Josh Hall made his Columbus debut Saturday night, combining with three Clippers relievers on a 6-2 victory over Pawtucket (box/gamer). Hall picked up the win with five innings of three hit ball with three walks and four strikeouts. Hector Carrasco, Winston Abreu, and Chris Booker allowed only one run over the final four innings, striking out five. 2B Bernie Castro was 2/5 with a double and two runs scored. 3B Kory Casto had his second straight two-hit game, going 2/5 with one RBI and one run scored. 1B Larry Broadway and RF Abraham Nunez also had two hits for the Clippers. On Sunday, Emiliano Fruto struggled with his control walking seven and giving up six runs and five hits in just 3 2/3 innings, but the Clippers rallied from 6-1 deficit, scoring the last nine runs, defeating Pawtucket 10-6 (box/gamer). Jon Albaladejo, Winston Abreu, and Chris Booker combined on 5 1/3 innings of three-hit shutout relief, allowing for the Columbus comeback. RF Abraham Nunez was 3/4 with two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI. DH Mike Restovich was 2/4 with a two-run homer and a double. 2B Bernie Castro was 3/5 with a triple, one RBI and a run scored.
Tonight: Columbus LHP Chris Michalak (3-4, 2.98) faces off with Pawtucket RHP Devern Hansack (7-6, 3.67) at 7:05PM
On Saturday evening, the Senators were doubled up by the SeaWolves, dropping a 14-7 decision (box/gamer). Starter Jerome Williams was pounded for eleven runs (seven earned) on eleven hits in only three innings of work. 3B Dan Dement was 2/4 with a double and two runs scored and 1B Josh Whitesell was 2/4 with double, home run and three RBI. The SeaWolves completed the four-game sweep, scoring four sixth inning runs en route to a 7-4 win over Harrisburg (box/gamer). Garrett Mock made the start allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and four walks over five innings of work with five strikeouts. Mock has struggled since his return to Harrisburg surrendering fourteen runs on twenty-six hits and thirteen walks in only 21IP. Dan Kolb took the loss giving up the four sixth inning runs on five hits. Mike Hinckley made a rare relief appearance with two two-hit shutout innings. The Senators got two hits apiece from CF Roger Bernadina, DH Dan Dement, 3B Ofilio Castro, 2B Marcos Yepez, and SS Seth Bynum.
Today: The Harrisburg Senators do not play today.
SP Shairon Martis and SS Ian Desmond led the P-Nats to an 8-2victory on Saturday evening (box). Martis won his ninth game of the season with seven shutout innings allowing only five hits and two walks while striking out three. Desmond was 4/5 with a double, home run, two RBI and three runs scored. Over his last 10 games, Desmond is batting 0.318 and slugging 0.659. CF Justin Maxwell had his second straight two-hit game, going 2/4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI. CA Brian Peacock and DH Devin Ivany were each 2/5 with one RBI and one run scored. On Sunday evening, the P-Nats could not take the four-game series in Salem, splitting the series with a 5-1 loss (box). Justin Jones took the loss surrendering four runs (three earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings of work. SS Ian Desmond continued his hot streak with another home run and LF Chris Marrero snapped an 0/16 streak going 2/4.
Tonight: RHP Shawn Hill (NR) makes a rehab start as Potomac returns home for a quick three-game series against Wilmington and RHP Michael Penn (2-1, 3.76) at 7:35PM
Zach Baldwin was knocked around for six runs on nine hits in only 3 2/3 innings of work as the Suns dropped a 10-6 decision in West Virginia (box). 3B Leonard Davis was 3/5 with a run scored, CF Francisco Plasencia was 2/6 with one run scored, and LF Lindon Bond was 2/4 with a run scored. The Suns did not play on Sunday.
Tonight: Hagerstown returns home to host Augusta at 7:05PM. Pitchers TBA.
It’s the least surprising news coming out of Vermont. Glenn Gibson put up an impressive start, allowing only one hit and one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings pitched, walking three and striking out seven. Unfortunately for Gibson and the Lake Monsters, Vermont dropped a 2-1 ten-inning game in Brooklyn (box/gamer). In seven games in Vermont, Gibson has pitched 37 2/3 innings with a 0.72ERA, 0.83WHIP and 42 strikeouts to 7 walks. RF Aaron Seuss extended his hitting streak to fourteen games with two hits in three at-bats. And, DH Garrett Bass was 1/4 with a double and a run scored. On Sunday, Colton Willems bounced back from an ugly start allowing no runs on only two hits over five innings as the Lake Monsters defeated Brooklyn 4-1 (box/gamer). Willems is now 3-0 with a 2.36 ERA in seven starts, over his 34 1/3 innings Willems has struck out 16 and walked seventeen. Ryan Harrison and Alberto Tavarez pitched the final four innings allowing only two hits and striking out five. Aaron Seuss extended his hitting streak to 15 games, going 3/4 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Seuss is now batting 0.374 in 31 NY-Penn League games. CA Sean Rooney was 2/3 with a double, run scored and one RBI.
Tonight: RHP Cole Kimball (1-2, 4.11) takes the mound at 7:05PM for Vermont as they return home for a series with Hudson Valley and RHP Joshua Johnson (1-2, 3.54)
The GCL Nationals dropped a slugfest to the GCL Cardinals 14-8 (box). PJ Dean had the best afternoon with five innings allowing three runs on three hits and two walks and striking out six. Justin Phillabaum surrendered two runs in one inning of work, Robert Almonte gave up five runs in 1/3 of an innin, and Shane Erb was tagged for four runs in one inning. 2B Frank Cruz was 3/4 with a double, one RBI and two runs. CF Stephen Englund was 2/5 with a double and a run scored. Englund is batting 342/468/421 with 6 stolen bases in 11 GCL games. RF Michael Burgess was 4/5 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored. Burgess is hitting 0.367 and slugging 0.733 over his last ten games. 3B Steven Souza was 2/2 with a pair of doubles. On Sunday, Ross Detwiler made his third professional appearance and for the third time it was against the GCL Dodgers. After holding them scoreless for the first five innings, Detwiler was touched up four three runs on six hits in three innings of work with five strikeouts as the GCL Nationals dropped a 9-8 decision (box). 20-year old RHP Randy Matias pitched the next four innings allowing only one run on two hits with five strikeouts. CF Stephen Englund was 0/3 with two walks, a run scored and his seventh stolen base of the season. RF Michael Burgess was 2/5 with a double and RBI. SS Stephen King was 1/5 with a three-run homer, his sixth in the GCL. And, 3B Steven Souza was 2/4 with a two-run home run.
Today: The GCL Nationals visit the GCL Cardinals at 12:00PM. LHP Pat McCoy (1-1, 5.87) is likely to pitch.
The DSL Nationals1 dropped a 6-1 decision to the DSL Padres on Saturday morning (box). 18-year old RHP Marcos Frias took the loss allowing five runs on six hits in five innings of work. 19-year old RHP Juan Jamie pitched three one-hit shutout innings striking out five. 17-year old CF Eury Perez was 2/2 with a pair of walks and a run scored. The DSL Nationals2 lost to the DSL Mets 7-2 on Saturday (box). 19-year old LHP Francisco Vizcaino allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits in 2 1/3 innings with three walks and only one strikeout. 17-year old LHP Joel Campana-Ventura made his DSL debut allowing one run on one hit in one inning of work with one strikeout. And 17-year old RHP Ironel Paez made his second appearance with two shutout innings allowing three hits and striking out two. 20-year old SS Francisco Soriano was 1/3. On Sunday, the DSL Nationals1 blasted their DSL National2 counterparts 17-7 (box). 21-year old RHP Amado de los Santos picked up the win with six innings allowing one run and striking out three. 21-year old Juan Beltre was 2/4 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. 19-year old 1B Eduardo Urbina was 3/6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Eury Perez was 3/5 with three runs scored and four RBI. Francisco Soriano was 2/3 with a pair of walks. 18-year old LF Weesley Hernandez was 2/3 with a home run.
Today: The DSL Nationals1 host the DSL Mets at 11:00AM. The DSL Nationals2 visit the DSL Tigers at 11:00AM
Hartmanbirge | 30-Jul-07 at 6:40 am | Permalink
In case anyone missed it, I paste below Hanrahan’s overpowering performance vs. the Mets. He was throwing 94-95 mph which frankly surprised me. I had no idea that he had that kind of arm. He’s big enough to go deep into games. He’s young. He’s durable. And he gets good break on his offspeed pitches. What’s not to love? All he needs to do is refine his command. It’s as if we found a live arm from out of nowhere.
http://tinyurl.com/3cjdvo
A DC Wonk | 30-Jul-07 at 9:02 am | Permalink
Gibson’s numbers are eye-popping. For how long does he go pitching that well until he gets promoted?
Brian Oliver | 30-Jul-07 at 9:06 am | Permalink
I’m guessing that Zimmermann and/or Alaniz get the call before Gibson. Strictly based upon age/level. It seems they are holding Gibson, Willems, other HS arms to much stricter pitch counts.
Dick | 30-Jul-07 at 9:49 am | Permalink
Emiliano Fruto must be injured. He has not been the same pitcher since he went on the DL in May/June. I expect he will either be shut down soon and face shoulder or TJ surgery.
Marrero gets named the hottest prospect in the minors and promptly goes 0 for 16!
I recall reading over the winter that Vermont was not pleased with the quality of prospects the Nats had been sending them. I wonder if they will hold the hot pitchers down for most of the season so that the franchise (and the players on the team) have a taste of success. I’m not sure what benefit it would be to promote a couple to Hagerstown where they have a bad team with virtually no prospects. They can move them to A-ball next April and do two levels next season like Marrero if they are that good. Any body else have any thoughts on this?
Louis J. | 30-Jul-07 at 10:22 am | Permalink
Brian
Based on Dick’s posting above, how long is our “arrangement” with Vermont. It appears that the relationship is not great and Pulaski of the Appy League is available for 2008. I remember that Kasten was interested in moving from Vermont last year. Pulaski would be an Advanced Rookie League team similiar to Vermont in talent. AND its closer to Washington than Vermont AND southwest Virginia (Blacksburg,Radford,Christiansburg, etc) would be a good Nationals fan marketing area. The move would put 4 minor league teams close to Washington which would good for many reasons.
Brian Oliver | 30-Jul-07 at 10:40 am | Permalink
Louis - The agreements with Columbus, Hagerstown and Vermont expire in 2008. The agreements with Harrisburg and Potomac expire in 2010.
Louis J. | 30-Jul-07 at 10:45 am | Permalink
Brian
Thanks! It looks like we are stuck with Vermont and Pulaski will find another franchise for there city in 2008.
Brian Oliver | 30-Jul-07 at 10:52 am | Permalink
Louis - There is always the possiblity they could shelve the GCL franchise for 2008 and replace it with Pulaski. Since the GCL franchise is owned/operated by the team, they have some flexibility. If they believe GCL/Pulaski is a better option than GCL/Vermont, that is an option.
Louis J. | 30-Jul-07 at 11:06 am | Permalink
Brian Oliver
Thanks again! While your online, what is your thoughts of the following for 2008 assuming that everyone is healthy:
1B- Nick Johnson CA- Brian Schneider
2B- Felipe Lopez LF - Dmitri Young
3B- Ryan Zimmerman CF- AARON ROWAND -free agent
SS- Cristian Guzman RF- Austin Kearns
Bench: Flores, Fick, Belliard, Langerhans, ??? middle infielder & ?? a 6th bench player- power hitter or 7th bullpen pitcher.
Brian Oliver | 30-Jul-07 at 11:22 am | Permalink
Rowand seems to be the type of free agent they’d target … not likely as $$$ as Hunter or Jones but still above a replacement level. There is a part of me that believes that Young will be back at 1B in 2008 (that Johnson’s injury is worse than being let on). I’d hope they not bring Fick back, not sure what value he adds to the bench.
I’d hope they make a play for a solid #2 SP if they target any free agent arms at all.
Louis J. | 30-Jul-07 at 11:55 am | Permalink
Brian
I’m also worry about Nick Johnson! Fick gives them a 3rd catcher, another 1B and OF (for moves during a game) and another good locker room player together with Young and Belliard. I also like a solid SP BUT have you seen the available free agent pitchers: Jason Jennings (gave up 11 runs yesterday), Livan Hernandez (got bombed again), Bartolo Colon (injury and $$$), Carlos Silva (possible but $$$), Casey Fossom (a Tampa Bay reject), Jeff “overpaid & over-the hill” Weaver to name a few. Their only chance of getting a solid SP is a trade package of Church and a reliever.
Benji | 30-Jul-07 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
Louis-
Carlos Zambrano and CC Sabathia are free agents this offseason. I would also like to see adam dunn at first or LF. Hopefully Josh Whitesell is playing first and Dunn can play in LF.
Tulsa Fan | 30-Jul-07 at 12:57 pm | Permalink
Sabathia is signed through ‘08. The ‘07 offseason looks weaker than even last year for FA starters other than Zambrano so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the Nats pass. Especially since the FO is making numerous comments that the team needs hitting because they feel like they have enough pitching coming up. But after ‘08, that’s where the starting pitching will be when Sabathia, Santana, Peavy, Sheets, Lackey, Garland become FAs just to name a few. Some of those guys will sign and never hit the market but still, as of right now, that might be one of the best crops of young FA starters in some time.
Tulsa Fan | 30-Jul-07 at 1:02 pm | Permalink
Seuss has done very well considering he came from a small college and I assume that he didn’t regularly play against top competition. A lot of times first year guys begin to wear down about this time because they aren’t use to the grind of playing every day and the travel. He seems to be picking up momentum. Hope the Nats have a sleeper there.
Paul | 30-Jul-07 at 2:31 pm | Permalink
Looks like 2007 5th Rounder Brad Meyers is finished with his GCL tune-up and will make his next appearance for Hagerstown (at least according to milb.com).
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ros&cid=563
Sorry if this was already posted- I’ve been frequenting the site for quite awhile and figured I’d toss my hat into the comments ring.
I’d like to see Meyers do well in A ball and finish the year with Vermont (especially if a couple of the Vermont guys get promoted).
Thanks for the fantastic site Brian!
Brian Oliver | 30-Jul-07 at 2:39 pm | Permalink
Thanks Paul - I missed that. Appreciate the heads up.
Dick | 30-Jul-07 at 2:53 pm | Permalink
Paul: Hagerstown is presumably higher than Vermont. Full season Low-A vs. short-season A. Looks like Meyers will never see Vermont. Next step would be P-Nats.
Dick | 30-Jul-07 at 2:58 pm | Permalink
From Baseball Prospectus today:
Michael Burgess, OF, Rookie-Level GCL Nationals
Six months ago Burgess looked like a sure-fire top 10 pick in the draft, but while nobody debated his plus-plus raw power, his pure hitting skills came into question during his senior year of high school, as his swing has a hitch, and he had problems hitting anything but a fastball. Despite dropping to the 49th overall selection, Burgess is showing no such problems early in his pro career, going 4-for-5 with a pair of doubles on Saturday, then adding two more hits and another two-bagger on Sunday. He’s now sitting at an impressive .348/.446/.609 in his first 20 games. He’s still definitely a high-risk/high-upside type of player, with equal chances of busting out and becoming one of the steals of the draft.
Louis J. | 30-Jul-07 at 4:34 pm | Permalink
TO: Tulsa Fan and Benji
Stan Kasten (not Jim Bowden) will not give a big $$$ multi-year contract to a pitcher. The Nats had a good 2006/2007 draft especially with respect to pitchers (Willems, Gibson, Pena, Detwiler, Myers, Alaniz & Zimmernamm). If they sign Smoker and McGreary and Nunez, Novoa & Atilano improve, and Hill, Bergmann, Lannan, Balester, Chico, Redding and Simontacchi stay healthy, they have a great group of young pitchers AND Kasten will have Bowden continue “to mix and match” until the “young guns” can move up. That’s Kasten PLAN of building from within.
BUT, they could “trade” prospects for a legitimate power hitter if Marrero doesn’t pan out.
The only Free Agent signing could be for Aaron Rowand, a good offensive and defensive centerfield within their price range and contract length as oppose to Torii Hunter and Andruw Jones.
Paul | 30-Jul-07 at 5:05 pm | Permalink
Dick, thanks for correcting my egregious typo- I was writing that post while reading the Lake Monsters gamers from last weekend, so Vermont was on the brain.
Anyway, I would definitely like to see Meyers at RFK…errr, the Pfitz by the end of the summer.
“Pitching, pitching, pitching.”
Cole | 30-Jul-07 at 5:23 pm | Permalink
Rowand is a career .280 hitter who doesn’t steal bases and hits about 12 homers a years. The team is full of very average players. Do we need another one? At this point, the Nats should be looking for ways to acquire exceptional players.
Louis J. | 30-Jul-07 at 6:27 pm | Permalink
Cole
Acquiring “exceptional” players would be nice but the Nats only have three ways to acquire said players: the draft, a trade or free agency-$$$$. You noticed that the Nationals were not involved in the Mark Teixeira trade. They didn’t have the prospects. “Exceptional” players cost $$$$ and Stan Kasten has said he doesn’t want to get involved in large long-term contracts at this time. And, players selected in the draft take time to develop(like Marrero & Burgess). Therefore, Rowand is the best option available for the next 3 years to solve a position problem they had for the past ?? years AND his current stats of 327-395-525,57 RBI,33 doubles,14 HR,31 walks & 5 SB is a substantial improvement over Nook Logan, Ryan Langerhans, Ryan Church, etc., etc.
Marcus | 30-Jul-07 at 6:33 pm | Permalink
Idk if this has been asked yet but Smolinski has been missing from the GCL box score for almost a week anyone know whats up
Cole | 30-Jul-07 at 7:42 pm | Permalink
I understand that Rowand is clearly better than what we have now. But we are one of the worst teams in the league right now, and I don’t think that we should be looking just for better. If an average centerfielder was the last piece to the championship puzzle, then Rowand would be a great move. But how does he help us become a contender? Rowand, coming off of this career year, is likely to get what I would consider a large, long-term contract for an average player. I would only commit what will be significant free agent dollars and years to a player who puts us significantly closer to a pennant, and I don’t see Rowand doing that.
Benji | 30-Jul-07 at 9:33 pm | Permalink
Louis I thought Sabathia had an option this year.
How about Arod this offseason and rowand in CF
Lou Z | 31-Jul-07 at 9:08 am | Permalink
Benji
Arod and Rowan…why stop there! The heck with THE PLAN! Let’s spend $100 million and trade our prospects (Balester, Lannan,Willems, Gibson, Marrero, King, Englund Zinicola and Carr) and go for Carlos Zambrano and trade for Vladimir Guerrero, C.C. Sabathia and Dontrelle Willis!! WOW, what a team- Arod, Guerrero, Willis, Zambrano, Sabathia, Rowand, Zimmerman, Kearns, Johnson, Lopez & Schnieder. Remember what George Allen said, “The future is now! “WE win the World Series in 2008! I love it, but, please don’t wake me up from this dream.
Benji | 31-Jul-07 at 10:33 pm | Permalink
Lou-
Arod was just a dream.
But Dunn is a possiblity. Why not? He can play 1B and LF. Chris Marrero could play 1B or LF. Other than that, the team will have hard luck finding anyone to play. All prospects are crapshoots. Marrero might not even make it to the majors. Burgess is good, along with Simo(SP?) and thats it. With all thew pitching prospects we have, the could be traded for someone, but i doubt Jim would do that. So the only other way is free-agents. I would rather not sign a pitcher seeing how many flame out( Zito) but Zambrano is only 26 and Sabathia is young to. The Nats can still build around that.
Why not sign one of them?
It doesn’t risk the plan at all because they are young. Stan Kasten has said that signing free-agents is part of the plan. He also said the payroll with be within 70-80 million this year. So what are the Nats going to sign a bunch of castoffs again? No.
one of these free agents will be coming in.