Scranton/Wilkes-Barre knocked Syracuse pitching around for eight runs on thirteen hits in an 8-2 Chiefs loss (box/gamer). RHP Collin Balester allowed five runs (four earned) on five hits and four walks over 4 2/3IP to take the loss. LHP Jack Spradlin surrendered two runs on five hits and a walk over 2IP and RHP Zech Zinicola gave up a run on two hits over 1 1/3IP. 2B Seth Bynum was 2/3 with a double & solo homer; 3B Chase Lambin was 3/4 with a walk; CF Roger Bernadina was 2/5; LF Eric Bruntlett was 1/4 with a walk and run scored; and 1B Josh Whitesell was 1/4 with one RBI. Notes: RHP Luis Atilano will be recalled to Washington to replace RHP Jason Marquis. No word yet on Atilano’s replacement in Syracuse.
Today: Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RHP Jason Hirsh (0-2, 3.86) at Syracuse RHP Shairon Martis (0-1, 9.00) 6PM
RHP Stephen Strasburg and two relievers combined on a four-hitter as Harrisburg threw its second straight shutout, winning 3-0 over Reading (box/gamer). Strasburg was again dominant, striking out six and walking one over 5IP, giving up just one hit. RHPs Rafael Martin & Erik Arnesen combined on the final four scoreless innings with Arnesen earning his first save. CA Sean Rooney was 2/4 with a double & two RBI; SS Danny Espinosa was 3/4; LF Leonard Davis was 2/4 with a double & run; 1B Chris Marrero was 0/3; and 2B Pedro Lopez was 3/4 with a double & run scored. Notes: Geoff Morrow of the Patriot News believes Strasburg’s stay in Harrisburg may be brief given his performance to date (ed note: a replacement for Atilano?). Included is a video of Strasburg on the mound.
Today: Harrisburg LHP Matt Chico (0-2, 5.19) at New Britain RHP Deolis Guerra (1-1, 4.91) 6:35PM
Potomac and Frederick were suspended by fog with the game tied 8-8 in the seventh; the game will be completed this afternoon starting at 5:30PM (box/gamer). RHP Patrick Lehman made the start, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over 4 1/3IP while striking out seven; RHP Luis Garcia gave up two runs on one hit and three walks over 2/3 of an inning of work and RHP Martin Beno allowed two runs on two hits over 2IP with two strikeouts. SS Jose Lozada was 3/3 with a double, homer, two RBI & three runs scored; 3B Wilberto Ortiz was 2/3 with two doubles & a run scored; RF Michael Burgess was 2/4 with one RBI; DH Dan Nelson was 2/4 with one RBI & two runs scored; and 1B Tyler Moore was 0/2 with two RBI. Notes: InsideNoVa has a feature on LHP Cory VanAllen.
Today: Completion of Wednesday’s game followed by Frederick LHP Cole McCurry (1-0, 2.00) at Potomac RHP A.J. Morris (0-1, 3.00) 5:30PM
3B Steve Souza led the way on offense as Hagerstown won a 12-7 slugfest against Lakewood (box/gamer). Souza was 3/4 with two stolen bases, four runs scored, three RBI and a home run; 2B Jeff Kobernus was 2/6 with a stolen base and two runs scored; SS Francisco Soriano was 2/5 with a triple, two runs, a stolen base & three RBI; RF Destin Hood was 1/4 with two RBI; LF J.P. Ramirez was 1/3 with three RBI; and 1B Justin Bloxom was 1/2 with three walks, two stolen bases & two runs scored. LHP Jack McGeary started for the Suns, allowing six runs on five hits and three walks over 3IP with four strikeouts. LHP Paul Applebee picked up the win with four innings allowing an unearned run on one hit and three walks while striking out five. Notes: According to Baseball America’s weekly minor league transactions, the Nationals have released OF turned RHRP Stephen Englund, who is serving a 50-game suspension for failing a test for amphetamines.
Today: Hagerstown RHP Paul Demny (1-1, 5.63) at Lakewood RHP Jonathan Pettibone (1-0, 3.48) 6:35PM
#1 by cjrugger - April 22nd, 2010 at 07:38
Adios Steve… what a mess that 06 draft is becoming
#2 by Sue Dinem - April 22nd, 2010 at 08:29
Good, Bad, Interesting for Week 2: http://bit.ly/av0zWZ
#3 by Gavin B - April 22nd, 2010 at 09:46
Looks like McGeary threw not one but two wild pitches in one hitter’s at bat, allowing a runner to score each time. Gah!
#4 by nick - April 22nd, 2010 at 09:57
Does anyone else get the feeling that Ballester is no longer in the Nats’ long term plan?
#5 by Rich - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:08
Nick, I agree, but maybe I’ve just given up on Balester.
My question is why Atilano and not Martin? Does the team think that Martin hit is ceiling last year? Or just got lucky? Does Atilano seem like he has a higher ceiling? I have no idea I’m just curious. I know Martin is not any where close to a power pitcher. Is Atilano? I don’t remember being impressed with him last September.
Thanks in advance to anyone (probably everyone) who knows more than me and wants to share some knowledge.
#6 by Chris - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:34
Atilano’s turn at Syracuse coincides with Marquis’ with the big club. That’s the real reason. That and Atilano has more upside.
#7 by markfd - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:36
Rich – Atliano over Martin because it keeps everyone on rotation, Marquis’ turn in the rotation mirrors Atiliano’s scheduled start at Syracuse.
I have not given up on Balestar but he is not being effective and efficient with his pitches, something that McCatty and others in the organization put a premium on. Once Detweiler and Wang are healthy, Balester moves to the back of the line as far as starting pitchers with potential for a callup go.
#8 by Ric - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:46
CJrugger – great point. Although that 2006 draft hasn’t proven to be one of the best outside of the top 10 picks or so, Joba Chamberlain was available, and the Nationals passed in favor of Marrero and Willems (many other teams passed on him, too, but he was a consensus top-10 pick before the draft); they couldn’t even sign Black, and Englund and King haven’t worked out so far. Still time for Marrero and King, but 2006 seems to have been a missed opportunity so far.
#9 by alexva - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:47
I thinks it’s time to say Balestar is middle relief material at best. Not that he can’t be successful in that role, he does have a power arm. Plus it worked for Clippard once he accepted it.
#10 by Marcus - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:47
Love what I’m seeing from the box scores in Hagerstown especially our hitters. Anyone seen them play in person that can give us some insight?
#11 by cjrugger - April 22nd, 2010 at 10:54
Ric- Passed on Ian Kennedy and Kyle Drabk too. Worse was drafting Black in the first place, I’m glad we didnt sign him
#12 by DJ - April 22nd, 2010 at 12:28
Balester has always been one of my favorite prospects, but he hasn’t done much this year. He’s still young, but he could be falling off the radar a bit.
And ‘06 draft still has Marrero/Willems/Carr/Arnesen in the system who give some of us hope.
#13 by peric - April 22nd, 2010 at 12:38
Atilano’s replacement in Syracuse: Probably Matt Chico. He seems to belong in that “bin”?
I suspect that Strasburg was intentionally placed on Harrisburg’s roster (along with Drew Storen) just because of the “makeup” and “chemistry” that Rizzo and staff wanted to create with that pitching staff. Strasburg, Storen, Rafael Martin, Thompson, etc. could probably all pitch well in AAA and the IL.
As a side note, consider that Jason Heyward spent almost all of his time in AA last year, not AAA. And he is the #1 prospect going into this year.
I suspect Strasburg will stay exactly where he is in the midst of the Nats future-to-be pitching staff.
#14 by peric - April 22nd, 2010 at 12:41
Once Detweiler and Wang are healthy, Balester moves to the back of the line as far as starting pitchers with potential for a callup go.
And Jordan Zimmermann who Rizzo still thinks of as a “Jewel in the Crown”?
#15 by Todd Boss - April 22nd, 2010 at 12:44
Remember, both Balester and Martis are still YOUNG, young pitchers. Yeah they’re struggling, but they’re both 23 (balester to turn 24 in 2 months). Who we really need to cut bait with might be the older starters in AAA and AA. Mock, Martin, and Chico. Martin is earning his keep in AAA but Mock and Chico certainly are not.
Atilano up not only to keep everyone on rotation order but also b/c he’s the one who has most earned it. Good numbers last year, good numbers so far this year. I can’t wait to see how he throws.
#16 by peric - April 22nd, 2010 at 12:57
Danny Rosenbaum LHSP->Harrisburg from Hagerstown?
#17 by Toast - April 22nd, 2010 at 16:43
Looking forward to watching AJ Morris tonight in Potomac!!!!!
#18 by Scott - April 23rd, 2010 at 09:20
Well Zimmermann jumps in front of everyone but Strasburg, obviously. I don’t think most people understand just how good Zimmermann’s rookie season was. In the time honored tradition of cherrypicking statistical cutoffs, do you know how many players have started at least 15 games their first season, struck out a batter or more per inning, and had a K/BB ratio of 3 or more, since 1975?
Six.
Those six: Dwight Gooden, Roy Oswalt, Hideo Nomo, Mark Prior, Cole Hamels, and Jordan Zimmermann.
Pretty good company.
Even if you move the ratios down to 8 K/9 and a 2.5 K/BB ratio with 15 starts in a first season, you only get 15 pitchers since 1975. Of course, you bring in a bunch more terrible pitchers who fit the stats, like:
Jake Peavy, Roger Clemens, Kerry Wood, Daisuke Matsuzaka, Brandon Webb, Orlando Hernandez, Jose Deleon, Tommy Hanson, and Yovani Gallardo.
In any case, if he makes a full recovery from Tommy John, like most other pitchers these days (look at Franciso Liriano this year) than he has a very bright future to look forward to, and it’s not remotely out of the question that in a couple years we’re talking about whether JZ and Strasburg are the best 1-2 combination in the majors. They can be Webb/Haren good.