The Chiefs fell 5-4 to the Bisons on Tuesday (box/gamer). RHP Marco Estrada took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk over seven innings while striking out four. CF Justin Maxwell was 1/3 with a two-run homer in the loss. Notes: LHP Mike O’Connor was dealt to the San Diego Padres, no word yet on who the Nationals received. This opens up a roster spot for RHP Jason Bergmann.
Today: Buffalo LHP Jonathan Niese (1-6, 6.31) at Syracuse RHP Garrett Mock (1-1, 5.73) at 7:05PM
SS Ian Desmond’s home run in the bottom of the seventh inning led the Senators to a 3-2 win over the B-Mets (box/gamer). Desmond was 3/4 and is now hitting 325/400/550 with two homers, five RBI, and three stolen bases since his return from the disabled list. 2B Leonard Davis was 2/4 with a double, stolen base & RBI and 1B Bill Rhinehart was 1/4 with a double & run scored. RHP Erik Arnesen made the start and gave up two runs on four hits and a walk over 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts, but did not figure in the decision. RHP Clint Everts earned his first save for Harrisburg with a scoreless ninth; he’s yet to allow a run in his first four appearances for the Senators.
Today: Binghamton RHP Jenrry Mejia (0-1, 1.64) at Harrisburg RHP Carlos Martinez (2-1, 1.73) at 7PM
RHP Jeff Mandel had his worst start of the season as the P-Nats fell 9-2 to Wilmington (box/gamer). Mandel surrendered all nine runs (six earned) on eleven hits and three walks over just 3 1/3 innings. RHPs Martin Beno & Cole Kimball combined on 5 2/3 shutout innings of relief, scattering four hits and five walks while striking out five. CF Boomer Whiting was 1/4 with a run scored & his 26th stolen base of the season; SS Danny Espinosa was 2/4 with a run & RBI; DH Brian Peacock was 2/3; and 3B Tim Pahuta was 2/4.
Today: Wilmington LHP Danny Duffy (6-2, 2.69) at Potomac LHP Will Atwood (2-5, 5.86) at 7:05PM
Hagerstown was swept in a short two-game series against Lake Couonty, falling 5-2 on Tuesday (box/gamer). RHP Paul Demny dropped to 1-6 on the season, giving up five runs on seven hits and two walks over six innings while striking out three. LHP Kevin Light pitched two scoreless innings of no-hit/shutout relief, strikin out three. 2B Stephen Lombardozzi was 2/4 with a run scored and 3B Steven Souza was 2/4 with a stolen base & RBI.
Today: Lakewood RHP Jesus Sanchez (2-4, 4.82) at hagerstown RHP Marcos Frias (4-1, 2.52) at 7:05PM
The DSL Nationals battered the DSL Reds 11-4 (box). 20-year old RHP Antonio Guzman picked up the win, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk over 6 2/3 innings. 19-year old DH Alejandro Hodge was 1/3 with two walks, two runs & three stolen bases; 19-year old CF Jesus Morales was 1/3 with a run & stolen base; 18-year old 3B Jairo Bernabel was 1/2 with one RBI & three runs scored; and 20-year old CA Anderson Bocio was 2/5 with a grand slam and five total RBI.
Today: DSL Nationals 21-year old RHP Manuel Rivera (0-1, 1.64) at DSL Rockies at 10:30AM
#1 by Marc - June 17th, 2009 at 08:46
Oh! Fair thee well, Irish Mike! May the road rise to meet you.
Mike O’Connor is one of those guys I inexplicably root for. My head tells me he’s a AAA player at best, but my heart always hoped he’d discover some killer 78-mph screwball or something.
Here’s hoping he can make a go of it if he gets to Petco. Maybe he can be the Bannister of the Padres.
#2 by Gavin B - June 17th, 2009 at 08:53
Any idea when Storen will see some playing time? He might have mentioned it on his Twitter feed, but I’m way behind on that. Seemed like a good, non-pressure situation would’ve been last night’s 8th inning…
#3 by Brian Oliver - June 17th, 2009 at 09:20
Gavin – He mentioned that Thursday will be his professional debut
#4 by joNAThan - June 17th, 2009 at 09:23
Good morning folks. Anyone know when Roger Bernadina might return? thank
#5 by cjrugger - June 17th, 2009 at 09:37
I’m officially tired of watching Dukes in center and Kearns at the plate. Please bring up Maxwell and move Dukes to right
#6 by dd - June 17th, 2009 at 09:51
Maxwell has been at the Mendoza line for long stretches in his pro career. While he has some skills, his overall performance over the years is both underforming and disappointing. A .263 career minor league BA and poor AAA season, so far, is not impressive. However, he could do no worse than Kearns!
#7 by cjrugger - June 17th, 2009 at 09:58
dd- exactly, Im not looking for Willie Mays. They would be much better defensively and prob about the same offensively. It was staggering watching the difference between the yanks and our d last night
#8 by Mark L - June 17th, 2009 at 10:01
Great news about Desmond, he’s only 23 and his .959 OPS since coming back is reason for lots of optimism.
#9 by Wallyball - June 17th, 2009 at 10:08
I agree with the move, but I would move up Langerhans for center. Maxwell probably isn’t going to make it as a starter, but with all of his injuries he deserves 600 ABs at AAA to see if he can develop as a hitter. While it looks like they have been readying Langerhans at 1B in case NJ is traded, I think that Langerhans gives almost as good centerfield D as Maxwell (or Patterson) and better O. He should hit .250/.350/.400. Acceptable for quality D. Kearns seems like a good guy and acceptable defender, but his O is so bad for such a long stretch (the good beginning notwithstanding) that I think that I would DFA him. Maybe he can catch on with someone else in a back up role. I can’t possibly imagine that they can trade him.
I am surprised that Nats management, especially Rizzo who seems to do things the old school way (which I mostly like) hasn’t placed a stronger emphasis on quality D while trying to develop a young staff.
#10 by Jeff E. - June 17th, 2009 at 10:40
Wallyball. I concur on the Langerhans @ 1b thought. Marc- Floyd bannister??? LOL!! rickety bannister more like. a padre infielder from Ft. Wayne or lower?
#11 by Carl Goldstein - June 17th, 2009 at 10:53
Any word yet on the return for O’Connor?
#12 by Moe Greene - June 17th, 2009 at 10:55
Mike O’Connor is a Padre.
#13 by Brian Oliver - June 17th, 2009 at 10:56
Carl – No. Not sure if we’ll ever hear about it. Sometimes these deals are for cash, other times, the player moves are made and the player returned just shows up on a roster without explanation.
#14 by Carl Goldstein - June 17th, 2009 at 10:58
Brian, Thanks for the reply. The best place to watch is the roster and transactions page on the Portland Beavers website (of course when it is updated).
#15 by NG - June 17th, 2009 at 11:09
Lost in the sad news about Willingham’s brother and the Acta speculation was a note that we put Rule V pick Terrell Young on the 60-day DL:
http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090613&content_id=5307828&vkey=pr_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was
I thought we had sent him back to the Reds? Did the Reds not take him back because of the injury? I didn’t see anything reported on this.
#16 by expo_ram - June 17th, 2009 at 11:10
How is Desmond’s defense fairing this year? Good to see him and Everts potentially turning it around.
It seems like Boston is looking for everything we could or are trying to deal (SS, 1B, 4th OF). Could we get their 1B prospect or Buckholz for say Kearns, Nick, cash and a decent SP prospect at a lower level? It will be interesting to see the quantity and quality of prospects Rizzo can trade for in the next couple of months compared to what JimBo did…
#17 by Brian Oliver - June 17th, 2009 at 11:11
NG – There was something when I was on vacation about TYoung. Basically what you said happened, happened. He was injured and the Reds returned him so the Nats would be on the hook for his rehab costs
expo – I will ask how he’s looking defensively
#18 by expo_ram - June 17th, 2009 at 11:19
BTW Brian, much appreciation for this site and the work you do. I’ve so look forward to visiting this site first thing every morning. I don’t enjoy reading about the big club any more with the embarrassments they provide on a daily basis.
#19 by Marc - June 17th, 2009 at 11:24
Jeff- Not Floyd. Brian Bannister – crafty, don’t-break-the-speed-limit-yet-still-manages-to-sort-of-survive.
He of the Poznanski “Banny Log” fame.
Langerhans up is ok, but there’s no prospecty-ness there – that’s just a guy filling a spot till we find a better guy. Just like Kearns, really. Though Langerhans’ utility (CF, LF, 1b) makes him better.
#20 by NG - June 17th, 2009 at 11:26
Brian-Thanks for the update. I guess we’re now even with the Reds for Gary Majewski.
#21 by Section 204 Row H Seat 7 - June 17th, 2009 at 11:40
I was thinking of Maxwell (Bad B.A. and all) to center and Dukes to right just this morning. Then I thought the Bernadina (with his potenial good B.A.) would have just solved a lot of problems and saved some losses if he had not been injured. I belive that, at the time, it was announced he would be out for the season.
#22 by Jane - June 17th, 2009 at 13:17
Mike O’Connor, you will be missed! Much success with the Padres!! Thanks for all the autographs, when you were in Harrisburg!!!
#23 by Jeff E. - June 17th, 2009 at 13:38
Who here with the transition period @ 1b believes that Nats would be interested in A. LaRoche (ex-Brave, Stan!..you drafted Tommy Greene’s son) for 2010 and keep Dun in LF? interesting to see if Boston would pull trigger in Penny for Franceur. You think LaRussa could sprinkle his magic on kearns in STL? down the road- who would not want Rick Ankiel…summer dreaming. PBR raised to all!
#24 by AlexVa - June 17th, 2009 at 13:50
It’s looks like they have shut down Willems. Any word as to whether he is hurt?
#25 by joNAThan - June 17th, 2009 at 15:03
I don’t see any interest in LaRoche, I’d rather have Dunn at 1B next season; Willingham in LF, Dukes in RF and somebody in CF who can actually play CF. I suspect it will be Milledge (there goes the “can play CF” theory) or Bernadina.
#26 by Tom - June 17th, 2009 at 15:24
Everyone, thanks for the kind words about Mike. He is very excited about the opportunity he’ll get to be a starter again in the Padres’ organization.
Brian, you are the best. See you around the farm.
#27 by Carol - June 17th, 2009 at 20:55
Nats officially announced the O’Connor trade – for a player to be named later.
Tom – Tell Mike that Bob and Carol wish him luck on the West Coast :)