News and Notes on the Nationals Minors since 2009
The Arizona Fall League may no longer be the true “finishing school” it never was. MLB announced some changes this week which boil down to: • It starts sooner (i.e. mid-September) • Everyone is eligible (e.g. no AA, AAA requirement) Previously, as non-MASN commenters already know, there had been restrictions on foreign players (one per …
Following Monday’s split-squad games, the Nats made the following roster moves: Optioned: RHPs Jimmy Cordero, Kyle McGowin, Tanner Rainey, Austin Voth Reassigned to Minor-League Camp: RHP JJ Hoover, OF Hunter Jones The moves effectively narrow the Opening Day roster down to the last two bullpen slots and the last man on the bench. While watchlister …
As many longtime readers know, I’ve been waiting for someone to pick up where John Sickels left off and provide a different perspective than Baseball America, which often parrots the front offices, and the MLB Pipeline, which doesn’t have to pretend it’s not the company line… because it is the company line. Earlier this year, …
It’s time to shift away from spring training coverage and wait for the minors to start up. This has become the new normal, making the call without a given circumstance like a managerial proclamation or a set of cuts. Besides, 21 games is more than enough to shake off the rust, sharpen the snark, and …
The Nats’ four-game win streak ground to a halt as the ‘pen gave up seven runs and three big flies over the last three innings to turn a 5-1 lead into an 8-5 loss to the Cards. The implosion, which was “led” by Sean Doolittle’s five-run 9th that was capped by a three-run homer. Doolittle …
It began with Adam Eaton going Rickey Henderson to start the game and ended with Matt Adams’s solo shot with two out in the 4th as the Nats launched seven home runs in an 11-3 win over the Mets. Jeremy Hellickson gave up single runs in the 2nd (earned) and 3rd (unearned) and five hits …
Victor Robles singled and homered in his first two AB’s as the Nat jumped out to 5-0 lead after two and cruised to a 10-4 win over the Twins Robles, who started in RF with Michael Taylor in CF, was joined by Carter Kieboom (SS) and Jake Noll (1B) in the starting lineup. Kieboom went …
Three homers in the first two innings – including Trea Turner and Juan Soto going back-to-back – helped build a 4-1 lead that the bullpen didn’t blow as the Nats doubled up the Braves, 8-4 on Wednesday afternoon. As they did on Tuesday night, the big flies covered up a subpar outing by the starting …
While the odds are still good they’ll be teammates next month in Harrisburg, for one night Carter Kieboom and Taylor Gushue pwned A.L. Cy Young runner-up Justin Verlander with three homers in a 5-3 Nats win over the Astros last night in West Palm Beach. Kieboom got the start at 2B and also walked to …
St. Louis got to Max Scherzer for three runs in the 3rd and that proved to be enough as Washington fell back to .500 with (another) 3-2 loss.
Scherzer, who was named Opening Day starter, gave up six hits and a walk over five and a 1/3rd innings while striking out two was charged with his second loss of the spring.
It was light afternoon for the watchlist players, with just two appearing in the game:
● Victor Robles subbed for Michael Taylor in CF and flew out to lead off the 8th
● Jake Noll followed Ryan Zimmerman at 1B and flew out to finish the 8th
Tonight, the Nationals play as the home team against their co-tenants in West Palm Beach. Stephen Strasburg is scheduled to make his third spring start opposite Justin Verlander. The game can be seen on MLB.tv and heard on MLB Audio. (Astros feed for both).