Programming Note
Hitting the road to visit family...
Remember the last two snowstorms? Well, this week’s came too early to fulfill my private prediction that we’d get another just in time to preempt our third attempt to visit family in New England. So, as you might imagine, posts will slow (though it was a busy week this week wasn’t it?).
My Baseball America book came in the mail on Thursday. After the flurry of Keith Law posts, I chose to put my time into working on the player watchlists, as previously posted. It’s still a work in progress, but I’ve updated the page for lefthanded starters and published the page for righthanded starters, leaving unfinished the guys that I hope may be included in the Sickels book, which I hope to have in my hands upon my return.
And though his site is now officially gone, NFA Brian still lives on Twitter and I have to pass along two tweets combined into one quote regarding the BA book:
[Ten] of the 30 #Nationals were acquired in the last year — Harper (1), Cole (4), Ramos (5), Solis (6), Maya (11), Hague (14), Ray (15), ElvRamirez (20), Martinson (22), & Tatusko (26)
Add in the 2009 draft picks that are still in the system — Kobernus (21), Rosenbaum (23), Holder (28) — and that’s 13 out of 30 from the Rizzo era. This is not to say we’ll be the next Kansas City (let’s face it: that many high-risk/high-reward picks panning out does require a certain amount of luck), but we’re getting there… maybe not as fast as folks want, but it’s progress.
Ramirez, but no Rodriquez or Brown? What am I missing here?
Jackson: The book mave have gone to press prior to the trade; They may both still be listed as Oakland prospects.
Sue_D: So, should this be a wish for “Happy Trails”, or “Once more into the breach, dear friends…”. For your sake I’m hoping the former. Have a good week.
Thanks, BinM. Or might it be that Bowden got Willingham, therefore making Rizzo’s move, well, a product of Bowden. Yeah, your theory makes a lot more sense when I think about it.
I don’t even remember Martinson, what’s his deal? Ramirez is kind of borderline. I guess he’s our guy, but he is also a Rule 5 guy and we seem to be burning through 25-man and 40-man spots. Rodriguez doesn’t have options either. Roster management will certainly be an intriguing story during the spring.
sould: Martinson was a middle-round pick in ’10, spent the year at VT, IIRC. Drafted as a SS, but may convert to 3B at some point.
Souldrummer — Here is the skinny on Martinson –(how soon they forget!)
Jason Martinson — 6’1″ 190 lbs. Age: 22 Fifth Round
From Andy Seiler — “Martinson has a football background at Texas State, but a hamstring injury ended his football career his first season.He’s a shortstop now but profiles better at 3rd base, though he could handle 2nd as well.He’a a decent hitter, but looks more as a utility player that has speed, arm,glove, and bat. He signed for $174,000 (slot)”.
From John Sickels — “Has athleticism, good arm strength and some speed, but there are doubts about his ability to hit good pitching”.
Folks,
Maybe I’m slower than the rest to notice, but there have been some big time upgrades to the Watchlist. If we do have this icestorm, it’s good that Sue left a lot to catch up on before spring training. Thanks, Sue.