Columbus was blasted by Indianapolis 11-2 (box/gamer). LF Jorge Padilla was 1/3 with a double and run scored while a rehabbing Ryan Zimmerman was 2/4 with a two-run home run for the Clippers. RHP Dennis Tankersley started for Columbus, allowing four runs on nine hits over 5IP with six strikeouts. RHP Zech Zinicola was rocked for five runs on five hits (including three home runs) in just one inning of work. Notes: Nationals outfielder Lastings Milledge and pitcher Ryan Wagner are slated to join the Clippers on rehab assignments this week; Clippers outfielder Roger Bernadina waited until the last minute to make his decision regarding the Olympics in Beijing. The Netherlands national team offered Roger a spot on their roster, but gave him a deadline to decide. “I had to let them know today and I’m not going.” he said.
Record: Columbus 54-46, 3rd place IL West (4GB)
Tonight: RHP Garrett Mock (5-3, 3.28) versus Pawtucket RHP Michael Bowden (NR) 7:05PM
Harrisburg dropped a 10-inning 4-3 decision to Altoona, splitting their four-game series (box/gamer/blog). RHP Jordan Zimmermann allowed three runs on six hits and one walk over 6 2/3IP while striking out nine. LHP Yunior Novoa and RHP Jhonny Nunez pitched the next combined 2 1/3 innings allowing no runs on two hits with one strikeout. 2B Matt Rogelstad was 2/5 with a double & RBI; CA/LF Devin Ivany was 1/3 with a walk, run & RBI; LF Marvin Lowrance was 2/4 with a pair of doubles; and 1B Bill RHinehart was 2/3 with two walks and a run scored.
Record: Harrisburg 56-43, 2nd place EL South (5.5GB)
Tonight: RHP Bobby Brownlie (8-0, 3.38) at Bowie RHP Zach Clark (1-0, 0.00) 7:05PM
Potomac did not play on Sunday.
Record: Potomac 16-12, 1st place Carolina North (2 games ahead)
Tonight: RHP Jeff Mandel (4-2, 2.83) versus Kinston RHP Jeanmar Gomez (3-8, 5.89) 7:05PM
Hagerstown got another strong pitching performance as they defeated Greenville 4-1 (box/gamer). RHP Hassan Pena and three relievers combined on the seven-hitter. Pena picked up the win with six shutout innings allowing four hits and no walks while striking out three. RHPs Chris Lugo, Jamie Lehman, and Dan Leatherman each provided an inning of relief with Leatherman getting his second save of the season. LF Jesus Valdez was 3/3 with a walk and solo home run; SS Jose Lozada was 2/4 with a walk, RBI & run; RF Michael Burgess was 2/3 with one RBI; and CF Mark Gildea was 1/4 with a double & run scored.
Record: Hagerstown 14-16, 4th place Sally North (7GB)
Tonight: RHP Erik Arnesen (6-3, 3.78) at Greenville 7:00PM
The Lake Monsters New York-Penn League doubleheader at Oneonta on Sunday evening was postponed due to rain, marking the first time in Vermont’s 15-year history that the team has been rained out three straight days. The Lake Monsters and Tigers will try and play a doubleheader on Monday beginning at 6:00 pm, while the two teams will now also play a doubleheader on September 1st when Vermont returns to Oneonta for a three-game series.
Record: Vermont 15-14, 2nd place NYP Stedler (0.5GB)
Tonight: RHP Brad Peacock (2-1, 2.96) & LHP Will Atwood (0-1, 4.72) at Oneonta 5:00PM
The GCL Nationals beat the GCL Cardinals 9-6 in a rain-shortened 8-inning game (box). RF J.R. Higley was 3/3 with two walks, two doubles, a run, stolen base and two RBI; DH Smiley Gonzalez was 1/4 with a walk, triple, run and RBI; 3 LF Brett Sellers was 1/3 with a walk, double, stolen base and run scored; and 3B Yeurys Tejeda was 1/3 with a double and two RBI. There were two players making rehab appearances, CF Lastings Milledge was 0/1, no official word why he played so briefly, but I’m assuming it had something to do with the rain and subsequently the field conditions. SS Ian Desmond was 3/5 with a stolen base, run, and RBI. LHP Jack McGeary started for the Nats, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over 4IP with seven strikeouts. RHP Paul Demny picked up the win despite allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks over 2IP with two strikeouts. RHP Federico Tanco got the save with two perfect innings, striking out one.
Record: GCL Nats 11-11, 2nd place GCL East (4.5GB)
Today: GCL Nats at GCL Dodgers in a doubleheader 11:00AM
The DSL Nationals1 and Nationals2 did not play on Sunday.
Record: DSL Nats1 36-6, 1st place DSL S.D. West (17GB); DSL Nats2 16-27, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (20.5GB)
Today: DSL Nats1 versus DSL Nats2 10:30AM
Andrew F | 21-Jul-08 at 9:15 am | Permalink
Zimmermann was pretty much dominant until the 7th inning.
Mark | 21-Jul-08 at 10:27 am | Permalink
Brian - why does the DSL not play on Sundays?
Chris | 21-Jul-08 at 10:31 am | Permalink
Hey Brian, assuming Vermont plays both tonight, who do you think starts the first two brooklyn games? Is McCoy up? Any word on PJ Dean? Thanks
Brian Oliver | 21-Jul-08 at 10:32 am | Permalink
No idea. The only thing I can figure is the relgious aspect of games on Sunday.
Brian Oliver | 21-Jul-08 at 10:33 am | Permalink
Chris - From the Monsters game notes
TUESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTER: PATRICK ARNOLD
WEDNESDAY’S PROBABLE STARTER: #33 PAT McCOY
expo_ram | 21-Jul-08 at 10:45 am | Permalink
Seems like a good weekend for the minors. Zinicola had a hiccup, but Millege, Ryan, Wagner, and Desmond coming back; Smiley doing well pitchers McGeary (SO), Clippard, Jones, Nunez, Zimmermann, Stammen, Meyers doing well; Detwiler doing better; hitters Whiting, King, Lowrance, Rhinehart, Bernadina doing well - all good news…
Marcus | 21-Jul-08 at 11:02 am | Permalink
I know this has already been asked but do you have an update on Josh Smoker?
Nationals Fan @ Fire Jim Bowden | 21-Jul-08 at 11:03 am | Permalink
Hey does anyone have a good source to help an enterprising blogger guess who will be type A and B FAs this coming off season, for instance how well would Odalis have to pitch to gain B status? Or how well would Lo Duca have to play in the second half to get B status? Could that partially explain our commitment to him as an everyday player? What about Guzman?
This site seems to have the simplest explanation:
http://www.sportscity.com/MLB/Type-A-Type-B-MLB-Free-Agent-Rankings-Explanation/
Also can anyone confirm two facts?
1. Elias’s system is proprietary and therefore although we have some info about it, we don’t know everything.
2. They look at the player’s 3-year performance, so for instance for Guzzy 06, 07, and 08 would count, but 05 wouldn’t?
Then also I’m not clear on how they factor for injuries.
Chris | 21-Jul-08 at 11:05 am | Permalink
Great, thanks Brian
Brian Oliver | 21-Jul-08 at 11:09 am | Permalink
Marcus - Still no reply, I’ve asked a couple of times
FJB - Here are the 2007 NL Rankings and the AL Rankings.
You are only going to be able to guess-timate the rankings for this upcoming season. With this as the definition
There are just too many moving parts to come up with anything more than a very loose estimate.
MO Nats Fan | 21-Jul-08 at 2:57 pm | Permalink
Any word on if Hood has reported to the GCL Nats yet and when we can expect his pro debut?
Brian Oliver | 21-Jul-08 at 3:05 pm | Permalink
No word on Hood in the GCL. Should be this week though.
John | 21-Jul-08 at 3:09 pm | Permalink
I read that Hood was to fly in Sunday night. No word on when he’d get in a game.
Brian H | 21-Jul-08 at 6:40 pm | Permalink
Anybody else catch these little nuggets from Saturday’s inside baseball article on SI.com from John Heyman?
• Despite his bosses’ support for him in the scout skimming investigation, there’s increasing buzz that Nationals GM Jim Bowden will be replaced before next year.
• The Dodgers are telling people shortstop is their top priority. Pittsburgh’s Jack Wilson and Toronto’s David Eckstein have been mentioned as possible trade targets. But how about All-Star Cristian Guzman, who hasn’t yet signed an extension with the Nationals?
I have yet to understand why Bowden has not dealt any of the veterans on this team with some trade value, Guzman and Rauch in particular. Neither of them will be on this roster when the team is any good; and neither of them are real useful pieces when we’re losing 100 gms a yr. Is he really overvaluing these guys this much?