Nationals Farm Authority

I’m trying something new this year. At the beginning of the month, I will provide a look back at the good and bad performances at each level of the Nationals minor league organization beginning with New Orleans and working my way down through Savannah (and eventually Vermont and GCL).

Leading Indicators

• Larry Broadway 1B - 354/386/570 (BA/OBP/SLG) in 79AB with 3HR 18RBI: Broadway is not allowing Nick Johnson’s long term extension worry him in the slightest. In April, the 25-year old punished PCL pitchers out of the heart of the Zephyrs order while playing a steady 1B in New Orleans (1E in 22G). With the presence of fellow LH 1B Daryle Ward backing up Johnson in Washington, a promotion is not in his near future. It may make some sense to see if Broadway has any aptitude in the OF, thereby increasing his versatility and value to the Nationals.
• Mike Vento RF - 370/413/589 in 73AB with 4HR 10RBI: Vento was added to provide OF depth in AAA for the Nationals. The 27-year old has provided a surprising RH bat in the New Orleans lineup. He projects best as a #4/5 OF and may get an opportunity at the major league level if the Nationals trade either Jose Guillen or Alfonso Soriano.
• Bernie Castro 2B - 302/362/419 in 43AB with 7SB in as many attempts: The 26-year old switch-hitter was one of the slew of 2B that the Nationals signed in the off-season. Unfortunately for him, he is at least sixth on the depth chart (Jose Vidro, Damian Jackson, Marlon Anderson, Brendan Harris, Alfonso Soriano). That is disappointing for Castro because he would provide very good speed for the Nationals. A hamstring injury slowed him mid-month but he has returned and reassumed his spot at the top of the Zephyrs lineup. UPDATE:  Castro was returned to the DL with the same hamstring injury on Monday evening.
• Michael O’Connor LH SP - 4G 18.2IP 0-0 2.41ERA 1.29WHIP 9.6K/9 3.9BB/9 0.5HR/9: There was a reason the 25-year old O’Connor was given the opportunity to fill in for an injury-plagued Nationals rotation last week. The LH Colonial SP has yet to record a decision in his four appearances (all starts), but he has pitched very well, quickly proving that the 2005 Nationals Minor League Pitcher of the Year was up to the challenge of his promotion from Potomac to New Orleans.
• Santiago Ramirez and Saul Rivera RH RPs

  Name	G	GF	IP	W-L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K/9	BB/9	HR/9
  Ramirez	11	5	15.1	1-1	1	1.17	0.72	9.4	1.2	0.0
  Rivera	6	1	15.0	0-0	0	0.60	0.87	8.4	1.2	0.6

  The Zephyrs have been fotunate to have two solid RH RPs stabilizing their bullpen in 2006. The 27-year old Ramirez has appeared in eleven games, finishing five of them only surrendering two runs while striking out more than a batter per inning. Rivera, a 28-year old long reliever, has nearly matched Ramirez’ IP total in only six games striking almost a batter per inning. Both Ramirez and Rivera have put themselves in positions to fill in for the Nationals should there be a bullpen need.

Lagging Indicators

• Tyrell Godwin LF - 225/257/324 in 71AB: The 26-year old 2004 Rule V selection’s struggles led the Nationals to designate him for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Mike O’Connor. He has had his issues not only at the plate, but also in the field where he has made four errors in only eighteen games played in LF.
• Brandon Larson 3B - 217/289/391 in 69AB: The 29-year old Larson College World Series hero from LSU returned to his old stomping grounds with less than stellar results. In 21 games, Larson has struggled both at 3B (4E) and at the plate (21K in 69AB). Larson has left the door open for Harrisburg Senator 3B (and Nationals #5 prospect) Kory Casto to take over at the hot corner sooner rather than later.
• Andrew Good RH SP - 4G 20IP 0-2 5.85ERA 1.50WHIP 5.4K/9IP 1.4BB/9IP 2.7HR/9IP: While not expected to be anything more than an organizational guy, the 26-year old SP has pitched even worse than anyone could have expected. Be it the 6HR allowed in 20IP or the 5 hit batters in the same timeframe, Good has wasted a golden opportunity to put himself in the picture for the Nationals. He’ll need to dramatically improve on his four game audition or his days as a Zephyr may be in jeopardy.
• Bill Bray LH RP - 10G 12.2IP 3-1 5.68ERA 1.34WHIP 11.4K/9IP 2.1BB/9IP 2.8HR/9IP: The 2004 first round draft pick out of William & Mary has struggled with the longball in his return to New Orleans. He projects best as a lefthanded specialist and needs to improve on his peripherals if he hopes to unseat Joey Eischen or Mike Stanton in Washington.