Nationals Farm Authority :: 2006

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November 2006

More Minor League Movement

Courtesy of Baseball America

Signed OF Ender Chavez, RHP Daniel Foli, RHP Juan Ovalles, SS Marcos Cabral, and SS Melvin Dorta.

Chavez spent the majority of the season in Potomac (81 games) where he batted 276/401/326. He’s likely to start off 2007 in Harrisburg.

Foli has been pitching in the Arizona Fall League (8G 12IP 7.50ERA) after spending the 2006 season primarily in Potomac (23G) with brief stops in Savannah, Harrisburg, and New Orleans (where he played for his father manager Tim Foli). Foli has a shot to pitch out of the pen in Columbus in 2007.

Juan Ovalles was a teammate of Foli’s in Potomac where he compiled a 6-8 record in 38 games, striking out 80 batters in 62.2IP. Ovalles has a nasty slider that may allow him to progress as a RP for the Nationals, though control remains an issue as demonstrated by performance in the Venezuelan Winter League (10BB in 11.1IP so far). A start in Harrisburg is most likely.

Cabral last placed for Jamestown (Marlins affiliate) of the NY-Penn League in 2005 where he batted 224/258/306 in 24 games. He’ll be 23 at the start of the 2007 season. Hagerstown or possibly Potomac should be his 2007 starting place.

Melvin Dorta is the lone name here that made a major league appearance for the Nationals in 2006. Dorta spent the majority of his season in Harrisburg playing all over the field while batting 257/307/347 in 108 games. After a quick stop in Washington, he finished the season in New Orleans (433/438/567 in 8 games [30AB]). Dorta’s versatility may allow him to be a 25th man for the Nationals in 2007, but an utility role in Columbus is his likely placement in 2007.

Released 3B Scott Schade, C Melvin Mancebo, C Robert Rodriguez, RHP August Hlebovy, RHP Oscar Lira, and RHP Brett Reid.

Schade was picked up off of waivers for Savannah about halfway through the season. Mancebo played for GCL. Rodriguez spent most of the year in Potomac before retiring mid-season. Hlebovy pitched for GCL and Savannah in 2006. Lira pitched primarily for GCL and Savannah in 2006. Reid pitched for Potomac and Savannah in 2006.

Released 1B Victor Hamisevicz, 2B Nicholas Schnabel, C Anthony Ambrosini, C Ivanosky Wong, LHP Jonathan Price, OF Charles Haynes, RHP Anthony Johnson, RHP Ancil Baldwin, RHP George Preston, LHP Jason Stevenson, RHP David Thorne, SS Wesley Carroll, SS Jose Docen, RHP Manuel Mercedes, and SS Scott Hodges

None of these guys played for the Nationals minor league affiliates in 2006 and these moves are likely cleaning up transactions.

2006 11 15

Players

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Farm Authority Report - 11/15/06

Arizona Fall League (Peoria Saguaros)

11/14: Defeated Peoria Javelinas

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Casto, K LF	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.333
Whitesell, J 1B	3	2	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	.256

11/15: versus Grand Canyon 4:05PM

Hawaii Winter Baseball (Waikiki BeachBoys)

11/14: no game

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Desmond DH	4	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.265
Ivany CA	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.298

11/15: versus Honolulu 1AM (Thursday)

2006 11 15

Across the Affiliates

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Farm Authority Report 11/14/06

Arizona Fall League (Peoria Saguaros)

11/13: Lost to Scottsdale 6-2 (Box/Gamer)

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Casto, K LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.357
Bynum 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	.269

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Foli	3.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	7.50
Felfoldi	3.0	1	0	0	0	3	0	7.47

Inherited runners-scored: Foli 3-1

11/13: versus Peoria Javelinas 4:05PM

Hawaii Winter Baseball (Waikiki BeachBoys)

11/13: no game
11/14: versus Honolulu 1AM (Wednesday)

2006 11 14

Across the Affiliates

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Farm Authority Report - Catching Up

Back from a long weekend in Pittsburgh …

Arizona Fall League (Peoria Saguaros)

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
11/8
Whitesell, J 1B	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.270
11/9
Casto, K LF	5	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	.394
Whitesell, J 1B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.258
11/10
Casto, K LF	3	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	.389
Whitesell, J DH	5	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.254
Bynum 2B	3	1	1	0	0	0	1	1	0	.295
11/11
Casto, K LF	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.359
Whitesell, J DH	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.240
Bynum 2B	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	.281

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
11/8
Felfoldi	2.1	5	3	3	1	1	0	9.24
Foli	2.1	3	2	1	0	0	0	10.00
Perrin	2.0	1	0	0	2	3	0	2.89
11/9
Perrault, J	2.2	4	2	2	0	1	1	5.19
11/11
Perrin (L, 0-2)	0.2	1	1	1	3	0	0	3.60

11/13: versus Scottsdale 4:05PM

Hawaii Winter Baseball (Waikiki BeachBoys)

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
11/8
Desmond SS	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.226
11/9
Ivany CA	4	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	2	.237
11/10
Desmond SS	4	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.246
11/11
Ivany DH	4	1	2	1	0	0	0	0	1	.262
Desmond SS	4	1	1	0	0	1	2	0	2	.246
11/12
Desmond SS	3	0	2	1	0	0	2	0	0	.266
Ivany DH	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	1	0	.295

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
11/12
Estrada	3.0	2	0	0	2	1	0	1.32

11/13: No game scheduled

2006 11 13

Across the Affiliates

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Farm Authority Report 11/08/06

Arizona Fall League (Peoria Saguaros)

11/6: Defeated Peoria Javelinas 5-2 (Box/Gamer)

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Casto, K DH	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	.393

11/7: at Peoria Javelinas 4:05PM

Hawaii Winter Baseball (Waikiki BeachBoys)

11/6: Lost to North Shore 2-0 (Box)

Player	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	AVG
Ivany C	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	.235
Desmond DH	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.240

CS: Ivany (1, 2nd base by Eager/Aomatsu)

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Estrada	5.0	1	0	0	1	8	0	1.48

11/7: versus North Shore 1:00AM (Thursday)

2006 11 08

Across the Affiliates

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Nationals Revamp Scouting

Great news. The Nationals have announced their scouting changes.

The Washington Nationals today bolstered their scouting department by adding 10 experienced scouts to their staff and extended the contract of their scouting director. The Nationals bolstered their scouting department by naming Chuck LaMar (Special Assistant to the General Manager and National Crosschecker), Moose Stubing (Special Assistant to the General Manager), Bill Singer (Special Assignment Scout), Kris Kline (Special Assignment Scout), Bart Johnson (Special Assignment Scout), Jimmy Gonzales (Western Supervisor), Jeff Zona (Eastern Supervisor), Tim Kelly (Scouting Supervisor in Southern California), Tyler Wilt (Scouting Supervisor in Texas and Louisiana), and Steve Arneiri (Scouting Supervisor in IL, IN, WI, MI, MN) to their scouting staff. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden, Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo and Scouting Director Dana Brown made the joint announcements.

It’s nice to see that the Nationals have expanded in an area that was woefully understaffed since MLB took stewardship of the team through the sale to the Lerner family. By identifying experienced personnel, the Nationals can begin to establish a presence both within the United States as well as internationally.

The Nationals also announced they have extended the contract of Scouting Director Dana Brown. Instrumental in each of the franchise’s last four drafts, Brown’s efforts have rendered signature players such as Ryan Zimmerman and Chad Cordero, as well as the Nationals’ highly-regarded 2006 draft class, which includes right-handed pitchers Colton Willems and Zechry Zinicola, as well as, outfielder Chris Marrero.“It is our stated goal to have the best scouting and player development departments in Major League Baseball,” said Bowden. “Dana Brown’s extension and each of today’s 10 additions represents a significant stride toward that end.”

It will bear watching how Brown can now operate with an actual staff and something more than a shoestring budget. Brown’s ability to identify near MLB-ready college players was a boon to the Nationals with the emergence of Cordero, Zimmerman, and soon Zinicola. His 2006 draft was unlike anything he had ever done before with a refined focus on high school players with higher ceilings, but longer periods before they can reach them. Given the initial read on the 2007, which is flush with intriguing high schoolers, a continuation of 2006’s 17-19 year-old focus seems very likely.

Rizzo, who spearheaded some of baseball’s top drafts this millennium during his tenure as Arizona ’s Scouting Director, added “I am very pleased to add these 10 gentlemen to our staff, all of whom have solid reputations that are well known throughout the game. I feel the Nationals are now equipped with one of the premier scouting staffs in baseball.”

The Nationals and their fans are banking on Rizzo to duplicate his successes from Arizona where he quickly rebuilt a neglected Diamondback farm system into one of the better ones in the major leagues over a four year period of time. Rizzo strength in the first few rounds was targetting players that were tougher signs (Stephen Drew or Justin Upton).

“I am very pleased to be a part of this exciting time with the Nationals, as our focus is on scouting and player development,” said Brown. “This is the best way to build a successful organization, and I am honored to be continuing as the scouting director.”

LaMar brings 20-plus seasons of professional baseball evaluative experience to Washington , including 11 seasons (1995-2005) as Tampa Bay ’s General Manager. LaMar’s stay with the Devil Rays was highlighted by the stockpiling of young talent that included Carl Crawford, Rocco Baldelli, Delmon Young, B.J. Upton and Scott Kazmir. Prior to his tenure in Tampa Bay, LaMar worked in Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, where he played an important role in positioning all three franchises for post-season success and—in the cases of the Braves in 1995 and the Reds in 1990—World Championships.

While LaMar’s track record as GM in Tampa Bay left much to be desired, he was in charge of a Tampa organization that stockpiled some of the better hitting prospects in all of the major leagues. His presence is not that surprising given he has worked in the past with Stan Kasten in Atlanta and Jim Bowden in both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati.

Stubing spent the previous 40 years with the Los Angeles Angels as a player, coach, big league manager and scout (in nearly every conceivable capacity). His vast experience in talent evaluation helped build a foundation for the Angels’ 2002 World Championship club.

Singer joins the Nationals after a three-year stay with the Arizona Diamondbacks as Major League Scout, where he worked under Rizzo. Singer was a two-time All-Star during his playing career, which included a pair of 20-win seasons (with Los Angeles-NL 1969 and California in ‘73) and 118 wins. He has more than 30 years of professional experience as a player, area scout, national crosschecker, professional scout and international scout.

With 17 years of scouting experience under his belt, Kline also joins the Nationals after spending the previous seven seasons with Arizona , the last three of which were spent as the Diamondbacks’ Western Supervisor. He earned a World Series ring in 2001 as the Diamondbacks topped the Yankees in seven games. Before joining the Diamondbacks, Kline spent 10 seasons scouting for the Angels after completing his four-year professional playing career.

Johnson, a former big league pitcher, brings 25 years of professional experience to Washington , the last 15 of which have been spent scouting at every level from the amateur ranks to the big leagues. Johnson pitched eight big league seasons for the White Sox, going 43-51 with a 3.94 ERA.

Gonzales, who is credited with signing NL All-Star Adam Dunn, will draw on 16 years of professional scouting experience in his new role with the Nationals. Most recently, Gonzales was the Reds’ Midwest regional cross checker.

Zona has 17 years of professional experience as a player, scout, supervisor and advance scout. He worked with Boston as the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series, and is credited with signing outfielder Trot Nixon and right-handed pitcher Cla Meredith during his tenure there.

Kelly will scour Southern California , where he will put over 30 years of professional experience as a player, coach, front-office executive and scout to use. Tim Salmon and Troy Percival are among the many players scouted and signed by Kelly during his baseball career.

Wilt comes to the Nationals after scouting for Cincinnati each of the previous six seasons. There, he was a scouting supervisor in six Midwest states and worked directly for Gonzales.

Arneiri sports 20 years of professional experience, spent primarily with the San Francisco Giants, most recently as their Canadian crosschecker. Five members of the 2006 Giants were signed by Arneiri.

2006 11 07

Management

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Farm Authority Report 11/07/06

Arizona Fall League (Peoria Saguaros)

11/6: Defeated Grand Canyon 6-5 (Box/Gamer)

Player	AB	BB	SO	AVG
Casto, K LF	3	1	2	.400
Whitesell, J 1B	3	1	0	.288
Bynum 2B	4	0	1	.293

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Perrault, J	1.0	5	3	3	1	0	1	4.50

11/7: at Peoria Javelinas 10:05PM

Hawaii Winter Baseball (Waikiki BeachBoys)

11/6: No game
11/7: versus North Shore 1:00AM (Wednesday)

2006 11 07

Across the Affiliates

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40-Man Roster Moves & Minor League Signings

Nationals Press Release

The Nationals agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Tim Redding, right-handed pitcher Joel Hanrahan, infielder Josh Wilson and outfielder Michael Restovich on one-year contracts and thus were added to the club’s 40-man roster.

The Nationals also agreed to terms on minor-league contracts with right-handed pitchers Jermaine Van Buren, T.J. Nall, Colby Lewis, Felix Diaz, Eduardo Valdez, Josh Hall, Winston Abreu, Jim Magrane; left-handed pitchers Mike Bacsik, Billy White and Chris Michalak; catchers Juan Brito and Danny Ardoin; infielders Joe Thurston and Alejandro Machado; outfielders Darnell McDonald and Wayne Lydon. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden, Assistant General Manager/Vice President of Player Development Bob Boone, and Minor League Director Andy Dunn made the joint announcements.

I’ll have a posting up shortly about the players signed.