Nationals Farm Authority

Basil from Federal Baseball informed me of a rumor coming out of the Richmond area.

Greg Burton of ESPN Radio 950 (Red Zebra-owned) and WTVR CBS 6 is reporting a rumor that the Norfolk Tides may be interested in changing their affiliation to another team … the Washington Nationals

Presently, the Nationals AAA franchise is in New Orleans of the PCL and the Norfolk Tides are an International League team affiliated with the New York Mets.  The agreement between the Nationals and New Orleans expires at the end of this season.

More as this story develops.

As always, Todd Jacobson of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star provides his solid coverage of the minor leagues.  Of note:

• He interviews Davey Johnson
• Discusses the injury to 1B Larry Broadway who will not be going to the Arizona Fall League
• FLS Farm Report
• Provides some updates on the 2006 draft
• With the Diamondbacks signing of Brett Anderson on Monday evening, Sean Black is highest unsigned high school draft pick.

Burlington Free-Press describes what it’s like to be a Dominican player in the minor leagues.

Nationals Press Release

The Washington Nationals today purchased the contract of infielder Henry Mateo from New Orleans of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League and designated right-handed pitcher Travis Hughes for assignment. Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcement.

Mateo was hitting .254 (110-for-433) with 21 doubles, ix triples, two home runs and 35 RBI in 113 games with New Orleans at the time of the promotion. Upon joining the Nationals, Mateo’s 33 stolen bases led the Pacific Coast League. Fourteen of those 33 stolen bases came in June alone. Montreal’s second-round selection in the 1995 First-Year Player Draft, Mateo played every defensive position except pitcher and catcher for New Orleans manager Tim Foli this season.

Mateo, 29, is a career .242 hitter (56-for-231) with six doubles, seven RBI and 15 stolen bases in parts of five seasons with Washington and Montreal. A switch hitter, Mateo posted a team-leading 11 pinch hits for Montreal in 2003. Hughes, 28, posted a 6.35 ERA (8 ER/11.1 IP) in eight games out of the bullpen for Washington.

In light of the recent spate of injuries in both New Orleans and Harrisburg, the roster merry-go-round is spinning anew. 

Ken Wright of the Washington Times had the news that New Orleans 1B Larry Broadway “is out for the remainder of the season after injuring his right shoulder.”  The 25-year old Broadway has struggled after a very good April/May (see Broadway’s number below).  He is still stuck behind Nick Johnson, so a change of scenery may be in the cards for him assuming the shoulder injury is not significant.

Arriving in New Orleans is the 24-year old Melvin Dorta who had a brief cup of coffee with the Nationals in July (3 days to be exact).  Dorta is a utility player extraordinaire who has played practically every position while in Harrisburg in 2006 (all except CF and CA).  Much like Broadway, Dorta has cooled off after a hot start for the Senators (see Dorta’s stats below).  I expect Dorta to be a September roster call-up, providing Frank Robinson with a guy who can serviceably fill in anywhere.

Dorta’s promotion leaves a roster spot open in Harrisburg.  Joining the Senators will be SP Collin Balester from Potomac.  Balester will be joining a rotation beset with injuries recently, Justin Echols (back) and David Maust (shoulder).  Of the two, Maust’s injury is more concerning as it is apparently a labrum injury, which typically requires surgery and a long recovery.  The 27-year old Maust’s numbers in 2006 (see below) have been average, with the exception of May, he’s limited the number of bserunners he allows but he doesn’t strike out enough batters to be realistiacally considered anything more than an organizational guy.

While it appears that Echols has the stuff to strike guys out, the 25-year old has shown some concerning control issues thus far in 2006.  He’s likely another organizational guy who could see work as a spot starter or long reliever for the Nationals, likely no earlier than 2007.

As previously mentioned, the 20-year old Balester will be joining the Senators rotation.  Much like his fellow highly rated prospect SPs Clint Everts and Mike Hinckley (more on them later), Balester struggled tremendously in April and May, but slowly began to turn it around in June with a slight bump up in July and serviceable numbers in August.  Being as young as he is, Balester still has time to develop as a pitcher.  He still projects as a #3 SP-type with an upside as a #2 SP.

An offshoot of Balester’s promotion is the status of 2001 3rd rounder Mike Hinckley and 2002 1st rounder Clint Everts.  Both of these highly ranked prospects have taken major steps backwards in Potomac. 

Hinckley’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery has been an inconsistent mess.  He is walking nearly as many batters as he strikes out, and has been frighteningly hittable all season.  His days as a top level Nationals prospect seem to be coming to an end.  He is going to have to show some of what made him one of the higher rated LHP in the minor leagues soon, and it may have to be as part of a change in scenery.

Everts is also recovering from an injury.  In his case, it’s Tommy John surgery.  Given the average recovery time of 18 months, it was the hope of the Nationals that Everts would gain strength and confidence as the season progressed.  He did struggle in April and May but unfortunately for Everts, his command has not improved and at this point he’s been removed from the starting rotation (no reason provided).  From the times that I have seen Everts pitch, he has trouble with first pitch strikes, too often he is pitching behind in counts forcing him to throw strikes in clear hitters counts.  While it’s too early to give up on Everts’ talent, a shift to the bullpen may help.  This will allow the Everts to come into games without worrying about conserving anything for 5+ innings, and let loose with his above average fastball and curveball.

UPDATE (12PM 8/22): 

• The Vermont Lake Monsters have received three of the 2006 draft picks.  Added to the roster were 4th round pick Glenn Gibson, 8th round pick Sean Rooney, and 22nd round pick Robert Jacobsen.  From the Vermont press release:

Pitcher Glenn Gibson was taken in the sixth-round (sic … 4th round) out of Moriches High School in Long Island, New York. Gibson won the 2006 Yastrzemski Award for top player in Suffolk County after going 8-1 with a 0.29 ERA in his senior year at Moriches. The 6-4 left-hander allowed just two earned runs on 11 hits with 145 strikeouts in 61 innings.  Gibson did not sign with the Washington Nationals until August 15th and has been down in Florida for just a couple of days. He did not get into any games for the GCL Nationals.  Catcher Sean Rooney was selected in the eighth-round of the 2006 draft out of Saddleback Community College in California. Rooney hit .236 (39-for-165) with five doubles, two triples, three homers and 25 RBI in 43 games for the Gulf Coast Nationals. Infielder Robert Jacobsen, a 22nd-round pick in the draft, hit .254 (48-for-189) with 23 runs, eight double and 15 RBI in 50 games started at first base in the Gulf Coast League.

• In news from Savannah, pitchers David Trahan and Shairon Martis were called up to Hi-A Potomac, the Washington Nationals organization announced Tuesday. In a corresponding move, right-handed pitcher Oscar Lira and outfielder Jorge de la Cruz were transferred to Savannah from the Gulf Coast League.  The Sand Gnats release:

Trahan spent most of this season as a starter in the Sand Gnats rotation, but strung together just a 1-13 record, setting the South Atlantic League record for most consecutive losses in a season at 13. Trahan has an overall ERA of 4.99, but his average dips to 4.67 as a relief pitcher.  Martis made four appearances with the Gnats this season and posted a 1-1 record with a 3.80 ERA. The 19-year-old starter was acquired by Washington in a trade with the San Francisco Giants for Major League reliever Mike Stanton. Overall this season, Martis went 7-5 with an ERA of 3.67.  Lira began the season on the Sand Gnats roster but was transferred to the Vermont roster on April 9. Lira has played 12 games, including six starts, in the GCL this season and owns a 4-5 record with a 3.88 ERA. The Caracas, Venezuela, native was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2001 and is in his sixth season of professional baseball.  De La Cruz has played four games with Vermont this season and has one hit in 12 at-bats. De La Cruz was signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2004 and spent the last two seasons in the GCL. A native of Bonao, Dominican Republic, de la Cruz was a .268 hitter entering this season.

• New Orleans to Washington: RP Chris Schroder
• Harrisburg to New Orleans: SP Kip Bouknight
• Outside organization to Harrisburg: SPs Matt Chico and Garrett Mock
• Harrisburg to Potomac: RPs Chris Thompson and Juan Ovalles
• Potomac to Savannah: RPs Greg Bunn and Brett Nyquist
• Savannah to Vermont: RPs Rudy Garza and Ricky Shefka
• Retired from Vermont: IF Brandon Conway
• Vermont to GCL Nationals: CA Agustin German and RP Ryan Harrison

The Zephyrs had another solid month offensively in July.  They completed the month batting 275/365/415 in 27 games.  While their power numbers dropped (only 21 HR) they still tallied 140 runs … over 5 runs per game.

Leading Indicators - Hitting

• Brandon Harper - The recently promoted CA batted 383/474/574 in July while splitting time behind the plate with veteran Alberto Castillo.  Harper capitalized on his time behind the plate scoring ten runs, hitting a homer, and driving in seven for the Zephyrs.  He also displayed a solid eye at the plate striking out only four times while walking seven time in 43AB.
• Brandon Larson - The minor league free agent batted 320/416/587 in 23 games primarily at 3B.  He hit five homers driving in thirteen.
• George Lombard - Lombard returned from injury hitting 288/395/521 in 22 games while hitting four home runs and driving in eight.

Lagging Indicators

• Tyrell Godwin - Godwin hit 253/322/405 in 24 games in July.  He struck out eighteen times in 79AB.
• Kenny Kelly - Kelly added to the struggles in the Zephyrs OF hitting 246/373/275 in 25 games.

July Hitting Statistics (sorted by AB)

The New Orleans Zephyrs finished July with a 14-13 record. Their month was highlighted by an all-out raid on their bullpen by the Nationals; losing Micah Bowie, Roy Corcoran, Kevin Gryboski, Travis Hughes, and Ryan Wagner during the month, forcing the Zephyrs to rely on whatever arms they could grab from Harrisburg or elsewhere. They didn’t allow this to slow them down, in 234.33 innings, they had a 4.19ERA, 1.34WHIP, 7.3K/9, 2.9BB/9, and 0.6HR/9.

Leading Indicators

• Jason Bergmann - Bergmann shifted from the bullpen to the starting rotation with tremendous results.  In 6 total appearances in July (three starts), he threw 22.33 innings while allowing 23 hits, 10 runs, and 7 runs while striking out 27.  But it was as a starter that Bergmann opened eyes.  In his three July starts, Bergmann pitched 16.33 innings allowing 16 hits, 5 walks, and five runs, while striking out 20.
• Travis Hughes & Chris Schroder - The two RPs  appeared in 18 games (31.67 IP) while allowing only 19 hits, 12 walks, and 5 runs (2 earned) while striking out 35.  The strong performance led to a promotion for Hughes.

Lagging Indicators

• Anastacio Martinez - The minor league free agent struggled in July allowing 27 hits and 12 walks in 28.67IP while surrendering 18 runs (17 earned).

July pitching statistics (sorted by IP)

The Nationals placed backup CA Robert Fick on the 15-day DL with a rib injury. Replacing Fick on the roster is CA Brandon Harper from New Orleans.

With the promotion of Harper and the likelihood of the DL for recently demoted SP Mike O’Connor, New Orleans has added RP Danny Rueckel and OF Tim Raines Jr from Harrisburg.

Continuing the moves, Harrisburg has received OF Cristian Guerrero and RP Chris Thompson from Potomac to fill in for Raines and Rueckel.

The merry-go-round continues to spin with the OF Dee Brown and SP Craig Stammen promoted from Savannah to Potomac.

The final moves are the assigning of recently acquired SP Shairon Martis to Savannah. The other opening has yet to be filled.

Who are all of these people?

Brandon Harper was signed in the off-season as a minor league free agent. The 30-year old Harper has spent the entire season in New Orleans hitting 292/394/425 in 43 games. During the month of July, Harper batted 383/474/574 with 1HR and 7RBI in 43AB. He’s the backup, and assuming that Brian Schneider is okay after having a ball fouled off him in the on-deck circle, Harper will see only the occasional start.

Tim Raines, Jr joined the Senators in mid-May after being signed as a minor league free agent. In 58 games with Harrisburg, the 26-year-old Raines has batted 297/362/421 with 6HR and 24/28SB. In July, Raines hit 288/348/394 while stealing 17/19 bases. He’ll likely jump right into the starting lineup replacing either the struggling Kenny Kelly (246/373/275 in July) or Ty Godwin (253/322/405 in July). All three of them project as #5 OFs at the major league level.

Danny Rueckel returns for his second tour in New Orleans. In his first stint, the 26-year old Rueckel appeared in five games throwing six innings allowing three hits, one run, no walks, and striking out five. His return to Harrisburg in July was a struggle, appearing in seven games, nine innings pitched allowing twelve hits eight runs while walking three and striking out five. He’ll settle into middle relief in New Orleans. He’s an organizational guy at this point.

Cristian Guerrero is a 26-year-old journeyman OF who has bounced back and forth between Potomac and Harrisburg in 2006. In July, Guerrero appeared in 29 games, hitting 229/301/361 with two home runs and three stolen bases. The fill-in role from team to team is his lot in the Nationals organization.

Chris Thompson has been practically everywhere in the Nationals minor-league system in 2006. The 24-year-old has made stops in New Orleans (5 games), Harrisburg (3 games), Potomac (20 games), and Savannah (5 games). July was spent entirely in Potomac. In 10 games, he pitched in 13.33 innings allowing nine hits, seven runs (only three earned), while walking twelve and striking out ten. He is much like Guerrero and is an organizational guy.

Dee Brown is a 2005 10th round draft pick out of the University of Central Florida, the 23-year-old Brown has spent the entire season in Savannah batting 278/326/408 with six home runs and 51 RBI. He has been very hot recently, in July, he batted 336/387/495 in 28 games with two homers and 18 RBI. He should ideally be slotted into the starting lineup for the P-Nats (alongside Rog Bernadina and Ender Chavez) to allow the Nationals to see if Brown has a future in the organization. Brown, the son of late Eagles All-Pro defensive lineman Jerome Brown, is best known for his power.

Craig Stammen was a 2005 12th round draft pick out of the University of Dayton. The 22-year-old RHP has spent his entire season with Savannah. While his record is not overwhelming (6-9 in 21 games), he has pitched well in 113 innings, allowing 111 hits and 55 runs (45 earned) while striking out 93 and only walking 29. In July, Stammen pitched in 5 games, throwing 29.33 innings allowing 29 hits and 20 runs (14 earned) while striking out 19 and walking 9. Stammen has a 88-90 mph fastball, a knuckle curve, and a slider. He should slide right into the rotation in Potomac, probably bumping either Jon Felfoldi or Ricardo Morales into a long relief role.

Martis as previously discussed is the prospect acquired in the Mike Stanton deal. He should fill Stammen’s spot with the Sand Gnats.

A day after he surrendered seven earned runs in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Nationals optioned LHP Mike O’Connor to New Orleans and plan to recall RH RP Ryan Wagner from New Orleans in time for Monday evening’s game in San Francisco.

O’Connor has struggled since June 30 going 0-3 in four starts with a 12.92ERA, 2.41WHIP, 4.7HR/9IP, 6.5BB/9IP, and only 3.5K/9IP:

On Sunday afternoon, it became clearer the reason for his struggles, Bill Ladson reported:

A couple of hours after learning that he was going to be sent down to Triple-A New Orleans, left-hander Mike O’Connor informed the Nationals that he has pain in his pitching elbow, requiring an MRI.

The next issue will be to determine how long the elbow had been bothering O’Connor and more importantly, why he didn’t mention it until he discovered he’d been demoted.

Replacing O’Connor on the roster is the third piece from the July 13th eight player deal with the Cincinnati Reds, Ryan Wagner. Wagner has been pitching in New Orleans and after a rocky debut on July 15 versus Round Rock, where he surrendered four runs in only an inning of work, Wagner has pitched in five additional games:

The 24-year old Wagner is a former first round draft pick who has struggled in recent years. Apparently due to changes in his mechanics directed by the Reds. Wagner’s successes at the University of Houston were when his delivery was almost side-armed. Once drafted, the Reds tried to get him to pitch more over the top in hopes of converting him into a starter, which had disastrous results. Bowden and the Nationals have told him to revert back to the sidearm delivery and his recall will allow him the opportunity to work with respected pitching coach Randy St. Claire.

There is one potential unintended consequence of recalling Wagner, his service time clock. Wagner has spent the entire 2006 season in the minor leagues so his accrued service time remained at 2.036 (2 years 36 days) [note: one service years is equal to 172 days]. Assuming he spends the rest of the season on the major league roster, this will put Wagner at 2.099 service time.

Why the concern over a few days? During the first three seasons of service time, a team can control the salary of a player with one exception, players who are classified as “Super-Two.” A Super-Two player:

can be eligible for salary arbitration, if he has at least two but less than three years of Major League and if:(a) he has accumulated at least 86 days of service during the previous season and (b) he ranks in the top 17% percent in total service in the group of Players who are can also be deemed “Super-Two” players (If two or more Players are tied in ranking, ties shall be broken consecutively based on the number of days of service accumulated in the previous seasons and if the Players remain tied, the final tie breaker will be by lot)

Wagner would exceed the 86 days, but it is unknown at present if he would fall into the top 17% of service time. As an example, the Nationals had two players who met the >86 day service time criteria in 2005. John Patterson was at 2.126 and was not Super-Two. Marlon Byrd was at 2.152 and was Super-Two. Chances are Wagner will not meet the top 17% criteria, but it is another intricacy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with which teams must deal in making roster decisions.

Wagner will not replace O’Connor in the rotation (currently Livan Hernandez, Tony Armas, Pedro Astacio, and Ramon Ortiz). The most likely candidates to fill the number five spot in rotation are likely (July stats as starting pitchers):

Assuming there are no trades for starters (or more likely some of the four current starters being traded away), the Nationals will not require a #5 starting pitcher until August 12 at the earliest.

From around the internet, here are a few highlights:

*The New Orleans Times-Picayune has a note suggesting the Nationals have recalled OF Ryan Church, possibly to replace an injured Alex Escobar.

*Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star writer Todd Jacobson has a blog. Todd is one of the few local guys who provides consistent coverage of the minor leagues.

MLB.com Nationals beat writer Bill Ladson had this nugget:

Third baseman Dustin Dickerson, drafted in the 15th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, took batting practice with the Nationals on Friday afternoon. He got off to a slow start, but started to hit line drives toward the end.

Dickerson said he and Washington have not begun negotiating a professional contract. He signed a letter of intent to go to Baylor University, but is leaning toward playing Minor League baseball for the Nationals.

This is great news, if true. Dickerson was considered a second to fourth round talent who slid due to beliefs that his commitment to Baylor was too strong. From Baseball America

One of the top high school hitters in Texas this spring, Dickerson should go off the board somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. He incorporates his hands well into his swing and employs a sound whole-field approach. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he offers plenty of strength and raw power. He also has displayed an aptitude for making adjustments at the plate. While Dickerson isn’t one-dimensional, he’ll be drafted mainly for his bat. He has good athleticism and speed for his size, and he played wide receiver on Midway High’s district champion football team. But he has just adequate arm strength and glovework at third base, so he might move to an outfield corner or first base down the road. He’s a good student committed to Baylor, but he should sign if he gets drafted as high as expected.

*Major tip of the cap to Jonathan Helfgott, theguy behind Global Baseball. He sent me a link to a Listin Diario article on Esmailin Gonzalez, the Nationals big signing out of the Dominican Republic.

Here is a rough translation:

[From] extreme poverty to wealth.

Ana Mercedes Mars, the mother of Esmailin González, will not have more to late remove each her loaded table from fried foods: meats, yucca and guineítos (type of food) to install its fritura, that is several years old being the favorite place to have supper of many of the residents in Pisarrete, an impoverished sector of the district San Antonio in Baní.

In just a short time, the poor woman and humble house that has been their home for more than one decade will become a sad memory. Its physical structure represents the most suitable picture of the humble and close state in which it has developed the life of Esmailin, second from a family of six children of Ana Mercedes and Daniel González Martinez, who dedicates himself to the agricultural works.

Within months they will not have to look for “sellalotó” to cover the holes during the rains.

Like a many other young Dominican players, baseball will change the life of Esmailin and his family after the youngster finishes signed a $1.4M contract with the Washington Nationals.

How much is that? A little more than 45 million times the minimum wage.

There will be no more poverty for the González, as if they were touched by a magical wand, his way of living has been transformed by the heavens. Because in this house was a player who in a relatively short time would become desired by more than a dozen of Major League teams.

Many have projected Esmailin to have a glove like Ozzie Smith, and generate an offense like Miguel Tejada, but aside from these comparisons of his athletic abilities, he is till a young an inexperienced player.

Before buying a luxurious car, the first thing that Esmailin will do is build a house for his mother, Ana Mercedes, with all the comforts that his parents deserve. Because they made a tooth and nail effort to raise this family of six.

“The vehicles will come later, I am not in a hurry to buy it, to make my parents and brothers comfortable is the first thing,” said Gonzalez speaking with a security unknown in a young person of 16 years.

As if he already felt hunger to leave the poverty, González took refuge early in baseball and little by little developed the qualities that recently have made him one of the highes prospects in the country.

“The conditions he grew up in was something that affected me and I tried to help him as much as I could,” expressed Jose Lust, special Assistant of Jim Bowden who along with Basilio Vizcaíno, Gonzalez’ agent, and Jose Báez helped in the signing of González.

Before in buying mansions, Esmailin wants to continue cultivating its abilities, because many scouts have already compared him to the best existing talent in their position.

He wants to prove that the experts were no wrong.

*Also at Global Baseball, a link to the attendees at MLB’s second annual European Baseball Academy from July 27 through August 18 at the Italian Olympic Training Centre in Tirrenia, Italy.  The MLB European Academy is run by former Major League manager and player Jim Lefebvre, Bruce Hurst, Lee Smith and Hall of Famer Rod Carew.  Hopefully the Nationals will have a few scouts in attendance.

The Washington Nationals today signed free-agent center-fielder Luis Matos.  To make room on the roster, the Nationals designated outfielder Marlon Byrd for assignment.  Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden made the announcements.

Byrd could make it through waivers and then would likely be assigned to New Orleans.