Nationals Farm Authority

BASEBALL TOMORROW FUND, WASHINGTON NATIONALS TO HOST EQUIPMENT COLLECTION:  Equipment Donations, BTF Grant to Support Youth Baseball & Softball in D.C.

In support of the ongoing commitment from Major League Baseball, its Clubs and the players to increase opportunities for youth participation in baseball and softball, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund is teaming with the Washington Nationals to host an equipment collection drive at RFK Stadium.  Fans are invited to donate new and used equipment, which will benefit Batter Up Foundation/D.C. RBI from Friday, September 1 and Saturday, September 2, as the Nationals take on the Diamondbacks.

In addition, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will award a grant of $5,000 to the Batter Up Foundation/D.C. RBI for the purchase of new equipment.  In recognition of the grant, Cathy Bradley, Executive Director of the Baseball Tomorrow Fund, Nationals SVP of External Affairs, Alphonso Maldon and outfielder, Marlon Anderson will present a ceremonial check to the organization during a pre-game ceremony at RFK Stadium on September 2 at 7:05 pm (EDT).

This marks the second year the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has teamed with Major League Baseball Clubs to supplement their existing equipment collection programs and to help facilitate the creation of new programs.  As part of the program, participating Clubs collect new and used equipment at their ballparks prior to a selected home game(s) and donate the equipment to a local youth baseball or softball organization chosen by the Club.  In addition, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund awards a grant of $5,000 to a youth baseball or softball organization in participating markets.  In total, last season’s Equipment Days benefited 30 youth organizations and raised $118,000 in new equipment and 5,000 used equipment items.

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund is designed to promote and enhance the growth of baseball throughout the world by funding programs, field improvements and equipment purchases to encourage and maintain youth participation in baseball and softball.  Since its inception in 1999, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund has awarded grants totaling more than $10 million benefiting nearly 118,000 youth participating in more than 200 youth baseball and softball programs across the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.  For more information visit www.baseballtomorrowfund.com.

Minor League News

• Todd Jacobson interviews Special Assistant to the GM Jose Rijo who is spearheading the effort to re-establish a Nationals presence in the Dominican Republic
• Jacobson’s weekly farm report
• MLB.com’s Bill Ladson has a few more details regarding the ongoing negotiations with unsigned 2006 2nd rounder Sean Black … A source said Black wants to make more money than right-hander Stephen King, who signed a $750,000 bonus with the club recently … A team official said that Black’s mother would prefer her son went to college, but Black said his mother is not playing a role in the decision

New Orleans (AAA)

• 8/30: Defeated Omaha 5-4 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/31: Andrew Good (9-9 4.84) versus Omaha 8PM EDT
• Times-Picayune looks at the Zephyrs 2006 infield
• Jacobson profiles RP Brett Campbell

• SF: Dorta, M
• SB: Lombard 2 (18, 2nd base off Wood/Phillips, 3rd base off Yarnall/Phillips), Godwin, T (18, 2nd base off Yarnall/Phillips)
• PO: San Pedro (2nd base by Phillips)
• E: DeMent (2, fielding)

• WP: Bouknight
• HBP: Costa (by Hughes)

Harrisburg (AA)

• 8/30: Defeated Bowie 9-4 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/31: Matt Chico (2-0 3.27) at Bowie 7:05PM EDT

• SB: Yepez (3, 2nd base off Hale/Hubele)
• E: Manriquez, S (14, throw)

• WP: Norderum

Potomac (A Advanced)

• 8/30: Lost to Myrtle Beach 9-8 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/31: David Trahan (1-0 10.13) at Myrtle Beach 7:02PM EDT

• CS: Bernadina (10, 2nd base by Parr/Sammons, C)
• E: Brown (5, fielding)

• WP: Henderson, Anderson
• HBP: Suero (by Henderson)

Savannah (A)

• 8/30: Defeated Charleston 10-3 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/31: John Lannan (6-7 4.66) versus Charleston 7:05PM EDT

Vermont (Short Season)

• 8/30: Lost to Hudson Valley 5-0 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/31: Zach Baldwin (1-4 3.25) versus Hudson Valley 7:05PM EDT
• SP Yunior Novoa added from GCL Nationals

• E: Peralta (4, throw)
• Outfield assists: Guzman (Stewart at 2nd base)

In light of the September 1 roster expansion, the Nationals have moved some players around.  I’ll update this post as I uncover the names.

So far:

From Potomac to Harrisburg: RHPs Shairon Martis & Ricardo Morales and LHP Jon Felfoldi

From Savannah to Potomac: RHP Carlos Martinez

Also, Senators OF Frank Diaz has left the Senators to return to his native Venezuela due to a death in the family.  OF/2B Tim Raines Jr has been sent down from New Orleans to fill Diaz spot.

Todd Jacobson of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star has an update on the status of unsigned 2006 2nd round selection, RHP Sean Black.  The Nationals and Black are still far apart

Amateur scouting director Dana Brown is planning to contact Black by the weekend–most likely in a visit to Black’s home–in another effort to persuade the pitcher to choose professional baseball over college.

He is seeking a higher signing bonus than the $600,000 his draft slot would call for, but money is not believed to be the only factor in negotiations.

A source involved in the negotiations said there are those in Black’s family that favor the college route. Washington signed seven of its first eight picks, but Black is the top unsigned high school player from the draft.

Speaking of unsigned draft picks, the Nationals rights to negotiate with the following RHPs expire today:

• 40th rounder Nick Pierce starts with Maryland
• 42nd rounder Javier Martinez returns to Fordham

Some good news on the draft front, 4th round pick Glenn Gibson, a LHP out of Center Moriches (N.Y.) HS makes his professional debut tonight in Vermont pitching against Hudson Valley.  I would expect him to be on a strict pitch count.

New Orleans (AAA)

• 8/29: Lost to Omaha 5-3 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/30: Kip Bouknight (2-0 4.03) versus Omaha 8PM EDT
• Times-Picayune profile of SP Kip Bouknight

• E: Raines (1, throw), Dorta, M (1, throw), Labandeira (22, throw)
• PB: Castillo (10), San Pedro (1)

• WP: Martinez

Harrisburg (AA)

• 8/29: Defeated Bowie 5-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/30: TBD at Bowie 7:05PM EDT

• CS: Guerrero (3, 2nd base by Finch/Chavez)
• E: Lane (11, fielding)

• WP: Balester, Perrin

Potomac (A Advanced)

• 8/29: Lost to Myrtle Beach 3-0 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/30: Mike Hinckley (6-8 5.40) at Myrtle Beach 7:02PM EDT

• E: Brown (4, fielding)

• Pickoffs: Wilson (Sammons, C at 1st base), Martis (Carmona at 2nd base)

Savannah (A)

• 8/29: Lost to Charleston 10-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/30: Bryan Lambert (2-9 5.65) versus Charleston 7:05PM EDT

• E: Schade (4, fielding), Sandora (1, throw)
• PB: Sandora (3)

• WP: Bunn

Vermont (Short Season)

• 8/29: Lost to Lowell 5-3 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/30: Glenn Gibson (1st Professional Start) versus Hudson Valley 7:05PM EDT

• HBP: Goldschmeding (by Beazley)

• HBP: Kalish (by De Los Santos).

Frankie Piliere of the always solid Capitol Dugout has a good recap of the status of the Nationals affiliations.

• New Orleans: Concurs with my thoughts that the only options for the Nationals AAA affiliation are Richmond (if the Braves move) or the soon-to-be available Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• Harrisburg: Agreement through 2010
• Potomac: Agreement expires at end of 2006, but Piliere believes there is little reason to move (as do I).  Though there were some rumblings earlier this summer about Brevard County becoming a Nationals affiliate again
• Savannah: No reason to change affiliation but stranger things have happened
• Vermont: Expires after 2006.  Piliere lists Batavia (Western NY near Rochester) and Jamestown (Southwestern NY near the NW corner of Pennsylvania)

New Orleans (AAA)

• 8/28: Defeated Omaha 5-4 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/29: Anastacio Martinez (5-9 4.62) versus Omaha 8PM EDT

• S: Dorta, M
• SF: Labandeira; Vento
• SB: Raines (5, 2nd base off Yarnall/Price), Lombard (16, 2nd base off Middleton, K/Price)
• CS: DeMent (2, 2nd base by Middleton, K/Phillips), Dorta, M (2, 2nd base by Middleton, K/Phillips)
• HBP: Larson (by Yan)

• WP: Rodriguez, Corcoran

Harrisburg (AA)

• 8/28: Defeated Bowie 4-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/29: Colin Balester (0-0 3.00) at Bowie 7:05PM EDT

• SF: Manriquez, S
• CS: Yepez (1, 2nd base by Olson/Hubele)
• Outfield assists: Diaz, F (Bass at 2nd base)

• WP: Alvarez

Potomac (A Advanced)

• 8/28: Lost to Kinston 8-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/29: Shairon Martis (0-1 3.00) at Myrtle Beach 7:02PM EDT
• Thanks to the Potomac Booster Club who have learned that SS Ian Desmond, CA Devin Ivany, and RP Zech Zinicola will play for the Waikiki Beach Boys this winter (I also believe SP Marco Estrada will be among the group going to Hawaii)

• E: Brown (3, throw)

• WP: Reid, Trahan
• HBP: Herrera (by Reid)

Savannah (A)

• 8/28: Defeated Charleston 3-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/29: Brett Nyquist (5-2 2.62) versus Charleston 7:05PM EDT

• E: Estrada (1, pickoff)
• Pickoffs: Poppert (Battle, T at 1st base)

• HBP: Battle, T (by Estrada)

Vermont (Short Season)

• 8/28: Lost to Lowell 13-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/29: TBD versus Lowell 7:05PM EDT

• SB: Goldschmeding (7, 2nd base off Doubront/Egan)
• CS: Maxwell (4, 2nd base by Doubront/Egan)
• PO: Maxwell (1st base by Egan)
• E: Goldschmeding 2 (13, fielding, throw)

• WP: Anderson
• HBP: Egan (by Arnesen), Smyth (by Taylor)

New Orleans (AAA)

• 8/27: Lost to Iowa 2-1 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/28: Steve Watkins (6-7 4.23) versus Omaha 8PM EDT

• CS: DeMent (1, home by Marshall/Reyes)
• PO: DeMent (3rd base by Reyes)

• WP: Figueroa
• IBB: Pie, F (by Hughes)
• HBP: Reyes (by Figueroa)

Harrisburg (AA)

• 8/27: Lost to Altoona 4-2 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/28: Oscar Alvarez (7-7 5.44) at Bowie 7:05PM EDT
• Geoff Morrow of the Patriot News has a good profile of possible September call-up SP/RP Beltran Perez

• SB: Yepez (2, 2nd base off Shortslef/Reyes)
• E: Guerrero (3, fielding)
• HBP: Casto, K (by Shortslef), McCutchen (by Mock, G).

• HBP: McCutchen (by Mock, G)

Potomac (A Advanced)

• 8/27: Defeated Kinston 7-5 in 10 innings (Box/Gamer)
• 8/28: Craig Stammen (0-1 5.66) at Kinston 7:05PM EDT

• SB: Brown (2, 2nd base off Collins/Brock), Desmond (14, 2nd base off Ness/Brock), Martinez, M (1, 2nd base off Ness/Brock), Chavez (20, 2nd base off Ness/Brock)

• HBP: Brown (by Morales, R)

Savannah (A)

• 8/27: Defeated Rome 12-1 (Box/Gamer)
• 8/28: Marco Estrada (0-4 7.50) versus Charleston 7:05PM EDT

• E: Contreras (27, throw)

• WP: Martinez, C

Vermont (Short Season)

• 8/27: Game postponed by rain; will not be made up
• 8/28: Cole Kimball (1-2 5.40) versus Lowell 7:05PM EDT

On Friday September 1, major league teams are permitted to expand their rosters from 25 players to any number up to 40. Only players on the 40-man roster are eligible to be recalled, and it’s typically the opportunity for teams to add extra depth to their bench/bullpen or give younger players their first chance in the major leagues. Teams will also activate injured players from the disabled list.

In 2005, the Nationals added five bench players (Ryan Zimmerman, Rick Short, Brandon Watson, Kenny Kelly, and Keith Osik) as well as two arms (Travis Hughes and Darrell Rasner). Activated from the DL were RP Jon Rauch, IF Junior Spivey, and OF Ryan Church.

Here are the candidates for recall in 2006:

DL Players

• Micah Bowie LH RP - Bowie seems like the most likely of all the disabled players to make a September return. In his time with the Nationals, Bowie has provided solid relief from the LH side replacing the traded Bill Bray and Mike Stanton. In 19.2IP over 15 games, Bowie allowed only 3 runs on 11 hits and 3 walks while striking out 7.
• Mike O’Connor RH SP - O’Connor has been on the DL since August 2 with a mild elbow flexor strain. The Nationals could use another arm in the rotation after the abuse their starters have taken over the last week. This would allow the Nationals to put Jason Bergmann back into the bullpen where he would be better utilized.
• Felix Rodriguez RH RP - Rodriguez has been rehabbing from right shoulder tendinitis since May 26. In 7.0IP in New Orleans, he’s allowed 4ER allowing 11 hits and 5 walks while striking out 4. Rodriguez’ activation would require the Nationals open up a spot on the 40-man roster as he is currently on the 60-day and not counted as part of the 40-man roster.
• John Patterson RH SP - In my opinion, Patterson is a long shot to return from the right arm nerve injury, but the Nationals may want to bring him back later in September to allow him real time game actio before the season ends.
• Luis Ayala, Zach Day, Ryan Drese, Shawn Hill, and Brian Lawrence, all RHPs & Joey Eischen LHP - I would not expect to see any of these guys as they all recover from their various injuries
• Cristian Guzman, Alex Escobar, and Jose Guillen - None of these three will be making any September appearances

On the 40-Man

• Roy Corcoran RH RP - He may make a return but the Nationals, but since he’s been selected to Participate in the Arizona Fall League, the Nationals may select to sit him down in preparation for his work in the AFL
• Mike Hinckley LH SP - I would say that it’s safe to say, that Hinckley has no chance of making a September appearance. His performance in Potomac in 2006 has to be a disappointment. In 26 games in A Advanced Hinckley is 6-8 in 138.1IP allowing 94R (83ER) on 162H(17HR) and 57BB while striking out only 69.
• Larry Broadway 1B - Broadway’s shoulder separation rules out any September appearance which is disappointing for Broadway given Nick Johnson’s latest injury.
• Kory Casto 3B/OF - GM Jim Bowden has stated that Casto won’t be making a September appearance. He is also scheduled to play in Arizona so the Nationals may opt ot rest him in September so as not to wear Casto out unnecessarily.
• Melvin Dorta UTIL - Dorta has been tearing it up in New Orleans since his promotion this week. Through Saturday’s game, Dorta is 10/17 with 5R 1HR 2RBI and 3/4 in SB attempts. He would provide a solid PR/UTIL piece off of the bench in September but the presence of Henry Mateo and Bernie Castro may limit his opportunity.
• Tony Blanco OF/DH - Shoulder surgery ended his season a few months ago, no chance he’s around in September.
• Frank Diaz OF - DIaz is a defensive wiz in CF who has shown the ability to hit LHP (309/333/473 in 110AB in Harrisburg), but struggles against RHP (242/283/340 in 285AB). I doubt he is going to be called up, but his glove puts him on the map for the Nats in the future.
• Mike Vento OF - Vento is finally back in New Orleans after missing most of his return to the Zephyrs in early June with an ankle injury. He’s 7/14 with 5R and 5RBI in his return to AA this week. He’s primed for a September roster spot once the 2006 season ends for New Orleans.

Other Guys to Consider, any of these guys would require the Nationals open up a spot on their 40-man roster to accomodate them. Their are such chances, Jose Guillen and Alex Escobar can be transferred to the 60-day DL to open a spot (as can Shawn Hill and John Patterson if the Nationals want)

• Chris Booker RH RP - Booker was picked up from the Cincinnati Reds after the 2005 season. He was selected in the Rule 5 draft and bounced between Kansas City and Philadelphia before being returned to Washington on July 14. In his 14 games in New Orleans, Booker has thrown 15.1 innings allowing 7 runs on 14 hits and 13 walks with 27 strikeouts. If Felix Rodriguez is not recalled , expect Booker to get the nod.
• Marlon Byrd OF - Byrd was designated for assignment and assigned to New Orleans on July 14. Since his demotion, Byrd has rediscovered his stroke (291/377/520 in 127AB). Since August 1, Byrd has hit 6HR while hitting 305/370/598. With the injury to Alex Escobar, Byrd should be an option given his ability to play CF.
• George Lombard OF - The 30-year old Lombard has battled injuries this year in New Orleans, but since his return in July has been batting 293/383/550 with 8HR in 131AB. The LH presence of Robert Fick and Daryle Ward make Lombard’s bat less mecessary, but he has shown a nice enough balance of power and speed in his career to include him on the short list of September options.
• Steve Watkins RH SP - Watkins has provided solid SP in New Orleans in 2006. In 19G (18 starts), he’s pitched 100.0 innings allowing 56 runs (46 earned) on 96 hits (10HR) and 37 walks while striking out 66. He could serve as a mop-up RP/spot SP during September.

When roster expand in early September, I expect to see Micah Bowie, Mike O’Connor and Felix Rodriguez activated from the disabled list along with the additions of Mike Vento and Marlon Byrd for the OF and Melvin Dorta in a PR/super sub role. But it would not surprise me to see guys like Chris Booker, George Lombard, or Steve Watkins also receive some attention as the month rolls on.

The signing of players drafted in 2006 has an expiration date. If the player attends a four-year college, the club’s negotiating rights are lost as soon as the player enters his first class at the end of the summer. (UPDATED - Brown, Dyson, and Beverly rights expired on Monday)

I’ve split the group up into four groups, first are those scheduled to attend 4-year colleges/universities who have not had their first class:

Here are the players whose negotiating rights have expired:

Here are the unknowns:

And here are the draft-and-follow candidates, the Nationals have until one week prior to the 2007 draft to sign them:

If the players are not signed and report to their first class, the Nationals lose the right to sign them. Teams typically will focus on getting around half of their draft class signed (roughly 25 guys, which is exactly where the Nationals are as of 8/22). Roster sizes dictate the number of players a team get realistically sign. When you add the players from the Dominican Summer Leagues, the spots fill up. Most of the second day of the draft is spent assembling a class of draft-and-follow-candidates (this year Rounds 20-50 took place on day two).

However, teams do typically hope to sign most of their first 10 rounds, when possible. The Nationals currently have 7 of their 12 players selected in rounds 1-10 under contract. The outstanding candidates are Sean Black (2nd round committed to Seton Hall), Sam Brown (7th round committed to NC State), Joey Rosas (9th round), and Marcus Salmon (10th round). I now know that both Rosas and Salmon are draft-and-follow candidates, so if they are signed, it will not be until shortly before the 2007 draft. As previously updated, it appears that Sam Brown has started at NC State, leaving Sean Black as the one to watch.