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Morning Reading


  • Ian Desmond continued his hot start with six more hits in starts at both SS and 2B
  • Geoff Morrow of the Patriot News has an interesting look back at the season in Harrisburg with his rating of the future chances of everyone who played for the Senators
  • The Nationals are finalizing plans for a new academy in the Dominican Republic with the choices down to Boca Chica (same area they were in 2009, but new facility) or San Pedro de Macoris
  • I am still trying to get a hold of the Instructional League roster for the Nats

Tragic Number Update

MLB W L GA Tragic Left
Washington 50 93 - - 19
Pittsburgh 55 86 6.0 14 21
Kansas City 57 86 7.0 12 19
Baltimore 58 84 8.5 11 20
Cleveland 61 81 11.5 8 20
Arizona 62 82 11.5 7 18
NY Mets 63 81 12.5 6 18
Cincinnati 64 79 14.0 5 19
Oakland 64 78 14.5 5 20
San Diego 65 79 14.5 4 18
Toronto 65 78 15.0 4 19

Eliminated (19): Yankees, Angels, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cardinals, Phillies, Rockies, Rangers, Giants, Tigers, Marlins, Braves, Cubs, Mariners, Rays, Twins, White Sox, Astros & Brewers

Remaining Games

DATE WAS PIT KC BAL CLE AZ NYM CIN OAK SD TOR
9/14 off at LAD off TB at MIN at SD off HOU at TEX AZ at DET
9/15 at PHI at LAD at DET TB at MIN at SD at ATL HOU at TEX AZ at NYY
9/16 at PHI at LAD at DET TB at MIN at SD at ATL HOU at TEX AZ at NYY
9/17 at PHI off at DET TB at OAK off at ATL FLA CLE off off
9/18 at NYM SD at CWS BOS at OAK COL WAS FLA CLE at PIT at TB
9/19 at NYM SD at CWS BOS at OAK COL WAS FLA CLE at PIT at TB
9/20 at NYM SD at CWS BOS at OAK COL WAS FLA CLE at PIT at TB
9/21 off SD BOS at TOR off SF ATL off TEX at PIT BAL
9/22 LAD CIN BOS at TOR DET SF ATL at PIT TEX at COL BAL
9/23 LAD CIN BOS at TOR DET SF ATL at PIT TEX at COL BAL
9/24 LAD CIN BOS off DET off off at PIT TEX at COL SEA
9/25 ATL LAD MIN at CLE BAL SD at FLA at HOU at LAA at AZ SEA
9/26 ATL LAD MIN at CLE BAL SD at FLA at HOU at LAA at AZ SEA
9/27 ATL LAD MIN at CLE BAL SD at FLA at HOU at LAA at AZ SEA
9/28 NYM LAD at NYY at TB CWS off at WAS off off off at BOS
9/29 NYM at CHC at NYY at TB CWS at SF at WAS STL at SEA LAD at BOS
9/30 NYM at CHC (2) at NYY at TB CWS at SF at WAS STL at SEA LAD at BOS
10/1 at ATL at CHC off at TB at BOS at SF off STL at SEA off off
10/2 at ATL at CIN at MIN TOR at BOS at CHC HOU PIT LAA SF at BAL
10/3 at ATL at CIN at MIN TOR at BOS at CHC HOU PIT LAA SF at BAL
10/4 at ATL at CIN at MIN TOR at BOS at CHC HOU PIT LAA SF at BAL

This entry was posted on Monday, September 14th, 2009, 7:46 AM and is filed under Across the Affiliates. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

  1. #1 by estuartj - September 14th, 2009 at 08:10

    Anuy chance the Nats could go 13-6 for a 63-99 record AND still get Bryce Harper?

    Loved watching Desmond light it up with the bat, I wonder he needs to do now (and in winter ball?) To move Guz to 2nd and/or keep Rizzo from signing or trading for a SS/2B who will force Desmond to the Bench or minors?

  2. #2 by dd - September 14th, 2009 at 08:10

    Surprising that Morrow gave Everts a 4 rating, same as Storen. What is even more surprising is that Clint was not called up by the Nats to end the season. Any ideas?

  3. #3 by Positively Half St. - September 14th, 2009 at 08:28

    If the Nats end up with the same record as another team, do they get the tie-breaker for a worse record the year before? I ask because you list the Brewers as eliminated, although the Nats could in theory tie their 69 wins.

  4. #4 by Brian Oliver - September 14th, 2009 at 08:30

    PHS – If two teams are tied, they look at previous year’s record. The Nats hold the tiebreaker with all teams since they had the worst 2008 record.

  5. #5 by Positively Half St. - September 14th, 2009 at 08:44

    Gotcha. In essence, then, all of the tragic numbers are actually one less than you show, if the concern is the #1 pick, and not the worst record.

  6. #6 by Positively Half St. - September 14th, 2009 at 08:45

    No, wait, that isn’t right.

  7. #7 by Positively Half St. - September 14th, 2009 at 08:46

    Four wins would get Toronto to 69, for instance, and even if Washington got there, too, the tie goes to the Nats. Never mind.

  8. #8 by Brian Oliver - September 14th, 2009 at 08:46

    No, the number listed should account for that already.

  9. #9 by Sue Dinem - September 14th, 2009 at 08:52

    Nope. Brian’s already figured that in… 55W + 93L = 148. 162-148=14. Ordinarily, when figuring magic numbers it’s 163 (full schedule + 1).

  10. #10 by Marc - September 14th, 2009 at 09:03

    Interesting list of the AA folks – 2 everyday players and 5 pitchers listed as “potential MLB regular” – probably captures the overall health of the system at a snapshot, too. Off the top of my head, I can get through Desmond, Marrero, Espinosa and Norris as “everyday MLB regulars” and then it seems to me it falls off pretty quickly.

    I think the #1 overall pick goes to the team with 104 losses. If we go 13-6, the Pirates have to go better than 8-13 to NOT end up behind us. The Royals would have to go better than 6-13. As putrid as those records are, I don’t feel like you should bet on the Pirates or Royals going “better” than anything. More than that, the longest shot of all is that the Nats finish 13-6.

  11. #11 by DSH - September 14th, 2009 at 09:04

    Brian, would be interested in your take on Morrow’s ratings. Any major differences?

  12. #12 by Brian Oliver - September 14th, 2009 at 09:17

    DSH – I consider major league regulars to be guys that are starters or at least the favorable end of a platoon on offense and starting pitchers and setup/closer types of the pen

    4 – Marrero; Desmond; Meyers; Detwiler; Storen

    3 – Davis; Arnesen; Atilano; Mandel; Thompson; Wilkie (this was a tough one for me); Segovia; Everts

    2.5 (cheating, I know) – Rooney; SBynum; Chico; Novoa

    2 – Montz; Solano; Rhinehart; Whitney; Castro; Martinez; Spearman; Arata; Veloz; JGuzman; FBynum; Daniel; Baez; Lowrance; Nanita; Plasencia; Fermaint; VanAllen; Alaniz; Spradlin; Williams; Jones; Martinez; Zinicola; Severino; Kown; Carr; Estrada; Letherman

  13. #13 by Pilchard - September 14th, 2009 at 10:09

    Where is Michael Burgess?

  14. #14 by Brian Oliver - September 14th, 2009 at 10:11

    Potomac. The names listed all played in Harrisburg

  15. #15 by Sec 204 Row H Seat 7 - September 14th, 2009 at 12:45

    Brian,

    A “In the Year 2000″ question. If Esinosa continues to progress and all other things being equeal (no free agent or trade for SS, Guzman or someone else is starting at 2B), does Desmond get moved/traded or does Espinosa?

  16. #16 by Brian Oliver - September 14th, 2009 at 12:48

    S204 – I’m not sure what the return would be on either guy. Or more accurately, I’m not sure the Nationals would get back the value they needed … assuming both Desmond & Espinosa develop into regulars (and that is one big assumption)

  17. #17 by estuartj - September 14th, 2009 at 14:59

    I think Desmond and Espinoza would make a great double play duo between Zimmerman and Marrero, but I wouldn’t put odds on those four ever being in an infield together. Not because Rizzo wouldn’t want it but because it would be an amazing stroke of organizational luck for all of them to pan out.

    On the other hand those 4 plus Harper and Flores at catcher plus an outfield of Maxwell, Morgan and Dukes and you are looking pretty good!

  18. #18 by peric - September 14th, 2009 at 15:09

    Not sure Harper will ever play catcher. Its highly doubtful that prospect Derrick Norris will either. As the link to the Morrow article indicates Montz may have been their best minor league defensive catcher. After Montz Solano?

    With Dunn, I can’t see Marerro ever playing 1st base. Dunn is too young and Marerro is weak defensively and isn’t even close to where Dunn is at?

    Lots of extra right-handed outfielders. Desmond and Espinosa as the MI between Dunn and Zimmerman would be perfect, but they only bring on left-handed bat. With Flores catching its a right hander again. Which is probably what made the switch hitting Sean Rooney so interesting to the Nats. But apparently overwhelmed both offensively and defensively?

    Your outfield has 1 left-hander in Morgan? Making Daniel, Davis, and Bernadina all the more interesting?

    Guzman is a switch-hitter. Moving him to second base makes sense for that reason. Replacing him with two right-handed hitters without adding a left-hander somewhere else?

  19. #19 by rukidding - September 14th, 2009 at 15:25

    I think Rooney was struggling at the plate in AA but it was only half of the season if that. Defensively he was strong. Look at the numbers he put up in Potomac in half a season and remember Brian Peacock was the starter at the beg. of the season. I think Rooney would tell you he concentrates more on his defense and the offense is a plus. He has a good reputation amongst the pitchers as a good catcher. I hope they leave Rooney in AA to start the year as the starter and then re-evaluate his game.

  20. #20 by DJ - September 14th, 2009 at 15:35

    Don’t forget Jeff Kobernus … hopefully two out of he/Espinosa/Desmond will be our middle infield for years to come.

  21. #21 by estuartj - September 14th, 2009 at 16:21

    Having Harper in the line-up at catcher or 1B or RF would solve some of the right hand heaviness of the Nats future line-ups, I also think the back-up catcher spot is the most under-utilized slot on most rosters and a good off-season move would be to trade a pitcher like Balester or Martis to the Diamondbacks for Miguel Montero (CA).

  22. #22 by gmo - September 14th, 2009 at 16:38

    DD … Everts was awesome in Harrisburg this year, and I don’t see why he wouldn’t succeed as a set-up man in the bigs. Hence the four stars. I see a similar ceiling to Storen, but Storen will get there faster.

  23. #23 by Marcus - September 14th, 2009 at 17:13

  24. #24 by Berndaddy - September 14th, 2009 at 17:51

    Wow, thanks Marcus what a great read… Smart kid. Let’s all pray he sticks with the calm cool collected Ian… The way he’s hitting we can only hope he does..

  25. #25 by dd - September 14th, 2009 at 20:43

    gmo-Everts will most likely be picked up by another MLB team as he will be a free agent. He obviously is not in the Nats’ plans. As a former Expos’ fan, I was hoping the former draft pick would make the majors with this franchise. Hope Clint does well with another team in the majors. A change of scenery may do him well.

  26. #26 by gmo - September 14th, 2009 at 21:17

    Yeah, I’m aware he’s likely going elsewhere. I wasn’t necessarily predicting all of these guys have futures with the NATIONALS, just in MLB in general.

  27. #27 by dd - September 14th, 2009 at 23:17

    gmg-hope you’re right and Everts turns into a reliable big league set up man. After being picked in the first round, he looked impressive in his early pro career but injuries curtailed his climb up the minor leagues. All the best Clint!

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