Syracuse split a doubleheader with Buffalo, winning game one 3-0 (box/gamer) and losing game two 2-0 (box/gamer). In the first game, RHP Luis Atilano made his Triple-A debut, picking up the win with six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk with four strikeouts. His sinking fastball came in handy, inducing two double plays and 12 groundouts to 2 flyouts. RHP Josh Wilkie earned his second save for the Chiefs, allowing an IF single in one inning pitched, striking out two. 2B Seth Bynum and 1B Daryle Ward were each 1/3 with a solo homer; CA Jhonthan Solano was 2/3 with a run scored; 3B Pete Orr was 1/3 with one RBI; and SS Ian Desmond was 1/3. In the second game, LHP Horacio Ramirez gave up two runs on four hits over 6IP while striking out one. LF Norris Hopper, CF Justin Maxwell, and 3B Marco Yepez had the Chiefs hits, each with one single.
Today: Syracuse RHP Andrew Kown & TBA at Buffalo 6:05PM
Harrisburg dropped a rain-shortened 2-1 game to Altoona (box/gamer). RHP Jeff Mandel gave up two runs on six hits over 7IP with five strikeouts. SS Jemel Spearman was 1/3 with a stolen base & run scored; 2B Leonard Davis was 1/3 with a stolen base; 1B Chris Marrero was 0/3; and CF Francisco Plasencia was 1/3.
Today: Harrisburg (pitcher TBA) at Portland 7PM
Potomac dropped the final game in Winston-Salem 5-4 (box). RHP Brad Peacock allowed four runs (three earned) over 7IP with four strikeouts, taking the loss. 3B Greg Veloz was 2/4 with a solo homer & three runs scored; CF Boomer Whiting was 1/2 with one RBI; SS Danny Espinosa was 1/2 with a walk; DH Michael Burgess was 1/4; and 2B Michael Martinez was 1/4 with a double & RBI.
Today: Salem RHP Stephen Fife (2-1, 3.13) at Potomac LHP Will Atwood (6-7, 4.76) 7:05PM
RHP Marcos Frias allowed two hits and a walk over 6IP while striking out seven as Hagerstown defeated Lakewood 2-0 (box/gamer). 2B Stephen Lombardozzi was 2/5 with a stolen base & run scored; CA Derek Norris was 1/4 with a walk & run scored; 1B Tyler Moore was 2/4 with two doubles & one RBI; SS Steve Souza was 2/4 with a double & RBI; DH Robby Jacobsen was 2/4 with a double; and 3B Nick Arata was 2/4 with a stolen base.
Today: Hagerstown RHP A.J. Morris (0-2, 4.26) at Lakewood 7:05PM
Vermont’s Kyle Morrison & Evan Bronson combined on a two-hit shutout as the Monsters blanked Jamestown 2-0 (box/gamer). Morrison allowed just one hit over 6IP while striking out four to pick up the win and Bronson allowed a hit while striking out six in his three innings of work to earn his third save of the season. 2BFrancisco Soriano was 3/4 with a stolen base, run & RBI; SS Sean Nicol was 2/4 with a solo homer; LF J.P. Ramirez was 1/4 with a double, run & RBI; RF Destin Hood was 2/4 with a homer & two RBI; CF J.R. Higley was 2/4; and 1B Ronnie Labrie was 1/3 with a double & run scored. Notes: RHP Johan Figuereo was placed on the DL and RHP Dean Weaver was added from the GCL.
Today: Jamestown at Vermont LHP Chad Jenkins (0-1, 4.66) 7:05PM
GCL Nationals won their ninth in a row, defeating the GCL Mets 7-2 (box). RHP Taylor Jordan gave up one run on five hits over 5IP with four strikeouts to pick up the win. RHP Wanel Vasquez struck out three over two innings of relief. 2B/SS Justino Cuevas was 2/5 with two runs scored; CF Eury Perez was 1/5 with a run scored; CA Adrian Nieto was 1/3 with a run & two RBI; SS Roberto Perez was 3/3 with a run & RBI before leaving the game with an ankle injury (no word severity); and a rehabbing Stephen King was 1/1 with a run scored.
Today: GCL Nationals at GCL Marlins 12PM
The DSL Nationals won a rain-shortened game 1-0 over the DSL Rockies (box). RHP Antonio Guzman allowed two hits over 5IP with five strikeouts. RF Jose Norberto was 0/3; SS Carlos Alvarez was 1/2; CA Andruth Ramirez was 1/1 with a double; and 1B Juan Urdaneta was 1/2 with a run scored.
Today: DSL Nationals at DSL Twins 10:30AM [final game of season]
#1 by Sue Dinem - August 21st, 2009 at 08:29
Any word on when Potomac will get its roster back to 25? I put no stock in King’s rehab stint because, quite frankly, he belongs at Hagerstown.
#2 by Brian Oliver - August 21st, 2009 at 08:35
No word. Seems there are going to be playing a man down for a while
#3 by cjrugger - August 21st, 2009 at 08:48
Chris- from our Desmond/Hood discussion, I think you need to factor probability into your rankings. Yes Hood has the higher upside, but Desmond is much more likely to reach his. Desmond has a decent chance at being a major league regular at the premium defensive position while Hood has a small chance of being an All star at the weakest defensive position, with varying probabilites the rest of the way down the spectrum. The downside of Desmond is he is a utility infielder (where the probability is basically 100% he reaches that, I would argue) where Hood’s floor is he can’t hit an offspeed pitch above low A and flames out. Just how I see it anyway
#4 by AlexVA - August 21st, 2009 at 09:06
Brian is looking good on his backing of Wilkie. Atilano seems like another Stammen. I’m not sure either project beyond #4-5 starter but both appear to be ML pitchers in some role.
#5 by RT - August 21st, 2009 at 09:07
Brian, where does Evan Bronson project? I know its only Vermont but when you have a sub 1 ERA and a 30:1 K/BB ratio i start to pay attention. Does he really have the stuff to be a legit prospect?
#6 by Brian Oliver - August 21st, 2009 at 09:11
RT – I am always cautious with relievers as “prospects.” Bronson has been putting up eye-popping numbers in Vermont, but as a college senior in Vermont, he’ll need to demonstrate it at the next level quickly. I hope he gets a bump to Hagerstown to finish the season.
He can start 2010 in Potomac and see if he can continue to impress
#7 by Chris - August 21st, 2009 at 09:18
Solid reasoning CJ. Not sure I agree, but I see where you’re coming from.
Personally, if I had the chance to choose the types of prospects I’d want in my system, I’d take that 10% chance at stardom type prospect over the 50% chance of being average type prospect every day of the week and twice on Sundays.
To me, guys like Destin are at a premium while guys like Ian are a dime a dozen. All that said, I hope Ian becomes the next Derek Jeter – I really do. I’m rooting for the guy to be our SS of the future. But I just dont see it.
#8 by AlexVA - August 21st, 2009 at 09:29
I’d take that 10% chance at stardom type prospect over the 50% chance of being average
Chris = Bowden CJ = Rizzo
#9 by Sec 204 Row H Seat 7 - August 21st, 2009 at 09:37
I see Desmond as a placeholder when C. Guzman goes. I have hopes for Espinoza who is doing well at Potomac.
#10 by Chris - August 21st, 2009 at 10:22
That cut me deep Alex, you have no idea :)
#11 by cjrugger - August 21st, 2009 at 10:36
Ouch, Bowden is rough
Another point, when Desmond was in short season and Low A he was talked about similary to Hood (Jeter comparisons fair or not). I’m saying at this point, with Desmond playing well in AAA, I think he’s the better prospect.
I think Hood and guys like him have a place in an organization, its just you have to be careful with them. If you hit a string of busts in a row your org gets thin fast
#12 by VladiHondo - August 21st, 2009 at 10:39
Everyone knows Chris is Rizzo’s BFF!! ;)
couldn’t resist.
#13 by Chris - August 21st, 2009 at 11:19
ha, I probably deserved it Vladi.
#14 by pm - August 21st, 2009 at 11:50
Hood is a better prospect than Desmond because mediocre SS are available on the free agency market all the time. Desmond isn’t really any better than those guys.
I wouldn’t characterize Desmond as Playing well in AAA. He has a .770 OPS and he is showing no power at all. Not to mention that his defense has been shaky.
#15 by Dick - August 21st, 2009 at 12:17
If Desmond could be a ML shortstop with 770 OPS, you would take it IF the glove were above average. He can drive you crazy, though, making plays better than anyone you’ve ever seen then booting routine grounders as if he were Cristian Guzman.
#16 by nationals fan - August 21st, 2009 at 12:34
Surely you’re kidding Sue. Putting King back in Hagerstown, where he hit over .300 most of the year and finished at about .285 last year, would be a waste of time and talent. He has struggled with sickness and injury this year, including the most recent surgery on his arm for staph infection, so why put him back in a league that has has already succeeded in? That type of mentality shows a complete lack of understanding when it comes to player development.
#17 by e - August 21st, 2009 at 12:42
Desmond had 11 errors in 42 games in Harrisburg. He currently has 16 errors in 35 games in Syracuse. For you non-math majors out there, that’s 27 errors in 77 total games! That ain’t gonna cut it in the bigs. Perhaps he needs to move to 2B??
#18 by nationals fan - August 21st, 2009 at 12:56
Perhaps Desmond will need to move, but you have to love the offensive numbers this year, and at 23 his offensive numbers make him an outstanding prospect. It’s easy to move a SS just about anywhere, but an outfielder is going to have a very difficult move to anywhere in the infield. The modern game is all about finding hitters, and then finding a position for them to play. Until Hood puts up some full season numbers, he is just like any other young player in the organization…a POTENTIAL player, but potential is just a burden for so many younsters that I tend to ignore it until there is more to evaluate.
#19 by Sue Dinem - August 21st, 2009 at 13:24
No, I’m not. And don’t call me Shirley.
King had one (1) good month in Hagerstown and it wasn’t the last month he played there, either. Those of us who are not related to King understand that means the league adjusted to him and he did not adjust back.
He also had a similar run this year in Potomac: mediocre April, very poor May, strong June, weak July. Plus, defensively, he’s taken two steps backward (and yes, I saw him play at both levels last year).
Putting him at Hagerstown to finish the season would allow him to regain some confidence (if indeed he’s too good for that league, he’ll dominate), which last I checked, is germane to player development.
#20 by Jeff E. - August 21st, 2009 at 13:26
Shirley from AIRPLANE!
#21 by Pilchard - August 21st, 2009 at 13:33
Ever seen a grown man naked?
#22 by Brian Oliver - August 21st, 2009 at 13:37
That should do wonders for my searches.
Thanks Pilchard ;P
#23 by nationals fan - August 21st, 2009 at 14:15
Please Sue, have you ever played any sport in your life? Have you ever worked with young people before? When an athlete is sent down to a lower level, a level that he has already proved himself ( a .285 BA over the course of a season is success in any league) at, it usually DESTROYS the young man’s confidence. He knows he doesn’t belong there, and so no matter how well he does, it doesn’t matter to him, since in his mind just competing at that lower level is failure. It becomes impossible to “get up” to play the game. Perception is much more important than reality here. If a varsity player is sent down to the JV to play a game and gets 3 hits, no one sees it (especially that player) as a fun and successful game because the player fails to see the challenge, and therefore there is no reward in his accomplishment, and boredom will set in. Usually when a player is competing and not perceiving the challenge, he will NOT play well, no matter what level he is competing on. Player development is just as much about the mind, as it is about the physical aspect of the game. In fact I would say that it is much more about the mind than the physical at this level of play, and most people who have never competed have a hard time understanding this. Successful player development is much more about BUILDING a player’s confidence then it is worrying about the 25th spot on the roster so that a meaningless “championship” can be won. This is what you will find at the foundation of every successful organizaition.
#24 by Pilchard - August 21st, 2009 at 14:32
Sorry, but could not resist the Airplane reference.
#25 by Rocket Surgeon - August 21st, 2009 at 14:40
My favorite Airplane line is by the immortal Lloyd Bridges, “I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue.”
#26 by Sue Dinem - August 21st, 2009 at 14:57
Nationals Fan – I think King is a very talented player, but it’s pretty obvious that you have great difficulty reading anything the least bit negative about him, which probably should not come as a surprise (apple, tree). Therefore, it’s a waste of my time to engage you further.
#27 by Marcus - August 21st, 2009 at 15:14
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-hot-sheet/2009/268728.html
“Eury Perez, cf, Nationals: Think the Nationals don’t have Latin American prospects? Well, you’re mostly right, but Perez could be a hidden gem in the system. Perez, 19, was one of the top prospects last year in the Dominican Summer League and has carried his success over to the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, where he currently has an 18-game hitting streak. In 38 games, Perez is hitting .369/.440/.456 with nearly as many walks (14) as strikeouts (17). At 6-foot, 180 pounds, Perez’s power is below-average, but he has a good feel for hitting and for the strike zone. His above-average speed is also a weapon in center field and on the bases, where he has 13 steals in 20 attempts.”
Eury Perez finally gets some love!
#28 by VladiHondo - August 21st, 2009 at 15:52
One amazing thing when studying the Nats DSL teams the last couple years, they did a GREAT job in having exceptional BB-K ratios. Usually better than 1-2. Eury’s BB-K numbers were 32-39 and 32-36 the last 2 years. Quite against the preconception of Latin free-swingers.
Glad to see BA taking note, I think this year’s DSL crop in the GCL is well above the norm (but the Nats “norm” is quite terrible).
#29 by Dick - August 21st, 2009 at 16:13
Eury can run down balls as well as Nyjer, too.
#30 by I still believe - August 21st, 2009 at 16:33
Sue – I’ll join Nationals fan with questioning your comments. It is rare for you to have anything positive to say about any player. So, please share with us your vast experience playing professional sports and why you are qualified to rip these players apart.
Granted, there is a wide spread in abilities, but most, if not all, give it everything they have got when playing. Negative, destructive comments may allow you to vent, but don’t do much else.
#31 by Sue Dinem - August 21st, 2009 at 16:39
ISB – What part of “I think King is a talented player” did you not understand?
#32 by nationals fan - August 21st, 2009 at 16:55
Sue – one does not have to be related to someone in order to relate TO them. All that is needed is some basic understanding of human nature, and a little bit of empathy, especially if someone has never “been there, done that”. A good teacher (coach) MUST have these qualities to effectively teach(coach), because we, first and foremost, teach people(attitude and confidence), and not just subject matter(technique). The same thing applies to ALL TEACHERS, and all subjects, the teacher must relate to and understand his student if he is to succeed in teaching anything. I think the Nationals have many people who fit this description, and once they “weed out” those out who don’t, the organization, and player development in general, will “take off”. After working with young people for close to four decades, this seems to me to be the most obvious thing in the world. Go to your schools and find the “best” teachers, and I guarantee you will understand what I mean. My difficulty in not in reading negativity, but in reading “solutions” to people problems that don’t seem to show any understanding…”send him down for confidence”, “he belongs in Hager”,”I have no faith in his rehab”. I was in Vierra yesterday and he appeared to be one of the first there in the morning, and one of the last to leave after the game. I am amazed at his positve attitude following about a three week lay up for surgery, AND a tweaked hamstring! I know a good attitude when I see one, and just enjoy giving our young PEOPLE the benefit of the doubt.
#33 by pm - August 21st, 2009 at 17:00
Brian, You said something about the team might be monitoring Juan Jaime’s innings. He pitched 42 innings this year. Am I missing something? That is quite a little innings to shut down some one.
#34 by dd - August 21st, 2009 at 19:00
Not that Sue needs defending, but: Asking people on this board to defend their views and opinions based on their professional playing experience is a little “absurd” (can’t think of another word)? How many people here have played professional baseball? Whether one agrees/disagrees with King’s pro skills is one thing, but questioning someone based on their “professional” credentials is another. Definitely hitting below the belt. Personally, I did not play pro ball. Played some until my late teens. Took several coaching clinics with the Montreal Expos and managed high level amateur ball players, two of whom went on to play in the NHL. Am I not entitled to a fan opinion on baseball players because I never played pro ball? Seems to me that Sue has seen more minor league games than most of us! I, for one, appreciate her comments.
#35 by Mark L - August 21st, 2009 at 21:41
I’m in agreement with dd. Keep at ‘em Sue, er, Shirley.
#36 by Sue Dinem - August 21st, 2009 at 22:51
“I just want to tell you both good luck, we’re all counting on you.”
As feared, a Potomac player went out with an injury (Nelson) so now they have to make a move. I’m just mad it cost me a shot at seeing Seuss throw the knuckler.
#37 by Scott - August 22nd, 2009 at 08:59
This is silly criticism of Sue. Stephen King is turning 22 this October, has three professional seasons under his belt, has never OPSd .800 at ANY level for ANY amount of time, and has about a .600 OPS with about a .220 batting average in 400 at bats in two stints at high-A ball.
If the Nationals give him tough love, coddle him, encourage him, discourage him, it probably doesn’t matter. The chances of him ever getting to the majors at this point are what, 1 in a hundred? Less? So who cares where they send him, besides his family and friends?
You know what would guarantee him a chance to rise in the system? HITTING THE BALL HARD AND GETTING ON BASE. Maybe not making 23 errors in half a season. Some of those things.
Stephen King has limited on-base skills, limited power, limited ability to hit for contact, limited baserunning skills, and limited defensive skills. There isn’t one baseball area where he has shown exceptionalism during his three seasons of professional baseball. The only reason to keep him in high-A is if there isn’t a more talented player available who’s ready to develop at that level.
#38 by tbyrom - August 22nd, 2009 at 09:33
I’m always careful about posting here because of my position and the fact that I’m around players, talk about players on the radio, have their families listen etc.
In places like Hagerstown, Potomac, and Harrisburg, fans get a chance to interact with the players and in doing so, they realize most of these guys are pretty good kids and easy to root for.
But that doesn’t make them a prospect. Being a nice kid or being a nice kid that works really hard has nothing to do with getting to the major leagues. In my seven years of broadcasting games at three different levels, I’ve come across a boat load of really nice young men that worked really hard that are selling stocks now, or working at Target, or doing whatever else they are doing with their lives.
No one here can possibly judge whether a guy is going to be great or not. There is not a number associated with that player that is going to make him a big leaguer. Not OPS, not batting avg, not HR, not RBI, not any number. It’s about skill. And it’s about judging whether a player has the tools to have a high ceiling.
You know, most scouts don’t even pick up a stats pack. They just watch and take their own notes.
Lastly, in the past five seasons how many position players have come out of the minor leagues and made an impact in the majors for the Nats? Ryan Zimmerman. One. Uno. One in five years. It is more than unrealistic to assume that there are a dozen in the organization that are going to make an impact. And to further my point, how many position players out of the Red Sox organization over the past five years have made an impact? Jacoby Ellsbury and Dustin Pedroia. Kevin Youklis if we go back further. That’s it. Three position players for an organization that has the money, the scouting base, and player development that many orgs would love to have.
#39 by Sue Dinem - August 22nd, 2009 at 10:41
Possibly? Oh, please. Get off your high horse. It’s more than “possible” for anybody here to spot a prospect who could be great.
What you most likely mean is that none of us can consistently judge the tools and skills of a player, which is inherent because few us go to more than 70 games a year, and most probably go to less than 50.
And guess what? Not many of the scouts are all that consistent, either — despite going to exponentially more games and seeing exponentially more players. That’s why there are so many of them, and that’s why there’s a great disparity between the organizations.
#40 by tbyrom - August 22nd, 2009 at 11:04
Sue,
I defended you and you rip me. And yes, what I meant to say was that scouts are more often wrong than right. Paid professionals are much more often wrong than right.
And yes, it’s pretty easy to spot Ryan Zimmerman and decide he is a prospect and can get there. But since many folks here have thought any number of players were prospect over the past five years, and none of the position players has in fact made it and made an impact, proves my point as well.
#41 by Sue Dinem - August 22nd, 2009 at 11:36
Terry – I’m sorry you’re so easily offended, but I was not ripping you – just rebuking a poorly worded statement, which you have now acknowledged and clarified.
Your points, especially those regarding the niceness and/or work ethic of these young men, are taken and appreciated.
#42 by tbyrom - August 22nd, 2009 at 11:39
I’m not easily offended.. .and I’m chuckling at that comment. And I was more or less chuckling when I wrote the comment about you ripping me, just doesn’t translate to the written word so well.
#43 by Danny - August 22nd, 2009 at 16:06
TByrom-
You’re one of the best broadcasters in baseball. Huge fan here!