NationalsProspects.com

Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitcher
Syracuse Postponed vs.
Scranton/WB,
5:00 p.m.		 Yunesky Maya (1-8, 5.30),
Craig Stammen (9-6, 4.62) vs.
Adam Warren (6-5, 3.39),
D.J. Mitchell (9-9, 3.54)
Harrisburg Won, 4-2 OFF DAY N/A
Potomac Lost, 5-2 @ Kinston,
6:30 p.m.		 Adam Olbrychowski (4-6, 4.50)
vs. Mike Rayl (0-1, 4.24)
Hagerstown Won, 9-1 vs. Lexington,
7:05 p.m.		 Matt Swynenberg (5-1, 3.24) vs.
Tanner Bushue (6-4, 4.28)
Auburn Cancelled ALL STAR
BREAK		 N/A
GCL Nationals Won, 12-10;
Lost, 7-1
@/vs. GCL Mets		 @/vs. GCL Marlins,
11:00 a.m.
(doubleheader)		 TBD vs. TBD
DSL Nationals Cancelled
vs. DSL Giants		 @ DSL Marlins,
10:30 a.m.		 TBD vs. TBD

Syracuse Chiefs — PPD
Rain postponed Sunday’s game to today, when it will be made up with a pair of seven-inning games.

Harrisburg 4 Trenton 2
• Arnesen (W, 8-3) 7IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 10K
• Komatsu 3-5, R, RBI, 2SB
• Harper 2-2, 2BB

A pair of two-run rallies in the first two frames combined with seven strong innings from veteran Erik Arnesen was the formula for a 4-2 Harrisburg triumph over Trenton. Arnesen struck out a season-high 10 batters while allowing just an unearned run on four hits and no walks. The other Erik, Komatsu, led the offense with a 3-for-5 night, scoring a run, driving in a run, and stealing two bases. Bryce Harper reached base four times with two hits and two walks. The win combined with a doubleheader loss by Bowie puts Harrisburg back into first place, plus a one-game lead. Archie Gilbert was returned from Potomac to replace Adam Fox on the Senators roster.

Myrtle Beach 5 Potomac 2
• Selik (L, 4-9) 3⅔ IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Holder 2⅓ IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Lozada 2-4, R, HR, RBI
• Soriano 1-3, R, BB, SBThe 5-2 loss makes for a 3-4 homestand that ended Sunday Afternoon In Woodbridge

Hagerstown 9 Lexington 1
• Demmin (W, 3-2) 5IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 2K
• Holt (H, 2) 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Keyes 4-4, RBI
• Curran 3-4, 3R, 3B, HR, 4RBI

The trio of former Doubledays combined to limit the Lexington Legends to just one run on five hits as the Suns debunked the Legends, 9-1. Ryan Demmin got the win with the lone run allowed on two hits and two walks, while Greg Holt and Colin Bates both turned in two scoreless innings. Kevin Keyes led the 14-hit assault with a perfect 4-for-4 game and an RBI, followed closely by Chris Curran’s 3-for-4 effort that was a double shy of the cycle. The win was the fourth straight for Hagerstown, which finally gained a game on Kannapolis and slipped into second place, three games behind in the Sally North.

Auburn-Staten Island — CNCLD
It’s rain across the state of New York, as the Auburn-Staten Island game was canceled without a scheduled makeup.

GCL Nationals 12 GCL Mets 10 — GAME ONE
• Encarnacion 3⅓ IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K, HR
• Lee 1⅔ IP, 1H 0R, 4BB, 3K
• Karlen 4-4, R, 3B, 3RBI, BB
• E Martinez 3-5, 2R, 3B, SB
• Mozingo 3-5, 2R, 2B, RBI, BB

Good pitching and defense took the afternoon off as the GCL Nationals and GCL Mets combined for 22 runs, 25 hits, and six errors, with the G-Nats scoring a pair in the “extra” 8th inning with the aid of a wild pitch. Frank Karlen led the G-Nat offense with a 4-for-4 game, with a walk, a run scored, and three RBI. Cody Davis got the blown-save-win in his 4th GCL game of the season.

GCL Nationals 7 GCL Mets 1 — GAME TWO
• Medina (L, 0-3) 4IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 3K
• Smith 2IP, 4H, 3R, 2ER, 0BB, 1K
• Mozingo 1-1, 2B, RBI, SF
• Difo 1-1, R

Rain shortened the second game as the G-Mets piled on four in the 5th and three in the 6th for a 7-1 win over the G-Nats. Silvio Medina took the loss with the four-spot given up over the first four innings. Offensively, the G-Mets were limited to just two hits, as Wilmer Difo singled, took third on an errant pickoff throw, and scored on Chad Mozingo’s sac fly. The split leaves the G-Nats at 16-29, 1½ games ahead of the G-Astros in the “race” for fourth place in the GCL East.

DSL Nationals-DSL Giants — CNCLD
With the last week of the DSL upon us, a rainout cancelled this contest between two also-rans.

17 Commments

  1. I brought this up a week or so ago and have been following a little more closely, but Martin continues to drop his era and I don’t believe he has blown a save in well over a month. He is down to .94 which to me is pretty impressive. I realize he is older but does this distinguished group see any movement for him late in the season or do you project him to move up next year? As always, thanks

    1. Martin’s in the AA/AAA category of “inventory” that will probably fill out the Syracuse roster next year. Unlike most guys his age, he’s not Rule-5 eligible (I believe, since this is only his second year in the American minors, but if they do count his Mexican League service, then he’s already passed through once) so there’s no rush to move him or lose him. Even so, he might get an AFL invite because his season has been so short and/or they decide they want to evaluate him further before deciding whether or not to cut him.

      1. So, would you put him in the Adam Carr, Cole Kimball category of guys who could get a shot, or do you put him with Josh Wilkie, and Jeff Mandel as guys who prorboaly wont get a shot with this team

        1. It’s not fair, but he’s probably a Wilkie/Mandel kind of guy. If he flames out at AAA, I’m bracing for the IFA backlash…

          1. Arneson is putting up some pretty serious numbers this year … do you think his standing with the organization may change?

          3. Don’t see why you’d get any IFA backlash – Rafael Martin basically fell in Rizzo’s lap last year; He was a gift. He’s a very good AA, and possibly good 3A arm, but will probably cap out there, much like Zinicola did as a 2006 draft pick / return.

            We love all the prospects & guys in the minors, but the truth is some are just more skilled than others. There’s no shame in ending up as an OG; They’re each still doing what they love to do, and getting paid for it, albeit not much in most cases.

            As Frank Zappa once said, “You could make more money as a butcher, …”, but would they enjoy it as much?

  2. So I am not a complete idiot if I start to follow Martin and actually root for him to succeed. Thanks as always for the in-depth analysis from this site. It really is a group that cares about our prospects. There is so much negativity on most of the Nationals sites, I have stopped commenting. I don’t want anyone fired or dfa’s I just want to follow baseball and root for my team.

  3. Too bad sjm308. You were one of the more enjoyable posters on The Insider. I’m Jeeves on that site, although I’ve all but quit posting anywhere. This is the best of the lot though. The Nat’s Journal’s new format has totally finished me there. And Poopy, of course.

  4. thanks Jason I really appreciate that. I think I will prefer just to read Mark and Adam and then come here to read both “sd’s” as well as the comments. Like I said, this seems to be a place for actual baseball discussion.

  5. ‘Beer League’ Martin has a better future with the Nats than Sue thinks, at least in my opinion. No offense, Sue.

    Here’s the skinny ……..he’s only been in organized baseball for 2 years, 3 if you count the Mexican League. He was very good last year and he has been lights out for at least a month now. His trajectory has a very upward arc to it, and he’s been used in multiple innings situation a lot.
    Not to mention he’s someone for whom this site was made for. The Strasburg’s and the Harper’s don’t need our help or attention, they get plenty elsewhere.

    1. I agree! I like results, and feel if you produce you should be rewarded and promoted. Martin deserves such a chance based on his success. I hate when we promote based on “ceiling” and projections. I want results now, and if you can’t prove you should be promoted on the field then you should stay where you are. There are many in AAA Syracuse that do not deserve to be there, and if you’ve read my posts you know exactly who they are.

      1. I dont remeber who you said, but I dont see many guys that shouldnt be there, if any. I would love to see your take

        1. I apologize for getting back to you a little late jeff550 but here you go. I have been very vocal about my disgust with Mock and Tatusko. I am sure my disregard for Mock is obvious, and I believe very well shared by fans of this organization. As far as Tatusko, I was very dissapointed with his showing in Harrisburg this year, and I did not feel that he deserved to be promoted after posting a 2 – 4 record, with a 5.93 ERA and a whip of 1.83 in AA. Like I stated before, I believe in results, and feel that those that produce positive results should be rewarded for them. That’s why I have been an advocate of Lombardozzi, Marrero, Peacock, Arnesen, and Rafael Martin. One guy I’ve said little about, and was hoping he would come around, is Maya. His agent must be incredibly persuasive because I think we got hosed on this guy. What a waste of money! His 1 – 8 record and 5.30 ERA in AAA has not allowed him much opportunity in the bigs, and that is probably a good thing. Does he deserve to be in AAA with that kind of record? There are a couple of others in Syracuse that have dissapointed, but that is enough negative energy for one night. Because I believe in finishing on a postive note (although I usully do not practice this) I even like what Shairon Martis has done in H-burg. I think he is young enough to deserve another shot; after all he was rushed up to the Nationals a little too early and this might have hurt him. I still remember that great game he pitched against the Yankees!

    2. I can live with being wrong about a player when I make the assessment he’s topped out. Because it’s a good kind of wrong. It’s easy to be negative about the futures of these guys because the odds are stacked against them, and it’s the safe play. But I have to be honest when I’m asked, but I still root for the best.

    1. Orginizational guy. same as orginizational depth. Dont worry I asked the same question not that long ago

Comments are closed.