Vermont, a little bit better (262/377/297) with 11/16 in SB attempts and 32BB/39K in 46 games.
• Davis - the 21 year old was an 8th round pick (234th overall) in the 2004 draft. He struggled last year with the GCL Nationals (182/295/301). Thus far in 2005, he has been producing better 287/347/471 with 6HR and 21 RBI in 47G. He needs to improve on his plate patience (11BB/45K).
• Yost - the 24 year old was a 20th round draft pick (594th overall) in the 2004 draft. He is old for the NY-Penn League. His numbers in 2004 were OK while splitting his time between Brevard County and the GCL pitching mostly in relief (11G/4GS) 3.79ERA and 1.12WHIP in 35.2IP with 23K and 5BB. In 2005, his numbers are pretty good. In 10G (all starts) he has a 2.90ERA and 1.20ERA. His command is an area of concern with 34K and 24BB in 59IP.
• Brown - In a little under 2 months at Vermont, the 22 year old RH OF has shown some promise (283/342/484) with 8HR and 32RBI. Much like most minor leaguers, his plate discipline is an area he needs to work on (56K and 12BB in 184AB [47G]).
• Howell - Brown’s University of Central Florida teammate, a 22 year old LH OF, has put up some pretty good numbers in 113AB [29G] (363/403/487) with 3HR 17RBI. Howell has shown a little bit of plate discipline (9BB/20K).

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Omaha 8-6]

• Kenny Kelly RF - 2/5 1R 1RBI [promoted from Harrisburg yesterday]
• Ty Godwin LF - 3/5 1R 1K double
• Marlon Byrd CF - 1/4 2R 1RBI 1BB 1SB 1GIDP
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/4 2RBI 2K
• Edgar Gonzalez 3B - 2/4 1R 1K double
• Bill Bray RP - 1IP 3H 3R(3ER) 0BB 2K 1HR; Blown Save & Loss
• Note: Matt Cepicky injured a knee Sunday in the second game of a doubleheader for the Zephyrs and will miss the remainder of the season.

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Bowie 1-0]

• Henry Mateo 2B - 0/4 2K
• Josh Labandeira SS - 1/4 1CS
• Larry Broadway DH - 1/2 1BB double
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 2/2 1BB 1CS
• David Maust SP - 9IP 3H 0R 1BB 8K; Win [26 year old LHP]

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Frederick 5-1]

• Ian Desmond SS - 1/3 1BB 1K 1CS 3E (#30-32)
• Kory Casto 3B - 0/2 2BB 1SB

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Charleston 12-1]

• Devin Ivany CA - 0/3 1PB
• Collin Balester SP - 3.2IP 5H 8R(6ER) 3BB 6K 1BK 1HBP 1E;Loss

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Tri-City 12-8]

• Mike Daniel RF - 2/3 1R 3RBI 1BB 1K double 1CS
• Craig Stammen SP - 4IP 9H 7R(5ER) 3BB 2K 1WP; Picked off runner

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Dodgers 5-3]

• Ryan Delaughter DH - 0/3 1BB 1K
• Francisco Guzman CF - 2/4 1RBI 1K
• Tim Pahuta 1B - 0/4 2K
• Brian Peacock RF - 0/4 1K; OF assist (runner at 2B)
• Andre Enriquez RP - 3IP 4H 1R(1ER) 0BB 4K 1WP 1HBP

Jason Stevenson, Potomac 1 G, 1 GS, 1 CG, 1 SHO, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO

Stevenson found the silver lining in an otherwise very dark cloud that has been hovering over his 2005 season, when he tossed his first career shutout Tuesday — the day after his 24th birthday — against Frederick. The 6-foot-1 left-hander was a combined 2-12 with a Minor League-worst 8.04 ERA prior to his gem. Stevenson allowed just five singles and a walk, while establishing a career high in strikeouts with seven. Only one Keys base runner reached third base, and Stevenson was never in any real trouble. The 2000 12th-round pick of Montreal was 8-10 with a 4.06 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg last year and climbed as high as Triple-A Edmonton. But in 13 games with the Senators this year, he was just 1-9 with a ghastly 10.57 ERA before being relegated to Potomac. He’s now 2-3 with a 3.83 ERA with the Nationals.

• The Washington Times highlights Nationals prospect and La Plata High School grad, Daryl Thompson.
• The Berkshire Eagle highlights AAA SP Matt White, who is pitching well for New Orleans, and 2005 draft pick Tim Pahuta, who is struggling with the GCL Nationals.
• The Zephyrs website discusses Rick Short’s chase for 400.

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Albuquerque 6-5]

• Ty Godwin LF - 1/5 1K 1CS
• Marlon Byrd CF - 2/4 2R 1RBI 1HR 1HBP
• Rick Short 3B - 2/5 2R (still batting 0.400)
• Brendan Harris 2B - 2/3 1R 2RBI 1K 1HR 1HBP
• Matt White SP - 6IP 4H 2R(2ER) 2BB 0K; Win
• Jason Bergmann RP - 2IP 1H 1R(1ER) 0BB 3K
• Travis Hughes RP - 1IP 2H 2R(2ER) 1BB 1K; Save

Harrisburg (AA)

• No game scheduled.

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Frederick 5-3]

• Ian Desmond SS - 1/4 2K 1E(#29)
• Frank Diaz CF - 0/3 1R 1K 1GIDP 1HBP
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/4 2R 1K
• Salomon Manriquez DH -2/4 2R 2RBI 1K 1HR
• Jason Stevenson SP - 8.1IP 6H 3R(3ER) 0BB 6K 2HR; Win

Savannah (Low A)

• Game postponed by rain.

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Tri-City 5-1]

• Andrew Lane 2B - 0/4
• Mike Daniel LF - 2/3 1R 1K triple

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Dodgers 8-6]

• Francisco Guzman CF - 2/5 1RBI 1K [21 year old OF]
• Ryan Delaughter RF - 1/4 1R 2RBI double
• Brian Peacock CA - 1/3 1BB 1K

I am trying something new out this week. I will look back over the last 7 days to see which Nationals’ prospects I am tracking have performed the best.

First, the bats. The candidates (in reverse order):

• 7th: Josh Labandeira (296/321/407) - In 7G at SS in Harrisburg, Labandeira had 8H (3 doubles), 3R, 2RBI, 1BB, and 5K. He committed 1E in the field.
• 6th: Ian Desmond (318/423/455) - In 6G at SS at Potomac, Desmond had 7H (1 double and 1 triple), 3R, 1RBI, 4BB, 4K, and 2SB. Unfortunately, he made 3E in the field.
• 5th: Kory Casto (350/480/400) - In 6G at 3B at Potomac, Casto had 7H (1double), 4R, 2RBI, 5BB, 2K, and 1GIDP.
• 4th: Dee Brown (364/440/500) - In 6G (5 in LF; 1 at DH) with Vermont, Brown had 8H (1HR), 7R, 4RBI, 3BB, 7K, and 1CS.
• 3rd: Marlon Byrd (500/548/607) - In 7G in CF with New Orleans, Byrd had 14H (3 doubles), 6R, 3RBI, 3BB, 1K, 1CS, and 3GIDP.
• 2nd: Dutch Zimmerman (355/355/645) - In 8G at 3B with Harrisburg, Zimmerman had 11H (3 doubles & 2HR), 6R, 5RBI, 0BB, 2K, and 1CS.
• Winner: Rick Short (615/677/808) - In 7G (2 @1B, 1 @2B, & 4 @ 3B), Short had 16H (2 doubles & 1HR), 5R, 10RBI, 5BB, and 1K. He made 3E in the field, all at 3B.

And from the pitching side, there were only 4 candidates:

• 4th: Danny Rueckel - In 3G in relief for Harrisburg, Rueckel had 2IP with 4H 0R 1BB 0K with 1 win.
• 3rd: Bill Bray - In 2G in relief for New Orleans, Bray had 2IP with 1H 0R 0BB 4K.
• 2nd: Mike Hinckley - In one start for Potomac, Hinckley threw 7IP with 5H 3R(2ER) 4BB 5K 1HR 1WP 1HBP 1E with 1 win.
• Winner: Matthew Perks - The 2004 19 year old 18th round draft pick threw a shutout for the GCL Nationals in his one start. He had 8IP with 2H 2BB 6K.

New Orleans (AAA) [Split DH with Albuquerque 5-1 & 1-6]

• G1: Ty Godwin LF - 2/3 2R 1BB
• G1: Marlon Byrd CF - 2/4 2RBI 1CS
• G1: Rick Short 3B - 1/1 2R 3BB 1E
• G1: Matt Cepicky RF - 0/1 1BB 1GIDP
• G1: Brendan Harris 2B - 0/2 1BB 1K 1GIDP
• G1: Edgar Gonzalez PH - 0/1
• G2: Ty Godwin LF - 1/3
• G2: Edgar Gonzalez 3B - 0/3 1K
• G2: Marlon Byrd CF - 0/3 2GIDP
• G2: Rick Short 2B - 1/3

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to New Britain 6-5]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 0/4 1E
• Henry Mateo DH - 0/4 1K
• Larry Broadway 1B - 2/4 1RBI 1K 1GIDP double
• Ryan Zimmerman 3B - 0/4
• Josh Labandeira SS - 2/4 1R 1RBI 1K double
• Armando Galarraga SP - 7IP 8H 5R(5ER) 1BB 5K 1HR 1WP
• Saul Rivera RP - 2IP 3H 1R(1ER) 1BB 1K; BS & Loss

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Wilmington 11-10]

• Ian Desmond SS - 1/4 1RBI triple 1E(#28)
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/4 1R 1RBI 1BB 1CS
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/4 1R 1BB
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 2/4 1R 1RBI

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

• Devin Ivany CA- 1/4 1BB 1K
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/3 1BB 1GIDP; OF assist (runner at 1B)
• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/4 1RBI

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Tri-City 7-2]

• Mike Daniel LF - 1/3 double
• Jeff Taylor RP - 2IP 2H 1R(1ER) 2BB 0K

GCL Nationals (R)

• No game scheduled.

New Orleans (AAA)

• Game against Albuquerque postponed by rain.

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to New Britain 7-4]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 2/4 1RBI 1K 1GIDP double triple; OF assist (runner at home)
• Henry Mateo 2B - 0/4 2K 1E
• Ryan ‘Dutch’ Zimmerman 3B - 2/4 1R 1RBI double
• Josh Labandeira SS - 1/4 1RBI
• Larry Broadway PH - 0/1
• Darrell Rasner SP - 6IP 5H 4R(4ER) 1BB 0K 1HR 1HBP
• Danny Rueckel RP - 1IP 2H 0R 1BB 0K

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Wilmington 7-3]

• Ian Desmond SS - 2/4 1R 1K double 1E
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/3 2R 2BB 1E
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/4 1BB 1K
• Salomon Manriquez DH - 1/4 1RBI 1K
• Mike Hinckley SP - 7IP 5H 3R(2ER) 4BB 5K 1HR 1WP 1HBP 1E; Win

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Augusta 6-3]

• Devin Ivany CA - 0/4
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/3 1BB 1K

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Tr-City 4-3]

• Dee Brown DH - 0/2 1BB 2K
• Mike Daniel LF - 0/4 2K 1GIDP
• Rehab Assignment: Clint Everts RP - 2IP 3H 2R(0ER) 0BB 0K 1E

GCL Nationals (R) [Defeated GCL Marlins 1-0]

• Brian Peacock CA - 1/3 1R 1K
• Ryan Delaughter RF - 1/3 1K
• Tim Pahuta 1B - 0/3 1K
• Matthew Perks SP - 8IP 2H 0R 2BB 6K; Win

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Albuquerque 10-9 in 12 innings]

• Ty Godwin LF - 2/6 1R 1BB
• Marlon Byrd CF - 4/5 4R 2BB 2 doubles
• Rick Short 3B - 4/7 5RBI 2 doubles 2E
• Matt Cepicky 1B/RF - 1/6 2RBI 4K 1SF
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/5 1R 1RBI 1BB
• Edgar Gonzalez PH - 0/1
• Bill Bray RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K
• Jason Bergmann RP - 2IP 4H 2R(2ER) 0BB 2K 1HR; BS & W

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to New Britain 9-7]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 0/5 2K
• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/3 2R 3RBI 1BB 1K 1HR
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 2/4 1R 1CS
• Josh Labandeira SS - 2/4 1R 1K double
• Danny Rueckel RP - 0.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 0K

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

• Ian Desmond SS - 1/3 2BB
• Frank Diaz CF - 0/5
• Kory Casto 3B - 2/5 1R 1K double
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 0/4
• Greg Bunn SP - 4.2IP 5H 4R(4ER) 4BB 5K 1HR; Loss

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Augusta 9-7]

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

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Batavia 6-2]

• Dee Brown LF - 1/3 2R 1BB 2K
• Mike Daniel RF - 1/3 1BB
• Marco Estarda SP - 6IP 4H 3R(2ER) 3BB 5K; Loss

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Marlins 18-2]

• Ryan Delaughter DH - 1/4 1RBI
• Brian Peacock CA - 0/2
• Coby Mavroulis SP - 2.2IP 6H 5R(4ER) 2BB 2K 1HR 2WP 2HBP; Loss

Outfielder Matt Cepicky has cleared waivers and has accepted his assignment to Triple-A New Orleans. He will report to the club on Friday. Cepicky was called up to the big club on July 31, and he received only seven at-bats before his demotion.