Here is the latest from the Nats Bill Gluvna …
This Week’s Top Headlines
- THE TOTAL PACKAGE: Potomac Nationals SS Danny Espinosa ranks among Single-A Carolina League leaders in nearly every offensive category, including walks (4th, 17), doubles (t-4th, 9), OBP (5th, .434), OPS (5th, .959), stolen bases (7th, 7), slugging (7th, .525) and runs (9th, 18)…the 21-year-old has reached base safely via hit, walk or HBP in 22 of 24 games this season…Espinosa entered the season as the Best Defensive Infielder among Nationals prospects according to Baseball America…he was selected in the 3rd round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Long Beach State University.
- YO, ADRIAN!: Harrisburg Senators RHP Adrian Alaniz has surrendered just 2 hits in 2 starts this season, posting a .065 (2-for-31) BAA…he allowed just one hit in 6.0 scoreless innings to earn the win, Saturday vs. Reading (Phillies)…overall, the 25-year-old is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA…the University of Texas product is scheduled to make his next start on Friday at Akron (Indians)…Alaniz, a 2008 Carolina League mid-season All Star, was selected in the 8th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft.
Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs … 14-9, 2nd Place, 5.0 Games Back
- (STAM)MEN AT WORK: RHP Craig Stammen tossed 5.0 innings of one-run ball, but received a no-decision in last night’s 8-1 win over Gwinnett (Braves)…the 25-year-old is 3-1 with a 2.25 ERA in 5 starts this season…he has allowed 2 earned runs or less in 4 of those 5 starting assignments…Stammen was selected in the 12th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.
- JESUS, I LIKE HIM VERY MUCH: RHP Jesus Colome has yet to allow an earned run in 6.2 innings (6 appearances) since joining Syracuse on April 24 from Extended Spring Training in Viera, FL…he is a perfect 3-for-3 in save opportunities…Colome has struck out 6, walked 2 and owns a .091 (2-for-22) BAA…the Dominican Republic native went 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 61 games at the big league level with Washington last season.
- BERGALICIOUS: In 7 relief appearances (9.2 innings), RHP Jason Bergmann is 1-0 with one save and a 1.86 ERA…he has struck out 8 and walked 1…the 27-year-old began the season with Syracuse before he was recalled to the big leagues on April 20…he made 3 appearances with Washington, but was optioned back to Syracuse on April 29 when the Nationals acquired RHP Logan Kensing from Florida…since being optioned, he is 1-0 and has worked 3.2 scoreless innings (3 games).
Double-A Harrisburg Senators … 4-17, 6th Place, 13.5 Games Back
- COCA-(ZINI)COLA: RHP Zech Zinicola has posted a 1.08 ERA in 8 games (8.1 innings) to begin the season…he is 2-for-2 in save opportunities…Zinicola, selected in the 6th round of the 2006 Draft, was tabbed as Washington’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2006.
Single-A Potomac Nationals … 14-10, 2nd Place, Half Game Back
- NATIONAL TREASURE: 1B Chris Marrero has reached base via hit, walk or HBP in all 24 games this season…additionally, he has hit safely in 19 of those 24 contests, batting .311 with 7 doubles, 3 home runs, 15 RBI and a .871 OPS…the 20-year-old ranks among CL leaders in hits (7th, 22), total bases (7th, 44) and doubles (t-10th)…Marrero entered the season ranked by Baseball America as the No. 3 prospect -the top hitter- in Washington’s system…he was the Nationals’ top selection (15th overall) in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.
- BRAD IS TOTALLY RAD!: RHP Brad Meyers has not allowed a run in his last 2 games (one start), firing 13.2 consecutive scoreless innings…he is 1-0 with 10 strikeouts, 2 walks and a .176 (8-for-46) BAA in those contests…overall, the 23-year-old is 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA in 4 games (3 starts)…Meyers was selected in the 5th round of the ’07 Draft out of Loyola Marymount University (CA).
- THUNDER AND LIGHTNING: The P-Nats lead the Carolina League with 25 home runs and 38 stolen bases…Potomac paces Washington minor league affiliates in batting average (.258), runs scored (131), hits (200), doubles (49), homers, RBI (115), walks (93) and steals.
Single-A Hagerstown Suns … 9-11, 6th Place, 3.0 Games Back
- NO RELATION TO CHUCK: C Derek Norris leads the Suns in homers (5), RBI (17), total bases (38), walks (12), slugging (.535) and OPS (.896)…per Baseball America, the 20-year-old entered the season rated as the No. 6 prospect and top overall catching prospect in Washington’s system…Norris was selected in the 4th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of Goddard (KS) High School.
- DON’T CALL HIM BOB: 1B Robby Jacobsen has hit in 11 consecutive games, going 17-for-41 (.414) with 2 doubles, one home run and 5 RBI…he leads Washington farmhands with a .364 batting average…Jacobsen was a 22nd-round selection in 2006 out of nearby George Mason University (VA).
#1 by Tom - May 6th, 2009 at 22:25
Brian, ou have 26 players on the Chief’s roster. Do you know which pitcher(s) will be moved yet?
#2 by Dick - May 6th, 2009 at 22:59
BA has perhaps the best synopsis of the Nats I’ve ever read: What was left after the (Colon) trade was a batch of questionable pitching prospects, most of whom either never made the big leagues, or did little of note in the majors. As much as the Nationals deserve a lot of the grief they’ve received for everything from failing to sign Aaron Crow to the Esmailyn Gonzalez signing to the Dominican bonus scandal, Washington is still paying for Montreal’s mistakes. Actually, make that MLB’s mistakes. Restricting the Expos’ ability to aggressively sign the best talent, allowing Jeffrey Loria to ransack the team’s resources on his way out of town—and leaving the team with a skeleton crew from top to bottom, and raising the contraction threat level so high that the GM stripmined the farm system—created an environment so toxic and a talent pipeline so dry that the Nats are still digging out.
#3 by RD exposfan - May 6th, 2009 at 23:25
Amen to that Dick. Expos had a player pipeline like no other team and you see the same results with Florida trading away experienced players or letting free agents sign elsewhere with young players replacing them out of the farm system. With ex Expo executives like Larry Beinfest and Jim Fleming in Marlin’s front office you will see that strategy continue to be successful. As much as Jim Bowden didn’t contribute to the success of the farm team, it was MLB and Omar Minaya that destroyed it.
#4 by RD exposfan - May 7th, 2009 at 06:11
Amen to that Dick. Expos had a player pipeline like no other team and you see the same results with Florida trading away experienced players or letting free agents sign elsewhere with young players replacing them out of the farm system. With ex Expo executives like Larry Beinfest and Jim Fleming in Marlin’s front office you will see that strategy continue to be successful. As much as Jim Bowden didn’t contribute to the success of the farm team, it was MLB and Omar Minaya that destroyed it. P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!
#5 by mjames - May 7th, 2009 at 07:41
Dick and RD
Amen to that. I have never seen a GM (Minaya) do so much damge in so little time. The 3 for 1 Colon trade, the Bay trade, the Young trade – it just goes on and on.
#6 by pm - May 7th, 2009 at 12:45
When does Ian Desmond come back? If he is out for a while, what is the plan for Espinosa? He has to be promoted soon. So I could see Desmond moving up to AAA, but will the Nats bench Gonzalez at AAA?
#7 by Brian Oliver - May 7th, 2009 at 12:50
pm – From what I know, Desmond is out for another month plus. Espinosa might earn a promotion to Harrisburg but it will not be based on moving Desmond to Syracuse.
The Nationals have stated they want Gonzalez to get playing time regularly. When Desmond returns, I’m sure the plan is to try and keep all three guys playing as regularly as possible.