Thursday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
| Syracuse | Won, 2-1 (13 inn.) | OFF DAY | N/A |
| Harrisburg | Won, 5-3 | @ Akron, 7:05 p.m. |
Giolito (1-1, 4.18) vs. von Schamann (1-0, 3.60) |
| Potomac | Lost, 7-6 | @ Wilmington, 6:35 p.m. |
A. Williams (4-3, 2.09) vs. Mills (6-6, 3.04) |
| Hagerstown | Lost, 3-2 | vs. Lexington, 7:05 p.m. |
Howell (1-0, 0.90) vs. TBD |
| Auburn | Lost, 5-4 | vs. West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. |
Guilbeau (1-2, 4.94) vs. Waddell (0-0, 1.29) |
Syracuse 2 Pawtucket 1 (13 inn.)
• Cole 7IP, 5H, 0R, 0BB, 8K, HBP
• McGregor (W, 6-5) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Martin (SV, 9) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Turner 4-6, R, 2-2B
• den Dekker 2-5, R, HR, BB, 2RBI
Matt den Dekker’s two-out solo HR in the top of the 13th put the Chiefs over the top and sealed a 2-1 win to take the series by the same score. A.J. Cole started and turned in seven scoreless innings, with five hits allowed, no walks, and a season-high eight strikeouts. He left with a 1-0 lead but Matt Grace blew the save in the 8th. The win went to Scott McGregor, the save to Rafael Martin as both pitchers put up goose eggs in the 12th and 13th innings respectively. Trea Turner singled twice and doubled twice and scored the first run to account for four of the eight hits notched by Syracuse.
Roster move: UT Josh Johnson placed on the 7-Day DL.
Harrisburg 5 Akron 3
• Simms (W, 2-2) 7IP, 7H, 3R, 2ER, 2BB, 1K, HBP
• De Los Santos (S, 7) 2IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Goodwin 2-4, BB, SB
• Dykstra 2-4, R, RBI, 2SB
• Ballou 2-4, R, RBI, SB
Harrisburg rallied for two in the 5th to tie and two in the 7th to win as the Sens ‘pen held the 5-3 lead. John Simms gave up all three runs (two earned) on seven hits and two walks over seven innings to even his won-loss mark at 2-2. Abel De Los Santos fanned four over two frames to earn his seventh save. Brian Goodwin reached base three times with a walk and two singles and stole a base, one of five on the night by the Senators lineup, which notched 10 hits and four walks total.
Wilmington 7 Potomac 6
• Carpenter 1IP, 1H, R, ER, BB, 0K
• Johansen (BS, 2; L, 1-6) 1⅓ IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Norfork 3-4, 3R, 2-2B
• Bautista 2-3, R, SB
It was stoppable force versus a moveable object as the P-Nats were the former and the Blue Rocks were the latter, 7-6. Five pitchers appeared for Potomac, beginning with rehabber David Carpenter, who was nailed for a run in the 1st, and ending with R.C. Orlan letting in one of two inherited runners to tag Jake Johansen with his sixth loss and second blown save. Reed Johnson homered again, smacking a three-run shot in Potomac’s four-run 3rd, while Khayyan Norfork led the regulars with a 3-for-4 night including two doubles and three runs scored.
Roster move: RHP David Carpenter assigned from Washington for MLB rehab.
Hickory 3 Hagerstown 2
• Amlung (L, 3-2) 7IP, 6H, 3R, 3ER, BB, 3K
• Brinley 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Span 2-2, BB, SB
• Marmolejos-Diaz 1-3, BB
Hickory scored three runs off starter Justin Amlung in the first two innings and held off Hagerstown for a 3-2 win. Amlung recovered to go seven full innings, giving up six hits and a walk while setting down three on strikes but for a losing quality start. Ryan Brinley followed with two scoreless innings, but the offense mustered just six hits and three walks beyond the two hits and two walks provided by rehabs Denard Span and Dan Uggla.
West Virginia 5 Auburn 4
• Rodriguez 5IP, 2H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K
• Johns (L,2-1) 1⅔ IP, 2H, 3R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K
• Robles 0-2, R, SB
• Eusebio 1-3, 2B, RBI
Back-to-back-to-back doubles against the first reliever out of the Black Bears bullpen led to three runs in the top of the 7th and gave the Doubledays a 4-2 lead. An error and a poorly played grounder to the left side put on two runners without the ball leaving the infield to start the bottom of the 7th. A single, a walk, and a double followed as the Auburn bullpen gave those three runs right back for a 5-4 loss. Jefry Rodriguez made the start and pitched five innings of two-run ball, with two hits and two walks allowed and five whiffs. The loss went to Sam Johns on three unearned runs allowed over an inning and 2/3rds. The Doubledays managed just six hits, though four were doubles, and drew no walks while striking out seven times.
Robles left the Auburn game during the 6ht inning. Was he injured?
National enquiring minds wonder even more what
Nat Turner is doing playing 2 b???
I’m guessing that this means Turner has supplanted Burriss as the “next man up” in case of a middle infield injury and they want to make sure that he gets some reps at 2b in case that’s where the need is.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they also are considering having Turner be a 2b candidate next season even if they still believe that Turner can play SS. Remember how they moved Espinosa to 2b because they had Desmond at SS? It may now be Turner’s turn to move to 2b while Espinosa (or Escobar) plays SS.
Agree. The Nats are keeping their options open for September and for 2016. If Danny’s turnaround sticks, he definitely has a better arm than Turner. So, the Nats may be thinking that Danny will play SS in 2016 and Turner will play 2nd. At a minimum, the Nats want to have the option with Turner getting some reps at 2nd before he plays in the Bigs.
Would be curious to know if there is a consensus opinion about whether Difo or Turner projects as the better defensive player.
Difo is myvote !
I’d be surprised to see them start Turner’s free agent clock early. Not only hurting the Nats with fewer years under control but also making him less viable as a trade candidate.
No, I think you are seeing him being groomed to become a part of what is shaping up to be an MI ensemble in the majors next season. He’ll likely mostly play 2nd (after 14 errors just at Syracuse) to Espinosa’s shortstop.
I think they all play at the major league level next season, but unless someone (Escobar?) is moved then there isn’t a place to play all of them. And they’re not going to have Turner on the bench, they want him playing.
They may well start Turner at 2b with Espinosa/Escobar at SS and Rendon at 3b. As I mentioned earlier, they did that with Espinosa. But the other options carry their own question marks. Espinosa’s record is inconsistent and he’s now arbitration eligible. Escobar’s 2015 season is wildly out of line with his numbers over the past few years, and he’s aging. If their performance slips at all, or after 2016 Espinosa is no longer worth the escalating salary, Turner will move to SS.*
*Assuming, of course, that he sustains his offense at the big league level.
Turners free agent clock is definitely an issue.
At this point, he has big-time star written all over him.
Robles slid face-first into second in the first inning but — after about 4-5 minutes of him writhing like a constitutional scholar listening to Donald Trump — he stayed in the game. Looked to me like Encarnacion was going to come in for two ABs no matter what, so with Robles dinged it made sense to give him the rest of the night off.
As for J-Rod, barely touched 94 mostly worked 91-93. He’s clearly a thrower learning to pitch and repeat his delivery.
Norfolk sure is playing like a 2016 senator !
Right, GG??
Mark L , your comment about time and ABs
Taking the aluminum habit out of college hitters
May truly apply to Jeff Gardner who may be a year
Away from truly hitting more taters in potomAc
With GGs minor league hitter of 2015. OMD???
Way to go , Werth in the lead off spot
This next homestand should have theme : make hay
While the sun shines .
I must say that Ben Paulsen is a nice heir to Todd
Helton @ 1 b for Rox!
Nationals assemblage : predictions on late season sept
Promotions for last minute looks???
‘Beer league’ Martin sure has proved untouchable by AAA hitters.
Jeff,talking about promotions now is probably just wishful thinking. To quote the great philosopher ‘It’s getting late early’.
Folks I am watching this week:
AJ Cole – He has turned his season around and with Taylor Jordan’s injury, has assumed his place in the conversation for next year.
Israel Mota – Was supposed to be the big power hope coming over from DSL and had a miserable start, fell out of the lineu, and now is getting more opportunities and his bat is coming around
Pedro Avila – Promoted from DSL, the rare in season step. Let’s see what he does in the GCL.
College draftees and key arms – Around this time, there is fading among those tired from a season longer than their stamina allows. And, the Nats have a propensity to shut down their promising arms around now. So if Lopez disappears, it may not be so apocalyptic.
A few extra notes: I would not be surprised if the Turner to 2B allows for last ditch negotiations with Desmond on a contract. We are pre-Sep 1 and players are still being moved. We are weary of Desmond, but he remains a team leader and the Nats may have a chance to get a short term deal that enables him to build value while the farm (Difo, Mejia) matures. The Desmond decision may have a lot to do with whether they see Difo as able to start alongside Turner. Because there is no sure thing other than Turner. No way do I see the Nats committing to Danny as an everyday starting SS while Williams is manager. He has value as a utility player and maximum value at that.
Faced with the decision of releasing Fister vs. Tyler Moore, I think releasing Fister is the better move. He’s not going to contribute and became Edwin Jackson faster than one can say, Edwin Jackson.
Jeff, Norfork has earned his way up, and there is room for him at HBurg with Hague edging out of the system. Otherwise, it’s also logical to see Mesa and DeBruin moving up in 2016, though they inspire a lot less than did Wander Ramos. Bautista will be CF in Harrisburg next year, maybe alongside (last chance) Vettleson and Goodwin, unless the system promotes age over beauty (stat lines). OF with BOP so thin. Maybe Vettleson can stay healthy. denDekker is playing his way into September and then, perhaps 2016. The Nate Mc that was.
I drove Todd Boss nuts about Rafael Martin all winter. And I thought they gave him an awfully quick hook back to the minors. So I am squarely among those who watch him closely and will welcome his return. Perhaps he has a greater future with the club than even Aaron Barrett, just based on history, Janssen’s short contract, Stammen’s status, and the likelihood that Storen gets shifted elsewhere this off season. He’ll have to show up in Sep.
Totally agree on the Turner 2 b reps in case
Dez agent reopens with miller and rizzo .
denDekker if he was @ Cuse all season might
Be a 12-14 HR guy.
GG you are wander- ing with your comment
About DeBruin and Mesa. I like a guy like grant
Who can play both corners.
Always good to read your soliloqueys!
Yes GG. Cat Ballou ending season nicely .
A debate could be made if Hague is still around
2016 along with Martinson .
We need a return of CAT power (like the bulldozer). 🙂 Now he could get himself a bump – perhaps winter ball in the offing.
DeBruin – until his pop shows up at a higher level, I can’t/won’t get excited for him.
Menhart winter project. Rebuilding Barrett confidence .
Key college arms, GG, lead by lefties.
Fascinating late season promotion in Avila
No way is Desmond coming back. While he has managed to rebuild his value a bit, he still won’t get anything near what they originally offered him. Pride alone will never allow him to accept less money from the Nats.
Remember, Turner will likely not be starting the year with the big club to push free agency clock back a year. I think the Turner move is being made to give them more flexibility. If Escobar continues to produce, he will be the SS all year with Turner at 2B and Danny in super-sub mode. If Escobar regresses, Turner becomes the everyday SS instead.
Maybe you are right. But I am not so sure that Rizzo does not sell high on Escobar. On the other hand, in a lineup that strikes out so much, he has proven his value.
What I do not subscribe to is the notion that the free agent clock will govern the team’s decision-making. If Turner in the starting lineup is the key to winning, especially since he starts slow at each new level. The baseball free agency clock planning is going to grow obsolete faster than one realizes.
Mark. I have seen them before. Even in expo farm
Years .
Sandy Martinez is a patient soul. His SS has 32 errors.
His 2b 20 errors. Suffer the kids …. lol
I see a BB listed under Robles yet the commentary says there were no walks in that game?
My bad – I had forgotten had reached on an error.
Why don’t you call yourself Peric on the MASN site.
So after struggling a bit after being sent down in late April, Rafael Martin has been on a hell of a tear the last two and a half months.
Between May 2 and June 4, he played in 11 games, throwing 11.2 innings and allowed 16 earned runs on 18 hits and 9 walks while striking out just 10. During that stretch he went 1-3 and was 1-for-3 in save opportunities. His ERA ballooned to 9.82.
Then he appears to have flicked the proverbial switch.
Since June 6, Martin has played in 29 games, thrown 37.1 innings and gone 4-2 and 7-for-7 on saves while allowing 4 ER, 19 hits, 6 BB and striking out 47. That’s a 0.96 ERA, 0.669 WHIP, a 7.83 K/BB ratio and 11.3 Ks per 9 innings pitched.
He’s been even better in his last 10 games, giving up no runs in 10 innings with just six hits, no walks and striking out 13 while going 1-0 with 6 saves.
For the season, he’s played in 42 AAA games and thrown 52 innings and is now 5-5 and is 9-12 on save opportunities and lowered his ERA to 3.46 and his WHIP to 1.08 while striking out 64 and walking 15. His strikeouts-to-walk ratio is 4.27 and he’s fanning 11.1 per nine innings.
He’s looking every bit like a September call-up.
He had his cup of coffee and I suspect they saw something they didn’t like, otherwise he would be up already.
Jeff, Cat is punching his ticket to AAA next year. Finally a league of his age. I think the Nats keep Martinson. Power, speed and defense at SS and 3B? it was his first year at AAA and he had his moments. I say keep him in the system and leave him unprotected. He’s not the biggest problem.
So, who goes to Arizona Fall League this year?
I have a feeling this year’s crew will be the least exciting in several years. The 2015 eligibles are mostly ‘tweeners between AA and A+ (is that A++ or AA-) and some are hurt (to what degree is always a state secret).