The game between Syracuse and Rochester was postponed by rain. It will be made up today as part of a day/night doubleheader. Both games will be nine innings. This pushes RHP Stephen Strasburg back one day. I do not believe it should impact his major league debut that much. He is slated to start the night game. His fifth day would be Monday (5/24) home vs Toledo; he could then start either 5/29 home vs Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (regular rest) or 5/30 home vs S/W-B (+1 day) and be on target for his major league debut on Friday 6/4 (+1 day from a 5/29 start or regular rest from a 5/30 start). That still gives Syracuse two more starts from Strasburg while putting his first two major league starts at Nationals Park.
Today: Syracuse LHP Matt Chico (0-0, 6.00) at Rochester RHP Deolis Guerra (0-0, 4.50) 11:05AM and Syracuse RHP Stephen Strasburg (2-0, 0.00) at Rochester LHP Ryan Mullins (3-2, 4.50) 7:05PM
Harrisburg rallied for three runs in the seventh inning to defeat Reading 5-4 (box/gamer). From Geoff Morrow at the Patriot News
Jesus Valdez drilled a two-run triple and Chris Marrero followed with the go-ahead RBI single as Harrisburg rallied in the seventh to dump Reading 5-4 on a chilly Tuesday night before 2,317 at Metro Bank Park.
Valdez was 1/4 with three total RBI; Marrero 2/4 with a double and the game-winning RBI; SS Danny Espinosa was 1/2 with a triple, two walks & two runs scored; and 2B Michael Martinez was 2/3 with a double, stolen base & run scored. RHP Erik Arnesen started for the Senators, earning the win, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits and a walk over 7IP while striking out five. LHP Jack Spradlin and RHP Mike MacDougal pitched the final two scoreless innings of relief with MacDougal earning his first save. Notes: Patriot News feature on MacDougal
Today: Reading LHP Yohan Flande (2-3, 2.55) at Harrisburg RHP Brad Meyers (1-0, 0.00) 7PM
Potomac dropped both games of their doubleheader in Frederick, losing game one 3-1 (box) and game two 3-2 (gamer/box). In the first game, RHP Robinson Fabian took the loss, giving up three runs on seven hits and two walks over 4 2/3IP while striking out six. LHP Cory VanAllen pitched the final 1 1/3 scoreless innings strikingout one. LF Boomer Whiting had the only two P-Nats hits, going 2/3 with two stlen bases and a run scored. CA Derek Norris and RF Michael Burgess were each 0/2 with a walk.
In the second game, LHP Evan Bronson pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out six but did not factor in the decision. RHP Martin Beno allowed all three runs on one hit, two walks, one hit batter and a wild pitch in just 1/3 of an inning. Norris was 1/1 with two walks, a double, stolen base & run scored; Burgess was 1/3 with a two-run homer; SS Jose Lozada was 1/3; and LF Robby Jacobsen was 1/2 with a walk, double, and stolen base.
Today: Potomac RHP A.J. Morris (1-2, 3.12) at Frederick RHP Kenny Moreland (2-2, 5.45) 7PM
Hagerstown swept a doubleheader from Asheville winning game one 4-1 (box) and game two 1-0 (box/gamer). In the first game, LHP Mitchell Clegg earned his fourth win of the season, allowing one run on seven hits and a walk over 5IP and RHP Dean Weaver picked up his seventh save with two scoreless innings of relief, walking one and allowing a hit while striking out one. CF Eury Perez was 1/2 with his 16th stolen base & two runs scored; 3B Steve Souza was 0/1 with a pair of sacrifice flies; LF Destin Hood was 0/2 with a walk; and 2B Dan Lyons was 1/2 with a walk & run scored.
The Suns won the second game in walk-off fashion. From The Herald-Mail
Lyons stole the winning run on Tuesday, running from second base on contact when Destin Hood rapped a two-out, broken-bat grounder to third in the seventh inning. It gave the Suns a 1-0 victory and a sweep of a doubleheader with the Asheville Tourists.
Lyons was 1/3; DH J.P. Ramirez was 0/2 with a walk; Hood was 1/3; CA Adrian Nieto was 0/2; and Perez was 1/2. LHP Paul Applebee made the start for Hagerstown, holding Asheville scoreless for 3 2/3IP and scattering two hits and two walks. RHP Kyle Morrison struck out five over his 2 1/3IP and LHP Patrick Arnold earned the win with a scoreless seventh.
Today: Asheville TBA at Hagerstown RHP Trevor Holder (2-1, 3.79) 10:35AM
#1 by Sue Dinem - May 19th, 2010 at 08:30
Folks interested in my second thoughts on the Potomac players & prospects: http://bit.ly/bQdjG1
#2 by Nats Fan In TX - May 19th, 2010 at 09:07
Reading Riggleman’s comments on Desmond at NJ it would appear the big club plans to keep him at SS leaving Espinosa blocked. Any thoughts from the Nats farm experts out there on what the Nats should do with him? Based on his progression and age he should be ready for the big leagues by the middle of next year right? Is he trade fodder, move him to 2B, organizational depth? It definitely feels like the organization is much deeper than in past years.
#3 by cjrugger - May 19th, 2010 at 09:30
Very impressed with Burgess’ numbers so far. Glad to see he took the lack of a promotion well and went to work instead of sulking
re Espinoza- I think they try him at 2b, I cant see him unseating Desmond. If 2b doesnt work, I believe he would make an outstanding utilty inf (strong d, good runner, switch hitter)
#4 by bdrube - May 19th, 2010 at 09:34
If it were me my plan would be to have this entire season as Desmond’s tryout to be the permanent SS. If he passes, and it looks like he will, move Espinosa to 2B to start next year with an eye to him competing to take the job permanently when he is ready.
#5 by Sue Dinem - May 19th, 2010 at 09:43
If Espinosa can hit at the major-league level, then the wise move is to move the weaker defender– Desmond–to 2B. I’ve seen them both play extensively and Espinosa is the better, more consistent fielder. A
#6 by Brian Oliver - May 19th, 2010 at 09:58
I agree with Sue on the defensive comparison between Desmond & Espinosa
#7 by Greg - May 19th, 2010 at 10:22
If Strasburg starts the 6/5 game, he could still get his second start at home on 6/10 right? #grasping
#8 by nick - May 19th, 2010 at 10:23
Hi Brian. Will you be doing a Nats draft preview write-up? The draft is around the corner and I would love to get some inside scoop on who they are targeting in later rounds (assuming they are taking Harper in the first round). I’m curious as to what their strategy will be.
#9 by Souldrummer - May 19th, 2010 at 11:45
@Sue Interesting take on some of the prospects. Seems like you’re positive but managing expectations on Burgess. We may not know what exactly he has until when he gets to Harrisburg. Potomac seems to be kind of thin to me outside of Burgess and Norris. Hopefully, some of the guys in Hagerstown will earn their way up and bring some more hope.
#10 by S_Smith - May 19th, 2010 at 12:02
any news on sean nichol’s foot? he was still limping on it in the middle of the second h-town game.
#11 by Souldrummer - May 19th, 2010 at 12:11
@All Wow, if Espinosa is a better defender than Desmond we would have some serious defense in the infield everywhere but 1B for some time to come. Hope he can do some damage in AA this year to earn the call at some point. How much do you think the weak hitting around him is affecting him and will be taken into context as they try to decide what to do with him? I’m under the assumption that he’s at AA for the year no matter what happens at this point, but it’s got to be tough hitting around all of the other out machines in the Harrisburg lineup.
#12 by estuartj - May 19th, 2010 at 12:16
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blockquote cite=”#commentbody-399180″> cjrugger :
Very impressed with Burgess’ numbers so far. Glad to see he took the lack of a promotion well and went to work instead of sulking
Nats need to promote Burgess to Harrisburg, his line is good, but he is repeating A+, he needs to show he can keep his K% under 20. Dunn being out shows the big league clubs desperately needs a LH power hitter to “protect” Zimmerman. I’m not hopeful that Burgess can be that guy in ‘11 or ‘12, but we need more candidates.
#13 by Souldrummer - May 19th, 2010 at 12:35
This seems to be a frequent topic of conversation around here. I like Burgess start but we’d like to see both power and discipline for an extended period of time first. Seems to me that he’s got to make it at least half way with at least an .850OPS or visual impressiveness before he earns a promotion to Harrisburg. He’s doing fine at the quarter pole; let’s see how he does at the half turn before talking promtion. I think that being more patient with our prospects is an excellent sign for the org.
#14 by markfd - May 19th, 2010 at 12:39
WOW Sue Dinem I agree wtih you Espinsosa is a much better defensive SS that Desmond! :)
#15 by Sue Dinem - May 19th, 2010 at 13:01
@markfd – And TOSD is more or less echoing what I said way back when regarding Burgess. This week marks the beginning of Potomac making its second turn through the league, which will be complete next Thursday.
What’s changed since our little dustup? Mostly it’s that Burgess has begin to turn on the ball again. Now I also believe that a small part of that is because teams are still shading him the other way. But I’m seeing less of his bad habits this past homestand than at the time we last “spoke.”
#16 by DJ - May 19th, 2010 at 13:02
Desmond > Espinosa.
Move Danny to 2B.
#17 by Souldrummer - May 19th, 2010 at 15:26
@DJ why do you say that? All we know about Desmond defensively is that he has plus range and a plus arm and seems to be positive on an MLB diamond. He’s also made like 6 errors. If Espinosa shows that he will make fewer errors and has similar range, then he’s a possible option as well. It would be great to have an infield with two guys who can play short regardless. Espinosa is probably 18months away at the most aggressive track (which Rizzo probably won’t take) and more likely 2 years plus away. A lot of tales yet to be told for Hee-Sop even if he’s doing well in the big leagues so far and has been hot lately.
#18 by Ric - May 19th, 2010 at 16:05
Brian – Baseball america says Nationals signed Joe Bisenius (formerly with Phillies organization) and Zach Dials (former Jays).
#19 by DJ - May 19th, 2010 at 16:32
Souldrummer, Desmond over the last 35 games has been a different player defensively from those first 5 games. He’s admitted he has calmed down his approach a bit and it’s helped him settle in that position.
His bat is improving too. I’d like Kobernus and Espinosa to battle out the 2B position.
#20 by Nats Fan In TX - May 19th, 2010 at 16:48
To back what DJ is saying, Riggleman said this (from NJ) “He’s a got a chance to be one of the elite shortstops in baseball… I can’t think of anybody, because he’s so rangy and athletic,” Riggleman said. “Offhand, I don’t know. I hesitate to say some of the names that might come to mind, because those guys are Hall of Famers. I don’t want to disrespect anybody who’s accomplished things for 12, 15 years by comparing them to somebody who just got here. I think after he plays a few years, you’ll be able to mention him in the same breath with some great names.
“Right now, there’s not too many guys out there who play like he does, that athletic and electric in their body…”
Those comments do not lead me to believe they would move him to 2B, however Riggleman does go on to say Desmond could be a great CF “He could play center field. A lot of shortstops could do that. But I really think he could be a great center fielder.”
Seems like the best value is w/Desmond in CF and Espinosa at SS (If Espinosa’s bat develops over the next couple years).
#21 by Souldrummer - May 19th, 2010 at 19:02
Desmond in CF seems to me delusional. You’d always like plus defenders in the infield if you can because they get more chances. Desmond at SS if he’s established there and giving us great defense would be great. Desmond may be streaky in the field like he is with the bat. Time will tell as always. Riggles will always stick by his guys. Rizzo’s the man who makes these calls ultimately, methinks.