2B Pokey Reese was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth as the Clippers edged the Indianapolis Indians 6-5 (box/gamer). RHP Marco Estrada’s start was pushed up a day, he allowed all five runs on six hits and three walks over only 3IP. RHPs Levale Speigner, Jim Ed Warden, and Chris Schroder combined on the final six shut out innings of relief, allowing four hits, two walks and striking out five. A rehabbing Ryan Zimmerman was 0/4 with two runs scored. RF Larry Broadway was 2/4 with a walk & three RBI. Notes: Yurendell de Caster and Shairon Martis have both been selected to the Netherlands Olympic team and will compete in China. They are expected to remain with the Clippers through the current homestand.
Record: Columbus 54-45, 3rd place IL West (3GB)
Today: RHP Dennis Tankersley (2-2, 4.96) versus Indianapolis LHP Tom Gorzelanny (0-1, 3.00) 5:05PM
Harrisburg defeated Altoona 5-1 (box/gamer). RHP Craig Stammen had yet another solid start for Harrisburg, giving up only one run on three hits and one walk over 6IP while striking out six. 3B Ofilio Castro was 3/5 with a home run and two RBI; 1B Bill Rhinehart was 1/4 with a double; LF Marvin Lowrance was 1/2 with three walks & a run scored; and 2B Matt Rogelstad was 2/4 with two RBI. Notes: Patriot News has two interesting articles today: first on the large number of roster moves by the Senators in 2008 and second on the attendance issues faced by Harrisburg.
Record: Harrisburg 56-42, 2nd place EL South (5.5GB)
Today: RHP Jordan Zimmermann (4-2, 3.45) at Altoona LHP Kyle Bloom (2-4, 4.24) 6:05PM
Potomac was blanked by Lynchburg 2-0 (box/gamer). The P-Nats managed only two hits on offense, a single by RF Aaron Seuss and a double by CA Pat Nichols. LHP Ross Detwiler took the loss allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 5IP with four strikeouts. A rehabbing Ryan Wagner pitched a scoreless inning of relief, striking out two. RHPs Joe Norrito & Josh Wilkie along with LHP Atahaulpa Severino each chipped in with a scoreless inning of relief.
Record: Potomac 16-12, 1st place Carolina North (1.5 games ahead)
Today: No game scheduled
Hagerstown RHPs Brad Meyers and Edulin Abreu combined on a five-hit1-0 shutout of Augusta (box/gamer). Meyers allowed five hits and two walks over 6 1/3IP with five strikeouts. He is now 2-2 with a 1.69ERA and 1.17WHIP over four July starts (21 1/3IP) with 16 strikeouts. Abreu pitched the final 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief for his sixth save. CA Travis Reagan provided all of the offense with a solo home run. 1B Tim Pahuta had a single, the only othe Suns hit.
Record: Hagerstown 13-16, 4th place Sally North (8GB)
Today: RHP Hassan Pena (1-2, 2.70) at Greenville 4:00PM
From the Monsters … “Mother Nature beat the Lake Monsters for the second straight night as Vermont’s New York-Penn League game at the Oneonta Tigers on Saturday night was postponed due to wet grounds following a huge thunderstorm at Damaschke Field. The two teams, seperated by one-half game for first-place in the Stedler Division, will play a doubleheader at Oneonta on Sunday evening beginning at 6:00 pm. Brad Peacock and Will Atwood are scheduled to be the starting pitchers for the Lake Monsters in the twinbill.”
Record: Vermont 15-14, 2nd place NYP Stedler (0.5GB)
Today: RHP Brad Peacock (2-1, 2.96) & LHP Will Atwood (0-1, 4.72) at Oneonta 4:00PM
The GCL Nationals did not play on Saturday.
Record: GCL Nats 10-11, 2nd place GCL East (5GB)
Today: GCL Nats versus GCL Cardinals 12:00PM
The DSL Nationals1 outslugged the DSL Padres 10-6 (box). CF Eury Perez was 2/3 with two walks, two runs & three stolen bases; 3B Alexander Romero was 4/4 with a double, RBI & run; RF Angelberth Montilla was 1/5 with a triple, run & three RBI; SS Justino Cuevas was 2/6 with a double, stolen base & two runs; and DH Danny Taveras was 2/6 with a home run & two RBI. LHP Jose Taveras started for the Nats1 allowing two runs on four hits and one walk over three innings. RHP Wilson Eusebio picked up the win with 3 1/3 shutout innings of relief, giving up only two hits and two walks while striking out seven.
The DSL Nationals2 doubled up the DSL Tigers 4-2 (box). RHP Wanel Vasquez allowed only an unearned run on four hits and four walks over 5IP with six strikeouts. LHP Gabriel Santos picked up the win with one inning of relief, allowing an unearned run on two hits and striking out two. RHP Rafael Castillo picked up his fifth save with a scoreless ninth. 3B Earving Fernandez was 2/4 with one run & one RBI; CF Eleazar Cuevas was 1/5 with one RBI; and SS Hendry Jimenez was 1/4 with a run scored.
Record: DSL Nats1 36-6, 1st place DSL S.D. West (17 games ahead); DSL Nats2 16-27, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (20.5GB)
Today: No games scheduled
Ronny | 20-Jul-08 at 8:34 am | Permalink
Brian- Is Craig Stammen for real?, and what part of our major league rotation does he fit in. When it’s all said and done can he be a right handed john lannan for our team and keep a spot in the rotation whenever he get promoted to the majors? I guess what i’am asking is what is his projection.
Brian Oliver | 20-Jul-08 at 9:37 am | Permalink
Stammen is a #4 or 5 SP as his ceiling.
Mark | 20-Jul-08 at 9:43 am | Permalink
It looks like moving Stammen to Potomac early in the year was the best thing for him. He’s regained his confidence, and then some. I don’t know how/why he’s improved so dramatically just this year (Brian, any word on mechanics?) - he’s probably the hottest pitcher in the Nats minor organization now that Alanaiz has cooled down. I say keep him where he is and build on what he has done so far. I think he can make some major strides next year, starting in Columbus and being moved up as needed. A fellow Dayton Flyer is great to see!
pahou | 20-Jul-08 at 9:57 am | Permalink
does any one know how Bill Reinhart got his nickname? thanks
Nationals Fan @ Fire Jim Bowden | 20-Jul-08 at 11:20 am | Permalink
Do you put any stock at all in the Wade Davis’s name being dropped in Ladson’s column as a possible return on a trade for Rauch with TB? Rauch for Davis straight up seems silly. What about Rauch and Rivera? Or Rauch and Guzzy?
Andrew F | 20-Jul-08 at 11:45 am | Permalink
I’m developing a fairly healthy Stammen mancrush.
From what little research I did on him yesterday when I saw his name floated, I’d love me some Wade Davis.
Andrew S | 20-Jul-08 at 11:46 am | Permalink
Even Rauch and Guzzy for Davis seems silly. Seems like posturing to me.
Positively Half St. | 20-Jul-08 at 12:55 pm | Permalink
Silly in that we wouldn’t be giving up enough, or we would be giving up too much?
Nationals Fan @ Fire Jim Bowden | 20-Jul-08 at 1:20 pm | Permalink
Silly that we couldn’t get a blue-chipper like Davis for Rauch and Guzman. This could be Bowden setting a ridiculous price for his guys, but Ladson reported it more like Davis was “available,” not that this what we’re asking for. But it’s hard to know reading passive voice unnamed sources.
Nationals Fan @ Fire Jim Bowden | 20-Jul-08 at 1:21 pm | Permalink
At least that’s what I think Andrew meant. I’m interested if Brian has an opinion.
Ronny | 20-Jul-08 at 1:25 pm | Permalink
Positively Half St.- I think he means we aren’t giving up enough for Wade Davis. I’m thinking it would probably take a package of Rauch, Tim Redding, and Bill Rhinehart to get him from the Rays.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 20-Jul-08 at 1:50 pm | Permalink
When did the Nationals get so deep in hitting prospects that they’d be pursuing pitching prospects?
Jimmi | 20-Jul-08 at 2:20 pm | Permalink
Josh Wilkie named Nationals minor league player of the month for June.
j | 20-Jul-08 at 2:48 pm | Permalink
One thing about the Rays, they are loaded with pitching prospects. With Shields, Kazmir and Garza at the ML level, and Price soon to follow, perhaps a Davis is somewhat expendable. Considering Rausch is under control for 2 more years (? i think) it seems plausible.
Brian, whats your take on Davis and SS Reid Brignac. The Rays would appear to be attractive trade partners.
Andrew S | 20-Jul-08 at 3:11 pm | Permalink
FJM, yepp that’s exactly what I mean. Jake McGee and Davis are probably set to take over Jackson’s and Sonnanstine’s spot in the Rays’ rotation starting in late 2009.
Andrew S | 20-Jul-08 at 3:12 pm | Permalink
FireJimBowden*
Andrew S | 20-Jul-08 at 3:13 pm | Permalink
Wooden, because great teams have good pitching and good pitching is so hard to get you need to have a surplus. Not all of these guys are going to pan out.
Brian Oliver | 20-Jul-08 at 3:36 pm | Permalink
I would do back flips if the Nationals could turn Rauch into Wade Davis. That being said, I find it hard to believe the Rays would make that move.
Wade Davis > Jon Rauch
Tom | 20-Jul-08 at 4:41 pm | Permalink
Rays need for John Rauch in 2008 > Rays need for Davis in 2008.
Los Doce Ocho | 20-Jul-08 at 5:51 pm | Permalink
Rauch is team controlled through 2010 for less than $5 mil. 2 1/3 cost effective seasons of Rauch seems pretty enticing when free agent options would cost $4-5 mil a season for 3 to 4 seasons.
Red Sox traded for Gagne last year and gave up Gabbard, Murphy & Engel Beltre. Valverde was unloaded for Qualls, Burke & Juan Gutierrez. Dotel was traded for Kyle Davies. Linebrink was traded for Inman, Joe Thatcher & Steve Garrison.
The Rays showed a willingness last year to acquire relievers with the Balfour & Wheeler deals.
I wouldnt see Rauch going straight up for Davis, mainly because I can see both sides thinking they are giving up the better player. But TB is so deep in starters at AA & AAA that Houser, Niemann or Talbot are surely available in a package somehow.
Andrew S | 20-Jul-08 at 7:54 pm | Permalink
Tom, Wade Davis could pitch in relief in the majors now too. But he is a future major league starter and will probably be a darn good one.
Good Major League Starter > Late Inning Reliever.
That said, I would love it if they could pull it off. However, Rays GM Andy Friedman is too smart for that. The Rays could be even better next year WITH Davis.
Wooden U. Lykteneau | 20-Jul-08 at 8:05 pm | Permalink
Andrew S - Why do you not understand the concept of a rhetorical question?