Nationals Farm Authority

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Portland 3-1]

• Ty Godwin LF - 0/4 1K
• Marlon Byrd CF - 1/4 1K
• Rick Short 3B - 4/4 1R 1RBI [editor’s note: It’s a damn shame the Nats don’t need an IF ;-P]
• Brendan Harris 2B - 0/3 1K
• Edgar Gonzalez PH - 0/1 1K

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to New Britain 9-5]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 1/3 1R 1BB 2SB
• Josh Labandeira SS - 0/3 1BB 1K 1E
• Larry Broadway 1B - 0/4 2K
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 3/4 2R 3RBI(26th) 2HR(7th) 1K [Don’t get any ideas Bowden]
• Josh Karp SP - 5.2IP 9H 6R(6ER) 3BB 1K 1HR 1HBP; Lost

Potomac (High A)

• No game scheduled

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Greenville 4-3]

• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/4 1SB; OF assist (runner at the plate)
• Devin Ivany CA - 1/4 1R 1K double 1PB(10)

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Batavia 10-9]

• Dee Brown LF - 2/5 2R 1RBI 1BB 2K
• Mike Daniel RF - 2/6 1R 1RBI; OF assist (runner at plate)
• Ricky Shefka SP - 6IP 7H 3R(3ER) 4BB 5K 1HR 1HBP
• Jeff Taylor RP - 0.1IP 3H 4R(3ER) 1BB 0K
• Craig Stammen RP - 1.2IP 2H 0R 1BB 1K

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Mets 10-4]

• Tim Pahuta 1B - 0/4 2K
• Brian Peacock CA - 2/4 1RBI 1K
• Andre Enriquez RP - 1IP 1H 1R(0ER) 0BB 1K 1WP
• Eduardo Pichardo RP - 1IP 2H 1R(1ER) 1BB 0K

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Portland 6-1]

• Ty Godwin LF - 2/4 1R
• Marlon Byrd CF - 1/4 1R double 1GIDP
• Rick Short 3B - 3/3 1R 1RBI 1BB
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/4 1R 2RBI 1K
• Matt White LH SP - 7IP 5H 1R(1ER) 2BB 5K; Win
• Jason Bergmann RP - 1IP 0H 0R 1BB 3K
• Travis Hughes RP - 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 1K

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated New Hampshire 6-1]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 0/5 1K
• Josh Labandeira SS - 2/4 1R double
• Larry Broadway 1B - 0/3 1RBI 2K 1SF
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 1/4 1R 1RBI double
• Danny Rueckel RP - 0.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 0K; Win (#9 in relief)
• Saul Rivera RP - 1IP 2H 0R 0BB 3K

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Frederick 2-1]

• Ian Desmond SS - 1/4 1K
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/2 1BB 1GIDP
• Salomon Manriquez DH - 0/2 1BB 1GIDP
• Frank Diaz CF - 0/0

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Greenville 8-7]

• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/5 2GIDP
• Edgardo Baez RF - 3/4 1R 1RBI 1BB double
• Collin Balester SP - 1.1IP 2H 0R 0BB 0K; Left game with injury (Left the game in the second inning after he was hit in the head by a throw to second base. He is not expected to miss any action as a result of the incident, according to the Sand Gnats.)

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Batavia 10-6]

• Dee Brown LF - 2/5 1R 1RBI
• Mike Daniel RF - 3/5 2R 5RBI 1HR
• Andrew Lane 2B - 0/4 1BB 3K
• John Lannan SP - 6IP 6H 2R(2ER) 2BB 5K

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Mets 6-5 in 11 innings]

• Ryan Delaughter RF - 2/5 1R 2RBI 1BB 2K 1HR 1GIDP
• Tim Pahuta DH - 0/5 2K

VSL Nationals

• Season ended

For the period ending August 7 … Chad Durbin, New Orleans 2 G, 2 GS, 0 CG, 0 SHO, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 14.1 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 13 SO, 0 SV Bouncing back and forth between Triple-A and the Majors since 1999, Chad Durbin is making his case for another shot at the big leagues, winning his third and fourth consecutive decisions last week by tossing 14 1/3 shutout innings. The Kansas City Royals 1996 third-round pick shut out Tucson on four singles and a walk in a 2-1 win on August 1, striking out seven in 7 1/3 innings. He turned around and blanked Tacoma for seven innings on Sunday, allowing leadoff doubles in the first and second innings to along with three walks. He struck out six in the game and at one point set down 13 straight batters. Durbin is now 3-4 after beginning the season 0-4. He hasn’t allowed an earned run in his last 23 innings.

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Portland 9-7]

• Edgar Gonzalez 2B - 0/5 1K 1E
• Ty Godwin LF - 2/5 2R 1RBI
• Marlon Byrd CF - 4/5 1R 1RBI
• Rick Short 1B - 1/4 1R 3RBI 1BB 1K 1HR
• Brendan Harris 3B - 0/2 1R 1BB 1GIDP 1E

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to New Hampshire 2-1]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 2/3 1BB 1K
• Henry Mateo 2B - 1/4 1SB
• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/4 2K
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 1/4 double
• Josh Labandeira SS - 0/4
• Armando Galarraga SP - 6IP 6H 2R(2ER) 1BB 3K 1HR; Loss

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Frederick 10-0]

• Ian Desmond SS - 2/4 2R 1BB 2SB
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/3 2R 2BB 1K
• Kory Casto 3B - 2/3 2R 2RBI 2BB

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Greenville 16-1]

• Devin Ivany CA - 1/2 1PB
• Edgardo Baez RF - 1/4 1R 1K double

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Hudson Valley 4-2]

• Dee Brown LF - 2/4 1R 1RBI 1K 1HR 1CS
• Mike Daniel RF - 0/4 1K
• Jeff Taylor RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K

GCL Nationals (R) [Defeated GCL Dodgers 3-2]

• Tim Pahuta 1B - 0/4 1K
• Ryan Delaughter RF - 0/3 1R 1K
• Brian Peacock CA - 1/2 1BB

VSL Nationals

• No game scheduled

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Portland 3-2]

• Ty Godwin LF - 2/5 2R double; OF Assist (runner @ home)
• Marlon Byrd CF - 2/3 1BB
• Rick Short 1B - 2/4
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/4 1K
• Edgar Gonzalez PH - 0/1
• Recent Signing: John Halama SP - 3IP 3H 1R(1ER) 0BB 0K
• Bill Bray RP - 1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost DH to New Hampshire 2-1 & 7-6]

• G1: Kenny Kelly CF - 1/3 double
• G1: Henry Mateo 2B - 1/3 1CS
• G1: Larry Broadway 1B - 0/3 2K
• G1: Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 0/3 1K
• G1: Darrell Rasner SP - 6IP 4H 2R(2ER) 3BB 5K 1HBP; Loss
• G2: Kenny Kelly CF - 1/3 1R 1RBI 1BB 1K 1HR 1E
• G2: Henry Mateo 2B - 1/3 2R 1BB
• G2: Larry Broadway 1B - 2/3 1R 2RBI 1BB 1HR 1HBP
• G2: Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 2/4 1R
• G2: Josh Labandeira SS - 1/4 2K
• G2: Saul Rivera RP - 0.2IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K

Potomac (High A) [Game against Frederick suspended in bottom of 6th with P-Nats losing 4-1]

• Ian Desmond SS - 0/3 1K
• Frank Diaz CF - 0/2 1BB
• Kory Casto 3B - 0/2
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 1/1 1BB

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Greenville 4-2]

• Devin Ivany CA - 0/4 1BB 2K
• Edgardo Baez RF - 1/4 1RBI 1K 1GIDP
• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/4 1K

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Hudson Valley 7-3]

• Dee Brown LF - 1/3 1R 1RBI 1K
• Mike Daniel RF - 0/3 2K 1SAC

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Dodgers 7-3]

• Tim Pahuta DH - 1/4 3RBI 1K 1BB
• Brian Peacock CA - 0/4 1K

VSL Nationals/Marlins

• No game scheduled.

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Tacoma 4-1]

• Brandon Watson RF - 0/3 1K; OF assist (runner @ 3B)
• Edgar Gonzalez RF - 0/0
• Ty Godwin LF - 1/4 1RBI 1K
• Marlon Byrd CF - 0/2 1R 1BB
• Rick Short 1B - 1/4 1R 1RBI double
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/3

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to Norwich 5-3]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 1/5 1RBI 2K double
• Josh Labandeira SS - 2/5 1R 1RBI 1SB double 1E
• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/3 1RBI 1BB 1K double
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 1/4 1K
• Henry Mateo PH - 0/1 1K
• Danny Rueckel RP - 2IP 2H 0R 0BB 0K

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Frederick 7-3]

• Ian Desmond SS - 2/5 2K 1E (#26)
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/4 1RBI 1K 1HBP double
• Kory Casto 3B - 0/4 1BB
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 1/3 2R 1BB
• Josh Whitesell 1B - 1/3 double
• Mike Hinckley SP - 6.1IP 8H 7R(6ER) 2BB 1K 1HBP; Loss

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Columbus 6-4]

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

Vermont (SS) [Lost 6-4 to Hudson Valley]

• Dee Brown LF - 0/3 1R 1BB 2K
• Mike Daniel RF - 2/4 1RBI 1K
• Marco Estrada SP - 4.2IP 4H 4R(4ER) 4BB 8K 2HR 1HBP; Loss
• Rehab Assignment: Clint Everts RP - 3IP 3H 2R(2ER) 1BB 2K 1HBP

GCL Nationals (R)

• No game scheduled.

VSL Nationals/Marlins

• No game scheduled.

Back on June 16, in his self-fellating article in the Washington Examiner, Jim Bowden teased with this nugget:

And we have a secret player we’re hoping to sign Friday who we think can be an impact player down the road. But if a big market club discovers him, the price of the player will triple and we’ll no longer be able to afford him. He’d be the equivalent of a second-round pick

Today, Nationals beat writer potentially revealed the secret player:

The Nationals signed 16-year-old shortstop Frank Cruz of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Had Cruz been drafted in the United States, the Nationals believe he would have been a third-round pick. They are hoping that he can become another B.J. Upton, who is currently with the Devil Rays.

Once again, the Bodes hype machine is at full throttle. Not much I can uncover on him through Google. I’ll keep you posted

The AP has reported that the recently recalled Matt Cepicky was designated for assignment and the previously discussed New Orleans OF Brandon Watson was recalled (I previously discussed Watson here).

I want to highlight one part of the article:

Cepicky wasn’t pleased about the move, which puts him on waivers for 72 hours. If he’s not claimed, he’ll have the choice of reporting to New Orleans or becoming a free agent. “I am always the odd man out,” Cepicky said as he cleared out his locker after going 1-for-4 in Sunday afternoon’s 3-0 loss to San Diego. “I don’t understand why me going down is going to help this team win. … If the team was winning, this wouldn’t happen, but unfortunately, the team is not, so they look for a way to help it out.” He hit .240 (6-for-25) in two stints with the Nationals this season. “I’ve never seen somebody go through this,” he said. “I have never known anybody to have to deal with this.”

While Cepicky was truly nothing special when it comes to major league OFs, I couldn’t agree more with his feelings. General Manager Jim Bowden has once again proved he is nothing more than an asshat as the guy making personnel decisions. There have been way too many instances of the Nationals minor leaguers getting jerked around (see Harris, Brendan or Short, Rick). Bowden is not the guy Nationals fans want making decisions about the future of this team and the sooner he’s back on Cold Pizza the better.

Here’s to hoping Brandon Watson gets a fair shake. Though I won’t be holding my breath.

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Tacoma 6-5]

• Brandon Watson RF - 2/4 1R 1SB
• Ty Godwin LF - 0/3 1R
• Marlon Byrd CF - 2/4 1R 1RBI 1K
• Rick Short 3B - 1/3 1R 1BB double
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/4
• Jason Bergmann RP - 2IP 4H 4R(2ER) 1BB 0K

Harrisburg (AA) [Defeated Norwich 8-6]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 1/4 1R 2RBI 1BB 1K 1HR 1CS
• Henry Mateo 2B- 1/5 1R 1SB triple
• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/5 1R
• Dutch Zimmerman 3B - 2/4 1RBI 1BB
• Josh Labandeira SS - 1/4 1RBI 1K
• Josh Karp SP - 4.1IP 9H 6R(5ER) 0BB 5K 1WP 1HBP
• Saul Rivera RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 2K; Save

Wilmington (High A) [Lost to Wilmington 9-4]

• Ian Desmond SS - 3/4 2R 1K 2 doubles
• Frank Diaz CF - 3/4 1RBI 1K
• Kory Casto 3B - 0/3 3RBI 1K 1SF
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 0/4 2K
• Josh Whitesell 1B - 0/4 1K
• Greg Bunn SP - 3IP 6H 6R(6ER) 4BB 2K 2HR; Lost

Savannah (Low A) [Lost to Columbus 2-1]

• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/4 1K
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/4 2K

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Brooklyn 3-2]

• Dee Brown LF - 1/4 2K 1 double
• Andrew Lane 2B - 1/4
• Ricky Shefka SP - 6IP 7H 2R(2ER) 0BB 2K; Win

GCL Nationals (R) [Lost to GCL Marlins 7-5]

• Brian Peacock RF (1st time) - 0/3 1R 1BB
• Tim Pahuta DH - 1/4 1RBI
• Andre Enriquez RP - 1IP 3H 0R 0BB 2K

VSL Nationals [Lost to VSL Astros 9-2]

• Ernesto Rodriguez CA - 1/1 1BB
• Luis Solorzano SS - 0/3 1BB
• Eduardo Urbina DH - 0/4 1R 1K 1GIDP
• Alexis Villegas LF - 2/4 1R 2 doubles
• Wilmer Blanco SP - 4IP 8H 5R(4ER) 1BB 4K 1HR 1HBP 1BK; Loss
• Deivis Hernandez RP - 2IP 5H 3R(3ER) 0BB 1K
• Julio Perez RP - 1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K

Nationals beat writer/lap dog Bill Ladson had this report today.

Some in the Nationals organization do not consider outfielder Brad Wilkerson a true leadoff hitter, so the team is seriously thinking about promoting outfielder Brandon Watson from New Orleans to bat in the No. 1 slot. Entering Friday’s action, Watson is hitting .361 with one home run and 20 RBIs in 72 games. He also has stolen 26 bases and has been caught 12 times. Bowden and team president Tony Tavares have already received glowing reports about Watson from Jose Cardenal, the Nationals’ special advisor to the general manager. Cardenal has gone so far as to compare Watson to Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, adding that Watson does not need anymore Minor League seasoning. “Watson hits the ball everywhere. From home to first, he can fly,” Cardenal said. “The only thing that he needs to do is, when he gets on base, pick his pitch when he steals a base. Right now, he runs on the first or second pitch all the time and they throw him out. He is going to be a great ballplayer and great leadoff man for this team.”

I agree that it is certainly worth the look at Brandon Watson. But Rocket Bill needs to scale back on the praise just a bit. Watson’s line at New Orleans thus far is 357/404/424. Not bad for a leadoff hitter. But let’s take a look at some other numbers that Ladson neglects to mention. In 73 games and 314 AB, Watson has only 25BB. Pulling the curtain back a little bit more, in Watson’s minor league career, from 1999-2004, he walked only 152 times in 610 games (2,407 AB!!!). He has got his strikeouts under control but those are definitely not numbers you want to see out of your leadoff hitter.

Additionally, the SB numbers (158/246 in SB attempts in his minor league career). That shows he has speed but has not necessarily learned how to run the bases. Methinks the comparisons to Ichiro are a bit of an exaggeration.

I don’t want to make it sound like he’d be a failure. He is a better leadoff option than Brad Wilkerson given his arm injury. He has blazing speed, he just needs to learn how to effectively run the bases. His BA is good but the majority of his hits (763/874) are singles with very few doubles (82) and triples (23) in his 6+ seasons. There is something there. He is definitely worth a long look this September (if not sooner). I just want to set realistic expectations.