Nats Drop Two, Lose Two
The second round of cuts wasn’t too painful or unexpected… just a pair of 22-y.o.’s that most reasonable folks have penciled in as the starters for Harrisburg in the persons of A.J. Cole and Felipe Rivero.
Today’s games? Well, perhaps a little more distressing as the Astros and Braves both rallied in the bottom of the 9th to hand the Nats losses of 3-2 and 10-9 respectively.
In Lake Buenavista, Chris Young got the start and was assaulted for a two-run homer by Freddie Freeman with two outs in the 3rd to erase an early 1-0 lead. He gave up three hits and a walk and struck out three over three innings. Robert Benincasa took the loss after a leadoff single, a steal, and a one-out single plated the third Atlanta run.
Tanner Roark took the hill in Kissimmee but was only able to keep the Astros at bay in the second as Houston scored in 1st, 3rd, and 4th innings as the 27-y.o. struggled in his third outing, giving up three runs on three hits and two walks and was lifted with one out in the 4th. Xavier Cedeno couldn’t hold the 9-7 lead and coughed up three runs on four hits while retiring just two batters for the blown-save-loss.
Here’s a rundown of how the notable minor-leaguers did this afternoon:
@ ATLANTA
• Jeff Kobernus subbed in CF and went 1-for-2
• Jason Martinson subbed at SS and went 0-for-1
• Caleb Ramsey subbed in RF and went 1-for-1 with an RBI
• Michael Taylor subbed in LF and went 0-for-1
• Cutter Dykstra subbed at 3B and went 0-for-1 with a K and committed an error
• Matt Skole subbed at 1B and went 0-for-1 with a K
• Zach Walters started at 2B and was 0-for-3
• Drew Vettleson pinch-ran for the DH but did not get an AB
• Sandy Leon started at C and was 0-for-2
• Danny Rosenbaum pitched two scoreless innings, giving up a walk and two hits while fanning one
@ HOUSTON
• Steve Souza subbed in RF and went 0-for-1
• Destin Hood pinch ran and scored a run and subbed in LF
• Brian Goodwin pinch-hit for Hood and subbed for him in LF and was 0-for-2 with a strikeout
• Eury Perez started in RF and shifted to CF when Souza came in and was 1-for-4 with an RBI double but also committed an error
• Aaron Barrett stranded two runners in the 7th and pitched a scoreless 8th to keep his ERA at 0.00
The Nats go full-squad tomorrow afternoon (sounds dirtier than what it means) as they host the Mets. Ross Detwiler is expected to make the start. There is no broadcast from either team.
what can they do with Eury Perez? he clearly has no future with the big club but must have some value.
There’s no need to do anything with Eury Perez right now; he has minor league options, provides some value as depth and isnt’ blocking anyone (yet). The likely starting OF in AAA will be Kobernus, Perez and Souza. When/if one of the AA outfielders (Goodwin or Taylor) forces the issue, then a decision might have to be made.
If the Nats need a 40 man roster spot then Perez is in the discussion with Solano (likely the first off the island, IMHO), Erik Davis (already stashed on the 60 day DL) and possibly Ryan Mattheus.
I am wondering about Erik Komatsu how about you?
Purke sent to Harrisburg ostensibly to start … I’m not sure if that’s going to fly at this point. And Michael Taylor sent down to be the starting CF in H’burg.
Goodwin has got to be your Syracuse CF rather than Perez. And if he can’t crack the AAA starting lineup, it’s more human to let him go and free up the slot on the 40 man.
I think if Goodwin is indeed deemed the starting CF for AAA, we may see Perez traded. For some reason, I’m envisioning a Balester-for-Perry type trade that gets a player back with two options left instead of the (final) one that Perez has now.
Komatsu was also capable of playing these positions and like Goodwin featured a left-handed bat. But he appeared in 31 games in AAA in 2012 after a brief foray in the majors with the Twins and only 16 last season? And unlike Brock Peterson he was capable of playing defense at a high level.
Seems like Goodwin might do better starting out in Harrisburg in right field?
I can only see putting Goodwin at RF if that is the future plan for him. If he’s a prospective CF next year, they should not let an inferior prospect like Perez get in the way.
How long are we going to look at Goodwin’s upside? One more year? 2 more? Or is .250 good enough at every level? I like Souza way more than Goodwin at either position CF or RF.
Goodwin was rated by most sources as our top position prospect with Souza high up as well. I’m no prospect genius, but all that tells me we should see if he and Souza are any good and forget about Eury Perez.
Yup. Sure seems like Eury isn’t even up for consideration other than as an Org man and major league depth at this point. Seems like he would get claimed should they wish to reacquire his slot
on the 40-man roster though?