Before I get into the AtA, Steven and I did another podcast, this time focusing on the draft. The discussions centered around the non-Strasburg picks (that will be another podcast) as well as organizational philosophies.
RHP Garrett Mock threw a three-hit complete game shutout as the Chiefs defeated the Clippers 3-0 (box/gamer). Mock faced one batter over the minimum, striking out ten and not walking a batter. He threw 96 pitches, 70 for strikes. CF Justin Maxwell was 2/3 with a stolen base and run scored and is has had a 0.424 BA and 0.909 SLG over his last ten games with four homers and twelve RBI. 1B Brad Eldred was 2/4 with one RBI; 3B Kory Casto was 2/3 with a double & runs scored; and RF Jorge Padilla was 1/4 with a double & run scored.
Today: Syracuse RHP J.D. Martin (7-2, 2.35) at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre LHP Kei Igawa (6-1, 3.93) at 7:05PM
Harrisburg was off on Monday.
Today: Harrisburg LHP Cory VanAllen (1-4, 6.42) at New Britain RHP Matt Fox (6-2, 2.45) at 6:35PM
Potomac is on their All-Star break. The Carolina/California League All-Star Game is being played at Lake Elsinore. Representing the P-Nats are RHPs Brad Meyers & Jeff Mandel along with OF Michael Burgess. The game is scheduled to start at 10:05PM EDT.
Hagerstown is also on their All-Star break. The South Atlantic League All-Star Game is playing played at West Virginia. Representing the Suns will be CA Derek Norris (who may participate in the HR derby) and RHP Marcos Frias. The game is scheduled to start at 7:05PM EDT.
Vermont blew a 4-0 lead in the top of the ninth but walked off with a 5-4 win over Tri-City on an RBI single by J.P. Ramirez in the bottom of the 10th(box/gamer). RHP Adrian Alaniz made a rehab start with four perfect innings, striking out four. LHP Evan Bronson (a 2009 29th rd pick) pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out one. RHP Kyle Morrison (2009 32nd) also had two shutout innings of relief, allowing one hit and striking out three. RHP Steven Stewart gave up all four runs in the top of ninth on five hits and one walk. LHP Clayton Dill picked up the win, striking out two in his one inning of work. Ramirez was 2/6 with a run & the game-winning RBI. RF J.R. Higley was 2/3 with a double, two walks, a stolen base & run scored; DH Justin Bloxom (2009 11th) was 1/4 with two RBI; 3B Yeurys Tejeda was 1/4 with a double & RBI; and SS Sean Nicol (2009 16th) was 2/6.
Today: Tri-City at Vermont RHP Jose Pinales (NR) at 7:05PM
The DSL Nationals defeated the DSL Tigers 9-4 (box). 21-year old RHP Antonio Guzman picked up his third win allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks over 6IP while striking out six. 19-year old CF Jesus Morales was 2/3 with two walks, a stolen base and three runs scored; 23-year old SS Carlos Alvarez was 2/4 with a double, RBI & run scored; 17-year old Estarlin Martinez continued his hot stretch going 3/4 with a double, two runs & two RBI; 18-year old RF Joseph Cabreja was 2/4 with two RBI; and 18-year old 3B Paul Chacin was 2/4 with one RBI.
Today: DSL Nationals 21-year old RHP Manuel Rivera (0-1, 1.69) at DSL Diamondbacks at 10:30AM
#1 by C’ville Nat - June 23rd, 2009 at 09:14
Hi Brian,
Don’t have time to review the podcast, but was wondering where things stand from a numbers standpoint on 2009 draft signings. I think we are 20 or 21, aren’t we?
#2 by cjrugger - June 23rd, 2009 at 09:35
Will be interesting to see Mock, Balester and JD Martin in the rotation at the end of the year
happy to see Maxwell heating up, he has some amazing splits: 412/589/686 ahead in the count, 086/117/224 when behind in the count
#3 by russ - June 23rd, 2009 at 09:49
Does anyone know if Jorge Padilla will sniff the big leagues this year? I realize there is a bit of a logjam at the OF position but it seems like Padilla has earned a look and a few ABs at the major league level.
#4 by Dick - June 23rd, 2009 at 10:18
Following up on some posts from yesterday, if folks like Mock, Martin and Balester have to pitch in the later part of the season with the big club due to innings limitations on the rookies, don’t those three guys have to limit their innings in AAA? I suppose Mock hasn’t thrown that many given he was in the bullpen earlier. Is there any evidence that innings are being limited for those guys?
#5 by Basil - June 23rd, 2009 at 10:35
Is there any evidence that innings are being limited for those guys?
Balester’s on pace to throw 150+ innings at Triple-A. Mock and Martin are both 26, so the protecting-a-young-arm rationale is substantially lessened with them.
#6 by Brian Oliver - June 23rd, 2009 at 10:57
C’ville – It’s at 20 as far as I know
russ – Padilla seems a longshot for PT at the major league level due to roster limits. If Kearns is dealt/released and other players are injured … maybe, but I wouldn’t bet on it
Dick – The Nats can control those guys IP in Syracuse much easier than at the big league level. Pulling them after 5IP does not carry the same # of media questions in Triple-A than it does in the majors
#7 by cjrugger - June 23rd, 2009 at 11:07
Brian: Any word on Burgess in the cal/car home run derby?
#8 by Greg - June 23rd, 2009 at 11:53
I can’t possibly see a scenario where a team would actually want Kearns. Great guy, plays hard, it’s just that, I cry on the inside when there’s two outs and he’s walking to the plate.
#9 by Todd Boss - June 23rd, 2009 at 12:19
I was chatting about inning limitations just yesterday and did some analysis: I hope my cut and paste works here:
Current MLB starters innings in 08 and current pace for 09:
Lannan: 182, 202 Zimmermann: 134, 162 Martis: 137, 192 Stammen: 150, 176 Detwiler: 124, 159.
So, going on the assumption/working theory that you only really want to stretch out a youngster about 20 additional innings each year, it seems to me that we may be shutting down Zimmermann, Martis and Detwiler on or about the roster expansion date. So, we’re definitely going to need some starter fillins.
Lets do the same for our AAA and other 40-man starters:
2008 innings, 2009 current pace: Balester: 158.2, 177 Mock: 145.2, 105 (but, will be higher w/ return to starter role) MEstrada: 153.3, 164 (but, he made a huge jump from 07 to 08 and hasn’t had any illeffects) Atilano: 93.2, 125 (part time reliever in 08, high innings are 136 in 2005, he should be fine) Martin: 89.2, 155 (was reliever in 08, high innings are 153 in 2004 so he should be fine).
So, none of our AAA guys seem to be in danger of over reaching inning limits. I’d like to see Martin given a shot; he’s a former supplimental 1st round pick talent who really has performed well in Syracuse this year.
#10 by expo_ram - June 23rd, 2009 at 12:51
Mock, Ramirez, Balester, Martin, and Estrada could very well be our rotation at end of year.
#11 by Andrew Z. Stebbins - June 23rd, 2009 at 12:56
but expo-ram, you forgot Strasburg! ;)
#12 by ckstevenson - June 23rd, 2009 at 13:20
Brian,
Maybe you have done previous posts of this nature, but I’d love to see a monthly (or more frequent) run down of the status of the Nats farm system. Overall progress of each team in terms of development of players; who are top 3 (or 5 or more) prospects are at each position and how they are doing, especially noting who are just organizational players and who are our prospects, chances of prospects turning into something (giving us a monthly and yearly trend maybe) etc.
I think you cover a lot of this in the comments, and it’d be great to see flushed out as a recurring post.
#13 by Brian Oliver - June 23rd, 2009 at 13:31
ck- Good idea. I usually do a monthly recap, more top level. But I can try to fold in some of your suggestions.
#14 by JMUAlumni - June 23rd, 2009 at 14:58
In regards to inning limits, haven’t the Chiefs been pulling Balester and Martin when they have been between 60-75 pitches for most of his starts? I think both of their inning counts are misleading, because they have thrown much less pitches than they would have at the ML level. They should be able to pitch 50 innings at the end of the season without having gone through the same workload as guys like Detwiler, Zimmermann, and Stammen.