Syracuse fell 5-3 in the series opener at Durham (box/gamer). LHP Horacio Ramirez gave up five runs on six hits and four walks over 6IP to take the loss. LHP Yunior Novoa struck out two over one scoreless inning and RHP Zack Segovia pitched a scoreless inning without allowing a hit. SS Ian Desmond was 0/3 with a walk, stolen base & run scored; 3B Pete Orr was 1/3 with a triple & run scored; CF Justin Maxwell was 1/3 with a walk, run & RBI; RF Kory Casto was 1/2 with a walk & RBI; and LF Mike Morse was 1/4 with one RBI.
Today: Syracuse RHP Shairon Martis (3-1, 5.23) at Durham LHP Jason Cromer (5-2, 1.71) 7:05PM
Harrisburg RHP Erik Arnesen was knocked around for five early runs as the Senators fell 5-3 to Binghamton (box/gamer). Arnesen surrendered five runs on eleven hits and two walks over 4 2/3IP to fall to 6-5 on the season. RHPs Adrian Alniz & Clint Everts along with LHP Atahualpa Severino combined on 4 1/3 innings of no-hit shutout relief, striking out five. SS Jemel Spearman was 2/3 with a walk; 3B/RF Joel Guzman was 2/5 with a run scored; 2B Leonard Davis was 2/4 with a run scored; LF Bill Rhinehart was 1/3 with a double & two RBI; and RF Francisco Plasencia was 1/3 with a walk in his first game in Harrisburg. Notes: Harrisburg will likely receive an additional player to replace the suspended Ofilio Castro. Options include Potomac IF Michael Martinez.
Today: Harrisburg RHP Jeff Mandel (2-0, 2.57) at Trenton (pitcher TBA 7:05PM
The P-Nats fell into a first place tie with Wilmington after a 5-1 loss to the Rocks (box/gamer). RHP Trevor Holder allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks over 6IP while striking out five, taking the loss. SS Danny Espinosa was 1/4 with his 22nd stolen base of the season; LF Jesus Valdez was 1/4 with a double & run; RF Michael Burgess was 1/4 with three strikeouts & one RBI; and 1B Chris Marrero was 0/4 with a strikeout.
Today: Wilmington RHP Eduardo Paulino (5-6, 4.24) at Potomac RHP Adam Carr (1-2, 4.69) 7:05PM
Hagerstown rallied to tie the game at 1-1 in the ninth and scored three runs in the top of tenth before giving up four runs in the bottom of the frame to lose 5-4 at Delmarva (box/gamer). RHP Paul Demny gave up a run on two hits and two walks over 4IP while striking out five and LHP Ricardo Pecina went four scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and striking out three. 2B Stephen Lombardozzi was 0/4 with a run scored; CA Derek Norris was 0/3 with two walks, three strikeouts & a run scored; DH Steve Souza was 1/5 with two runs & one RBI; RF Charlie Fermaint was 4/5 witht wo stolen bases & one RBI; LF Robby Jacobsen was 2/3 with two RBI; and CF Chris Curran was 1/4 with a pair of stolen bases.
Today: Hagerstown at Delmarva (pitchers TBA) 7:05PM
Vermont lost 3-2 to Auburn in 10 innings (box/gamer). LHP Mitchell Clegg gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits over 5IP while striking out five. LHP Evan Bronson struck out two over 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief. 2B Francisco Soriano was 2/5 with one RBI; LF J.P. Ramirez was 0/4 with two strikeouts; DH Destin Hood was 1/4 with three strikeouts; RF J.R. Higley was 2/4 with a double & run scored; and CA Dan Killian was 1/4 with a run scored.
Today: Mahoning Valley at Vermont RHP Matt Swynenberg (0-2, 10.61) 7:05PM
The GCL Nationals were outslugged by the GCL Marlins 11-10 (box). RHP Taylor Jordan gave up two runs on two hits and three walks over 3IP with four strikeouts. LHP Bobby Hansen allowed three runs on three hits and two walks over 2IP with four strikeouts. And, RHP Dean Weaver gave up three runs on four hits and one walk over 1IP. CF Eury Perez was 2/4 with a walk; 2B Hendry Jimenez was 1/4 with a triple & run scored; 1B Brett Newsome was 0/1 with four walks & three runs scored; 3B Yeurys Tejeda was 1/4 with a run & RBI; RF Angelberth Montilla was 1/3 with a homer & three RBI; and LF Derrick Phillips was 2/4 with a triple & two RBI.
Today: No game scheduled
The DSL Nationals defeated the DSL Reds 5-3 (box). RHP Danubio Gonzalez picked up the win, giving up three runs on seven hits and a walk over 6IP with four strikeouts. LHP Raudy Almonte earned a save with three perfect innings. LF Wander Ramos was 1/3; 1B Joseph Cabreja was 2/4 with two runs scored; RF Aridio Rodriguez was 0/1 with two runs scored; CF Jesus Morales was 1/4 with a double & two RBI; and DH Elvin Rodriguez was 2/4 with a double & two RBI.
Today: DSL Nationals at DSL Rockies 10:30AM
#1 by Pilchard - August 7th, 2009 at 09:50
Brian,
Derrick Phillips seems like an interesting prospect. He was drafted fairly late last year out of HS, and was known more as a football player than a baseball player in HS, but signed with the Nats. He has good size (6-3 220), is young (still 18), and he is starting to hit a little (.290) and run (2 SBs) over the last ten games.
Do the Nats consider him anything other than an organizational player?
#2 by Brian Oliver - August 7th, 2009 at 09:53
That’s a good question. I think we’ll get our answer next year. Phillips is assigned at the appropriate level given his age/where he was drafted. At a minimum he needs to be in Vermont in 2010 (obviously).
Invitations to the instructional leagues will tell us something (that reminds me I need to ask about them)
#3 by e - August 7th, 2009 at 10:26
Do you think they’ll send Michael Martinez and Jesus Valdez from Potomac to H’Burg to replace the suspended Baez and Castro?
#4 by Brian Oliver - August 7th, 2009 at 10:27
e – They already received Plasencia who could be viewed as a replacement for Baez
#5 by expo_ram - August 7th, 2009 at 10:55
Brian, do you have any scoop on who is going to AZ fall league? I have a buddy in the know down there that says Norris is a probable. The way I understand it is that each team can only send one player below AA as of 8/1 (thus promotions you see 7/31).
I live here, so I will be “catching” me some Nats for sure…so wishing for a Strasburg to Norris battery with Storen closing out!
#6 by Brian Oliver - August 7th, 2009 at 10:57
MASN reported that Norris & Espinosa are headed to the AFL. I’d imagine Storen would if he does not get a September call-up. And Strasburg would seem a logical one as well
#7 by mjames - August 7th, 2009 at 11:51
What is the collective feeling on a Strasburg signing? I am getting the sense that with the Nats play of late, fans, and therefore I assume the Nats’ FA, do not feel the same pressure or desire to sign him.
#8 by Andrew F. - August 7th, 2009 at 12:10
Winning 11 of 17 and five in a row doesn’t change anything for me as far as my desire for the team to sign Strasburg. That’s crazy. I can’t imagine it changes the team’s perception, either. If it does, we’re screwed even worse than we thought.
#9 by Andrew F. - August 7th, 2009 at 12:11
Plus, this Strasburg thing was always going to happen on the 17th and not one day sooner. We can’t take anything away from the fact that we haven’t heard much.
#10 by Pilchard - August 7th, 2009 at 13:02
I could not disagree more with mjames. The fact that Nats have demonstrated that they can be competitive has done nothing to decrease the importance of the Strasburg signing. I went to the Marlins game on Tuesday, and the park was dead (other than the Red Loft). This team needs buzz. Strasburg would give it. Faling to sign would simply supply fodder to those that argue that the Nats are lost as a franchise.
#11 by Marcus - August 7th, 2009 at 13:21
Strasburg is not Crow we can not fail to sign this dude…MLBTraderumors latest post links to a Buster Olney article about the negotiations and it doesn’t sound good:
“Real doubts are beginning to emerge that the Nats will be able to sign Stephen Strasburg. “
Although discouraging we can’t pay attention to anything the media says about the negotiations until after the 17th since the Nats aren’t speaking through the media about this reports must be one-sided. But since we failed to sign Crow last year I understand why everyone doesn’t have much confidence in this getting done including me.
#12 by Brian Oliver - August 7th, 2009 at 13:26
Marcus – Olney is basing that on a comment made by Rob Dibble (assuming Dibble has some inside intel). Meaning two possibilities: (1) nothing to see here, move along or (2) find another team to start rooting for because if the Nats are using Rob Dibble as a negotiating tool, there is no hope
#13 by Marcus - August 7th, 2009 at 13:46
lol K had no clue where the info. was coming from since it was an insider article. I’m hoping it’s (1) even if its (2) can’t find a new team cuz I always stick with my home teams(Redskins, Nats, Wiz)
#14 by JimL - August 7th, 2009 at 13:50
Brian-this week’s Seven Days,Burlington’s Arts and Politics weekly,has an article on the Lake Monsters with some interesting quotes from Jeff Garber and Jack Mc Geary (www.sevendaysvt.com).In the 15 years since the Expos/Lake Monsters have been around 56 players have made it to the Majors. And loved your quote about Dibble-who by the way played Double A ball in Burlington for the Vermont Reds-hmmm,six degrees of Rob Dibble?
#15 by Andrew F. - August 7th, 2009 at 14:01
For non-Insiders and those of us who missed Dibble’s rant, what exactly did he say? Some bravado about not wanting players who don’t want to be here?
#16 by Brian Oliver - August 7th, 2009 at 14:03
#17 by Andrew F. - August 7th, 2009 at 14:07
Silly Dibs. How about we give that kind of money to both Strasburg AND a veteran player with a proven track record?
I know, I know, crazy idea…but it just might work!
#18 by Dick - August 7th, 2009 at 14:18
For Dibble, it wasn’t a true rant by his standards, just a typical, poorly thought-out argument that Strasburg hasn’t proven anything and shouldn’t get that money and a proven vet would be a better investment. An argument we have all heard before from many other places.
Also, I believe it was Jim Callis who recently noted that negotiations with Ackley and Tate weren’t going well. Of course not, it is not after dark on August 17! Ackley and Tate are both Boras clients, of course.
I recently was talking to an Orioles fan who still expressed amazement that they signed Wieters. Everyone said that would never happened, but it did, at 11:45 pm on the last day of the signing period. Boras client, too.
I’ll slit my wrists at 12:15 am on the 18th if Brian writes “he didn’t sign”, and not a moment before. It will be very similar to the way I felt about Sean Black and Aaron Crow. Mercifully, Brian provided the salve of Jones and Ramirez’ signings.
#19 by Sue Dinem - August 7th, 2009 at 14:27
A non-story. Dibble is merely stating the obvious, and it’s true regardless of the dollar amount. Simply put, spending on a known quantity is less risky than spending on an unknown quantity. How that translates into an impasse between the Nationals and Scott Boras is a leap in logic not seen since .
#20 by Sue Dinem - August 7th, 2009 at 14:28
Looks the system ate my parenthetical joke: (Insert Bush Administration reference here)
#21 by Marcus - August 7th, 2009 at 14:45
K, well the Bucs just shelled out >1.1 Million to an 8th rounder…I have a feeling the whole slot system is going to made to look like a joke this year more than ever.
Hopefully the Nats are join in the joke(go over) and not the ones being made fun of(stick to slot).
#22 by Pilchard - August 7th, 2009 at 15:41
According to Buster Olney, many of the “unsigned” first round picks (not Strasburg, Ackley or Tate) have reached agreements with the clubs that have drafted them. Since these deals are over-slot, the clubs have waited to formailize the deals until the eve of the deadline to keep these deals from influencing the negotiations involving picks where an agreement has not been reached.
The system is screwed-up. High-round draft picks are essentially deprived of a half-season of development if they hold out for top dollar; players that sign early are punished by receiving less money. Clubs are forced to make signability as leading draft criteria rather than talent and often pay $millions based upon projections that may or may be valid; while the majority of the MLB roster makes less than a top 7 pick.
A slotting system needs to be instituted, and,in return, the minimum MLB salary needs to be raised (perhaps, along with some other owner giveback to the players).
#23 by Gal Revels in Pee - August 7th, 2009 at 16:08
A slotting system needs to be instituted, and,in return, the minimum MLB salary needs to be raised (perhaps, along with some other owner giveback to the players).
Why would the owners give anything to the players union for slotting? The UNION should ask for slotting. Every dollar that goes to an amateur player is a dollar out of the pockets of their members.
The real hold up is: if the owners want slotting, it makes the draft part of the CBA. Basically, it give the union more leverage.
In addition, I wonder if the Lords of baseball aren’t really cleaving to this system because it favors the big market clubs. They want New York, Boston, Chicago and LA in the World Series year after year. It means higher ratings. If they tried NFL parity they’d might get a KC/Pitt World Series that would be a ratings disaster.
NFL can have parity cause they are a made for TV creation. Place matters little.
#24 by Pilchard - August 7th, 2009 at 16:35
Many players want slotting, but the agents, who really run the union, definitely do not. Slotting makes agents essentially irrelevant until a player gets to negotiate his first contract. I have no confidence that players will be able to get their interests over the agents when the MLBPA negotiates.
#25 by souldrummer - August 9th, 2009 at 03:57
Anyone know why Veloz is in Harrisburg? He hasn’t really hit in High A yet and it seems he’s likely to be overmatched. I’m a little confused about where everybody is with the suspensions and promotions.
Also, what do you folks make of J-Max’s little run at Syracuse. With Morgan in center now, I don’t see how we can be thinking of J-Max as anything but a fourth outfielder.
#26 by russ - August 9th, 2009 at 17:34
Brian,
Any information on which minor leaguers we are looking at in a trade with Boston? Also, who would get the call with Guzman gone?
I am guessing Desmond but who knows.