Note: There will not be an Across the Affiliates tomorrow morning due to an all-day meeting.
RF Elijah Dukes broke out of a slump with three hits and three RBI in 9-4 Syracuse win over Charlotte (box/gamer). LF/RF Jorge Padilla was 2/5 with two runs, astolen base & one RBI; 3B Pete Orr was 1/4 with a homer & two RBI; 2B Seth Bynum was 2/3 with a double, RBI & two runs; CF Justin Maxwell was 0/3 with a stolen base & run scored; and SS Ian Desmond was 1/1 with two walks, one run & one RBI. RHP Andrew Kown started for the Chiefs, allowing two runs on five hits over 5 1/3IP. Notes: OF Corey Patterson exercised an out clause in his contract.
Today: Charlotte LHP Aaron Poreda (0-0, 6.75) at Syracuse LHP Ross Detwiler (0-1, 3.75) 7PM
Harrisburg’s doubleheader with Trenton was postponed by rain. The games will be made-up on Thursday as a part of a doubleheader in Trenton starting at 6:05pm. And there will be a doubleheader the next time the Senators are in Trenton, a week from Friday through Sunday.
Today: Harrisburg RHPs Erik Arnesen (6-3, 2.96) & Brad Meyers (1-0, 1.80) at Trenton LHP Wilkin De La Rosa (3-5, 3.84) & RHP Josh Schmidt (7-2, 1.36) 6:05PM
RHP Brad Peacock won his Carolina League debut 9-4 (box/gamer). Peacock struck out nine over 5 2/3IP, giving up four runs on five hits and one walk. RHPs Jesse Estrada & Dan Leatherman pitched the final 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, striking out a combine six. 3B Tim Pahuta was 2/4 with a three-run homer; 2B Michael Martinez was 3/4 with a solo homer, two stolen bases & two runs scored; SS Danny Espinosa was 0/4 with a walk; RF Michael Burgess was 1/4 with a double & run scored; 1B Chris Marrero was 0/3 with a run scored; and DH Jesus Valdez was 2/3 with two doubles, one RBI & two runs scored. Notes: Feature on LHP Tom Milone.
Today: Winston-Salem RHP Johnnie Lowe (7-4, 4.05) at Potomac LHP Will Atwood (6-6, 4.58) 7:05PM
1B Tyler Moore’s two-run double in the eighth led Hagerstown to a 5-3 win over Lexington (box/gamer). Moore finished the game 2/4 with a run scored along with the two RBI. DH Derek Norris returned to the lineup and was 0/3 with a walk & run scored; SS Steve Souza was 1/3 with a walk & run scored; 2B Stephen Lombardozzi was 1/4; RF Michael Guerrero was 1/4 ending his streak of games with a homer at three; and 3B Nick Arata was 2/4 with a run scored. RHP Patrick Arnold surrendered three runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 2/3IP with six strikeouts. LHP Austin Garrett picked up the win with 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief and RHP Carlos Peralta earned his sixth save with two scoreless innings, striking out three.
Today: West Virginia RHP Quinton Miller (0-2, 6.65) at Hagerstown (pitcher TBA) 7:05PM [it’s Peacock’s turn in the rotation, but RHP Trevor Holder (2-0, 3.55) is on regular rest
Vermont’s game with Oneonta was postponed by rain. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday, July 30th beginning at 6:05PM.
Today: Oneonta at Vermont LHP Jack McGeary (2-1, 2.37) & RHP Pat Lehman (3-1, 2.11) 6:05PM
The GCL Nationals defeated the GCL Cardinals 5-1 (box). LHP Danny Rosenbaum allowed two hits and one walk over five shutout innings, striking out six to earn his first professional win. RHP Ruben De La Rosa allowed a run on two hits over 2IP with three strikeouts and RHP Wanel Vasquez struck out four over two innings, allowing only one hit and one walk and not allowing a run. CF Eury Perez was 0/5; 2B Hendry Jimenez was 2/4 with a walk, two stolen bases & two runs scored; DH Adrian Nieto was 1/1 before leaving the game with a yet-undetermined reason; CA Ricardo Martinez was 2/3 with one RBI; and LF Naoya Washiya was 1/3 with a stolen base & run scored.
Today: GCL Astros at GCL Nationals LHP Josh Smoker (1-0, 3.32) 12PM
The DSL Nationals lost 9-1 to the DSL Yankees2 (box). 2B Estarlin Martinez was 2/4 and 1B Juan Urdaneta was 2/4 with a double & RBI. The DSL Nats made five errors, leading to five unearned runs. LHP Gregory Baez took the loss, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits, a hit batter & a walk, striking out four over 3IP. LHP Francisco Vizcaino allowed four runs (one earned) on six hits over 3IP while striking out three.
Today: DSL Nationals RHP Pedro Encarnacion (3-5, 3.00) at DSL Padres 10:30AM
#1 by cjrugger - July 30th, 2009 at 09:47
Any injury updates on Kobernus or Willems?
Here’s to Smoker pitching his way out of the GCL today
#2 by Brian Oliver - July 30th, 2009 at 09:49
Nothing on either guy.
#3 by Rocket Surgeon - July 30th, 2009 at 10:07
All,
Thought this was an interesting piece in today’s WSJ. Here is the link that will show you a chart with the Nats ranked as the 2nd Least Efficient teams in terms of “bang for the buck”.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204619004574318650833120972.html
With the Oakland A’s mired in last place in the American League West once again, general manager Billy Beane’s “Moneyball” organization no longer stands as the gold standard for how to build a winning team on a meager payroll. The wisdom of winning on a shoestring budget has migrated to Florida, as the two most efficient teams in baseball are the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays.
Research by baseball statistician Tom Tango has found that there is a strong correlation (.63, where 0 is no relationship and 1 is a perfect bond) between how much a team spends and how well it does. The Marlins and Rays have reaped the most value for their dollars since the start of the 2007 season. The notoriously cheap franchises in the Sunshine State have won by developing stars from their farm system, while avoiding free agency and aging veterans. Using a function that projects winning percentage based on total salary, the Marlins’ payroll suggests they should have won just 40% of their games during the time studied, while they’ve actually won 49% (through Monday). The Rays have spent like a team that should win 43% of their games and won 51%.
By contrast, the New York Yankees have spent 230% more than the average team—projecting them to win 62% of their games. Winning just 58% makes them one of the least efficient teams in baseball.
#4 by sportsfan882 - July 30th, 2009 at 10:15
How about Engles? What is the injury and how serious is it?
#5 by Scott - July 30th, 2009 at 10:19
Ian Desmond is turning himself into quite a decent little prospect this year, isn’t he? He’s playing a little over his head, considering his inflated BABIP, but you’re still talking about a legitimate defensive shortstop with minor league range factors in the Adam Everett/Jack Wilson range (although he still makes too many errors).
When you add in some decent OBP skills and a little pop (let’s say on the order of a .270/.340/.420 line in an average year), that’s a completely serviceable major league SS, probably more valuable than Guzman has ever been for us.
#6 by Marcus - July 30th, 2009 at 10:35
Brian,
Do you expect the international FA’s we signed to debut this year or next?
#7 by Brian Oliver - July 30th, 2009 at 10:41
Marcus – I’d assume it will be next year. Especially since they still haven’t offically announced ANY IFAs
#8 by dd - July 30th, 2009 at 11:58
scott-Guzman is known to have historically low OBP, probably one of the lowest for a regular major leaguer. He has a career .272 BA and a .308 OBP. Imagine if he was a .250 hitter! If Desmond continues to improve, he would, hands down, be an improvement, and open up the Nats purse strings to acquire a better player. With him and Kearns gone, the team needs to use the extra cash wisely.
#9 by Jeff E. - July 30th, 2009 at 12:10
Yeah- Moneyball is so passe. another phrase for what was done in MTL years ago….interesting to think what Tim Pahuta could do in City Isle next year….all things falling into place…
#10 by Brian Oliver - July 30th, 2009 at 12:12
Keep in mind that Pahuta is 26
#11 by A DC Wonk - July 30th, 2009 at 12:21
“Guzman is known to have historically low OBP, probably one of the lowest for a regular major leaguer.”
I’d love to see some comparitve stats on that . . .
#12 by Scott - July 30th, 2009 at 13:28
Well, it’s partially true. Christian Guzman does have the 4th lowest OBP among players with 4000+ plate appearances during the period from 2000-2009, out of 109 players meeting that criteria, according to baseball-reference’s play index.
However, it’s also true that Guzman has had some semi-decent years for us. In 2007 he was a 1.4 WAR guy in limited action, and in 2008 he was worth 2.9 WAR. So I wasn’t trying to denigrate him. I just think Desmond has the potential to be a 10 run a season fielder at SS, which has tremendous value if he has just an average bat given the positional adjustment.
#13 by homegrown - July 30th, 2009 at 13:33
Word is Engles has a herniated disc in his back. He went to Fla. to have an MRI done and rehab.
#14 by Dick - July 30th, 2009 at 13:44
ADCW: You can look it up!
For shortstops this year, Guzman’s OBP is .319, 26th among the 50 listed. Ramirez and Jeter are both over.400. Alberto Gonzalez is higher at .327! JRoll is only .288 and having a terrible, but improving, year. A lot of the guys below him have very few at bats. I’d characterize Guzman as being in the middle of the pack, but still below average.
I was astonished when I realized this a week or two ago considering he has hit .300 or above all season. Alex Cora is hitting .242 but his OBP is only .002 below Guzman, for example. Take a pitch, for crying out loud! when Guzman slumps, like he did earlier this month, he goes 0-20 in both average and OPS because there sure aren’t any walks in there!
Guzman is 16th out of 50 in OPS and .023 higher than Alberto. He’s 77th out of 100 listed in fielding percentage but 36th in range factor.
So what we’ve got is a shortstop with a below average OBP, more pop than most for his position but a below average fielder (and I frankly thought he was terrible, but he really isn’t, just below average). Not what you need to have a winning ballclub, obviously.
Lastly, ponder this, Wil Nieves OBP is .309 compared to Guzman’s .319! Austin Kearns is .015 higher! That’s right, Kearns is hitting .105 lower but has a higher OBP! Can’t quite get my head around that.
#15 by TimDz - July 30th, 2009 at 14:10
Dick wrote: Lastly, ponder this, Wil Nieves OBP is .309 compared to Guzman’s .319! Austin Kearns is .015 higher! That’s right, Kearns is hitting .105 lower but has a higher OBP! Can’t quite get my head around that.
Could it be because Guzman has all the patience of a hyperactive child hopped up on Red Bull?
#16 by dd - July 30th, 2009 at 15:33
timdz-good one!