Nationals Farm Authority

The rainy, cold, and blustery weather continues to play havoc with the minor league schedule leading to the postponement of 11 games so far for the four affiliates. The delays and inconsistent schedules do not entirely explain the early struggles of all but one of the Nationals farm teams (Potomac). Columbus, Harrisburg, Potomac, and Hagerstown have got off to slow and uneven  15-27 start to the 2007 season.

The common sentiment of major league player development is to dismiss the records of the minor league teams as a whole and focus more on the development of the individual prospects. This thought certainly has some merit but I believe there is almost as much value in developing a winning attitude as in developing the individual prospect. What the performances have displayed to me thus far is that while there are certainly players developing, the chore of rebuilding the player development system is still in its infancy.

While the sample size is certainly small (no team has played more than 12 games), there are indications the Nationals have some pieces in place but still too often have to rely upon too many organizational players to fill out their rosters.

In the next four postings, I’ll take a look at how the team performed over a two week period, and point out the highs and the lows.

Much has been made of the composition of the Columbus Clippers where, in all honesty, the Nationals have only three players: 1B Larry Broadway, RHP Emiliano Fruto, and the recently demoted OF Kory Casto that realistically qualify as prospects. The rest of the roster is comprised of what are commonly referred to a “Four-A players”, players that can be called upon to fill in for a couple of weeks when injuries dictate. Don’t get me wrong, guys like Mike Restovich, Melvin Dorta, Joel Hanrahan, and Chris Booker are a necessary component to a major league team because no one in MLB can expect to complete a 162 game season without the need to call on such guys in the short term. But this can also explain the Clippers 3-8 record thus far. Thirteen of the current Clippers were not with the Nationals organization in 2006 (fourteen if you include the recently promoted Mike Restovich). The Clippers are trying to in essence build a team from scratch. Players are learning the Nationals method of player development while at the same time figuring out how they fit into the part of a competitive team. 

The Clippers offense is in one word, offensive. In eleven games this season, they are dead last offensively in the International League batting 197/269/267 (BA/OBP/SLG) with only 17 extrabase hits out of 62 total. The weather is an excuse, up to a point, but with only a few exceptions, the team has struggled mightily at the plate. Only 3B Tony Batista (297/316/324) and OFs Mike Restovich (278/357/333) and Darnell McDonald (290/395/355) have put up numbers one would expect from a starting lineup. But even that is a concern, of the aforementioned three players 30 total hits, only 5 have been for extra bases (all doubles). The Clippers are trying to win games with singles. Not a recipe for long term success. With Casto sitting on the bench for the Nationals, their only prospect to get any playing time has been Larry Broadway, who while having the only two Clippers home runs is hitting a troubling 152/263/394.

With an anemic offense like that, the Clippers pitching has been strong enough to keep them in games until they could scratch out a run or two. Of particular promise is the starting pitching where the unexpected trio of Joel Hanrahan, Emiliano Fruto, and Felix Diaz have combined to pitch 30.33 inning while allowing only 17 hits, 12 walks & 6 runs while striking out 22. Unfortunately for the threesome they have 0 combined wins in 6 starts. The other area the Clippers have excelled in is relief, Mike Bacsik, Billy Traber, Winston Abreu, Chris Schroder, and Chris Booker have pitched 34.67 innings of stellar relief, allowing only 21 hits, 13 walks, & 4 runs (only 2 earned) while striking out 33. Those eight pitchers account for 65 of the 89.33 innings the Clippers have played this season with an ERA of 1.11, 0.97 WHIP, 3.5BB/9, and 7.6K/9. The biggest disappointment so far has been starter Tim Redding who with one abyssmal start (12ER in 1.33 innings Monday night) has an unbelievable ERA of 11.91 and WHIP of 2.29.

While the bats need to warm up (hopefully with the weather), the pitching has been a welcome positive given the uncertainty with how the major league club will pitch as the season wears on.