The International League All-Stars defeated the Pacific Coast League All-Stars 7-5 in Albuquerque, NM last night (box). Brandon Watson led off for the Int’l stars playing CF. He went 1/4 with an RBI double. Chris Booker pitched the third inning allowing no runs and only one hit with one strikeout.
Columbus hosts Charlotte at 7:05PM tonight. Pitchers TBA.
The Eastern League All-Star Game in Norwich, CT was cancelled after two plus innings by heavy fog that blanketed the area. The game will not be made up. No Harrisburg Senators players made it into the game.
Harrisburg opens the second half on the road in Reading at 6:05PM tonight. Pitchers TBA.
Devin Ivany put Potomac ahead with a solo home run in the second inning. Unfortunately for Potomac, that was the only run they’d get as they dropped a 6-1 decision in Wilmington (box). CF Justin Maxwell was 0/2 with a pair of walks and a stolen base; RF Mike Daniel was 2/4 with two singles and a stolen base; and, LF Chris Marrero was 0/3 with a walk and a strikeout. Cory VanAllen made the start allowing five runs on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings of work. A positive for VanAllen was his seven strikeouts. David Trahan’s 16 2/3 scoreless inning streak came to an end as he allowed one run in his 2/3 of an inning of work.
LHP Jack Spradlin (2-5, 4.42) takes the mound in Wilmington tonight at 7:05PM against Blue Rocks RHP Tyler Chambliss (2-0, 5.40)
After beginning the season holding the upperhand against the Delmarva Shorebirds. After winning 10 of the first 16 games they played against Delmarva, Hagerstown has subsequently dropped their next 6 games including last night’s 5-2 loss on the road (box). Erik Arnesen took the loss allowing five runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings. Arnesen allowed two home runs and struck out only one batter. DH Joe Napoli hit a solo home run for the Suns, his third home run in his last two games (all solo shots).
RHP Jeff Mandel (0-2, 2.53) takes the mound in Delmarva as the Suns face the Shorebirds and RHP Kyle Schmidt (3-6, 3.25) at 7:05PM
Vermont’s game was postponed due to rain. It will be made up tonight with a doubleheader (two seven inning games).
RHPs Cole Kimball (0-1, 3.94) and Jordan Zimmermann (0-0, 1.23) are the starters for tonight’s home doubleheader against Mahoning Valley starting at 6:05PM
The GCL Nationals dropped a 5-4, 10-inning decision to the GCL Mets (box). Marcos Estrada made what was likely his last rehab start for the GCL Nationals going 4 2/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts. LF Jake Smolinski kept at it with another multi-hit game, his team-leading eighth. Smolinski was 2/5 with an RBI. RF Michael Burgess was 1/5 with three strikeouts. SS Esmailyn Gonzalez had a triple and two RBI, though he made a pair of errors in the field. DH Derek Norris was 0/3 with a run scored, walk, and two strikeouts. 3B Steve Souza saw his average slip to 111 going 0/3 with a walk and a run scored.
The GCL Nationals do not play today
The DSL Nationals1 game with the DSL Tigers was postponed by rain.
The DSL Nationals1 visit the DSL Padres at 11:00AM
The DSL Nationals2 did not play yesterday
The DSL Nationals2 host the DSL Mets at 11:00AM
Kevin (Fairfax) | 12-Jul-07 at 9:13 am | Permalink
Brian-
Oops. I put a question on the 7/11/07 comments this morning about Smoker. I wasn’t sure about something you had written.
Brian Oliver | 12-Jul-07 at 9:24 am | Permalink
Kevin
What I was trying to say was as of today, the Nationals got Jordan Zimmermann and the rights to sign Josh Smoker in exchange for Soriano. The Nationals have the pressure to sign Smoker because they need to show something for Soriano. The reason being, if Smoker were not signed, the Nationals would receive pick 31A in the 2008 draft. Since the compensation for an unsigned pick is a one-time deal, the Nationals may feel forced to focus on an easier pick to sign in 2008. So in the end their choice is:
Soriano = Josh Smoker + Jordan Zimmermann (both ideally with 2007 professional exposure)
or
Soriano = Jordan Zimmermann + an easier sign at 31A in 2008 (where you lose a development year on the lost Smoker pick)
John | 12-Jul-07 at 9:37 am | Permalink
There’s always a way to spin things though.
You could also say Soriano = Zimmermann+ 31A + International signing like Carlos Flores + more money for free agents this summer(Mike Cameron? Torii Huner?…ect.
Kevin (Fairfax) | 12-Jul-07 at 9:40 am | Permalink
Heh. I am going to have to get used to the possibility of 2 Zimmerman(n)s on the team. Thanks.
John | 12-Jul-07 at 9:50 am | Permalink
http://www.thestate.com/186/story/115297.html
This Clemson article mentions Smoker, claiming he’s expected to sign despite a gap in negotiations.
Kevin (Fairfax) | 12-Jul-07 at 9:52 am | Permalink
John-
I agree, but I would like it to be more than spin. Simply signing the players you draft at slot prices does not make up for cutting the major league payroll. Neither does hiring a number of more scouts, or signing free agents in subsequent years. Both of those are crucial, but don’t make up for the money being saved.
The Nationals have to spend EXTRA money on players in the farm system to hold up their end of the bargain. They didn’t do it by attempting to draft Boras players, and they are apparently not doing it by competing with the Yankees and Red Sox for the top international players (where is this year’s Smiley Gonzalez?). It seems that they have only left themselves a jack McGeary signing as a way to make a splash, and BA says that there is lockstep adherence to slot after round 5 this year.
I want to see the funds applied to the farm system, and I am not sure it is happening.
John | 12-Jul-07 at 10:05 am | Permalink
Kevin-
I read somewhere that they were not interested in any foreign players this year, but were really high on some guys available next season(15-year olds).
Then I saw Bowden saying they were “negotiating” with internationals as talented as Smoker and Detwiler and could sign them if things didn’t work out with the draft picks. It’s hard to tell what to believe.
I will say I’m very happy with their draft so far. A lot of guys seems to be playing very well. Also, many of their previous international signings are putting up good to great stats. Most notably Venezualan 2B Adrain Sanchez.
They may not be making a splash with player signings, but it appears to my amateur eye, that they have spent wisely on scouts and coaches/teachers.
I’m hoping they can add Smoker and McGeary, but I’d really like the best combination of prospects they can get. If that includes international players in the mix, that would be great.
Ric | 12-Jul-07 at 1:16 pm | Permalink
Two notes on the GCL that I noticed on the GCLNationals.com site — Lindon Bond (50th round pick 2007) appears in the box score as a pinch runner, so he must have signed. And Poppert (CA, Potomac) is rehabbing.
Rick | 13-Jul-07 at 5:33 pm | Permalink
Any idea on what is going on with Estrada? He going to be back up to speed in Potomac after this rehab stint?