Comments on: Across the Affiliates 04/21/08 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/ We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future - FDR Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:24:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: e http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64317 e Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:15:57 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64317 <p>Brian --</p> <p>Once again, I'd like to commend you on the outstanding work you're doing. I'd like to get your take on what you think is enough time to elapse before a player is pushed up the ladder (i.e. how many at bats is enough before the organization thinks a batter is ready to try the next level; how many IP's for a pitcher, etc)? I'm really intrigued by a couple of hitters and pitchers so far this (early) season and was curious to see if the Nats are going to try and move them up to see if they can handle the next level.</p> <p>More specifically: Hagerstown -- Steve Souza (3B/SS?!), Bill Rhinehart (1B), Aaron Seuss (OF), Cole Kimball (SP), Colt Willems (SP) Potomac -- Marvin Lowrance (OF), Jordan Zimmermann (SP), Cory Van Allen (SP), Zech Zinicola (RP) Harrisburg -- Luke Montz (C), Jorge Padilla (OF), Rog Bernadina (OF), Mike Daniel (OF), Justin Maxwell (OF) Columbus -- Collin Balester (SP), Mike O'Connor (SP), Brian Sanches (RP), Steve Shell (RP)</p> Brian –

Once again, I’d like to commend you on the outstanding work you’re doing. I’d like to get your take on what you think is enough time to elapse before a player is pushed up the ladder (i.e. how many at bats is enough before the organization thinks a batter is ready to try the next level; how many IP’s for a pitcher, etc)? I’m really intrigued by a couple of hitters and pitchers so far this (early) season and was curious to see if the Nats are going to try and move them up to see if they can handle the next level.

More specifically:
Hagerstown — Steve Souza (3B/SS?!), Bill Rhinehart (1B), Aaron Seuss (OF), Cole Kimball (SP), Colt Willems (SP)
Potomac — Marvin Lowrance (OF), Jordan Zimmermann (SP), Cory Van Allen (SP), Zech Zinicola (RP)
Harrisburg — Luke Montz (C), Jorge Padilla (OF), Rog Bernadina (OF), Mike Daniel (OF), Justin Maxwell (OF)
Columbus — Collin Balester (SP), Mike O’Connor (SP), Brian Sanches (RP), Steve Shell (RP)

]]> By: Pilchard http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64319 Pilchard Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:54:44 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64319 <p>Interesting that Bobby Brownlie has pitched very well to start the season in Hagerstown. He was supposed to be star coming out of Rutgers (his agent was Scot Boras, who was asking for the moon, as a result, Brownlie slipped to the Cubs in 1st round), but he was awful and IIRC, ending up pitching in the Indy league at one point. Would be great if he starts to meet the expecatations that many had for him.</p> <p>That said, despite 4 good starts, he only has 9Ks in 20+ innings, which could indicate that his success may be the result of good fortune rather than great stiff.</p> Interesting that Bobby Brownlie has pitched very well to start the season in Hagerstown. He was supposed to be star coming out of Rutgers (his agent was Scot Boras, who was asking for the moon, as a result, Brownlie slipped to the Cubs in 1st round), but he was awful and IIRC, ending up pitching in the Indy league at one point. Would be great if he starts to meet the expecatations that many had for him.

That said, despite 4 good starts, he only has 9Ks in 20+ innings, which could indicate that his success may be the result of good fortune rather than great stiff.

]]> By: Terry Byrom http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64339 Terry Byrom Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:42:55 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64339 <p>E, as far as moving guys up that just depends on many different things.</p> <p>I would guess that Daniel is going to be in Harrisburg all season. I would also guess that Maxwell will be here most of the season since the Nats have been fairly public with the fact that they wanted him to spend a "year" in AA.</p> <p>As for Padilla, Montz, and Bernadina, all three of them are very different situations. I'd guess Montz will be here most of the season and if he continues playing like he has, he'll most certainly play himself into being a prospect for the Nats or someone else. Bernadina, not sure, but I'd guess he'll be here a while as well. Not sure about Padilla at all.</p> <p>Typically the Nats don't promote "prospects" to AAA during the season.</p> <p>Keep in mind that though winning in the minor leagues is generally not considered to be important to a major league franchise, the Nats haven't had a winning TEAM at any level in the minors in five or six seasons, so I'm guessing that they'd love to have at least one team with a winning record this season.</p> E, as far as moving guys up that just depends on many different things.

I would guess that Daniel is going to be in Harrisburg all season. I would also guess that Maxwell will be here most of the season since the Nats have been fairly public with the fact that they wanted him to spend a “year” in AA.

As for Padilla, Montz, and Bernadina, all three of them are very different situations. I’d guess Montz will be here most of the season and if he continues playing like he has, he’ll most certainly play himself into being a prospect for the Nats or someone else. Bernadina, not sure, but I’d guess he’ll be here a while as well. Not sure about Padilla at all.

Typically the Nats don’t promote “prospects” to AAA during the season.

Keep in mind that though winning in the minor leagues is generally not considered to be important to a major league franchise, the Nats haven’t had a winning TEAM at any level in the minors in five or six seasons, so I’m guessing that they’d love to have at least one team with a winning record this season.

]]> By: Brian Oliver http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64342 Brian Oliver Mon, 21 Apr 2008 16:53:44 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64342 <p>Terry - Thanks for the first person point of view from Harrisburg</p> <p>e - I'd imagine that some of the guys at the lower level will get promoted somewhere areound late May/early June (unless there are injuries). Last season the Nats promoted Marrero, Daniel, Maxwell and McMillan in mid-June. It's tough to promote guys this early outside of injury. Players need to really be struggling to consider cutting or demoting them.</p> Terry - Thanks for the first person point of view from Harrisburg

e - I’d imagine that some of the guys at the lower level will get promoted somewhere areound late May/early June (unless there are injuries). Last season the Nats promoted Marrero, Daniel, Maxwell and McMillan in mid-June. It’s tough to promote guys this early outside of injury. Players need to really be struggling to consider cutting or demoting them.

]]> By: e http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64353 e Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:47:39 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64353 <p>I realize that the sample size is quite small right now and msot of the people I listed aren't true "prospects", but I was wondering if teams use a basic target number before they even think of making call-ups/demotions (i.e. at least 100 AB's or 50 IP's)?</p> I realize that the sample size is quite small right now and msot of the people I listed aren’t true “prospects”, but I was wondering if teams use a basic target number before they even think of making call-ups/demotions (i.e. at least 100 AB’s or 50 IP’s)?

]]> By: Dick http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64358 Dick Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:04:56 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64358 <p>Went to P-Nats game Saturday. Alaniz was OUTSTANDING. Not more than a couple of hard hit balls. One bases-loaded jam, got a GIDP to escape. Lots of ground balls and pop-ups. Marrero had the night off, or at least didn't play. Anyone know why? Also, I see Burgess didn't play on Sunday. Anyone know anything?</p> <p>Not to be sarcastic, but the P-Nats were so much more fundamentally sound than the big club! The Blue Rocks played like an A-ball team, too. P-Nats looked like a well-oiled machine!</p> Went to P-Nats game Saturday. Alaniz was OUTSTANDING. Not more than a couple of hard hit balls. One bases-loaded jam, got a GIDP to escape. Lots of ground balls and pop-ups. Marrero had the night off, or at least didn’t play. Anyone know why? Also, I see Burgess didn’t play on Sunday. Anyone know anything?

Not to be sarcastic, but the P-Nats were so much more fundamentally sound than the big club! The Blue Rocks played like an A-ball team, too. P-Nats looked like a well-oiled machine!

]]> By: Tom http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64369 Tom Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:30:45 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64369 <p>Terry & Dick, I think after 5 years of loosing at every level in the minors player development has taken a different approach this year. Potomac is the biggest example. Potomac has the most "older players" on this team since the Nat's took over the operation in 2005. Player Development now wants the prospects to get used to winning so the winning attitude is ingrained in them before the get to the big team. This has been Atlanta's Plan for the past 25 years and I believe this philosophy is now implementing in the National's player development system now that the Nations have a significant investment in their minor league system. If you are a fan in the No VA you just might get a better value for the dollar going to a P-Nat game this season than seeing a Nat's game. By the way Harrisburg is seeing the same. Geoff Morrow may be able to do a good interview comparing this year vs the last couple of years in Harrisburg.</p> Terry & Dick, I think after 5 years of loosing at every level in the minors player development has taken a different approach this year. Potomac is the biggest example. Potomac has the most “older players” on this team since the Nat’s took over the operation in 2005. Player Development now wants the prospects to get used to winning so the winning attitude is ingrained in them before the get to the big team. This has been Atlanta’s Plan for the past 25 years and I believe this philosophy is now implementing in the National’s player development system now that the Nations have a significant investment in their minor league system.
If you are a fan in the No VA you just might get a better value for the dollar going to a P-Nat game this season than seeing a Nat’s game.
By the way Harrisburg is seeing the same. Geoff Morrow may be able to do a good interview comparing this year vs the last couple of years in Harrisburg.

]]> By: Tom http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64371 Tom Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:33:29 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64371 <p>Interesting note Bobby Brownlee was drafted ahead of Jason Bergman out of Rutgers in 2002.</p> Interesting note Bobby Brownlee was drafted ahead of Jason Bergman out of Rutgers in 2002.

]]> By: Dick http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64413 Dick Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:44:56 +0000 http://farmauthority.dcsportsnet.com/2008/04/21/across-the-affiliates-042108/#comment-64413 <p>Tom: Noted the phenomenon you commented on in your post prior to leaving for the game Saturday. Other than Marrero, I'm not sure they have any position prospects on Potomac. BUT, they sure have a team to give confidence to the young pitchers down there. And they certainly have arm prospects! Interesting that Zinicola and Carr have traded places this season.</p> Tom: Noted the phenomenon you commented on in your post prior to leaving for the game Saturday. Other than Marrero, I’m not sure they have any position prospects on Potomac. BUT, they sure have a team to give confidence to the young pitchers down there. And they certainly have arm prospects! Interesting that Zinicola and Carr have traded places this season.

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