The Nationals signed RHP Livan Hernandez who will make the start today for Washington in Chicago. Hernandez was the Opening Day starter for the Nats back in 2005 and was dealt in to Arizona in August of 2006 for RHSP Garrett Mock and LHSP Matt Chico. Hernandez replaces RHSP Collin Balester on the roster; Balester was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse. To open a spot on the 40-man roster for hernandez, Dmitri Young was moved from the 15 to 60-day DL. This move helps the Nats protect the young starters as Hernandez is known as an innings eater (insert other type of eater joke here). The Big Board has been updated with these moves along with a few others.
Syracuse
- Lost 9-6 to Durham (box/gamer). The Chiefs rallied from an early 5-0 deficit but RHP Zack Segovia surrendered three runs on two hits and two walks in the top of the ninth as Syracuse fell to wild card elading Durham. LHP Horacio Ramirez gave up five runs on eight hits and four walks over 6 2/3IP while striking out two. SS Ian Desmond was 1/4 with a triple & run scored; 2B Seth Bynum was 1/4 with a three-run homer; LF/CF Norris Hopper was 2/4 with a run scored; 3B/LF Pete Orr was 2/4 with a run & RBI; and CA Gustavo Molina was 1/3 with a double, run & RBI.
- Notes – No word on what the corresponding move will be to open a spot for Balester.
- Today – Syracuse RHP Luis Atilano (1-0, 0.00) at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre LHP Kei Igawa (9-7, 4.31) 7PM
Division
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton/WB | 71 | 56 | 0.559 | - | - |
| Syracuse | 69 | 61 | 0.531 | 3.5 | 13 |
| Rochester | 64 | 66 | 0.492 | 8.5 | 8 |
| Lehigh Valley | 63 | 67 | 0.485 | 9.5 | 7 |
| Pawtucket | 54 | 75 | 0.419 | 18.0 | E |
| Buffalo | 52 | 77 | 0.403 | 20.0 | E |
Wild Card
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham | 73 | 58 | 0.557 | - | - |
| Syracuse | 69 | 61 | 0.531 | 3.5 | 11 |
| Norfolk | 67 | 62 | 0.519 | 5.0 | 8 |
| Toledo | 67 | 64 | 0.511 | 6.0 | 8 |
| Indianapolis | 64 | 66 | 0.492 | 8.5 | 5 |
| Rochester | 64 | 66 | 0.492 | 8.5 | 6 |
| Lehigh Valley | 63 | 67 | 0.485 | 9.5 | 5 |
| Charlotte | 61 | 69 | 0.469 | 11.5 | 2 |
| Pawtucket | 54 | 75 | 0.419 | 18.0 | E |
| Buffalo | 52 | 77 | 0.403 | 20.0 | E |
| Columbus | 52 | 77 | 0.403 | 20.0 | E |
Harrisburg
- Defeated New Hampshire 4-1 (box/gamer). RHP Jeff Mandel held the Cats to a run on three hits & four walks over 5IP while striking out three for his fourth Senators win. Newcomer RHP Jesse Estrada pitched three scoreless innings of relief, giving up one hit and striking out two. And, RHP Carlos Martinez pitched a perfect ninth for his second save. Luke Montz was 1/4 with a two-run homer, playing 3B for what I think is the first time. 1B Chris Marrero was 2/2 with two walks & a run scored; SS Freddie Bynum was 0/3 with a walk, two stolen bases & a run scored; 2B Jemel Spearman was 2/4 with a double & two RBI; and CA Sean Rooney was 1/4 with a run scored.
- Today – Harrisburg (pitcher TBA) at New Hampshire RHP Sean Smith (3-3, 2.84) 7PM
Division
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akron | 79 | 49 | 0.617 | - | - |
| Reading | 68 | 60 | 0.531 | 11.0 | - |
| Erie | 66 | 61 | 0.520 | 12.5 | 13 |
| Bowie | 64 | 63 | 0.504 | 14.5 | 12 |
| Harrisburg | 62 | 65 | 0.488 | 16.5 | 10 |
| Altoona | 56 | 73 | 0.434 | 23.5 | 2 |
Potomac
- Defeated Myrtle Beach 6-1 (box/gamer). RHP Brad peacock gave up a run on three hits over 8IP with five strikeouts and RHP Hassan Pena pitched the final scoreless inning, striking out one. DH Danny Espinosa was 1/3 with a run, stolen base & two RBI; SS Michael Martinez was 2/4 with two doubles and two runs scored; RF Michael Burgess was 0/4; CA Devin Ivany was 1/3 with a double & two RBI; 3B Stephen King was 0/4; and CF Boomer Whiting was 1/3 with a run scored.
- Today – Potomac LHP Will Atwood (7-7, 4.56) at Myrtle Beach RHP Erik Cordier (6-6, 3.63) 7:05PM
Division
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 37 | 20 | 0.649 | - | - |
| Potomac | 35 | 23 | 0.603 | 2.5 | 11 |
| Frederick | 28 | 30 | 0.483 | 9.5 | 4 |
| Lynchburg | 24 | 34 | 0.414 | 13.5 | E |
Hagerstown
- Lost 8-0 to Lakewood (box/gamer). RHP Juan Jaime struck out nine over 4IP, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks. RHP Robinson Fabian scattered a run on five hits over three innings of relief while LHP Kevin Light was battered for five runs on six hits and a walk over two innings. The Suns could only muster five hits, a double by 2B Stephen Lombardozzi and singles by LF Valerio Heredia, 1B Tyler Moore, SS Steven Souza, and RF Robby Jacobsen.
- Today – Lakewood (pitcher TBA) at Hagerstown RHP Marcos Frias (8-4, 3.04) 7:05PM
Division
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kannapolis | 38 | 18 | 0.679 | - | - |
| West Virginia | 32 | 22 | 0.593 | 5.0 | 8 |
| Lake County | 32 | 25 | 0.561 | 6.5 | 8 |
| Lakewood | 28 | 27 | 0.509 | 9.5 | 4 |
| Delmarva | 27 | 27 | 0.500 | 10.0 | 4 |
| Hickory | 26 | 31 | 0.456 | 12.5 | 2 |
| Greensboro | 21 | 36 | 0.368 | 17.5 | E |
| Hagerstown | 18 | 36 | 0.333 | 19.0 | E |
Vermont
- Lost 3-1 to Brooklyn (box/gamer). RHP Kyle Morrison took the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over 6IP while striking out six. RHP Gary Amato struck out two over two perfect innings of relief. The Monsters had four total hits, doubles by 1B Ronnie Labrie & DH Dani Arias and singles by 2B Francisco Soriano & CF J.R. Higley. Both LF J.P. Ramirez & RF Destin Hood were 0/4.
- Today – Vermont LHP Chad Jenkins (0-1, 5.64) at Brooklyn 7PM
Division
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowell | 36 | 27 | 0.571 | - | - |
| Oneonta | 33 | 29 | 0.532 | 2.5 | 11 |
| Vermont | 29 | 34 | 0.460 | 7.0 | 7 |
| Tri-City | 21 | 40 | 0.344 | 14.0 | E |
Wild Card
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staten Island | 36 | 27 | 0.571 | - | - |
| Williamsport | 35 | 29 | 0.547 | 1.5 | 12 |
| Oneonta | 33 | 29 | 0.532 | 2.5 | 11 |
| Batavia | 33 | 31 | 0.516 | 3.5 | 10 |
| State College | 33 | 31 | 0.516 | 3.5 | 10 |
| Hudson Valley | 31 | 33 | 0.484 | 5.5 | 8 |
| Vermont | 29 | 34 | 0.460 | 7.0 | 7 |
| Aberdeen | 26 | 37 | 0.413 | 10.0 | 3 |
| Jamestown | 26 | 38 | 0.406 | 10.5 | 3 |
| Auburn | 22 | 41 | 0.349 | 14.0 | E |
| Tri-City | 21 | 40 | 0.344 | 14.0 | E |
GCL Nationals
- Won their 13th game in a row, defeating the GCL Mets 6-2 (box). LHP Danny Rosenbaum struck out six over five innings of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks. RHP Ruben De La Rosa struck out four over three scoreless innings of relief. LF/CF Eury Perez was 4/5 with a homer, three RBI & two runs scored; LF Naoya Washiya was 1/3 with a double; SS Roberto Perez was 1/3 with a run & RBI; CA Wilfri Pena was 1/4 with a double & two RBI; 3B Adrian Sanchez was 2/3 with a double & run scored; and a rehabbing Roger Bernadina made his first appearance, playing center field and going 0/2 as the leadoff hitter.
- Today – GCL Marlins at GCL Nationals LHP Josh Smoker (4-1, 2.79) 12PM
Division
| Club | W | L | PCT | GB | *ELIM # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCL Marlins | 35 | 16 | 0.686 | - | - |
| GCL Nationals | 33 | 17 | 0.660 | 1.5 | 5 |
| GCL Cardinals | 22 | 28 | 0.440 | 12.5 | E |
| GCL Mets | 21 | 31 | 0.404 | 14.5 | E |
| GCL Astros | 16 | 35 | 0.314 | 19.0 | E |
#1 by Kirkie - August 26th, 2009 at 07:59
Good to see Roger B’s back and playing again – it was rotten luck for him to get such a bad injury just after getting called up [aside - ESPN America has his catch where he got the injury as one of the clips they show on their baseball trailers].
With a 28 day rehab assignment; do you reckon there is therefore a chance that we see him back in Washington before the end of the season?
K
[PS - what about Eury Perez, eh???]
#2 by Brian Oliver - August 26th, 2009 at 08:02
Kirkie – Ladson had a report this weekend that Bernadina would not be back in 2009
#3 by estuartj - August 26th, 2009 at 08:47
From MLBTR;
The Mets will acquire Triple A outfielder Chris Carter in the deal (for Wagner).
Isn’t Carter the ARI 1B man that went to Boston in the Willy Mo Pena Trade?
#4 by NG - August 26th, 2009 at 08:51
This link:
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/events/playoff_procedures.jsp?mc=_gcl
says that the GCL playoff format includes a wild card, which the GCL Nationals should have essentially wrapped up, even if they don’t catch the Marlins. So we should have at least one affiliate in the playoffs, even if Syracuse and Potomac don’t make it (still holding out hope, of course).
#5 by Brian Oliver - August 26th, 2009 at 08:51
Yes, that’s the Chris Carter from the WMP trade (http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cartech01.shtml)
As opposed to this Chris Carter who was part of a White Sox/A’s deal (http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=carter001ver)
or this Cris Carter who all he did was catch touchdowns (http://www.nfl.com/players/criscarter/profile?id=CAR632736)
#6 by expo_ram - August 26th, 2009 at 09:13
Chris Marrero seems to be headed to studsville. Burgess is almost to bustville.
#7 by SpringfieldFan - August 26th, 2009 at 09:45
Thrilled that our young arms will get a chance to work with a really established pitcher. As many scares as Livo has given me over the years (I was a Giants fan while biding my time waiting for a local team), that man knows how to work himself out of jams.
#8 by e - August 26th, 2009 at 09:58
Brian — what do you know/hear about Ruben de la Rosa down in the GCL? He’s been lights out pitching down there after a pretty good year in the DSL. His K/IP rate is ridiculous his two years in the system (15.11 K/IP!). What kind of stuff does he have? Is it possible for him to skip Vermont next season and start in Hagerstown?
Minors Career Stats: 6-2, 2.03 ERA 53 IP 40 H 9 ER 17 BB / 89 SO .201 BAA
#9 by Brian Oliver - August 26th, 2009 at 10:02
e – I can make some inquiries
#10 by Marcus - August 26th, 2009 at 10:35
I wouldn’t call Burgess a bust he’s still got impressive power just needs to work on his swing and plate discipline…Next year will be big for him, I see him repeating at Potomac. If he can put together a .270+ season with good power numbers and a good BB/SO ratio he’ll be fine.
#11 by Mark - August 26th, 2009 at 10:35
e – Rosenbaum and de la Rosa (both putting up great numbers) are both 22 years old. Most semi-skilled pitchers can tear through GCL batters pretty easily. One gets a real sense of their stuff when they get to low A or above. Based on their age and performaces this year, I would see no reason to hold them back from Hagerstown next year.
#12 by Scott - August 26th, 2009 at 11:41
Well, I’m not ready to call Burgess a bust yet, he’s still very young for the league. However, since the phrases “.270+ season with good power numbers and a good BB/K ratio” and “best of all possible Burgessian outcomes” are interchangeable, I think he’s still fighting an uphill battle towards that goal.
We’ll get a real good sense of where’s he’s at next year, when he repeats high-A ball. If he smokes the balls in his second go-round, he might just be a guy who takes a while to adjust given his high-risk, high-reward approach at the plate. If he struggles again, I think we’ll have a pretty good indication that his inability to put bat to ball is a long-term problem that will likely keep him out of the majors.
#13 by ckstevenson - August 26th, 2009 at 12:20
Miniscule sample size I admit up front, but I saw Burgess this past Sunday in the first of the two 7 inning double headers Potomac played.
Based on the ABs I saw, he still can’t hit anything but a fastball unless he gets lucky. He struck out in two ABs in a row on pretty ugly curve/slures on the outside part of the plate. Waaaay out in front on all pitches. I believe the 2nd k was three straight pitches.
So based on that, I view him as a power guy who needs to hit an off speed pitch. Those guys are a dime a dozen right?
#14 by Mark - August 26th, 2009 at 12:25
<> I think Burgess needs Jobu’s help.
#15 by DJ - August 26th, 2009 at 12:52
Brian, any chance Brandon King and Taylor Jordan get bumped up?
#16 by Brian Oliver - August 26th, 2009 at 12:54
DJ – I doubt it. The only thing that could happen is a one start end of year deal type start but those odds seem long.
#17 by Ric - August 26th, 2009 at 13:07
Calling Burgess a bust at this point is totally absurd. He is in his second full professional season and in Hi A. He was always viewed as someone who needed to work on swing mechanics, hitting approach and plate discipline to succeed as a pro in higher levels. Next year will be the equivalent of his college draft year, had he gone to college — let’s at least see where he is in June 2010 before reaching any conclusions.
#18 by Sec 204 Row H Seat 7 - August 26th, 2009 at 14:12
Off topic, Brian you are 5 fo5 so far on your AFL list. One more to go.
On topic, Burgess has replace Smoker on my worry list.
#19 by John - August 26th, 2009 at 15:14
Brian,
I know you are a big Wilkie fan but do you think he could realistically get bumped up to the 40 man in Sept? That would be an amazing jump (AA-MLB) in one season for an UDFA
#20 by Brian Oliver - August 26th, 2009 at 15:28
John
Could he? Sure. If the Nationals are looking for RHRPs in September, he’s in the discussion with Everts and Segovia. After those three guys, not sure who else I’d select. Zinicola has had an up and down season; do we really need to see Kensing Part III, and after that it’s guys like Alaniz & Martinez from Harrisburg.
Will he? I’d put it at 50/50. The fact that he’s Rule 5 eligible this off-season gives it some traction (as does it with Everts and minor league free agency as well as R5 eligibility).
It would be an amazing jump, but so would Everts who started the season in Potomac (former first round pick notwithstanding).
#21 by John - August 26th, 2009 at 15:40
Thanks for the honest and realistic assessment…the Nats have done a pretty good job keeping him under the radar this year but his consistency over his career, thus far, is not likely to go unnoticed by the time R5 rolls around…hope they find a way to keep both these guys around (a Cindarella and a validated draft pick)
#22 by Marc - August 26th, 2009 at 15:48
Brian, et. al.,
More of a general observation, really, put in mind by the AFL list, but it seems to me that the whole minor system has really taken a step forward this year, going from a few islands of promise among a sea of “meh” to several really potentially intriguing higher-end players with a significantly larger number of potential MLB-fringe guys.
I know it’s early for end-of-the-year summations, but the AFL list, the signing of Strasburg, the jumping to prominence of several C-level guys all has me wondering if the system turned a corner this year.
#23 by Brian Oliver - August 26th, 2009 at 15:54
Marc – I don’t think you are too far off. The one thing I am still waiting to see is a further reduction in the “old for a level” guy. There still is work to do in getting more age appropriate players at the various levels.
It has got better, and I would imagine the Nationals will be closer to a middle of MLB team entering 2010.
#24 by BinM - August 26th, 2009 at 18:09
Marc, Brian: Couldn’t agree more in terms of the farm clubs. Even with the setback in the DSL this year, the stockpiles that Rizzo (& yes, even Bowden) have built are starting to progress. The organization is still a little thin in SYR & HAR, but with probable 2010 promotions will look much better. Let’s just hope they don’t go through another Rule-V (minors) “looting” like what was suffered in either 2005 or 2006.
#25 by Sue Dinem - August 26th, 2009 at 18:37
Let me add on to Ric’s rebuke…
Until recently, Burgess had started to lay off the low-and-away stuff. But since Marrero’s promotion, he has clearly been pressing, and as such, has reverted to this bad habit. To his credit, he has not begun first-pitch swinging in an effort to stay away from the strikeout.
To state that Burgess can only hit fastballs in his wheelhouse is simply not true. Prior to this past homestand, Burgess has actually waited out some inside breaking pitches and has begun to hit line drives to center and left field. He is clearly trying to drive the ball the opposite way, but thus far, he’s had limited success.
Is he ready for the next level? Of course not. But we’re talking about someone who is not old enough to buy a beer legally. Unlike Marrero, Burgess is not a liability in the field, and actually has a decent arm, commanding enough respect that CL coaches aren’t waving most runners in if he fields it cleanly.
#26 by Mark L - August 26th, 2009 at 18:55
Thanks, Sue, for the on-the-field reporting, it’s helpful.
#27 by peric - August 26th, 2009 at 23:28
Besides a bullpen and a starting pitching rotation, they need a second bagger and a shortstop, on thought is a focus by Rizzo et al on Espinosa because he was sent to the AFL.
#28 by peric - August 27th, 2009 at 01:05
BinM, didn’t rule 5 bring Jesus Flores?
#29 by peric - August 27th, 2009 at 01:07
Or do you mean other teams “looting” the Nats?
#30 by peric - August 27th, 2009 at 18:44
Center fielder needed …