Columbus rallied to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth but lost the lead and the game 3-2 in ten (box/gamer). 23-year old RHP Tyler Clippard allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 7IP with four strikeouts but did not factor in the decision. 24-year old RF Roger Bernadina was 2/4 with a double, stolen base & two runs scored; 26-year old DH Luis Jimenez was 2/5 with a double & RBI; and rehabbing CF Lastings Milledge was 0/5 with two strikeouts & one RBI.
Record: Columbus 56-47, 3rd place IL West (4GB)
Today: RHP Marco Estrada (2-1, 4.89) versus Pawtucket RHP Charlie Zink (11-2, 2.22) 12:05PM
Harrisburg was blanked by Bowie 3-0 in a rain-shortened five inning game (box/gamer). 23-year old CF Mike Daniel and 21-year old SS Ian Desmond had the only Senators hits, both singles. 23-year old LHP Justin Jones took the loss allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over 4 2/3IP with four strikeouts.
Record: Harrisburg 56-46, 3rd place EL South (6GB)
Today: RHP Zack Segovia (NR) at Bowie RHP David Hernandez (5-3, 2.65) 11:05AM
Potomac called on 25-year old RHP Joe Norrito for the last minute spot start (Segovia was promoted to Harrisburg) in a 6-4 loss to Kinston (box/gamer). Norrito allowed six runs on eight hits and two walks over 4IP. 23-year old LHP Jack Spradlin threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, giving up three hits. 23-year old RF Aaron Seuss was 2/4 with a pair of doubles, two runs & two RBI. 26-year old 1B Brian Finegan was 2/3 with two RBI for the P-Nats. Notes: The Nats have three roster spots to address for the P-Nats. They likely need a starter, reliever, and bat off of the bench. Likely candidates are RHSP Brad Meyers, RHRP Kyle Gunderson, and maybe CI Tim Pahuta.
Record: Potomac 18-12, 1st place Carolina North (2 games ahead)
Tonight: LHP Ross Detwiler (5-6, 5.32) versus Kinston RHP Carlton Smith (7-5, 4.45) 7:05PM
22-year old RHP Cole Kimball allowed one-hit over seven innings and an eighth inning solo homer by 24-year old 2B Jake Rogers broke a 1-1 tie as the Suns defeated Greenville 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon. (box/gamer). Kimball allowed one run on one hit, three walks & one hit batter over 7IP while striking out seven. 23-year old RHP Edulin Abreu was shaky in his inning plus of work, allowing only one run but four hits and one walk. 23-year old Kyle Gunderson picked up the save, shutting down the Drive in the ninth. Rogers was 1/4 with the solo home run that put the Suns ahead to stay. 22-year old CF Mark Gildea was 1/3 with a walk, double & two runs scored. 23-year old LF Jesus Valdez was 1/4 with two RBI.
Record: Columbus 56-47, 3rd place IL West (4GB)
Today: No game scheduled
Vermont managed only four hits as they were shutout by Brooklyn 4-0 (box/gamer). 19-year old RHP P.J. Dean made the start, going two perfect innings. Dean missed his last turn in rotation with a tight shoulder so the Monsters/Nats were being cautious. 21-year old LHP Tommy Milone took the loss allowing two runs on six hits over four innings of relief, striking out three. The Monsters had four singles, two by 21-year old 1B Tyler Moore and one each by 19-year old CA Derek Norris and 19-year old LF Yhonson Lopez.
Record: Vermont 18-15, 1st place NYP Stedler (1.5 games ahead)
Tonight: RHP Patrick Arnold (NR) makes his once delayed NYP debut versus Brooklyn 7:00PM
The GCL Nationals edged the GCL Marlins 4-3 in 10 innings (box). 19-year old RHP Marcos Frias allowed only one run on two hits and two walks over 6IP while striking out two. 23-year old RHP Danny Gil picked up the win despite blowing the save in his 2IP, allowing two runs on three hits. 22-year old LHP Clayton Dill made his first appearance in over two weeks, holding the Marlins scoreless on one hit over 1IP for the save. 21-year old 3B Ronnie Labrie was 2/5 with a double, RBI & run scored. 20-year old CF Chris Curran was 2/5. And, 21-year old DH Francisco Soriano and 19-year old CA Dan Killian each had one RBI for the GCL Nats.
Record: GCL Nats 15-12, 2nd place GCL East (1.5 games back)
Today: No game scheduled
The DSL Nationals1 rallied to tie the game 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth, eventually walking off with a 3-2 win over the DSL Padres (box). 22-year old RHP Armado De Los Santos started for the Nats1, allowing two runs on four hits over 6IP with nine strikeouts. 19-year old RHP Wilson Eusebio picked up the win with four solid innings of shutout relief, giving up only one hit while striking out six batters. 21-year old DH Danny Taveras was 1/3 with a double, run scored and his 32nd stolen base of the season. 18-year old 3B Alexander Romero and 19-year old SS Justino Cuevas were each 1/3 with a run scored.
The DSL Nationals2 also rallied to tie their game in the bottom of the ninth, walking off with a 5-4 win over the DSL Tigers (box). 19-year old LHP Francisco Vizcaino allowed two runs on four hits and two walks over 5IP with six strikeouts. 20-year old RHP Javier Berroa struck out five over his 3IP though he gave up two runs on two hits and four walks. 18-year old LHP Gabriel Santos picked up the win in relief with two shutout innings allowing one hit and striking out two. 19-year old 1B Juan Urdaneta was 2/5 with a run & stolen base. 18-year old LF Joseph Cabreja was 1/5 with a solo home run.
Record: DSL Nats1 39-46, 1st place DSL S.D. West (19 games ahead); DSL Nats2 18-28, 3rd place DSL S.D. West (21.5GB)
Today: DSL Nats2 versus DSL Nats1 10:30AM
MO Nats Fan | 24-Jul-08 at 9:16 am | Permalink
Looking at the Harrisburg returns I had forgotten how young Iam Desmond is. I wonder where he projects now?
With Guzman signed for 2 more years is he in line to come up in ‘10 and fill in until Gonzalez is ready closer to ‘12?
He’s been around, and been talked about for so long you forget he’s only 21…
Also, now that Rhinehart’s OPS is back above 1.00 at AA does anyone think he might be in line for a cup ‘o joe call up in September (especially is Boone and Young aren’t back and LoDuca is possibly traded)?
Brian Oliver | 24-Jul-08 at 9:23 am | Permalink
MO - That’s the thing with guys drafted out of HS, they seem to ‘hang around’ forever but are honestly not old in baseball terms.
EdDC | 24-Jul-08 at 9:28 am | Permalink
According to the Cube, see link, Desmond was born Sept. 20, 1985, which will make him 23 pretty soon.
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/D/Ian-Desmond.shtml
He has nice size for a SS at 6-2 and 185. He draws walks, too, and that tendency is kind of “imprinted” and helps him at any level. He looks like he can play some ball, especially if he gets some breakthrough at the bat. He is still young enough for a AA player to think that could happen. If he gets a little hot, we could maybe see him in Sept.
Marc | 24-Jul-08 at 9:55 am | Permalink
The problem with Desmond is he just plain doesn’t hit enough - he has good size, and I was hoping that last year’s numbers at Potomac were indicative of him developing some power, but he’s struggled at AA again, including the injury. I don’t know that I see him as having a good batting eye - he drew a good number of walks last year, but 14 walks in 175 ABs this year isn’t exactly a OBP machine. I sort of see Emilio and he as being similar - there’s something toolsy about them, and if they can manage to put it together, they could be a very useful player, but they haven’t put it together yet.
Back on the Bowden thing, that conversation is the exact thing I can’t stand about him the most - he managed to take a good idea, a reasonable business proposition, and by tone and implication, made it sound like “Chad who? Oh, that dude with the silly hat? Oh, yeah, we hate that guy.” He could just as easily have said “Look, we need to do the right thing for Chad and the right thing for us - he’s been a real workhorse for us over the last few years and we’re hopeful to keep him here in the future, but we’re going to have to see how the rehab progresses, and we need to adjust the contract to reflect that and to give him some longer-term stability.” Same idea, same implementation, totally different approach.
There’s bad blood between them dating back to Chad’s arbitration hearing before the beginning of LAST year, because apparently they really jumped on his durability as an issue, IIRC.
MO Nats Fan | 24-Jul-08 at 10:09 am | Permalink
Marc,
I have to agree (although I hate all the Bowden bashing on the post site) with your criticism of Bowden on this one. Remember when he made the comments about the Nats “owning” Zimmerman for the next 3 years.
Why go out of your way to alienate your own players? For all of of the (IMO mostly undeserved)critism of Bowden I think he’s just too arrogant and hot headed for this public a position.
Nationals Fan | 24-Jul-08 at 11:17 am | Permalink
I was in Greenville yesterday and watched Kimball dominate (7 Ks and 1 hit in 7 innings)for 7 innings, but also witnessed 2 official scoring decisions that had me shaking my head, and wondering who does the official scorekeeping at a minor league game. In the middle of the game King goes to his left, ranging all the way over to the SS area for a slow roller…he makes a great lunging grab, and his momentum toward CF demands a 360 spin and fire…he throws wildly to first, but the runner does not advance to 2B…he makes a play that most third basemen could not even get to, and because his throw is off the mark he gets the error…and yet if he successfully makes this acrobatic throw, it would be an ESPN highlight play!? Late in the game Valdez lines one to RF and the right fielder runs to his right and drops the liner at about belt level…it is scored a hit!? Who are these scorekeepers, and are there any requirements that they have a certain degree of baseball experience? Anyone know?
Chris | 24-Jul-08 at 11:22 am | Permalink
Theres plenty of questionable scoring decisions in major league games, never mind A ball
Watch a yankees game, its comical
Mark L | 24-Jul-08 at 11:24 am | Permalink
It was stated before and is worth repeating. Jim Bowdon is a major talent who needs someone above him who can keep him under control. The best line about him, when he was first hired by MLB, was that ‘he was a talented guy in need of adult supervision’. The downside is the occasional adolescent blather he showed in regard to Cordero.
Chris | 24-Jul-08 at 11:25 am | Permalink
I vote Brad Meyers in the PNats rotation, its time to see what hes got
MO Nats Fan | 24-Jul-08 at 11:26 am | Permalink
In this case I believe the determination for the error is if an out would have been recorded if the throw had been on the mark. If after ranging so far the throw was off, but the runner was already to 1st then no error would be recorded (unless the runner advances to 2nd on the throw). Remember that errors are really a pitchers statistic (R vs ER) not a players statistic since errors are charged to the player, but the runs they create are not. This is especially true since there is no difference between a fielding error that allows a hitter to get to first with 2 out in the ninth of a 10-0 game or a throwing error that advances a baserunner to 3rd base with no outs in the bottom of the 9th of a tie game.
e | 24-Jul-08 at 11:34 am | Permalink
Brain — one little error I noticed in your post: the record for Hagerstown was omitted and instead you placed the Columbus record. No biggie …
Bernadina seems to be taking to AAA pitching quite well. .469/.553/.719 in 32 AB’s since being dumped by the Nats. I, for one, am impressed that his very brief and unsuccessful time in DC didn’t break him. He took his demotion to Columbus (although it really was a promotion from H’burg) and is showing that he can handle the pitching there (granted it is a small sample size, but he could just as easily gone 3-32). I hope that he gets back up to DC in September.
mjames | 24-Jul-08 at 11:46 am | Permalink
It was stated before and worth repeating, Jim Bowden is a first class dolt. His arrogance and overindulgence (DWI) impedes his ability to effectively perform the duties of a general manager. He has the social skills of gnat. Although Minaya was the architect of this franchise’s demise, Bowden has been very effective in insuring its spiral downward. For those who cheer his achievements, they unable to provide any concrete examples aside from Flores (he wasn’t the one who discovered him but everyone gives him credit). His treatment of Codero is just another example of his continued mismanagement.
Berndaddy | 24-Jul-08 at 11:57 am | Permalink
When I heard what Jimbo said last night on the radio I could bearly drive home. Wasn’t he the face before Ryan Z? I don’t know how anyone could respect him after that one. Lord help us as long as he’s around.
Berndaddy | 24-Jul-08 at 11:58 am | Permalink
He being Chad of course.
Nats fan in NJ | 24-Jul-08 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
e - Wholeheartedly agree about Bernadina. The kid is 23, so still young. Definitely impressed that he hasn’t regressed from his disaster in the Bigs.
Moe Greene | 24-Jul-08 at 12:11 pm | Permalink
E- One little error I noticed while you were pointing out the deficincies of the guy who runs this site for free…
His name is Brian, not Brain.
No biggie.
Seriously, give the guy a break. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Keep up the fantastic work, Brian. Your site has been my homepage for two months, now.
Brian Oliver | 24-Jul-08 at 12:18 pm | Permalink
Thanks for the heads up on Hagerstown’s record. Copying/pasting at 5:30AM leads to some fun errors ;)
I get the ‘Brain’ typo all the time … there are worse things to be called
expo_ram | 24-Jul-08 at 12:24 pm | Permalink
Brian, still no Hood siting in GCL?
expo_ram | 24-Jul-08 at 12:26 pm | Permalink
Oh, and IMO (and maybe its just me) I view this incredible site as being about the farm. Bowden-bashing for MLB club decisions should be reserved for the Post board (which get a little out of hand). Again, its just my opinion - not trying to tell anybody what to do.
There certainly shouldn’t be any FO bashing in reference to the farm they have put together in this short time.
Brian Oliver | 24-Jul-08 at 12:28 pm | Permalink
expo - Nope. Not yet. Just a guess, but I’ll say he plays for the first time on Saturday, the next GCL Nats home game.
EdDC | 24-Jul-08 at 12:42 pm | Permalink
Yes, this is a spectacular site, a real service to Nats’ fans. You get this stuff nowhere else. I am grateful for it.
On Bowden, he has manufactured prospects like Milledge, Dukes, Flores, and now Bonifacio without having the usual coveted veterans most MLB clubs have in their stockpile to deal. That’s not easy. Getting very young arms like Martis is hard when you just have a Mike Stanton to give up. You don’t get a “can’t miss” like Hanley Ramirez without giving up true talent, like Josh Beckett, that championship-calibre clubs want. The Nats have no Josh Beckett.
Bowden is a creative, talented guy who needs adult supervision, as Mark L points out.
Bowden’s off season FA signings are a bit mysterious, but I guess he has almost no budget to speak of, and takes what is left.
I agree about the clumsy, insensitive Cordero comments, though. Restraint is not in Bowden’s arsenal.
Andrew S | 24-Jul-08 at 12:44 pm | Permalink
Yeah I’m also thinking sometime this weekend.
e | 24-Jul-08 at 4:17 pm | Permalink
actually, with all the info he gives us, I did not mis-spell Brian’s name … Thanks for all the hard work and great info Brain!
Dick | 24-Jul-08 at 7:12 pm | Permalink
I’m no big fan of JimBow. I know every story needs its heroes and villains. Currently, JimBow is viewed as a villain; somebody has to be.
I say this because I am always reminded what this franchise would/could be today if we still had (or hadn’t given away) Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore and Brandon Phillips or even the draft picks tendering Vladimir Guerrero would have netted. Should Omar Minaya be the villain in that story? Or MLB? Does it matter?
I say this because I always try to keep some perspective about the condition of the franchise that we inherited. I certainly don’t expect Bowden to spin gold from straw but sometimes feel in the minority especially, as someone earlier pointed out, when reading the Post blog.