Nats Tie Again, 3-3
Washington’s subs rallied for three in the 8th to salvage a 3-3 tie in 10 innings against Detroit.
The rally took Stephen Strasburg off the hook, as he had given up two runs on three hits over four innings. He walked none and struck out five.
Koda Glover was the sole watchlist reliever to appear. He worked around a walk in the 9th and struck out one.
No watchlist players were in the starting lineup, and just three appeared off the bench:
• Brian Goodwin spelled Jayson Werth in LF and went 1-for-3 with and RBI double and a run scored.
• Rafael Bautista pinch-ran for Spencer Kieboom in the 9th but did not score.
• Pedro Severino replaced Kieboom as the third catcher and caught the 10th.
Prior to the game, the Nationals announced that Jimmy Cordero (Syracuse), Austin Voth (Syracuse), Matt Skole (Syracuse) and Raudy Read (Harrisburg) had been optioned while Andrew Stevenson and Drew Ward were among six players who had been reassigned to minor-league camp. On Friday, six pitchers were sent to the backfields – all FAs signed over the winter except for Wander Suero.
Tomorrow is the second and final scheduled off day of the 2017 Spring Training.
Dusty apparently had specific praise for Stevenson and Ward after they were optioned. I was surprised that Voth was optioned so early, as I thought he had earned a longer look. I was also surprised that Bautista wasn’t among the first group optioned. Why not keep Stevenson for a longer look instead of him? Bautista does have eight hits, though, seven singles and a double.
Meanwhile, Dusty praised Glover after today’s game and hinted that he has put himself in strong contention for a roster spot. We can only hope.
Dusty on Glover:
http://www.masnsports.com/nationals-pastime/2017/03/baker-on-electric-glover-strasburgs-mechanical-tweak.html
Probably because Bautista is older and has a full season of AA experience under his belt. Baker, like Johnson, favors the older players (presuming he has any say in how they keep player A vs. B in camp).
Voth needs repetition and getting that AAÀ groove much like some of the six cuts. Collins needs more work to get into form!
Collins hasn’t even appeared in a game. I saw something that said that he’s aiming for June to be back up to full speed.
Cool
He has ing road to hoe
The Nats formally released Derek Norris this morning. So, they sent Pedro Avila to the Padres for essentially nothing. Was Avila considered anything other than MiLB roster-filler?
Avila held his own at Hagerstown at age 19, but I never saw much buzz about him. As I recall, he had a strong start to the season but faded late, but that’s off the top of my head. (Others here may set me straight.) It’s possible the Nats thought more of the kids from the Auburn rotation.
Alejandro Vallejo
Exit one. Enter one.
Circle of baseball
Roster filler/cannon fodder.
Fangraphs Top 100:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2017-top-100-prospects/
Robles at #8, Soto at #95, Fedde honorable mention. I find it curious that Fedde isn’t more highly valued after a strong finish to 2016, but then he doesn’t throw 98. (Giolito at #19, Lopez at #28, if you’re curious.)
Find it hard to believe that there are more than 100 prospects in MLB that the Nats couldn’t trade straight up today for Eric Fedde. His stock is on the rise. This Spring has only helped his cause.