Nationals Farm Authority

Barry Svrluga has the news.

The Nationals signed right-hander Brad Peacock yesterday. A big deal? Well, in a world in which they’re trying to collect pitching, it’s worth a mention. Peacock was a “draft-and-follow” from last year’s draft. That’s a practice where a club takes a kid in a low round — in this case, the 41st — doesn’t sign them but watches his progress over the ensuing year. Peacock was touted by Nationals’ officials as perhaps a fifth-round talent. From Palm Beach Central High, he went to Palm Beach Community College this year and was due to serve as the closer there.

That’s good news to hear. One correction though, Peacock started for Palm Beach this year. In 69IP (16 games), Peacock allowed 47 hits and 30 runs while striking out 48 and walking 21.

UPDATE: I just received confirmation from Mark Rogoff of the Nationals, Brad Peacock is the only 2006 DFE signing.

Draft related news

• The Arizona Diamondbacks signed 2006 first rounder Max Scherzer shortly before the May 30 deadline. This impacts the Nationals in several ways:
  • As projected by Jonathan Mayo yesterday, the National cannot select Scherzer at #6 next week.
  • The rumored contract for Scherzer (represented by Scott Boras) is a major league deal between $4-4.5 million. If the Nationals are going to draft a college arm, specifically one represented by Boras, this seems like a possible negotiating point.
  • The Nationals draft picks in the second round and beyond change now that Arizona will not receive a draft pick for the unsigned Scherzer. The new allotment of picks for the Nationals is:
    • #6 - their own first round selection (unchanged)
    • #31 - supplemental first round selection for Alfonso Soriano (unchanged)
    • #49 - supplemental first round selection for Jose Guillen (unchanged)
    • #67 - Cubs second round selection for Soriano (changed from #68)
    • #70 - their own second round selection (changed from #71)
    • #100, 130, 160, … continue to add 30 for each round (changed from #101, etc)
• The deadline passed and it appears the Nationals did not sign any of their 2006 draft-and-follow candidates. I am working on confirming this.
• In Jim Bowden’s weekly Examiner article, he begins the discussion of how the Nationals go about organizing their draft board. He provided names and areas of responsibility for the various scouts (new page here) and the print edition lists names of ones to watch in the draft (not specifically tying any to the Nats)
  • College pitchers
    • Vanderbilt LHP David Price
    • NC State RHP Andrew Brackman
    • Rice LHP/1B Joe Savery
    • Clemson LHP Daniel Moskos
    • Missouri St LHP Ross Detwiler
  • College position players
    • Georgia Tech CA Matt Wieters
    • Lewis & Clark St 1B/3B Beau Mills
    • Tennessee OF Julio Borbon
    • Florida 1B Matt LaPorta
  • High school pitchers
    • Seton Hall Prep (NJ) RHP Rick Porcello
    • Norwood (IN) HS RHP Jarrod Parker
    • Fitch (CT) HS RHP Matt Harvey
    • Ecole Secondary Du Versant (Canada) RHP Phillippe Aumont
  • High school position players
    • Cypress (CA) HS 3B Josh Vitters
    • Chatsworth (CA) HS 3B Matt Dominguez
    • Hillsborough (FL) HS OF Michael Burgess
    • Parker (CA) HS SS/2B Nick Noonan
    • Chatsworth (CA) HS 3B/CA Mike Moustakas
    • Memorial (TX) HS 3B Kevin Ahrens
    • Owasso (OK) HS SS Peter Kozma
    • Henry County (GA) HS OF/1B Jason Heyward
    • Punxsutawney (PA) HS CA Devin Mesoraco

AAA International League West Division

Columbus RHP Felix Diaz (3-4, 6.52) at Pawtucket RHP Runelvys Hernandez (0-3, 3.06) 7:05PM

AA Eastern League Southern Division

Harrisburg LHP John Lannan (1-1, 4.50) at Erie RHP Eulogio De La Cruz (4-4, 3.36) 6:35PM

A Advanced Carolina League Northern Division

Potomac RHP Craig Stammen (3-3, 4.97) versus Kinston LHP Dan Cevette (1-0, 3.38) 7:35PM

A South Atlantic League Northern

No game scheduled

Starting pitcher Tim Redding continued his see-saw May with a solid 7 1/3 innings allowing seven hits and four runs on his way to a 8-4 (box score) win over the Red Sox on Wednesday evening. This month, Redding has had the following pitching lines:

Chris Schroder pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief to earn the save.

Third baseman Kory Casto was 1/4 with a three-run home run and DH Mike Restovih was 2/5 with three runs scored and a solo home run in the victory. Center fielder Brandon Watson extended his hitting streak to 27 games with two singles.

W: T. Redding (7-4, 6.18); L: K. Gabbard (4-2, 3.42); SV: C. Schroder (1) HR: COL: M. Restovich (6), K. Casto (5)

After taking an early 4-0 lead, the Sea Wolves scored nine unanswered runs and the Senators dropped a second straight decision to Erie 9-4 (box score/gamer). Beltran Perez gave up seven runs on seven hits and three walks in 5 1/3 innings pitched to take the loss. Releiver Zech Zinicola’s struggles continued in his 1 2/3 innings of relief allowing an inherited baserunner to score and walking three. The Senators were led on offense by left fielder Tony Blanco who had two doubles and scored twice. Both catcher John Suomi and right fielder Cristian Guerrero had two RBI in the loss.

W: A. Kown (1-3, 4.60); L: B. Perez (4-3, 6.13) HR: ERI: M. Joyce (4)

Justin Jones struggled in his second start with the P-Nats allowing nine runs and two walks in 3 1/3 innings surrendering six runs en route to a 12-4 loss (box score) to Salem who swept the three-game series. Relievers Yader Peralta, Anthony Pearson, and Gene Yost added to the forgettable evening allowing six additional runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings. Adam Carr pitched a solid inning striking out two and walking one. DH Marcos Yepez extended his hitting streak to 18 games with a single.

W: R. Diaz (3-4, 4.33); L: J. Jones (0-2, 7.56) HR: SAL: J. Flores (4), T. Torres 2 (2)

Cory VanAllen and the Suns were swept by the Lake County Captains dropping the third game 7-2 (box score) on Wednesday afternoon. VanAllen surrendered two two-run home runs in his five innings pitched, taking the loss. He allowed seven hits and one walk while striking out five. Reliever Chris Lugo struggled in his one inning giving up four hits and three runs. Joe Welsh had his second straight scoreless appearance since joining the Suns, pitching two innings allowing only two hits. DH Francisco Guzman hit a solo home run in the losing cause.

W: J. Tomlin (5-0, 2.51); L: C. Van Allen (0-3, 3.92) HR: HAG: F. Guzman (2). LCO: M. Whitney (11), C. Cumberbatch (1)

Last week, I gave my choices of who I would select with each of the Nationals’ first six selections in the 2007 First Year Player Draft. 

They have the following picks to make:

• #6 (Nationals 1st round selection)
• #31 (1st round supplemental for Alfonso Soriano)
• #49 (1st round supplemental for Jose Guillen)
• #68 (Cubs 2nd round selection for Alfonso Soriano)
• #71 (Nationals 2nd round selection)
• #101 (Nationals 3rd round selection)
• add 30 for each subsequent round (131, 161, …)

Given some of the rumblings about players slotting at #1 to 5, here is my second take:

#6 - Vanderbilt LHP David Price appears locked in as the #1 to Tampa. Kansas City looks to select either Missouri State LHP Ross Detwiler or NJ Prep RHP Rick Porcello. CA HS 3B Josh Vitters has been closely tied to the Cubs. And it now appers that last week’s choice for the Nationals at #6 Georgia Tech CA Matt Wieters is being targeted by Pittsburgh at #4. Assuming the Royals go with Porcello, it sounds like the Orioles would select Detwiler at #5. Who does this leave for the Nationals? Unsigned 2006 1st rounder RHP Max Scherzer and Clemson LHP Daniel Moskos are the best college arms. Canadian HS RHP Phillipe Aumont and IN RHP Jarrod Parker are the best prep arms. But I still believe the Nationals are going to focus on a bat here. Given that the best college bat left out there, Lewis-Clark St Coll 1B/3B Beau Mills, is an overdraft at #6, I think the Nationals will target a prep bat at #6. With that in mind, pencil in CA HS 3B Mike Moustakas in as the Nationals first selection in the 2007 draft. Though he can touch the high 90s on the mound, Moustakas is first and last a potential 30 HR bat. While his role as a 3B is a problem given the presence of Ryan Zimmerman, I think he just may remain there in the near term. There is no reason the Nationals would not (and probably just as importantly should not) want another high ceiling 3B in the organization. As I mentioned last week, Moustakas is represented by Scott Boras so there are the expected rumors of tough signability, but I think the Nationals will do their due diligence and know what it will take to sign him before drafting him. Not to mention, they, in many ways, need to demonstrate their commitment to rebuilding after an off-season spent forgoing major league free agents with an eye towards the future. Last week: Wieters

#31 - After selecting a high school bat at #6, an arm seems logical here. If there is a prep bat that slides out of the first round due to teams selecting in the 20-30 range making selections based on pre-draft deals, the Nationals could go with another bat. An example of that type of guy might be FL HS OF Michael Burgess, or perhaps they could look to grab a guy like CA HS SS Nick Noonan, who will probably come off the board before the Nationals select at #49.  I’m going to stick with an arm and target either MA HS LHP Jack McGeary or University of Arkansas LHP Nick Schmidt. I’m going to stick with an agressive draft and grab McGeary here. He’s committed to Stanford so it will likely be a tough negotiation, but it’s hard to pass up a high school lefty with a low 90s fastball and an above average curve who has drawn comparisons to Andy Pettitte.  Last week: Brett Cecil

#49 - Now the real fun begins. Will the Nationals look to continue their high ceiling high school ways? Or, will they look for a more developed prospect here? Last week’s selection of Justin Jackson would be nice here. As would Nick Noonan if by some miracle he slid this far. If someone like Noonan is here, you almost have to take him. He has drawn comparisons to Chase Utley and as a 2B, he has little in front of him on the depth chart. I’m going to stick with Jackson here assuming Noonan is off the board.  Last week: Jackson

#68 - Much like #49, I’m going to stick with local prep RHP Neil Ramirez here. The Kempsville HS righty has a fastball that has been anywhere from the high 80s to the mid-90s and a good curve in the high 70s. He is a work in progress but there is certainly upside to him. Last week: Ramirez

#71 - Tennessee LHSP James Adkins.  He has four legitimate pitches and could offer the Nationals a near term return unlike the previous four selections who will likely take time to develop. Last week: Wes Roemer

#101 - FL HS SS Drew Cumberland. Hard to pass up the chance at a high ceiling middle infielder with a lefthanded bat. Last week: Danny Rams

Hagerstown LHP Cory VanAllen (0-2, 3.49) at Lake Count RHP Josh Tomlin (4-0, 2.68) 12:05PM

Potomac RHP Craig Stammen (3-3, 4.97) versus Salem RHP Raymar Diaz (2-4, 4.50) 7:35PM

Harrisburg RHP Beltran Perez (4-2, 5.51) at Erie RHP Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 3.02) 6:35PM

Columbus RHP Tim Redding (6-4, 6.54) at Pawtucket LHP Kason Gabbard (4-1, 3.02) 7:05PM

After taking a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh, reliever Aaron Jackson could not hold off Lake County allowing five runs on six hits in the final two innings in a 8-4 loss (box score) for the Suns. Starter Don Levinski pitched a solid six innings surrendering three runs on four hits while striking out two. The Suns were led on offense by center fielder Justin Maxwell who was 2/4 with 2 RBI and his 11th stolen base of the season. Left fielder Chris Marrero was 1/4 with an RBI groundout. First baseman Joe Napoli and catcher Jhonathan Solano each had two singles.

W: L. Perdomo (1-2, 4.68); L: A. Jackson (3-2, 6.56) HR: LCO: M. McBride (3)

The first five innings looked like it was going to be a pitcher’s duel with the P-Nats’ Shairon Martis and Salem’s Brad James quieting the bats, allowing only one run a piece. But the Potomac struggles in May reared their head in an ungly sixth inning where the Avalanche scored five runs on three hits, two walks, and a Potomac error leading to a 10-2 loss (box score/gamer) on Tuesday night. Martis finished his evening after six innings, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four. The P-Nats bullpen added to the struggles allowing seven hits, four walks, and four runs over the final three innings.

The P-Nats got an RBI from second baseman Seth Bynum and center fielder Edgardo Baez, while DH Marcos Yepez extended his hitting streak to 17 with a ground rule double.

W: B. James (7-1, 1.56); L: S. Martis (3-4, 4.64) HR: SAL: M. Einertson (2)