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Tuesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Won, 5-3 @ Gwinnett,
6:35 p.m.		 Hill (9-2, 1.90) vs.
Schlosser (4-4, 4.33)
Harrisburg Won, 5-1 vs. Bowie,
7:00 p.m.		 Simmons (0-0, 5.88) vs.
Pettit (4-6, 6.40)
Potomac Lost, 5-1 vs. Wilmington,
7:05 p.m.		 Rauh (1-1, 5.08) vs.
Manaea (2-7, 4.75)
Hagerstown Won, 8-4 vs. Lakewood,
7:05 p.m.		 Johansen (4-3, 5.04) vs.
Viza (3-11, 5.10)
Auburn Lost, 3-2 vs. State College,
7:05 p.m.		 Van Orden (0-1, 4.50) vs.
Baez (0-0, 1.69)
GCL Nationals Postponed @ GCL Marlins,
11:00 a.m.		 TBD and TBD vs.
TBD and TBD
DSL Nationals Lost, 7-5 @ DSL Cardinals,
10:30 a.m.		 W. Pena (1-3, 3.38) vs.
Diaz (1-2, 3.24)


Syracuse 5 Gwinnett 3
• Roenicke (W, 4-4) 5IP, 6H, 3R, 2ER, BB, K, HR
• Grace (H, 2) 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, K
• Souza 3-4, R, 2B, 3B, 2BB, 2SB
• Burriss 2-5, 2R, 2-2B

Yunesky “Yuleftmehanging” Maya lost another game involving the Chiefs. But this time Chiefs fans were happy to learn that he was pitching for the opposing Gwinnett Braves. Maya gave up all five runs and apparently learned that Steven “Phone” Souza is good at baseball. Souza was a homer short of the cycle. In the 1st, Souza doubled in Emmanuel “Don’t Call Me Lewis” Burriss for the Chiefs first tally. In the 3rd, Souza tripled in Emmanuel “I’m not Webster either” Burriss for another Chiefs tally. In the 6th, Steve “Believe” Souza walked, stole second, and later scored on a fielding error. Josh Johnson put Gwinnett out of their misery with a two-out pinch hit two-run double to make the final score 5-3 in the frame as well. Props to Matt Grace as well who pitched two scoreless innings of relief and remains unscored upon in 13⅔ AAA innings.
Roster move: RHP Neil Holland reassigned from Harrisburg.

Harrisburg 5 Bowie 1
• Simms (W, 2-0) 6IP, 4H, R, ER, BB, 4K
• Self 2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Martinson 3-4, RBI
• Sanchez 2-3, R, BB, HR, 3RBI, CS
• Hague 2-4, R, 2B

John Simms continues impress at the AA level, winning for the second time in three starts as Harrisburg knifed Bowie, 5-1. The 22-y.o. Texan turned in six strong innings with the lone BaySox run given up on four hits and one walk. Adrian Sanchez smacked a three-run HR in the 4th to break open a 1-0 game while Jason Martinson led the hit column with a 3-for-4 night as the Senators piled up 12 hits and drew five walks.

Wilmington 5 Potomac 1
• Dickson (L, 1-7) 6IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 4K, HR
• Turnbull 3IP, 2H, 2R, ER, 3BB, 3K
• Pleffner 2-4
• J. Miller 1-4, 2B, RBI

Wilmington broke a 1-1 tie with a single-triple-double sequence to open the 6th and cruised to a 5-1 win over Potomac in the series opener. Starter Ian Dickson turned in a quality start of three runs allowed over six innings, but four of the eight hits went for extra bases as he walked one and struck out four while taking his seventh loss. The P-Nats bats were limited to just five hits total, with Shawn Pleffner the sole batter to reach base twice. Justin Miller’s RBI double in the 2nd prevented back-to-back shutouts as the P-Nats have lost seven of their last eight scheduled games to fall below .500 at 8-9 for the second half.
Roster move: LHP Jake Walsh promoted from Hagerstown.

Hagerstown 8 Lakewood 4
• Giolito 4IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, 3BB, 6K, WP
• Cooper (W, 6-2) 3IP, 4H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Kieboom 3-4, R, 2-2B, RBI, HBP
• Ballou 2-4, R, BB, RBI
• Ward 2-5, 3RBI

Hagerstown continued its domination of Lakewood, doubling ’em up 8-4 for its 13th victory in 17 games versus the Sally League’s New Jersey entrant. Lucas Giolito, named the #11 prospect in BA’s midseason SEO project prospect list, was knocked around for four runs on seven hits and three walks over four innngs. He struck out six. The win went to Andrew Cooper, who turned in three scoreless frames for his sixth “W.” Hagerstown matched a season-high of 16 hits with the 3-4-5 trio of Isaac Ballou, Spencer Kieboom, and Drew Ward going 7-for-13 with two doubles (Kieboom), two runs scored, and five RBI.
Roster moves: RHP Samuel Johns reassigned from Auburn; SS David Masters activated from the 7-Day DL.

State College 3 Auburn 2
• Derosier (L, 0-2) 4⅔ IP, 8H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 4K, HR, WP
• Ramos 2⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 4K, 1-0 IR-S
• Riopedre 1-4, 2B, 2RBI
• Eusebio 1-3

The Doubleday offense remained AWOL in a 3-2 loss to State College. Auburn managed just six hits, with the lone extra-base knock accounting for both of its runs as Chris Riopedre smacked a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the 3rd. It was an answer to the three-run homer allowed by Matt Derosier in the top of the 3rd. The almost-20-y.o. was spiked for eight hits total over four and 2/3rds while walking two and striking out four in his second loss. Tyler Mapes and David Ramos combined for four and a 1/3rd innings of scoreless relief, but the Doubledays had just two baserunners after the 3rd inning for a total of three left on base.
Roster moves: RHP Tyler Mapes reassigned from the GCL Nationals, SS Willie Medina demoted from Hagerstown.

GCL Nationals — PPD
Let’s hope they have enough (healthy) pitchers into handle three doubleheaders in four days, as Monday’s game against the G-Marlins was rained out to create twinbill this morning.
Roster move: OF Gilberto Ramirez promoted from the DSL Nationals.

DSL Mariners 7 DSL Nationals 5
• Acevedo 5IP, 6H, R, ER, 3BB, 4K
• Charlis (BS, 3; L, 3-1) ⅔ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 2K, HBP, 2-2 IR-S
• Vilorio 2-4, R, RBI, 2E
• Pilier 1-3, BB, E
• Pimentel 1-4, R, HR, 3RBI

The D-Nats ‘pen turned a 5-1 lead into a 7-5 loss with six runs allowed in the final three innings, including four in the 9th. Starter Carlos Acevedo turned in five innings of one-run ball, scattering six hits and working around three walks with four set down on strikes. His work would go for naught as Fiyeral “El Incendiario” came on in the 9th with one out and two runners on and let them both in along with two of his own for his third blown save and first loss. Luis Vilorio went 2-for-4 with a run score and an RBI to lead the hit column while Davinson Pimentel smacked a three-run homer in the 1st to lead the D-Nats offense.

17 Commments

  1. Props to Luke for getting this one out on time. I’ve got to be better and help out a bit more. Nice to work on the writing chops, but I barely deserve a 2SDs credit on this one. Souza, however, deserves all the credit in the world and is trying to play Jayson Werth into very expensive trade bait or Aaron Rowand albatross status.

    1. I don’t know how you trade a guy with a 21 million a year contract from here-on-out that has a full no-trade clause attached? Its up to ownership to accept the fact they over paid and allow him to recede to a bench role along with McLouth. Somehow I don’t think that’s going to happen at least not yet.

      1. Peric,
        You’re right. That Werth deal was an overpay. Not the worst overpay in recent MLB history by a long shot, but an overpay nevertheless. I hope he’s the well paid mascot on a champion who helps guide them through the nailbiters in the World Series, but we’re a long way from there yet.

  2. Full moon over Aberdeen this weekend
    12 July
    Ex-po Jeff will give a report on any games
    Taken in.
    Interesting result to that question: first kid from
    Draft to reach hags: Samuel Johns. Suns could
    Use another rifle in the bullpen .

  4. Cool. My man Gilberto on the rise!!
    6’3″ ands wheels
    $300g for kid named not Joaquin Andujar?
    Must have skills

    1. Yeah – Jayson Werth’s contract has a full no trade clause; he’s not going anywhere. With Hairston going Souza should at least join McLouth as the R/L bench OF bats. I think that it’s at least possible that the Nats let Span go and allow Souza, Taylor, Hood and Goodwin fight it out for two slots – one starting and one bench. By letting Span, ALR and Soriano go the Nats could absorb most of the pay raises coming due and possibly nose about for a true starting second baseman – although the free agent market is pretty grim.

      1. They got Souza starting in CF in the AAA. Luke suspects the dreaded “Hellenic flu” with Goodwin. What could that indicate? Werth could be allowed to recede to a bench role rather than Souza then you’d have two outfield slots for the crew to fight over. T-Mo has to be in the mix as well.

        Souza did play in the infield in Potomac. Could he return? He seems athletic enough and he has an arm?

        1. Werth may go to a bench role, but barring an absolute collapse/injury it’s not going to be in 2015 (any more than Giolito is going to pitch for the Nationals in 2014). Even with his slow June, Werth has been the third best hitter on the team behind ALR and Rendon. Hopefully Harper, Zimmerman and Ramos raise there games to move past Werth in production, but Werth is still plenty valuable. He’s not the defensive OF that he was, but he’s no Michael Morse out there either.

          But that’s a good catch on Souza moving to CF in Syracuse – I just noticed that last night and figured that it was a one off with Moore playing LF – but when I saw your comment I checked and saw that he’s played 21 games in CF, as many as he had his entire career before this year. That’s interesting, and if he does well may make it more likely that the team deals Span or lets him walk.

          1. Really appreciate your insight on Souza/Werth/Taylor/Goodwin dynamic in this thread gentlemen. Your thoughts are a substantial part of the reason that this remains my number one site in the Natmosphere.

          2. Souza is pretty athletic. And he has an arm. Not sure who would be superior Souza or Harper in CF? Both do have significant range. It seems to be given his larger body of experience Souza might be able to play second base. I suspect Souza might be a far better convert than when the Yankees converted Robinson Cano? Luke probably would be a better judge of that having seen him at third base in Potomac before the suspension.

          3. Souza only played 1B the first time he passed through Potomac — and he was fine — but by all accounts from Hagerstown was too erratic at 3B. As athletic as he is, I think he’s just too damn big for 2B. I personally think he’s a 1B-OF who can pay all three positions but best suited to RF.

  6. Luke. GCL kids should be able hum baby ( as roger Craig
    Always said ) to burn innings.
    That Michael Barrett board has more names than
    Fonzi had in his black book

  7. Goodwin has more to prove healthy @ AAA.
    Funny thing About Hairston deal is that pinyero
    Is on DL for cubs. 8 arms on burg. DL

  8. I don’t see the Nats bringing Span back. The system is deep with OF prospects, and Span has not performed well enough to justify keeping around a .260 hitter with zero power. Also, according to his defensive metrics, his CF play is down this year.

    The one issue the Nats have is that their lineup is already too right-handed dominant, and two of the Nats 3 every day left-handed hitters, may not back next year (ALR and Span). The Nats best OF and 1B prospects all bat right-handed (Taylor, Souza, Moore). The Nats are not going to go with everyday lineup that has all RH hitters outside of Harper. Also, to the extent that the Nats will consider Espinosa as an everyday option next year, he is even more awful as a LH hitter than he is as a RH hitter. If Span and ALR go, could see the Nats trolling for a LH 1B/OF type.

    1. For that reason I don’t see them letting ALR go and pick up his option. Now, you’ve got Zim and his shoulder in left field. One outfield slot opens ostensibly in CF unless Werth becomes a backup. They’ve got Skole but he looks to be another season or so away.

      I also think they need a left-handed catcher like Jason Castro as the “back up”. Its almost a given that Ramos will spend a lot of time on the DL as a result of the knee reconstruction. A catcher with a bat. What they have now just doesn’t seem to cut it.

      If they go out looking for second base its going to have to be left-handed bat again which probably limits their choices.

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