Columbus managed only four hits in getting shutout by Indianapolis 1-0 (box/gamer). 25-year old RHP Marco Estrada held the Indians to one run on eight hits over 6IP with three strikeouts. 24-year old 2B Leonard Davis was 2/3 with a double and 29-year old RF Jorge Padilla was 1/4.
Record: Columbus 62-62, 3rd place IL West (13.5GB)
Today: No game scheduled
Adrian Alaniz remained winless in Harrisburg as they were blanked by New Hampshire 4-0 (box/gamer). the 24-year old Alaniz allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks over 4 2/3IP with six strikeouts. 23-year old LHP Yunior Novoa threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out six. 24-year old LF Marvin Lowrance was 2/4 with a double and 23-year old RF Edgardo Baez was 1/3 with a double.
Record: Harrisburg 67-58, 3rd place EL South (6GB)
Tonight: RHP Zack Segovia (2-0, 6.04) at New Hampshire RHP BRandon Magee (6-11, 4.54), 7:05PM
Potomac lost their home series with Frederick, dropping an 8-6 decision on Wednesday afternoon (box/gamer). 22-year old LHP Ross Detwiler allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and one walk over 5IP with six strikeouts. It was a mixed bag for Detwiler from my listening to the game, poor defense and IF hits were an issue but he continues to work too deep into counts, piling up the pitch count. 24-year old 2B Dan Lyons was 2/3 with two doubles, a run & three RBI. 25-year old SS Michael Martinez was 3/3 with two runs scored but his two errors in the eighth led to five unearned runs.
Record: Potomac 28-24, 1st place Carolina North (3 games ahead)
Tonight: RHP Hassan Pena (1-1, 3.68) at Myrtle Beach RHP Kyle Corfield (7-6, 3.61), 7:05PM
Hagerstown split a doubleheader in Rome, winning game one 2-0 (box) before losing game two 5-1 (box/gamer). In the first game, 23-year old RHP Cole Kimball went the distance with a seven-inning shutout, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out five. 25-year old 1B Tim Pahuta was 1/3 with a run & RBI and 22-year old 2B Valerio Heredia was 1/3 with a run and his 20th stolen base of the season. 21-year old RHP Chris Lugo started the second game, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits over 4 2/3IP. 22-year old LF Bryan Miller was 1/3 with a double; 23-year old DH Garrett Bass was 1/3 with a run scored; and Heredia was 1/2 with a walk and two more stolen bases (22 on the season).
Record: Hagerstown 21-31, tied for 5th place Sally North (13GB)
Tonight: LHP Tommy Milone (0-1, 1.06) at Rome (pitcher TBD), 7:00PM
Vermont ran into solid pitching from Aberdeen in a 3-1 loss (box/gamer). 21-year old LHP Ricardo Pecina lasted only one inning due to his pitch count (40 in the first). He allowed two unearned runs on one hit and two walks while striking out two. 22-year old RHP Jose Pinales pitched the next three shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out seven. 19-year old DH Derek Norris was 1/4 with a stolen base and RBI and 21-year old SS Nick Arata was 1/3 with a run scored. Notes: 2B Blake Stouffer was promoted to Hagerstown; newly signed SS Danny Espinosa will be joining the Monsters.
Record: Vermont 23-30, 3rd place NYP Stedler (5GB)
Tonight: RHP Brad Peacock (3-4, 3.61) versus Aberdeen RHP Pat Egan (2-5, 4.27), 7:05PM
The GCL Nationals did not play on Wednesday.
Record: GCL Nationals 24-18, 2nd place GCL East (1.5GB)
Today: GCL Nationals at GCL Cardinals, 12:00PM (likely two games with the make up of the 7/9 game)
The DSL Nationals1 lost 5-2 to the DSL Padres (box). 21-year old RHP Wanel Vasquez started for the Nats1, allowing a run on two hits and four walks over 2IP. 21-year old RHP Derbin Reyes allowed a run ono four hits over his 3IP while strking out four. 19-year old CF Angelberth Montilla was 2/4; 20-year old 1B Starlin Cespedes was 2/4 with a double; and 18-year old DH Hendry Jimenez was 1/4 with a walk, run & two stolen bases.
The DSL Nationals2 were outslugged 14-9 by the DSL Tigers (box). 19-year old RHP Victor Mota started for the Nats2, allowing three runs on four hits and six walks over 4IP with four strikeouts. 20-year old 3B Earving Fernandez was 3/3 with two doubles, one RBI, one stolen base & three runs scored.
Record: DSL Nationals1 49-14, 1st place DSL S.D. West (21 games ahead); DSL Nationals2 24-39, 4th place DSL S.D. West (25GB)
Today: DSL Nationals1 versus DSL Nationals2, 10:30AM
#1 by bdrube - August 14th, 2008 at 07:03
Anyone else noticing that the Nats minor league teams, despite being much improved this year overall, appear to be running out of gas in August?
Players like Rhinehart, Alaniz, VanAllen, L. Davis and Zinicola appear to be much farther away from being able to help the big club than they did a month or two ago.
Disappointing, to say the least.
#2 by SlowPitch63 - August 14th, 2008 at 07:47
I saw Steven Strasborg last night pitching for the US against Holland. Even considering the opposition he was very impressive. I expected to see a raw kid with overpowering stuff.
Instead, I saw a polished pitcher…..with overpowering stuff.
What did you guys think?
I’m still hoping we sign Crow despite the recent activities.
Let’s play two!
#3 by Chris - August 14th, 2008 at 08:27
Why does Wilems start keep getting pushed back?
#4 by Chris - August 14th, 2008 at 08:52
http://www.nbcolympics.com/baseball/news/newsid=211426.html#strasburg+allows+debut
Theres a link to the recap and video of the game, complete with no commentary for some reason.
#5 by Nats fan in NJ - August 14th, 2008 at 09:11
So Beckham signed for a reported $2.8M. As the pick directly in front of Crow, I think this gives both sides some indication of the slot. Now, I know that Crow believes he isn’t worth a 9 slot, but you would think this would at least get the discussion moving forward.
If nothing else, for the Nats, this takes one more player off the board to improve the 9a position in next year’s draft.
#6 by J. Cole - August 14th, 2008 at 09:14
Yeah, the minor-league teams have fallen off lately. A lot of that actually has to do with the monumental movement within the system this year, as guys are moving multiple levels in the season (Rhinehart from Low A to AA; Davis from High A to AAA). The year started with much of our talent at Single A Hagerstown and High A Potomac, now it is largely at Potomac and AA Harrisburgh. Hagerstown is stinking it up now, all the young hitters are currently at GCL Nats and Vermont and Hagerstown are just not scoring any runs, though pitching is great at Vermont. I think Van Allen would be knocking on the MLB door right now if he didn’t go down with an injury for so long. He still seems to be shaking off the rust from that. Willems must be hurt, I noticed that also. Unless the org is sending him to Potomac or just wants to shut him down for the rest of the year.
#7 by JMUNats - August 14th, 2008 at 09:19
Any idea where Espinosa is going to report this season? If he goes to GCL would that not force a promotion of Smiley Gonzalez? Or is he going to report to Vermont because of his experience at LBSU?
#8 by Brian Oliver - August 14th, 2008 at 09:21
JMU – Espinosa is headed to Vermont, hopefully in time for tonight’s game.
#9 by EdDC - August 14th, 2008 at 09:33
Good comment from John at #6 post last thread, when he says that Crow’s great stats could have even been better last year if Missouri was not such a hitters park and if the Missouri defense was up to standards.
Nats need to sign Crow as “practice” for how much it will hurt to sign Strasburg next year.
Nats can recover from this overspending by cutting back on their lavish FA signings for the major league club. No more expensive signings like Lo Duca, FLop, and Dmitri for $5 million. They can sacrifice with only lower level signings, like Estrada for $1.25 million.
Seriously, whatever the Nats do at the major league level will be meaningless compared to signing their #1 pick. They are not going to have any significant FA expenditures, so that should leave plenty of financial room for signing Crow.
#10 by SlowPitch63 - August 14th, 2008 at 09:43
Agree with EdDC and also want to thank John for his analysis.
Let’s play two!
#11 by Marcus - August 14th, 2008 at 09:59
I know this is off topic but if Crow signs with the Cats don’t we still get to hold on to his rights until next years draft?
If so the news isn’t all bad. This gives the Nats more time to see if they want to spend 4-5 million on him as well as extending the amount of time for negotiations. I’d much rather have him in the fold on saturday but the news isn’t all bad.
Btw Crow if you’re reading any of the boards or listening to the media I hope you’re not catching feelings over it. Becuase you do have a ton of Fans in Nats land!!!
#12 by Brian Oliver - August 14th, 2008 at 10:02
Marcus – Good question. I believe the answer is his rights are gone on August 16th (if he hasn’t signed). I am asking around to see if I can get that confirmed.
#13 by Marcus - August 14th, 2008 at 10:07
Thanks Brian…
#14 by Marcus - August 14th, 2008 at 10:14
Unfortunately it looks like the deadline will still apply:
“Missouri righthander Aaron Crow signed Wednesday—but not with the Nationals, who drafted him ninth overall. Instead, he agreed to a deal with the Fort Worth Cats of the independent American Association, and he’ll join the club if he doesn’t agree to terms with Washington before Friday’s 11:59 EDT deadline.
The signing doesn’t change either side’s leverage, as the deadline still applies.”
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=425
Let me know if you find something different out. Cause I’m really hoping the deadline is extended since he’s a pro.
btw this comment in the article was interesting:
“The Nationals have consistently maintained that there is a system and Aaron has to fit within the slotting system unilaterally created by the owners,” Hendricks said. “Our position is that Aaron is a premier pitcher and should be compensated accordingly. We are so far apart that [Nationals GM] Jim Bowden told me yesterday that there was no reason to talk any more. Aaron will never sign for slot money, period.”
If Bowden doesn’t get this deal done, he needs to be out of here. He’s consistently made bad PR moves during these negotiations and with the Nats(i.e. Cordero situation) that get ppl agitated. If he can’t sign Crow I have no confidence that he’ll be able to get Strasburg in here if we get the Number 1 pick!
#15 by Marc - August 14th, 2008 at 10:44
There’s plenty of room in there, though. “He’ll never sign for slot money” is a far cry from “He wants Posey money.” I still think we land at somewhere around $4m plus a spot on the 40 man. Call me nuts, but I think that’s where we’re headed. The real question is whether at the end of the day we’re holding tight to a “slot or nothing” position…our track record suggests we won’t do that, so I’m hopeful. Ultimately there’s a ton of leeway between “slot” and “$8m.” I’m also not too worried about “breaking off talks” – that’s the equivalent of starting to walk out of the car dealership when you haven’t gotten the price you wanted – it’s just a tactic to see who will twitch first.
#16 by Berndaddy - August 14th, 2008 at 11:05
We all have to admit this draft system is broken. I’m thinking of going off line till Monday because otherwise I’ll bust.
THIS SUCK, y’all. Time to start saying, WWTYD (Lord forgive me)
Yes, “What would the Yankees do”? They’d pay this kid and get him playing baseball…
#17 by pahou - August 14th, 2008 at 16:05
I have to disagree with most of you. It is not Bowdens fault if Crow doesnt sign, its Crow being greedy. I have said it before and i will say it again. There is NO draft choice worth 2.1 million dollars.