Wednesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Won, 4-3 | @ Pawtucket, 7:05 p.m. |
Lannan (6-10, 5.24) vs. Hernandez (1-1, 2.16) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 7-2 | @ Richmond, 7:05 p.m. |
Pucetas (7-4, 3.53) vs. Kickham (9-8, 2.76) |
| Potomac | Won, 5-1 | @ Myrtle Beach, 7:05 p.m. |
Karns (8-2, 1.70) vs. Jackson (3-1, 4.79) |
| Hagerstown | OFF DAY | @ Charleston, 7:05 p.m. |
Hill (9-6, 5.00) vs. Wetherell (5-5, 6.22) |
| Auburn | Won, 5-4 | vs. Jamestown, 7:05 p.m. |
Lee (1-0, 3.47) vs. Steckenrider (0-1, 2.70) |
| GCL Nationals | Won, 7-6 | vs. GCL Marlins, 12:00 p.m. |
TBD vs. TBD |
| DSL Nationals | Won, 3-1 | vs. DSL Mets1, 10:30 a.m. |
TBD vs. TBD |
Syracuse 4 Buffalo 3
• Maya (W, 10-8) 6+ IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K, HR
• Garcia (SV, 8) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Rivero 2-3, BB, RBI, SB
• Perez 2-5, R
Yunesky Maya won his fourth straight start as Syracuse edged Buffalo, 4-3. He gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks over six-plus innings for his 10th win, striking out four and letting up his 17th HR, a solo shot in the 3rd. The defense turned three double plays behind him and rallied for three runs in the fifth and a single run in the 6th. Carlos Rivero was the offensive star, going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and a stolen base.
Richmond 7 Harrisburg 2
• Wang (L, 1-3) 4⅔ IP, 7H, 7R, 6ER, 2BB, 4K
• Demny 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K, 1-0 IR-S
• Van Ostrand 3-4
• Goodwin 1-4, R, 2B, RBI
Despite facing the worst offense in the Eastern League, Chien-Ming Wang still got smoked like a cheap cigar in a 7-2 Harrisburg loss to Richmond. Wang was battered for seven runs on seven hits and two walks over four and 2/3rds innings. He can only be hidden on rehab until Saturday, when the Nationals must activate him, designate him for assignment, or transfer him to the 60-Day DL. Jimmy Van Ostrand celebrated his 28th birthday with a 3-for-4 game as the Senators were held to seven hits total. The Senators now trail the wild-card race by 5½ games.
Potomac 5 Myrtle Beach 1
• Meyer (W, 2-0) 6IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 4K, WP
• Wort (SV, 7) 2IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Martinson 1-2, R, 3B, 2BB, 2RBI, 2SB
• Rendon 2-3, 2R, 2B, BB
Potomac’s left side of the IF combined for three hits, three walks, and three runs scored in a 5-1 win over Myrtle Beach. Anthony Rendon singled, doubled, and drew a walk while Jason Martinson tripled and walked twice while stealing two bags and driving in two. Starter Alex Meyer won for the second time in four starts with his third quality start, giving up the sole Pelican run on two hits and a walk while setting down four on strikes. The win keeps pace with Wilmington, which took first place with a win and a Lynchburg loss. Roster moves: C Sam Palace placed on the 7-Day DL, 3B Anthony Rendon activated from 7-Day DL.
HAGERSTOWN SUNS — OFF DAY
It’s the second-to-last road trip outside of Maryland for the Suns, who spend the next four games in Charleston, South Carolina to take on the Riverdogs — a chance to fatten up against one of the Southern Division also-rans before returning home for the first of 17 straight divisional games.
Auburn 5 Jamestown 4
• Encarnacion 6IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 5K
• Benincasa (W, 2-0) 2IP, H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Mesa 3-3, R, SB
• Pleffner 2-4, 2B, 2RBI
• McQuillan 2-4, R, RBI
A three-run 7th turned a 3-2 deficit into a 5-3 lead as Auburn held off Jamestown for a 5-4 win. Shawn Pleffner’s two-run double proved to be the gamewinner, as the big (6’5″) first baseman has gone 4-for-8 since his return from the DL. Robert Benincasa got the win with two scoreless innings of relief of starter Pedro Encarnacion, who gave up three runs over six innings on six hits and a walk. Narciso Mesa led the hit column with a 3-for-3 night, followed by Pleffner and Mike McQuillan, who both went 2-for-4. Auburn still leads the Pinckney division by 3½ games.
GCL Nationals 7 GCL Cardinals 6
• Vasquez 3⅓ IP, 3H, 4R, 4ER, 5BB, 2K, HR
• Mendez (W, 1-1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 3K
• Nix 2-5, R, 2-2B, RBI
• Eusebio 2-5, RBI
Austin Chubb’s RBI groundout in the 9th gave the G-Nats their fifth straight win, 7-6 over the G-Cards. The two teams combined for 13 runs, 13 hits, 11 walks issued, seven errors (six by the Cardinals) and 22 strikeouts (14 by the Nationals). Gilberto Mendez and Kevin DiCharry got the win and save repsectively as each struck out the side in a scoreless inning of work. Tony Nix, who scored the game-winning run, led the offense with two doubles in five at-bats.
DSL Nationals 3 DSL Cubs2 1
• Silvestre (W, 5-3) 5IP, 2H, 0R, BB, 6K
• Valdez (H, 1) 3IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 2K
• Ramos (SV, 1) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Bautista 2-4, RBI, 2SB
• Aguero 2-3, R
Three D-Nats pitchers combined to hold the D-Cubs2 squad to just a run on six hits in a 3-1 win. Hector Silvestre got the win with five scoreless inning pitched, Philips Valdez gave up an unearned run on four hits over three for the hold, while David Ramos notched his first save with a 1-2-3 ninth. Rafael Bautista and Younaifred Aguero were the two hitting stars again, both connecting for a pair of singles.
Very little attention has been paid to Carlo Rivero this year, but the guy is raking, as FP likes to say. He’s now second in the IL in hitting at .311 behind only Braves yo-yo player Jose “don’t call me George” Costanza.
It’s a sign of how far this organization has progressed that a player is hitting that well and we aren’t clamoring to call him up.
And oh yeah, Eury extended his hit streak. #AAAisEasy!
Things might be different if Zimmerman weren’t producing. I wasn’t a believer early on — Peric sure was — but it’s getting harder to ignore his performance, and I wouldn’t oppose rewarding him with a callup even it’s just to sit the bench.
McQuillan at Auburn is beginning to look like the steal of the draft. 33rd round pick, he’s hitting big time so far, an OPS of .887 right now.
Feel bad for David right now; you look forward to your team coming to town and you’re stuck watching Wang give up 9 baserunners.
When does Renden come to town? Just a hitting machine.
Mark L’s comment made me think….any chance of an updated prospect list any time soon? One that would include the newly drafted guys and adjustments to others over or under proforming.
Not anytime soon. The Watchlist is a byproduct from doing the season reviews from each affiliate, which begin in late September and wrap up in early November. The reviews take a fair amount of time to produce, but after spending that time I feel much more comfortable compiling the new watchlist.
I’ll review the 2012 watchlist just like I did with the 2011 watchlist, which gives folks a chance to weigh in. I’m not keen on creating a master top list; I prefer to separate the pitchers from the position players. Last year, I crowd-sourced the Top 10 lists and the plan is to do it again.
Im liking the presence from the DR on the Auburn roster, Wander Ramos, Estarlin Martinez, Narciso Mesa, and Ivan Pinyero have all shown some nice potential
It’s definitely a positive sign, especially in the post-Smiley era.
Having now seen Smiley play a few times, I think we can definitely say that, regardless of name or age, it was a huge mistake. I would be stunned if he ever gets above low A, and may not make it to 2013.
Luke, of all the players not on the 40-man roster, whom, if anyone, do you think the Nats will try to add to the roster so they can have him available in September?
And, barring injury do you see creating a spot for said player anyway besides DFAing Wang? Could Purke be put on the 60-day DL?
Cole Kimball could be cut – they essentially did the same to Adam Carr a year ago. DFAing Wang seems more likely.
Two candidates that spring to mind are Teahen and MacDougal – these are veteran guys that can be cut after the season w/o much hand-wringing. I don’t foresee anyone who’s a prospect (e.g. Walters) being added until after the AFL.
Keep in mind the Rule V draft this December could be a bloodbath.
In response to Mark, which Nats minor leaguers are eligible for the Rule V draft this winter?
(Sorry if that’s a thread for another time.)
Or post.
You can get some of that information by looking at the Nats Draft Tracker spreadsheet (link is under “resources” on the right). That shows Rule 5 eligibility year for the guys that were drafted by this franchise.
Thanks SpringfieldFan — I’m not trying to be coy; I just don’t want to put a post’s worth of work into a comment!
heres the Nats Rule V eligables that I have.
Pat Lehman
Hassan Pena
Tanner Roark
J.R. Higley
Erik Komatsu
Erik Davis
Paul Demny
Marcos Frias
Robert Gilliam
Jeff Mandel
Pat McCoy
Hector Nelo
Danny Rosenbaum
Ryan Tatusko
Beau Seabury
Stephen King
Jeff Kobernus
Jose Lozada
Sean Nicol
Destin Hood
Paul Applebee
Bobby Hansen
Trevor Holder
Shane McCatty
Adam Olbrychowski
Josh Smoker
Matt Swynenberg?
Joe Testa
Rob Wort?
Justin Bloxom
Adrian Sanchez
Francisco Soriano
J.P. Ramirez
Nate Karns?
Adrian Nieto
Cutter Dykstra
Hendry Jimenez
Brett Newsome
Steven Souza
They have at most 36 under contract for next year, with some player likley to leave(Lannan, Flores, Kimball) with Maya, Rodriguez, Rivero, and Marrero all possible DFA’s
And heres the to be free agents
Cesar Izturis
Atahualpa Severino(if not claimed)
Michael Gonzalez
Edwin Jackson
Chad Tracy
Mark Derosa
Chien-Ming Wang
Erik Arnesen
Mitch Atkins
Austin Bibens-Dirkx
Adam Carr
Zach Duke
Jeff Fulchino
Waldis Joaquin
Cory VanAllen
Zech Zinicola
Jeff Howell
James Skelton
Seth Bynum
Jarrett Hoffpauir
Josh Johnson
Jim Negrych
Mark Teahen
Brett Carroll
Jason Michaels
Mike Ballard
Christian Garcia
Kevin Pucetas
Devin Ivany
Manny Mayorson
Tim Pahuta
Jimmy Van Ostrand
Chris Rahl
Jesus Valdez
Brent Greer
Angelbirth Montilla
Johnathan Tucker
Looking forward to Luke’s analysis of the Rule 5 potentialities. 🙂
Thanks, Luke.
MacDougal and Zach Duke seem like the obvious choices, former MLB all-stars who could help down the stretch in a pennant chase, particularly once SS is shut down.
Problem with Rivero is that he is worth slightly less than a damn as a fielder.