Tuesday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Lost, 3-1 (10 inn.) | vs. Norfolk, 7:05 p.m. |
McGregor (1-2, 5.30) vs. Wilson (1-3, 3.86) |
| Harrisburg | Lost, 4-2 | @ New Britain, 6:35 p.m. |
Bleier (0-0, 0.00) vs. Flemer (1-1, 1.88) |
| Potomac | Lost, 4-2 | vs. Wilmington, 7:05 p.m. |
Bacus (0-0, 3.21) vs. Rico (2-0, 2.93) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 9-6 | OFF DAY | N/A |
Norfolk 3 Syracuse 1 (10 inn.)
• Cole 6IP, 7H, R, ER, 0BB, K
• Martin (L, 1-1) 1⅔ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 2K
• Dykstra 2-5, 2B, RBI
• den Dekker 1-3, 2BB, SB
Syracuse left runners on in each of their last three at-bats, including the bases loaded with one out in the 8th, as they fell in extras to Norfolk, 3-1. A.J. Cole rebounded from the mauling he received from the Barves last week with six innings of one-run ball, letting up seven hits, no walks, and striking out one. Rafael Martin was roughed up again, giving up the game-winning runs in the 10th after a 1-2-3 ninth on two hits and two walks. Cutter Dykstra was the sole Chief with multiple hits while Matt den Dekker walked twice and stole a base as the Chiefs stranded 14 runners total on the night.
New Britain 4 Harrisburg 2
• Voth (L, 2-2) 5⅓ ⅔ IP, 5H, 4R, 3ER, 2BB, 5K
• Self 1⅔ IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB, K, 3-3 IR-S
• Difo 3-4, 2B, RBI
• Severino 2-4
A 1-0 Harrisburg lead evaporated within the space of four batters as the Sens dropped the series opener, 4-2. Austin Voth pitched into the 6th and left with the game tied and the bases loaded after a double, error, and a pair of singles. Derek Self got the last two outs but not before the bases were emptied on a walk and a single to the first two batters he faced. Wilmer Difo continues to hit like he’s late for a date, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Pedro Severino notched his seventh multiple hit game in the last twelve with a 2-for-4 game.
Roster move: LHP Richard Bleier reassigned from Syracuse.
Salem 4 Potomac 2
• Suero (L, 3-2) 6IP, 4H, 4R, 4ER, BB, 3K, WP, 2HBP
• Lee 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Kieboom 2-3, 2-2B, BB, RBI
• Mesa 2-5, R, 2SB
The Red Sox put up two-spots in the 4th and 5th innings to double up the P-Nats, 4-2 and complete the four-game sweep. Wander Suero dropped his second straight decision, giving up all four Salem runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three. He also hit two batters, accounting for the final two runs as they were sent in triple in the 5th. Spencer Kieboom reached base three times on a pair of doubles and a walk while Narciso Mesa singled twice and stole two bases to lead the Potomac offense.
Greenville 9 Hagerstown 6
• Bach 3⅔ IP, 5H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 7K, HBP, WP
• M. Sanchez (L, 0-1) 2⅓ IP, 4H, 3R, 1ER, 0BB, K, 2-0 IR-S
• Keller 3-5, 2-2B, RBI
• Read 2-5, R, RBI
• Marmolejos-Diaz 2-5, R, RBI
After answering a three-run 1st to build a 5-3 lead, the Suns could not respond to the Drive’s subsequent rallies and fell in the series finale, 10-6. Mario Sanchez took the loss, allowing three runs (one earned) in two and a 1/3rd innings in relief. Connor Bach got the start and was dinged for three runs on five hits and three walks over the first three and 2/3rds innings. Alec Keller singled and doubled twice to lead Hagerstown’s 14-hit attack.
Trea Turner Update
Make that five straight games for Turner, who was 2-for-5 with a walk and a stolen base (#6) and was caught stealing (#3) in a 4-3 Missions loss.
Luke,
Long time / first time. Thanks for all the great work on this site. Any insight as to how Difo’s glove plays? He played 2B / SS in Hagerstown, but has been solely playing SS this year for PNats & Harrisburg. Will be very interesting in 5 weeks when Turner heads east, presumably to Harrisburg. It sounds like Turner would stay at SS, but the scouting reports suggests average arm strength.
Difo has a strong arm and decent range but is prone to throwing errors, a slide over to 2B will certainly help hide that flaw.
Luke I am surprised that Carlos Lopez is still
In XST with the low batting results from RH bats
Below AA.
Interesting Nats didn’t keep sole lefty starter @
Syracuse when Senators really waiting in Spann
And Silvestre to pack rotation ??
Thoughts , luke and roman cyber assembly ??
Lol!
Cue pay methany. Spring OBP not here!
Luke, your impression that a switch hitting infielder
Franklin Sierra is not designated onto an affiliate such
As DSL to get his pro career going ?? Maybe the kid
Needs nutrition improvement ?? Transition mentoring ??
Give the kid time and org time ??
No impression I start seeing numbers in the box score.
Spann has been very hittable this year, which is why I wouldn’t expect him to head north anytime soon.
So… what do we do come June 13th? Difo and Turner are both in AA ball and playing SS. Both have taken big jumps this year, essentially skipping high A ball.
We can’t play them both, and another promotion for either would be exceptionally aggressive, especially for the relatively conservative Nats. Does Difo get moved off SS, or what?
Seems you move one to sb. We may need to consult the rulebook about trading a player to be named later that you technically don’t control. Whoa!
2b you blasted autocorrect, not sb.
Difo shifts to 2 b
Renda?? Shift him around maybe even ticket to Cuse?!
Rendon might be a long wait as Nats dance around many
One run games .
Does anybody believe the bench needs a fresh body
From outside org to lend some Lightning ?!
Difo can play 2nd or SS (Turner could play 2nd as well). Also, there really is not a huge difference between AA and AAA. If both of them continue to play well in AA; there is no reason to think that a move to AAA would have an adverse impact on either one.
There isn’t perhaps a huge difference, but there is a very real concern about rushing either too fast. Both of these guys were playing in low A ball at the end of last season. That would be a three level rise in just 2.5 months. Strasburg, a generational talent that was ready for the majors before he left college, was still given a few months to work his way up the levels.
However, you’re right that moving Difo to 2B is unnecessary at this point. If he can stick at SS, then he should remain there until he and Turner reach the majors, much like the Espinosa-Desmond dilemma. Each is more useful as a SS.
I wonder if the reason Turner is staying with the Padres until June 13 is because the Nats specifically requested it. It’s a bit odd that they would change the rules because of Turner, but then not allow him to benefit from the rule change. But it gives us an extra month to hope the problem sorts itself out.
The rule change begins with 2015 draftees. It’ll be known as the Trea Turner rule because it was drafted in response to his case, but it doesn’t change it.
I don’t see why they couldn’t have retroactively applied the rule change to Turner as well. He’s the only current player who this applies to, and I doubt the Padres would insist on keeping him around for another month or so.
If the Nats pushed hard, I’m sure they could have gotten him early. But as it currently stands, it’s not in their interest to do so.
You’d feel differently if it were a rule change that benefited a team other than the Nationals. Remember, MLB did not have to make this rule change and it’s pretty obvious that the MLBPA, which routinely screws over minor-leaguers if it means more money for their rank and file, would not have addressed it in the next CBA.
Giolito and Lopez up to Potomac this week, per Byron Kerr. Wednesday’s starter is ‘TBA’……
That will get people in a kerfuffle, and I hope they go easy on Giolito so he has postseason innings left.
Does this mean that Sens get Spann then
Blierer can go to Cuse ?!
From my perspective, Renda to AAA, Difo to 2nd in AA and Turner SS at AA. That’s how I think the future is lining up.
Renda has zero pop. He needs to show me he can hit like this for half the year before I even dream about promoting him. Last thing we need to do is Goodwin away his trade value. I’m thinking Rizzo has higher than Ecksteinian expectations for his middle infielders. Goodwin and Renda, I hope you like the Bay Area!
Soul drummer are you eyeing the guy rizzo
Should have acquired for clippard – Zobrist
Do we hear the truck beep3 backing up and
Beane shopping Kasmir and Zobrist ???
Ditto.
Should we be concerned about Cole? He’s not missing AAA bats, and the fundamentals and stage exposed him as needing polishing in his DC start.
I don’t think it exposed anything other than what we already knew: his secondary pitches still need work. Others have noted the low K rate, which is always a warning sign, but especially for a pitcher that throws hard.
Turner will get promoted to AAA if he keeps up his performance. Getting him and Difo substantial time at the higher levels playing SS (and perhaps 2B as well) is all about resolving the Desmond decision this off-season.
I wouldn’t have believed this at the beginning of the year, but you might be right. Most of us thought that Turner would start at A+ and, if he did well, perhaps go straight to Harrisburg. Well, he started at AA and is mostly acing it. Organizationally speaking, I think you keep both Turner and Difo getting reps at SS if at all possible. Plus, as noted above, there’s no reason to push Renda aside if he’s hitting well.
As for Giolito and Lopez, Luke or one of our eagle-eyed readers, PLEASE post the probables a few days in advance when these guys are going to be up. I will kick myself forever if I don’t get out a few times and see them at the Pfitz.
Lopez is slated for today at 4 p.m. Giolito on Friday night.
I didn’t suggest they would promote Renda because he is so good or anything like that. I expect him to produce at the same level of mediocrity at either level. My comment was all about Difo and Turner. Souldrummer, I’m not sure I understand your comment. Not even sure it was directed at me. Can’t tell whether I was shot down or not.