Just out from the Nationals
The Washington Nationals today selected the contract of left-handed pitcher Ron Villone from Syracuse of the Triple-A International League and designated left-handed pitcher Mike Hinckley for assignment. Nationals Assistant General Manager and Vice President of Baseball Operations Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
This removes Hinckley from the 25-man (and 40-man) and adds Villone in his place.
Villone, 39, is 56-59 with 85 holds and a 4.75 ERA (591 ER/1119.1 IP) in 654 games (93 starts) spanning 14 seasons with Seattle, San Diego, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, Pittsburgh, Florida, New York (AL) and St. Louis. The previous four seasons (2005-08), Villone posted a .203 (76-for-375) batting average against when facing left-handed batters. Villone pitched in 74 games for the Cardinals last season, posting a 4.68 ERA.
#1 by Carl Goldstein - May 7th, 2009 at 15:17
Nats are starting to get away from the youth movement and leaning towards the veterans. Hope Hinckley remains in the organization.
#2 by Andrew S. - May 7th, 2009 at 15:22
They’re not getting away from the youth movement. They just realize that they cannot be the worst team in the big leagues again because they risk alienating this fan base. I mean, it’s not like Hinckley is a huge part of their future. Best case scenario, he is a lefty specialist/ middle reliever. And there are tons of those guys in our farm system.
#3 by MiLBFan - May 7th, 2009 at 15:59
Why not bring up Zinicola?
#4 by Brian Oliver - May 7th, 2009 at 16:03
He isn’t left handed and he isn’t ready. I’d put him fifth or sixth in line of right handed relievers in the minors
Colome - Clippard - Wagner -Rivera -Bergmann
#5 by Mike Harris - May 7th, 2009 at 16:30
This is team No. 12? Is that tops among current major leaguers?
#6 by BinM - May 7th, 2009 at 17:53
If Villone has been with that many teams, it just proves that there’s always going to be a place on some teams’ roster if you’re left-handed & can still get the ball over the plate.
#7 by BinM - May 7th, 2009 at 18:13
Brian - Colome is “eligible” for call-up on what, the 15th? If so, the FO should declare the Logan Kensing experiment a failure on the 16th & DFA him for “every-day” Colome from SYR.
Acta’s M.O. with the bullpen leans toward having seven guys to throw one inning (or less) each. Maybe it’s just current personnel, but it looks to me like the bullpen is being set-up to fail, rather than succeed. Any thoughts?
#8 by Dick - May 7th, 2009 at 22:03
Brian, nice job on Nats Extra! Marrero has really heated up.
Hopefully, Danny the Dirtbag will forgive you for forgetting him since he was in the Post today.
#9 by arjun v - May 7th, 2009 at 22:03
they’re making the wrong move… they need to bring up clippard. he is absolutely owning as a reliever in AAA. and if you check hinckley’s stats with us, he has a sub 1 ERA vs. leftys… manny is just fucking up his role, just make him a LOOGY.