RHP Garrett Mock outpitched top Red Sox prospect Michael Bowden as Columbus defeated Pawtucket 4-1 (box/gamer). The 25-year old Mock allowed only an unearned run on five hits and one walk over seven innings pitched while striking out seven. This month, Mock is 2-1 over four starts (25IP) with a 2.52 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and 6 walks. A rehabbing RHP Ryan Wagner made his first appearance for Columbus walking three in a shutout inning of relief. 29-year RHP Chris Schroder picked up his eighth save with a scoreless ninth, striking out a pair. 24-year old LF Leonard Davis was 2/4 with a double & run scored; 28-year old RF Jorge Padilla was 3/4 with a double & run scored; CF Roger Bernadina was 2/2 with a double & run scored; and 26-year old DH Luis Jimenez was 1/2 with a double, two walks and one RBI.
Record: Columbus 55-46, 3rd place IL West (3GB)
Tonight: RHP Shairon Martis (0-2, 3.60) versus Pawtucket RHP Edgar Martinez (4-1, 3.96) 7:05PM
Harrisburg’s bullpen faltered, allowing four runs in the bottom of the seventh in a 5-3 loss in Bowie (box/gamer). 27-year old RHP Bobby Brownlie threw six solid innings, allowing only one run on three hits and three walks with three strikeouts. 28-year old LHP Tim Bittner and 26-year old RHP Beltran Perez were the undoing for Harrisburg, allowing a combined four runs on six hits over just two combined innings of work. 22-year old SS Ian Desmond was 2/3 with a bases-clearing double in his return to the Senators lineup.
Record: Harrisburg 56-44, 3rd place EL South (5GB)
Tonight: RHP Adrian Alaniz (0-2, 4.05) at Bowie RHP Jason Berken (7-3, 3.83) 7:05PM
Potomac rallied for six runs in their final three innings to defeat Kinston 7-4 (box/gamer). 24-year old CF Francisco Plasencia led the way on offense, going 2/4 with a double, run & three RBI. 23-year old SS Dan Lyons was 3/4 with a double, triple & RBI. Lyons is now hitting 351/473/561 over his first 19 games with Potomac with 10 runs scored and 13 RBI. 23-year old DH Aaron Seuss was 2/5 with a double, stolen base & run scored. 25-year old LF Boomer Whiting was 2/5 with a run & stolen base. 25-year old RF Dee Brown was 2/4 with one run & RBI, he is now hitting 316/391/456 in 15 games since the All-Star break.
Record: Potomac 17-12, 1st place Carolina North (2.5 games ahead)
Tonight: RHP Luis Atilano (2-0, 3.25) versus Kinston RHP Josh Tomlin (7-4, 3.38) 7:05PM
Hagerstown faltered late, allowing a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, dropping a 5-2 decision in Greenville (box/gamer). 22-year old RHP Terrence Engles started for the Suns allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over 5IP with six strikeouts. 24-year old RHP Erik Arnesen took the loss allowing the game-winning home run among his five hits over 3IP. 22-year old 2B Valerio Heredia was 0/4 but stole two bases and scored once for Hagerstown. 22-year old CF Mark Gildea was 1/2 with a double & run scored.
Record: Hagerstown 14-17, 4th place Sally North (8GB)
Tonight: RHP Colton Willems (5-6, 3.40) versus Greenville RHP Chad Povich (6-3, 3.42) 7:00PM
After being rained out for three straight days, Vermont finally got back on the field, sweeping a doubleheader in Oneonta 4-1 (box) and 4-2 (box/gamer) to move back into first place in the NYP Stedler division.
In game one, 20-year old RHP Brad Peacock allowed only an unearned run in the seven-inning complete game victory. Peacock held the Tigers to four hits while striking out four and not walking a batter. Peacock is now 3-1 on the season for Vermont with a 2.36 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over six starts (34 1/3IP). 22-year old 2B Blake Stouffer was 2/3 with a solo homer & two RBI. 19-year old CA Derek Norris was 2/3 with a run and his fourth stolen base of the season. 21-year old DH Michael Guerrero was 1/3 with a double and his 20th RBI.
21-year old LHP Will Atwood started game two, striking out seven over four innings of work but not factoring in the deceision. He allowed two runs (one earend) on three hits and one walk. 22-year old RHP Carlos Peralta picked up his second win of the season with two scoreless innings of relief, walking one and striking out two. 22-year old Steve Stewart got his second save of the season with a scoreless seventh. 21-year old 2B Nick Arata was 2/3 with a triple, stolen base, two runs & one RBI. 23-year old LF Jake Dugger was 1/2 with a triple, RBI & run. 19-year old 3B Steve Souza was 1/2 with a stolen base & RBI.
Record: Vermont 17-14, 1st place NYP Stedler (1.5 games ahead)
Tonight: RHP Patrick Arnold (NR) makes his Vermont debut in Brooklyn against RHP Jeffrey Kaplan (1-0, 2.70) 7:00PM
The GCL Nationals swept a doubleheader from the division-leading GCL Dodgers 3-2 (box) and 2-0 (box).
Game one saw the return of 19-year old LHP Josh Smoker. Smoker, pitching for the first time in over a month, allowed three hits and three walks over 3 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out a pair. 20-year old RHP Juan Jaime picked up the win in relief despite allowing a pair of unearned runs on two hits and two walks over 1 1/3IP, though he did strike out three. 22-year old RHP Mason Smith picked up his third save with two shut out innings. A rehabbing Lastings Milledge was 1/3 with a solo home run for the GCL Nats. 19-year old 2B Steve Lombardozzi was 3/3 with a run scored. 20-year old RF J.R. Higley was 1/4 with a double & run scored and is now batting 353/477/500 in his first 17 professional games.
18-year old LHP Bobby Hansen started the second game, allowing only one hit and one walk over four shutout innings. Hansen is now 1-1 over his first four professional appearances with a 1.69 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 10 strikeouts over 10 2/3IP. 21-year old LHP Ryan Buchter picked up the win with two shutout innings in relief, striking out three. And 23-year old RHP Danny Gil picked up his second save with one inning of relief, walking and striking out two. 19-year old DH Dan Killian was 0/1 but drove in both runs. Higley was 2/3 with a run scored. 20-year old CF Chris Curran was 1/2 with a walk & run scored.
Record: GCL Nats 13-11, 2nd place GCL East (2.5GB)
Today: The GCL Nats play another doubleheader this morning against the GCL Mets 11:00AM
The DSL Nationals1 blasted their Nationals2 10-1 (box). 24-year old LHP Osvaldo Rodriguez is now 10-0 on the season after allowing only one run on five hits and one walk over 6IP with six strikeouts. Rodriguez is now 5-0 in five starts against his Nats2 counterparts (27 2/3IP) with a 0.65 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and thirteen walks. 23-year old LHP Jose Santana picked up the three-inning save without allowing a hit or walk and striking out three.
20-year old RHP Luis Ortega was charged with the loss allowing two unearned runs on one hit and two walks over 3IP for the Nats2.
For the Nats1 on offense … 21-year old DH Danny Taveras was 0/3 with two walks, two runs & his 31st stolen base of the season. 18-year old CF Eury Perez was 0/1 but walked four times, drove in one and scored three times. 21-year old CA Yan Carlos Hiciano was 3/4 with a double and RBI. 20-year old 1B Eduardo Urbina was 1/2 with two runs & two RBI.
For the Nats2 on offense … 19-year old 1B Juan Urdaneta was 1/3 with a double. 20-year old 3B Earving Fernandez was 1/4. 21-year old 2B Manuelysis Peralta was 1/4 with a run scored.
Record: DSL Nats1 37-6, 1st place DSL S.D. West (17 games ahead); DSL Nats2 16-28, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (21.5GB)
Today: DSL Nats1 at DSL Tigers; DSL Nats2 at DSL Padres 10:30AM
dd | 22-Jul-08 at 8:15 am | Permalink
Is Mock turning it around?
Sickels was once high on Garrett and had him rated as a B prospect with Arizona.
Mock was the 8th best prospect (a C) in 2007 but failed to make the top 20 Nationals prospects in 2008.
Same could be said about Clippard.
JayB | 22-Jul-08 at 8:58 am | Permalink
It has been two years now since the Livo for Chico/Mock trade. This time has given us enough time in my view to see what we got even with both Chico and Mock being injured for some of this time. My view….we got nothing of MLB value. D-Backs got what they needed at the time, took the benefit and moved on. We got nothing but organizational arms that are now being passed over…..am I wrong here? Does someone really see Chico as anything more than a soft tossing lefty without the control needed to be effective at the MLB level?
Louis J. | 22-Jul-08 at 8:59 am | Permalink
Brian
Dan Lyons(ss) and Boomer Whiting(cf) have been hitting well this year and have moved up to A+ ball…any chance of another move up to AA? Any chance Lyons can be a legit shortstop prospect by 2009?
Has Francisco Plasencia finally matured into a ML prospect? He has always been a great defensive outfielder with speed and a Michael Vick arm but has not been able to hit.
While he has speed,it’s still unclear where he’s best suited hitting in a lineup (leadoff,#3,#7,??).
JayB | 22-Jul-08 at 8:59 am | Permalink
Then again did the Nats get just what they planned for….a salary dump and some AAA innings at the MLB level?
Louis J. | 22-Jul-08 at 9:02 am | Permalink
JayB
What the Nats got from Arizona was UNLOADING LIVO’S CONTRACT plus two organizational arms.
Brian Oliver | 22-Jul-08 at 9:06 am | Permalink
JayB - I think they got just about what Livan was worth at the time of the deal … two maybe arms in the higher level of the minor leagues. They really didn’t have much depth there and Chico/Mock were a worthwhile gamble. Too bad it really hasn’t paid any major league dividends
Louis - They could be moved up to Double-A but it really depends on who moves off the rosters in Harrisburg and Columbus to free up a spot (as well as who might back fill them). Lyons seems like a solid enough guy, not sure he is a prospect in the Baseball America sense of the word, but he could be a potential utility guy (remember he’s two years older than Ian Desmond). Plasencia is another role player though his performance thus far in 2008 seems solid enough to earn him another look in 2009 in Harrisburg.
VladiHondo | 22-Jul-08 at 9:11 am | Permalink
See Luis Atilano is starting tonight, he was the return in the Daryle Ward to Atlanta deal in 2k6 when he was coming off an injury.
What’s he been like so far this year? Any potential?
Brian Oliver | 22-Jul-08 at 9:31 am | Permalink
I have not seen Atilano in person this year but it appears he still isn’t really being extended too much. It seems he is headed down the path of RHRP.
Suns Fan | 22-Jul-08 at 9:53 am | Permalink
Lyons is a good player. Plascencia is a good outfielder, and has good speed.I imagine they’ll both be in Harrisburg next year.
Mark | 22-Jul-08 at 10:48 am | Permalink
I know we’ve touched on this before, but it’s getting ridiculous now. Osvaldo Rodriguez, 24 years old, at 10-0 / 1.16 ERA in the DSL has NO business playing in this league right now. With Nats1 at 37-6, it’s not as if the team “needs” him. He should skip GCL and straight to Vermont or Hagerstown ASAP. It’s a total waste for the organization playing him in the DSL right now.
Brian Oliver | 22-Jul-08 at 10:49 am | Permalink
Mark - I completely agree. No idea why he is still under-assigned in the DSL.
e | 22-Jul-08 at 11:39 am | Permalink
I can’t see how anyone can say that Mock is just an “organizational arm.” What are you basing this on? 2 starts in the majors? Are you ready to throw him out based on his first two starts in DC? I thought he threw pretty well considering he had never pitched in AAA until this season (where he has been pretty darned good).
His first start for the Nats began okay (0 runs in the first 4 innings), but then he seemed to have ran out of gas (4 ER in 4.1 IP — it also didn’t help that the bullpen let some of the inherited runners score).
His second start against Texas was much better. After a leadoff homer from Kinsler and a couple of shoulda been outs by his woeful defense that turned into a couple more runs, he settled down and went 6 innings, giving up 4 ER, walking 1 and striking out 8! I thought he showed poise and confidence and made me want to see him start more games in DC.
In his first season in AAA, he’s 6-3, 3.05 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP. 22 walks/92 k’s in 100.0 innings! OK, so he’s not going to ever be a number one or number two in the majors, but what’s wrong with having a solid #3-5 pitcher?
And as for Chico, I’m not ready to toss him aside either. He was thrust into the majors last season after never appearing above AA. He had his ups and downs, but all things considered, he held his own and ended up having better numbers than the avergae NL starter last year. This year he was tweaking his mechanics a little bit and it just hadn’t clicked (he should have started in AAA with Lannan in DC, but that’s another story). And now he’s hurt and done for this year and maybe into most of next.
I just don’t see how anyone can say that these two are “organizational arms” or that Arizona got the better of the deal.
e | 22-Jul-08 at 11:42 am | Permalink
Brian –
what’s the outlook for Michael Guerrero? He seems to have taken quite nicely to the short-season in Vermont. What’s his ceiling? Could he get a quick glimpse at low-A pitching in Hagerstown this year?
MO Nats Fan | 22-Jul-08 at 11:52 am | Permalink
Destin Hood has been activated for the GCL Nats, no word on if he’ll play today…
JayB | 22-Jul-08 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
My view of Mock and Chico is based on their stuff, not results. Time will tell but I feel it is unlikely either will ever pitch more than a few more starts at the MLB level. They are just too hittable for MLB bats.
Berndaddy | 22-Jul-08 at 12:07 pm | Permalink
I like Chico’s character and stick-tuitiveness, but when his fast ball came under 90mph this year he floundered. I’m more up on Mock than Chico myself. Depending on the outcome of he’s rehab, Chico may be done for in the majors. Mock may make something of himself, yet. Time is not on either of their sides with the young guns moving up the way they are and is that bad????
MO Nats Fan | 22-Jul-08 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
All this has more to do with Jim Bowden than it does with Livo, Chico, Mock, etc.
The Livo trade has to be a bad deal and Chico&Mock have to be bust or else Jim Bowden isn’t the worst GM even and might not be fired.
JayB | 22-Jul-08 at 12:39 pm | Permalink
Interesting take MO Nats Fan….I think you have a good point, although I will stick by what I have seen in Mock and Chico…..Brian….feel like weighing in on Jim Bowden and if is the GM that can lead this “world class” player developemtn plan? How would your rate him 1-10 to date?
I’ll go first, 4 out of 10 (with 10 being perfect, 6 being average)
expo_ram | 22-Jul-08 at 12:53 pm | Permalink
Re: Peacock, Atwood, Hansen. Brian, when you throw the numbers for players in to your writeup, it intrigues me. The guys above - what is the org’s expectation of them - are they high ceiling, or just too early to tell? (should I add them to my watch list? :^))
Brian Oliver | 22-Jul-08 at 1:07 pm | Permalink
JayB - As someone who makes the best of a limited budget, that is identifying buy low guys, I give him a 6 out of 10.
As someone who I trust with a bigger budget and lead world class development, I concur on 4 out of 10.
Personality wise? I’m going to take the high road and not answer.
Brian Oliver | 22-Jul-08 at 1:07 pm | Permalink
Peacock - maybe
Atwood/Hansen - too early
MO Nats Fan | 22-Jul-08 at 1:08 pm | Permalink
Let me be clear, if we traded Livo as a salary dump and pick up two guys who don’t throw another ML inning (I think both will appear again though) this was still a good move. Our farm was virtually devoid of SP talent and Livo deserved a chance to play for a contender again so we did good by him as well.
I’m not a huge JimBow fan, but other than wearing leather pants I don’t see anything that is a firing offense.
Louis J | 22-Jul-08 at 1:15 pm | Permalink
JayB
I rather rate Kasten..Bowden can only do what Kasten allows him to do. Remember, the unloading of Vidro, Livo et al contracts coincided with the Lerner’s need for $25M to add extra things to the new stadium. You have to ask yourself, did Bowden want to trade those players or was he ordered to decrease the payroll to help with $25M? Kasten is good at building a new stadium and devising an inexpensive plan to build a club but he has the same problem here that he had in Atlanta…he’s cheap and is a marketing failure with a boring team (Good teams in Atlanta, average attendance and couldn’t sellout playoff games). Remember, Kasten could not put together his own group to buy the Expos and was added to the Lerner group as a condition for their purchase. Bowden is no great GM but he’s not the problem. I believe that if the Nats fired him and kept Kasten, the future would still be the same.
expo_ram | 22-Jul-08 at 1:22 pm | Permalink
Louis, regardless if the FO wanted to unload those salaries to pay for improvements, probably every GM in the league would have made those deals, and I like them. I think Mock has a shot at the rotation, but hope it will only be for a year or 2 since that would mean our high ceiling SP prospects will have made it!
Berndaddy | 22-Jul-08 at 1:24 pm | Permalink
Let me ride in the valley y’all.
We all know Jimbo will never take this team to where we want it to go. I wouldn’t say he flips a coin and takes a deal, but taking players you picked in a previous job to justify yourself. Poo on that. Lord help me if he makes a run for Adam Dunn. We don’t need Adam Dunn, but I’m afraid we’ll get him if Jimbo has his way. Urgh!
I’ve been hoping Rizzo was put in place to take he’s place.
I don’t really know about that move either, but Jimbo oozes ineffectual to me. Time will tell…
2cents
JayB | 22-Jul-08 at 1:35 pm | Permalink
Louis J,
Another interesting view. Stan may well be a big part of the problem so far but if I recall he was not near as cheap in ATL….boring yes, cheap, not so much. If I was going to rate Stan 1 - 10 I would give him a 6 for average. He did get the park open on time and next year will be the telling time for if he can get the hot dogs served hot and with a smile.
Bottom line for me is Jimbo is a known weak link. We can still win as a cheap team if we have a good GM.
Andrew S | 22-Jul-08 at 3:37 pm | Permalink
MO Fan , i don’t think anyone expects Bowden to be fired. Everyone seems to be sure his CONTRACT will not be renewed following the season. And why is saying a guy is a AAA arm rather than a #5 starter in MLB knocking an executive?
MO Nats Fan | 22-Jul-08 at 4:50 pm | Permalink
I have no problem with anyone rating Chico & Mock as AAA, AAAA or #4-5 ML SP level, that wasn’t what I was refering to.
When people look at the Livo for Mock/Chico trade as a bust or pure salary dump in order to create another avenue to bash Jim Bowden…we’ll that I don’t agree with.
Some fans love affair with Livan Hernandez and irrational hatred of Jim Bowden don’t make sense to me in general and annoy me greatly in practical discussions.