Nationals Farm Authority

Like the change Brian; I’m guessing your putting up the standing more often because it’s getting close to playoff season, good idea!

Mark L :There was a nice piece on McGeary last week linked from Nats Journal. Brian can correct me if I’m wrong, but it said that he was the youngest pitcher on Vermont’s 15 man staff. That sure puts things in perspective and mitigates all the hand wringing about his year. Also has a sub 3.00 ERA in his first full year of pro ball.

Sub 3 ERA? Where do you get that? In 13 starts at Hagerstown his ERA was nearly 7. For the year he’s at 5.20. His walk rate and how hittable he has become are the most roubling signs, however. He needs a big bounce-back year in 2010 or he will quickly fall off the prospect radar.

The fact that McGeary is the youngest pitcher would have more to do with how old everybody else is. He was 20 in march, which is not young for the NYPenn league. At 21 next year, he’s going to have to pitch well in Hagerstown

I’m glad to see my skepticism of Brandon King was wrong so far tho. In 26 innings he’s given up 23 hits with a 27K:9BB ratio, quite good for an 18 year old from a cold climate

Brian: do you have Jenkins as the expected starter in Bklyn tomorrow night?

CJRugger – when i spoke with Chad in Tri City on Sunday, he indicated his next start was scheduled for Wednesday, 8/26 in Brooklyn.

Ian Desmond is hitting very well this year and especially well since moving up to AAA, is there any feedback on the quality of his glove? Also aside from Brian’s projection in the previous post has the organization given any indication what their plan is for Desmond’s future (regular SS or 2B? Backup? AAAA roster filler?).

That’s an interesting point, JayB, albeit a sweeping generalization.

I took a look-see at each of the levels from Vermont to Syracuse. After removing position players and rehabbing major-leaguers, here’s what I found:

VT – 22 pitchers, 10 throwing above the league average for BB/9. Of those 10, six are walking one more than league average per nine (4.34 or more).

Hagerstown – 27 pitchers, 12 throwing above the league average. Of those 12, eight are walking one more than the the league average per nine (4.09 or more). Of those eight, five have thrown more than 18 innings.

Potomac – 27 pitchers, 11 throwing above the league average. Of those 11, nine are walking one more than the league average per nine (4.39 or more). Of those 9, two (2) have thrown more than 18 innings.

Harrisburg – 24 pitchers, 10 throwing above the league average. Of those 10, six are waking one more than the league average per nine (4.55 or more). Of those six, three have thrown more than 18 innings.

Syracuse – 35 pitchers, 10 throwing above the league average. Of those 10, seven are walking one more than the league average per nine (4.17 or more). Of those seven, two (2) have thrown more than 18 innings.

So, if we throw out the small sample sizes (18 innings or less) we have had 14 pitchers at each of the levels that are walking more than one batter per nine than the league average. And ten of those are at Hagerstown or Vermont.

Or, put another way, there have 59 stretches (seven pitchers have done it at two levels, Andrew Kown has done it at three) of 18 innings or more where a pitcher has throw less than the league average for walks. And 26 of those have been better than a full walk below the league average.

So, I guess that’s a long-winded way of saying “I don’t see this as a system-wide problem”

Over at BA, Aaron Thompson says that he has added a cut fastball this year: The 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthander has depended on a cut fastball he learned from Double-A Jacksonville pitching coach Reid Cornelius. In his next-to-last start with the Suns, he struck out 10 batters at West Tenn —nine on the cutter. “It has a dual purpose,” Thompson, 22, said. “It works to get early contact, and also to finish off hitters.”

JayB – My fault. I had no idea all these guys were “top prospects”:

Jose Pinales Jack McGeary Austin Garrett Preston Larrison Wilfredo Ledezma Chad Jenkins Juan Jaime Graham Hicks Matt Swynenberg Matt Avery Carlos Peralta Adrian Alaniz Dave Williams Matt Chico

Those are the 14 guys who are more than one walk above the league average. Not quite the evidence to support your delusion.

Sue is that one walk per 9 innings above league average?

If so that is a very low bar…..Jack McGeary this year Ross D last year and more this year again….those are top prospects that have lost their command. Add Martis and Balister and we are talking about the pitchers Stan keeps telling me are going to make us winners sooner than anyone thinks.

Hey Reid Cornelius – ex-expo!

BTW, this from BP on Desmond: Ian Desmond, SS, Nationals (Triple-A Syracuse) This just might be an example of a genuine late bloomer. A third-round pick in 2004, Desmond’s tools and athleticism has had many projecting him as the Nationals’ shortstop of the future for years, but there was one big problem with that: he didn’t hit. Showing a much better approach this year in terms of both plate discipline and a focus on contact over power, Desmond hit .306/.372/.494 at Double-A this year, and by batting .406 in his last ten Triple-A games, he’s now hitting .328/.413/.400 in the International League. He should be up in September, and as he doesn’t turn 24 for another month, he’s still a prospect.

Thought Balester showed something strong for five innings yesterday, before coming apart in the 6th. I think he and Martin are battling for a spot and the one who doesn’t make it should be sent to AAA and switch with Detwiler.

Also Brian, you think Taylor Jordan or Brandon King will get a taste of Vermont?