This just out from the Nationals
The Washington Nationals announced that infielder Kory Casto and left-handed pitcher Mike O’Connor have cleared waivers and been outrighted to Syracuse of the Triple-A International League. The club also placed right-handed pitcher Terrell Young on the 15-Day Disabled List, retroactive to March 27, with right shoulder inflammation.
This removes both O’Connor and Casto from the 40-man roster and puts the Nats at 37/40. Young, a Rule 5 draft pick, seemed a long shot to make the 25-man (as per the rules of the Rule 5 draft). This allows the Nationals to delay the decision on Young until the middle of April.
This means the Nationals will carry three catchers on the 25-man to open the season.
#1 by WebberDC - April 3rd, 2009 at 14:10
“This means the Nationals will carry three catchers on the 25-man to open the season.”
And your thoughts on this are?
3 . . . 2 . . . 1. . .
Tee hee. Can’t wait.
#2 by Brian Oliver - April 3rd, 2009 at 14:14
I don’t get it. Three catchers in April is not the optimal use of a 25-man spot. I know folks like Wil Nieves but assuming Bard is the lefthanded backup to Flores (Bard is a switch-hitter), the presence of Nieves is unnecessary … to me. He is not a defensive wizard and honestly I’d rather they carry someone who can play the infield, preferably the corners.
#3 by Dick - April 3rd, 2009 at 15:19
Brian: I agree but wonder who that ’someone’ would be. Clearly not Kasto based on everything we have seen over the past couple of years. I assume Nieves goes when some combination of Hernandez, Zimmermann and D. Young come back. One thing is for sure, the opening day roster is NOT what you play the season with! That I have learned over the past 5 years.
#4 by Positively Half St. - April 3rd, 2009 at 15:32
I agree that it is unnecessary to keep Nieves, but he would have been claimed, and Casto wasn’t. I am confused, though. When would they have put the two on waivers? They cleared awfully quickly if it was today.
#5 by Andrew Z. Stebbins - April 3rd, 2009 at 15:39
I wanted Bard to be the backup, with Cintron the 25th man.
#6 by Brian Oliver - April 3rd, 2009 at 16:13
I believe it is 72 hours so backing that up would be Monday night/Tuesday morning
#7 by Todd Boss - April 3rd, 2009 at 16:24
The Nats need to clear 3 spots now to allow them to add Jzimmermann, Bard and Ledezma. I’m sure Nieves goes back to Syracuse once AHernandez gets off the DL. Adding Cintron would mean dumping someone else off 40-man and soon.
I’d be more concerned about these roster notes: - DYoung being added back to 40-man. One last parting shot from Bowden. - The fact that we’re carrying 5 OF-only guys plus Harris. You don’t need 6 outfielders. You need 4. Plus a utility guy. I just hope we can turn Willingham into something useful. - Bernadina, Maxwell and Davis are now totally blocked. Could we turn these guys into some pitching depth? - Where is our SP help in the minors? Balester pitched his way out of a starting rotation spot. Clippard has like 2 IP the whole spring. Mock and Mario Estrada seem in career limbo right now.
my 2 cents, boss
#8 by Sec314 - April 3rd, 2009 at 17:14
I agree with Boss. I’m hoping Nieves or Bard (most likely Nieves) is a place holder until A Hernandez is healthy. The easiest solution would then be to send Nieves down and hold onto the AG as a backup. Belliard can sort of play 3B in a pinch, I suppose.
I guess we can hope that some team may need a back up catcher and they can do a deal.
But as I’ve said more than once on other sites, watch for the inevitable appearance of Dimitri Young as the 25th man.
#9 by Andrew Z. Stebbins - April 3rd, 2009 at 17:31
Nieves down when Hernandez is back…Gonzalez down when Zimmermann is up.
So that would leave the middle infield in decent shape: Hernandez, Belliard, Guzman, Harris
#10 by Bob Lowry - April 3rd, 2009 at 17:40
Does anyone notice the absense of the Washington Post sports page covering the Nats. I don’t know if its laziness or the Post’s lack of interest in covering the team. An anecdotal article about a player each day does not make up for the lack of coverage of what is happening during the games…(e.g. the score! or what happened and when). The Washington Post ….who needs it….why read it!
#11 by Steveo - April 3rd, 2009 at 18:26
I’m not too upset with them carrying 3 catchers to start, especially since we know it will be short term, two weeks at worst. I look at the possiblity that maybe Flores isn’t 100% and they will give him a couple extra off days. While i personally like Bard better than Nieves I don’t mind the team doing its duedilligence to make sure they have the right back-up catcher. I think they will use these extra two weeks to see who is the better fit and i’m fine with that.
#12 by Steveo - April 3rd, 2009 at 18:39
I agree with Todd Boss, I think the bigger worry is still the outfield logjam. I’d love for them to trade Nick but I don’t think it will happen. I’m not as worried about Balester I think we will see him in DC before to long. While i didn’t watch him in ST my guess would be he tried to overthrow knowing that Martis, and Zimmermann were on his heels.
For those that are interested I posted a NL east preview on my blog.
#13 by Dick - April 3rd, 2009 at 18:44
Strasburg 6IP 91 pitches 0 runs 3 hits 6 Ks
#14 by Dick - April 3rd, 2009 at 18:48
The three hits were an infield hit, a bloop and a seeing-eye grounder. Two walks and a hit batsman (just grazed him, only his life flashed before his eyes). Not his sharpest effort but still virtually unhittable. He got lots of ground balls.
He left after 6 with a 11-0 lead and was replaced by a guy making his first appearance of his career. Nothing to worry about, he was just taken out because of the slaughter.
#15 by Jeff E. - April 4th, 2009 at 00:52
I have not seen such salivating over a subject such as Strasberg since perhaps Anna Nicole Smith’s death. poking fun at some of natnation. Curious that Garrett Mock is a Rizzo guy and to borrow a phrase from a fellow fan- his progress is in limbo due to the fact that brass went with cheap “vets in pocket” ( echo-ing the cadence of that Pretenders tune- Brass in Pocket. ( Dig that guitar riff from Up the Neck by that late Brit guitarist for Chrissy Hyne) Perhaps time has made an accessment on some of the draft picks right before the moving van moved forward out of Montreal…Estrada….Kory Casto not even claimed by SEA ( regional home town team) or San Diego. The Padres may not have been this bad since the Ray Kroc mustard uniforms with Nate Colbert, Leron Lee ( who tutored Larry Walker @ AAA Indy) and Cito Gaston, who should have managed the Chisox instead of Jerry Manuel that one year in mgr. decision making. Back to our Nats. Julian ” there is no crying in baseball” ( recall his bench emotion in World Series vs. Fish?) Taveras, Good Wil ( hunting for strike zone) Ledesma, (St. ) Michael Hinkley….bullpen definately a work in progress….I cannot believe I am saying this after 15 years plus being an Anti-ATL fan: Cox has some kids to develop outside the regular names we grind our teeth hearing….peace and out!
#16 by Jeff E. - April 4th, 2009 at 06:45
I have not seen such salivating over a subject such as Strasberg since perhaps Anna Nicole Smith’s death. poking fun at some of natnation. Curious that Garrett Mock is a Rizzo guy and to borrow a phrase from a fellow fan- his progress is in limbo due to the fact that brass went with cheap “vets in pocket” ( echo-ing the cadence of that Pretenders tune- Brass in Pocket. ( Dig that guitar riff from Up the Neck by that late Brit guitarist for Chrissy Hyne) Perhaps time has made an accessment on some of the draft picks right before the moving van moved forward out of Montreal…Estrada….Kory Casto not even claimed by SEA ( regional home town team) or San Diego. The Padres may not have been this bad since the Ray Kroc mustard uniforms with Nate Colbert, Leron Lee ( who tutored Larry Walker @ AAA Indy) and Cito Gaston, who should have managed the Chisox instead of Jerry Manuel that one year in mgr. decision making. Back to our Nats. Julian ” there is no crying in baseball” ( recall his bench emotion in World Series vs. Fish?) Taveras, Good Wil ( hunting for strike zone) Ledesma, (St. ) Michael Hinkley….bullpen definately a work in progress….I cannot believe I am saying this after 15 years plus being an Anti-ATL fan: Cox has some kids to develop outside the regular names we grind our teeth hearing….peace and out! OH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi
#17 by Eric - April 5th, 2009 at 12:28
Brian,
When will the rosters for the affiliates be announced? Don’t the seasons begin later this week?
#18 by Brian Oliver - April 5th, 2009 at 12:29
Eric - They do begin the latter part of this week. I am trying to see what I can find out.