Nationals Farm Authority

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Iowa 13-2]

• Ty Godwin LF - 3/5 1R 1RBI 1SB
• Edgar Gonzalez 3B/2B - 1/3 2K
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/2 1RBI 1BB
• Bill Bray RP - 1IP 2H 4R(4ER) 2BB 0K 1HR

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to Trenton 7-5]

• Josh Labandeira SS - 2/3 2R 1RBI 1BB 1HR double
• Larry Broadway 1B - 0/4 1K 1GIDP
• Danny Rueckel RP - 3IP 5H 5R(5ER) 2BB 3K 1HR

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Winston-Salem 6-1]

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

Savannah (Low A) [Defeated Augusta 4-1]

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

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Tri-City 9-2]

• Francisco Guzman RF - 4/4 3R 1RBI double HR
• Mike Daniel LF - 0/2 1BB 2K
• John Lannan SP - 7IP 7H 2R(2ER) 6BB 3K 1WP; Win

The Nationals pulled one out of the fire last night winning a game they should have won in 9 innings in 12 innings.

Once again, a great outing by John Patterson was wasted (14 no-decisions this year!!!) Additionally, the Nationals once again had to use multiple arms out of their bullpen taxing an already overworked group of guys who have not complained.

To recap … Wednesday night, doubleheader versus Atlanta: Stanton, Majewski, & Eischen pitch game 1, while Stanton & Cordero go in game 2. Thursday night against Atlanta, Bergmann, Carrasco, Majewski, Stanton & Ayala pitch. Friday night against Philadelphia, Stanton, Eischen, and Carrasco pitch. Last night against Philadelphia, Eischen, Cordero, Majewski, and Stanton pitch.

And still no help for the pen from roster expansion. Yet. But Bill Ladson mentions his game notes that help may be on the way.

With right-handers Tony Armas Jr. and Luis Ayala battling injuries, look for the Nationals to call up some pitchers, including Darrell Rasner and Travis Hughes, sometime next week. Rasner, playing for Double-A Harrisburg, is 6-7 with a 3.59 ERA in 27 games. He was the Expos’ second-round pick in the 2002 First-Year Player Draft. He will likely be added to the rotation. Hughes has been with the Nationals twice this season, and has given up no runs in 4 2/3 innings. The numbers game is the reason he twice had to be sent down to Triple-A New Orleans. In addition, look for Jon Rauch to be back with the team. He is currently on a rehab assignment with Triple-A New Orleans and is doing very well. In six games — five of them starts — he is 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA.

Some time next week? How about today?

Apparently, Kory Casto.

The Nationals plan to convert Class A Potomac third baseman Kory Casto into a second baseman during the two-month long Dominican Instructional League that runs from early October to early December. Casto is hitting .288 with 21 home runs, 36 doubles and 88 RBI. “Every player has a purpose as to why we’re putting them [in the Dominican Instructional League],” Bowden said. “Casto is perfect. We can move him from third to second because [Ryan] Zimmerman is going to be our long-term third baseman. I think it’s going to help his development.”

That is certainly interesting news. Casto was drafted as an OF in the 2003 draft, converted to 3B, and now is going to work at 2B. The good news … the Nationals are actually showing some forethought in seeing if Casto is the heir apparent to Jose Vidro in 2 years. The bad news … Brendan Harris should not worry about planning any visits to DC.

I’ll be interested to see how this works out. And how soon it is until Bowden starts the Rogers Hornsby and Joe Morgan comparisons.

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Iowa 10-4]

• Brendan Harris 2B - 2/5 1R 2RBI 1K double 1HR
• Edgar Gonzalez 3B - 1/2 1R
• Josh Karp SP - 5.2IP 6H 2R(1ER) 0BB 2K 1HR; Win
• Bill Bray RP - 1IP 2H 0R 0BB 2K

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to Trenton 6-1]

• Josh Labandeira SS - 0/4
• Larry Broadway 1B - 0/3 1BB 1K

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Winston-Salem 5-4]

• Ian Desmond SS - 0/3 1R 1SB(#32) 1HBP
• Frank Diaz CF - 1/4 1RBI 1K double
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/3 1R 1BB
• Salomon Manriquez CA - 1/4
• Josh Whitesell 1B - 1/3 1R 1RBI 1BB 2K 1HR
• Mike Hinckley SP - 7.2IP 6H 4R(4ER) 4BB 5K 1HR

Savannah (Low A) [Defeated Augusta 4-2]

• Devin Ivany CA - 3/5
• Edgardo Baez RF - 0/4 2K
• Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/3 1R 1BB 1K

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Lowell 5-3]

• Francisco Guzman RF - 2/4

Wow. I’m a little bit scared. Why? Washington Post columnist Tom Boswell took off his big foam Nats finger (H/T Capitol Punishment) and laid out the truth.

“In baseball, you never like to say ‘must games.’ But these next two are important. I hope Joey [Eischen] and I saved some of the bullpen tonight so we’re ready for this weekend,” said Mike Stanton, 38, who took one for the team by working three innings despite pitching in his fourth game in three days.

Why was a distinguished veteran of 1,018 games (seventh most in history) used/abused in such fashion? Because either MLB or team president Tony Tavares (guilt as yet undetermined) was too cheap to provide enough Sept. 1 call-ups. The Nats, who’ll make more than $30 million in profit for baseball this year, are trying to stay “under budget” at a paltry $54 million. So, over a matter of a few hundred thousand dollars, GM Jim Bowden wasn’t permitted to bring up the 10 minor leaguers he wanted. And the three players he was allowed to bring up on yesterday (none pitchers) turned out to be the wrong ones at the wrong time.

“We needed pitching so we wouldn’t wear out our bullpen. And we bring up three position players?” said one veteran.

Oh, it’s definitely getting testy in Natsland: pull together or be pulled apart.

I, among others, have been known to criticize Boz for his fanboy ramblings. So let me be the first to tip my cap to Boz for his candor.

Bravo (now go put the foam finger back on, I know you want to).

Washington (MLB) [Lost to Philadelphia 7-1]

• Ryan Zimmerman 3B - 1/3 double (1st major league hit); played in field for 1st time, started nice looking around the horn 5-4-3 DP. I was at the game and Zimmerman seemed comfortable out there defensively. He entered the game in the top of the 4th. After the first batter reached on a double. Bobby Abreu ripped a hard liner towards Zimmerman. It was a little bit high but it appeared that Zimmerman mistimed his jump and could have caught it. He started a beautiful inning ending double play, fielding a slow groundball and quickly getting the ball to 2B so the DP could be completed on the speedy Jimmy Rollins. At the plate, Zimmerman appeared over-anxious. He faced a total of 4 pitches in 3AB. His double to left center in the 5th was hard hit as was his lineout to RF in the 7th. All in all, he looked good out there with the only criticism that he needs to show a little bit more patience and see a more pitches at the plate.
• Rick Short PH/2B - 0/1; entered the game as a PH in the 8th and fouled out to RF. He stayed in the game as the 2B only fielding a humpback line drive single to shallow RF.
• Kenny Kelly RF - 0/0; Entered the game as a defensive replacement in the 8th. Only action in the field was handling a single to RF.
• Brandon Watson PH/CF - 1/1 1BB; Entered the game as PH in the 6th. Made two putouts in CF.

New Orleans (AAA) [Defeated Iowa 11-7]

• Ty Godwin LF - 1/5 1RBI 3K double
• Edgar Gonzalez 3B - 1/5 2RBI 1K
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/5 2R 1RBI 1K double
• Travis Hughes RP - 1IP 2H 1R(1ER) 2BB 2K

Harrisburg (AA) [Lost to Trenton 7-6]

• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/4 1R 1RBI 1HR
• Josh Labandeira SS - 3/3 2R 1RBI 1BB double 1E

Potomac (High A) [Lost to Myrtle Beach 6-2]

• Ian Desmond SS - 2/4 1R 1E (#39)
• Frank Diaz CF - 2/4 1R 2RBI 1HR
• Kory Casto 3B - 1/3 1BB 1K 1SB
• Josh Whitesell DH - 1/3 1BB 1K

Savannah (Low A) [Split DH with Augusta 5-3 & 5-7]

• G1: Edgardo Baez RF - 1/3 1RBI 2K triple
• G1: Devin Ivany DH - 1/3 1R 1RBI 2K
• G1: Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/1 2BB
• G1: Collin Balester RP - 2IP 3H 1R(1ER) 1BB 1K; Win
• G2: Edgardo Baez RF - 0/3 1BB
• G2: Devin Ivany CA - 2/4 1R 2RBI 1K 1SB double; 1PB
• G2: Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/4 1K 1SB

Vermont (SS) [Defeated Lowell 7-2]

• Francisco Guzman RF - 1/4 1R 2RBI 1K double
• Mike Daniel RF - 0/1 1K

With just four games remaining in the season, the Harrisburg Senators announced a few more roster changes today. The Senators will be sending outfielders Dee Haynes and Cristian Guerrero to triple-A New Orleans. The Senators will get two players from Savannah, infielder Brad Ditter and outfielder Doug Vroman.

Senators’ star third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was named the Senators’ Most Valuable Player for the 2005 season. Zimmerman, who was promoted to the major leagues earlier in the day, was not on hand to accept his award. Members of the Senators’ team voted on the MVP award, which was announced prior to the Senators’ final home game Thursday. Other award winners were: 2005 Most Competitive Player: Dan Dement 2005 Fan’s Favorite: Melvin Dorta 2005 Carl J. Dordaro Leadership Award: Darrell Rasner 2005 Mort Rosen Community Service Award: Justin Echols Justin Echols - “Community Service” The post-season awards were made possible through the Capital Area Chapter of the PA Sports Hall of Fame. The Senators players voted on the Most Competitive Award while fan balloting over the last two home stands provided the winner for the Fan’s Favorite honor.

Barry Svrluga, the Nats beat writer, has an article in Friday’s Washington Post providing some of the answers to why the Nationals only recalled Ryan Zimmerman as part of roster expansion yesterday. Yesterday, Bill Ladson of MLB.com explained that the Nats would only call up Zimmerman due to “roster restraints” which definitely caused me to scratch my head. For completeness, Deivi Cruz was also added to the roster without anyone being sent down.

Why didn’t the Nationals call up more than two players?

…Nationals President Tony Tavares nixed that plan for financial reasons.

Financial reasons? The Nationals are a team that has made more than $12M than expected on ticket revenue alone.

Tavares continued:

“The average amount of guys to call up is something like five. I pushed back on Jim and said, ‘Make sure you’re calling up people that are going to be used.’ If you bring up 11 guys, you start talking about changing the size of the [chartered] airplane and all kinds of things. Everybody, including the Yankees, has to have some kind of budget”

The average amount is five. The Nationals called up two. There is still no reason they could not have brought up another pitcher given the fact that they had a doubleheader on Wednesday and were starting a pitcher who is known to rack up high pitch counts in low innings pitched. And guess what happened, Tony Armas went 4 innings throwing 81 pitches forcing Frank Robinson to use 5 relief pitchers in a 10 inning game. Definitely not the type of roster management one would hope for in a pennant race.

Ok, so let’s turn the page and prepare for a 10 game homestand against playoff contenders Philadelphia, Florida, and Atlanta. Now that the Nats are back home, I guess it’s time to add a few more players to the roster. Perhaps a pitcher or two given the heavy usage of the bullpen recently and perhaps a middle infielder who can play 2B given that Jose Vidro may be done for the season.

Who’s in line for a call-up today? Back to Svrluga:

They will start Friday by adding speedy outfielders Brandon Watson and Kenny Kelly — addressing the team’s sloth-like base running — as well as infielder Rick Short, who flirted with hitting .400 for Class AAA New Orleans.

Excuse me? Who was called up? Two OFs who are the mirror image of one another and a guy who deserves a call-up but is really not a major league quality 2B. Who is making these decisions? Once again Jim Bowden tries to solve a RP/MI problem by calling up OFs. I’m not even going to get into the fact they are bringing up Kelly who is not on the 40-man roster instead of Ty Godwin who is the exact same player and is on the 40-man roster. The Nationals do not need two pinch runners who can only play OF. They need a RP and a MI. Where is RHP Travis Hughes? Where is Brendan Harris? If they are bound and determined to promote someone not on the 40-man, where is LHP Bill Bray?

Once again, the Nationals GM has proven himself to be an inept roster manager … at best.

I will close with a positive spin provided by a guy I’ve really been impressed with this year, CA Brian Schneider

“This team is making a lot of money right now. Just put it like that. Revenues are higher than predicted. The good thing is if these guys come up a couple of days late, they still get the experience.”

I hope it’s only a couple of days late, Brian. I really do.

Washington (MLB) [Lost to Atlanta 8-7 in 10 innings]

• Ryan Zimmerman PH - 0/1 1K; Made his MLB debut, striking out in his only AB in the 7th inning.

New Orleans (AAA) [Lost to Oklahoma 9-3]

• Kenny Kelly CF - 1/3 2RBI 1BB 1K double; will be called up on Friday (requires a 40-man roster move)
• Brandon Watson RF - 1/4; will be called up on Friday (on 40-man roster)
• Rick Short 1B - 0/3 1GIDP; finishes year at 0.383 as he will be called up on Friday (on 40-man roster)
• Brendan Harris 2B - 1/3 1BB 1K 1SB
• Ty Godwin LF - 0/3 1R 1K 1GIDP 1SB
• Edgar Gonzalez 3B - 1/4 1R 1RBI
• Bill Bray RP - 0.1IP 1H 0R 0BB 1K

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

• Josh Labandeira SS - 0/4 1K
• Larry Broadway 1B - 1/4 1R double
• David Maust SP - 7.2IP 7H 4R(4ER) 1BB 6K 1HR; Loss

Potomac (High A) [Defeated Myrtle Beach 4-1]

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

Savannah (Low A) [Split DH with Greenville 4-6 & 5-0]

• G1: Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 1/3 1BB
• G1: Edgardo Baez RF - 2/4 1R 1K double triple
• G2: Edgardo Baez DH - 0/2 1BB
• G2: Devin Ivany CA - 1/3 1RBI
• G2: Rogearvin Bernadina CF - 0/2 1R 1BB 1K

Vermont (SS) [Lost to Lowell 8-1]

• Mike Daniel LF - 0/4 3K

No big shock, Ryan Zimmerman will be called up today as part of roster expansion. Matt White was outrighted to New Orleans opening a spot on the 40-man roster. Apparently, Zimmerman will not be playing regularly which I do not necessarily agree with. But there was one comment that drew my attention more than anything else:

Zimmerman is the only player from the Nationals’ farm system that will be called up on Thursday. Budget restraints prevented them from calling up more players. However, Bowden expects more promotions in another week.

Budget restraints? Where is this coming from? I thought the Nationals had an excess of cash (even taking into account the Preston Wilson and Deivi Cruz moves). This isn’t your parent’s Expos, if there isn’t budget available, someone has some explaining to do.

Now on to the second sentence. Excuse me, how is there no budget to bring them up today but there will be in another week? Is Bowden waiting for his allowance on Sunday? What’s the deal here?

Perhaps I’m over-analyzing or maybe Rocket Bill is sniffing glue, but those two sentences confuse me.