Outside of the AFL and a smattering of winter ball games, there really isn’t much to report (Bobby Henley, manager of the GCL Nationals in 2009, was named minor league field coordinator).
Frequent commenter, SueD, suggested that NFA readers vote that John Sickels write up (and discuss) the Nationals as his next team to write up for his annual prospect guide. Here is the ongoing poll.
#1 by Pilchard - October 21st, 2009 at 15:22
Now that he is about to lose his ESPN gig, how about the Nats hire Steve Phillips to head-up the internship program?
#2 by Berndaddy - October 21st, 2009 at 15:52
That was below the belt Pilchard ;)
#3 by dd - October 21st, 2009 at 17:07
Nationals are leading in the poll! Brian, guess your readers are stuffing the “ballot box”.
#4 by Mark - October 21st, 2009 at 17:52
Might as well win something.
#5 by Dick - October 21st, 2009 at 19:31
Who had the position Bobby Henley is filling.? I see no one in the media guide with that title and am wondering if it is new.
#6 by BinM - October 21st, 2009 at 20:59
Dick: If I’m reading it right, Henley will report to Squire Galbreath (Ass’t GM – Baseball Administration) [Brian-help]? It looks to technically be a minor-league position, so might not have been listed in previous media guides.
#7 by Bill - October 21st, 2009 at 21:10
The minor league field coordinator position was held by Jeff Garber who was also the Manager at Vermont
#8 by Dick - October 21st, 2009 at 21:55
Thanks, Bill. There it is right there on page 395 of the media guide! Like everything else, one answer leads to another question. So what happens with Garber? It is so confusing I should just wait till the music stops and see who doesn’t have a chair!
#9 by Scott W - October 22nd, 2009 at 05:36
What decisions does the minor league field coordinator make? What is his level of influence in the organization?
#10 by Jane - October 22nd, 2009 at 07:08
Bobby Henley, congratulations on being named the Nationals’ Minor League Field Coordinator!
We are looking forward to seeing you in Harrisburg, again, this year!!
#11 by estuartj - October 22nd, 2009 at 11:48
Did the Nats drag Sean Rooney away from his honeymoon to be a bullpen catcher in AFL? Yet to appear in a game…
I’m hoping to see Marrero, Espinoza and Storen play today in the big Strasburg pitch f/x premier today…
#12 by Rocket Surgeon - October 22nd, 2009 at 13:29
Saw this on an ESPN chat:
Tim (Durban South Africa)
Could Nationals go with Taillon or Ranaudo over Harper?
Jim Callis (2:12 PM)
Sure they could. I’ll do a column on this at some point, but I don’t think it’s far-fetched to conceive of Bryce Harper falling out of the first round. It’s going to be almost impossible to live up to the hype, and if he falls short and is looking for big money–is Strasburg’s contract a starting point–he may scare off clubs, who know he can re-enter the 2011 and 2012 drafts and still have lots of leverage. It’s also possible that after spending $15.1 million on Strasburg, the Nationals don’t want to spend huge money on another No. 1 overall pick.
#13 by estuartj - October 22nd, 2009 at 13:41
I’m a huge fan of Harper and his potential, but it is also very possible that he will NOT be the best player available at #1 in 2010.
His contract demands (and flexibility to return to JC) will depend a lot on what happens with the new CBA.
I think Rizzo is right that Harper has not (yet) set himself above the rest of the field like SS did, but there is a lot of baseball to play between now and June…
#14 by VladiHondo - October 22nd, 2009 at 13:51
Ian Desmond played last night for Tigres de Licey. At some point Elijah Dukes will also join him, though both will probably stop sometime in December.
With the Licey GM, Fernando Ravelo, also hired by Rizzo to oversee the Nats Dominican operations, the Nats have an “in” with the top Dominican Winter League team.
#15 by DIAN - October 22nd, 2009 at 14:53
any idea if the potomac coaches are coming back
#16 by estuartj - October 22nd, 2009 at 15:09
It’s “All About the Nats” today in AFL, Espinoza at SS, Marrero at 1B and Rooney gets his first start at CA. Some guy names Strasburg is pitching, anyone know anything about him?
#17 by Rocket Surgeon - October 22nd, 2009 at 15:14
estuartj- I also think you’ve got a shot at seeing Wilkie & Storen today as well.
#18 by estuartj - October 22nd, 2009 at 15:46
Is anyone else having trouble with the AFL gameday? I’m stuck on pitch 3 to espinoza in the first.
#19 by cass - October 22nd, 2009 at 15:51
Gameday occasionally freezes for me. Just reload it if it’s a problem. There was an injury delay after Marerro’s at bat, so that might be an issue too. The first inning is done now though and Strasburg is pitching now. 98 mph ball to begin.
#20 by Jake - October 22nd, 2009 at 15:58
There was an injury delay in the first and the Javelinas shortstop was taken out of the game. Espinosa was the man called out at second and he was just replaced by O’Malley. Could there have been a colision when Espinosa slid into 2nd???
#21 by Jake - October 22nd, 2009 at 16:00
Bad news…SS just gave up back-to-back bombs in a big stadium!
#22 by cass - October 22nd, 2009 at 16:02
Two Ks for Strasburg, but also two home runs. The first Home run was on fastball on the inside edge of the plate, the second on a hanging slurve almost down the middle. His location has been pretty good (hitting the edge/corner of the plate) for the most part, but that pich was definitely a mistake.
#23 by estuartj - October 22nd, 2009 at 16:03
SS gives up 2 HRs (3ER) on 21 pitches in 1 inning. Guess he’s a flop…
I think Espinoza and Sizemore were hurt in a collission at 2B on the Marrero force out.
#24 by cass - October 22nd, 2009 at 16:20
1 K and 1 run in the second on a single, wild pitch, passed ball, and sac ground out. I was impressed after the ball in the dirt and low passed ball against Ackley that he was still willing to hit the bottom edge of the strike zone with the next pitch. Got the K against the #2 pick of the draft.
#25 by estuartj - October 22nd, 2009 at 16:29
Marrero with a double and a run scored.
#26 by RD exposfan - October 22nd, 2009 at 17:05
Wow! What a line score for Strasberg 2.2 IP 7H 8R 7ER 1BB 4SO & 3HR. Wilkie is now pitching.
#27 by Pilchard - October 22nd, 2009 at 17:22
The good news is that hopefully this will temper expectations of having Strasburg in the rotation on opening day.
#28 by RT - October 22nd, 2009 at 17:26
I think getting shelled was the best thing for him. Not saying he was getting ahead of himself or anything, but listening to Scott Boris for 4-5 months might inflate your head a bit. If that was the case, it was just deflated. He’ll be fine, this is the equivalent of Spring ball for him anyways.
#29 by Wookiee - October 22nd, 2009 at 19:24
Mr. Strasburg. Welcome to Potomac. We’ll see you in April.
#30 by Bill Wanner - October 22nd, 2009 at 20:38
wookiee…. can we see him first in Hagerstown for a game or so??? please.
#31 by Sue Dinem - October 23rd, 2009 at 07:50
Bill – Not likely, if for no other reason than the parent club will want Strasburg to be accessible to the DC media & TV, assuming there isn’t some minor conflict with the [racist team name redacted] in the news cycle. Strasburg starting at Hagerstown means he got stomped on like a narc at a biker rally in Spring Training.
#32 by estuartj - October 23rd, 2009 at 09:38
On the plus side Marrero is playing himself back into the Nats short(er) term plans. AFL usually inflates batters numbers (small parks, hot weather and the annonomous nature and lack of scouting assistance favors hitters over pitchers – especially over the first 2 weeks or so), but so far he is hitting on all cylinders. Good power (5 XBH) and great patience (6 BB vs 5Ks).
I’d like to see him getting more time at 1B vs DHing, but if he has really “hit his groove” this year he becomes a viable 1B option in the bigs in 2010, allowing for a potential trade of Dunn prior to the trade deadline.
Couple other things push this too, the biggest being the unknown status of FA compensation in the new CBA.