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Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Probable Pitchers
Syracuse Lost, 7-1 @ Louisville,
7:05 p.m.		 O’Sullivan (1-2, 4.40) vs.
Stephenson (1-2, 3.15)
Harrisburg Lost, 6-2 @ Altoona,
7:00 p.m.		 Voth (1st AA start of ’17) vs.
C. Dickson (0-2, 10.97)
Potomac Lost, 2-1
(11 inn.)		 @ Wilmington,
6:35 p.m.		 Silvestre (7-4, 4.32) vs.
Machado (5-7, 5.00)
Hagerstown Lost, 2-0;
Won, 13-2 		@ Lexington M. Mills (11-2, 2.70)
vs. Davila (6-4, 5.82)
Auburn Lost, 6-3 vs. West Virginia,
7:05 p.m.		 Y. Ramirez (2-1, 2.37) vs.
Schlabach (1-2, 2.08)
GCL Nationals OFF DAY vs. GCL Mets  

Pawtucket 7 Syracuse 1
• Stevenson 0-5, 2K
Roster moves: RHP Jaron Long activated from 3-Day TIL.

Richmond 6 Harrisburg 2
• Estevez (L, 2-1) 5IP, 7H, 6R, 4ER, 3BB, 2K, BK
• Cordero 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Marmolejos 3-3, BB, RBI
• Norfork 1-4, R, 2B

The Squirrels struck for four in the 4th and cruised to a 6-2 win to earn a split of the four-game series. Wirkin “For the Weekend” Estevez lost for the first time at AA, as he was dinged with all six Richmond runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks over five innings. Derek Self and Jimmy Cordero combined for three scorless innings of relief. The Harrisburg offense was held to seven hits. Three of them came off the bat of Jose “Orange” Marmolejos, who also drew one of the two Senator walks.

Wilmington 2 Potomac 1 (11 inn.)
• Guilbeau 7IP, 3H, R, ER, 3BB, 4K
• Bacus 3IP, 2H, 0R, BB, K, WP
• Pantoja (L, 0-2) ⅓ IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, BB, 0K
• Sagdal 3-5, 2-2B
• Carey 2-4, BB, RBI

Potomac had 12 chances with RISP and converted just one as they left 13 runners on base and lost 2-1 in 11 innings. Taylor Guilbeau got the start and let in one run on three hits and three walks while striking out four for the no-decision. Following three scoreless by Dakota Bacus, the loss went to Jorge Pantoja who gave up a run on two hits while retiring just one batter. Ian Sagdal singled once and doubled twice while Dale Carey drove in the lone P-Nats run while going 2-for-4 with a walk to lead the nine-hit, seven-walk offense.

Lexington 2 Hagerstown 0 – GAME ONE
• Sharp (L, 4-7) 5⅔ IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, BB, K, HR
• Morse ⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Franco 1-3, 2B
• Agustin 1-3, SB(5)

The Legends shut out the Suns on five hits in the opener for a 2-0 win. Sterling Sharp took the loss, his seventh, and gave up both Lexington runs on seven hits and a walk over five and 2/3rds innings. He was lifted after 101 pitches. Phil Morse struck out the only batter he faced to close out the 6th. Hagerstown twice got a runner over to third base with two outs but couldn’t get the run, as they left on nine baserunners and went 1-for-8 with RISP.

Hagerstown 13 Lexington 2 – GAME TWO
• C. Pena (W, 5-5) 7IP, 7H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 4K, HR
• Corredor 3-4, R, BB, 2RBI, SB
• Agustin 2-4, 2R, 2-2B
• Banks 2-4, 2R, 2B, HR, 4RBI

The Hagerstown bats came alive in the nightcap, peaking with an eight-run 5th that gave the Suns a 13-2 win and a doubleheader split. Carlos Pena went the distance (well, seven innings) with seven hits and three walks given up and four strikeouts for his fifth win. Anderson Franco was the beer man in the 15-hit assault, which was led by Aldrem Corredor with three singles and Nick Banks with a double, a homer, and four RBI. Roster moves: LHP McKenzie Mills activated from the 3-Day TIL.

Vermont 6 Auburn 3
• Troop (L, 1-1) 5IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 2K, HR
• Ortiz 2-4, 2RBI
• Jo. Ramirez 2-3, R

Vermont scored in each of its last four “ups” to erase an early 1-0 lead and, um, double up Auburn, 6-3. Alex Troop took the loss with two runs allowed on five hits and a walk over five innings. Oliver Ortiz drove in two while singling twice, as did Joshual Ramirez to pace the Doubleday offense.

GCL Nationals – OFF DAY
The G-Nats dropped two on Saturday but remain in 1st place in the GCL East, two games ahead of the G-Cards. Today, they’ll resume a suspended game with the G-Mets then play the regularly scheduled game afterwards.

17 Commments

  1. I know there was some discussion yesterday, but figured I’d keep it going here….

    I surprisingly okay with the reliever trade. Luzardo has been injured for so long that he’s never really felt like a prospect in the system, but more of a esoteric form of potential. I think he’ll be very good, but not a huge loss (even if our SP depth is pretty thin through the system).

    Neuse is looking like a real dark horse prospect. If he can play even below average SS, he could be a very special player. It doesn’t look like that’ll be the case, but a 3B with good D that can hit is extremely valuable (here’s looking at you Anthony).

    Funnily enough, I think Treinen is the worst piece of the deal. With that said, I have no doubt Treinen is going to be Felipe Rivero 2.0, but that’s the price you pay to be a constant contender.

    With that said, Treinen is under control for only a year more than Doolittle, who when healthy, is an elite reliever. Madson will hopefully bring some much needed dependability, but won’t be fantastic. Plus we’ll have him next year too, as our window shuts.

    I’ll take this deal everyday over some of the other boneheaded desperation relief deals we’ve made recently (Rzepczynski for Schrock; Gushue and 6 meaningless IP of Latos for Bostick).

    1. I was a bit confused by what the Nats intended to do with Neuse from the time he was drafted. They had just picked someone with a similar profile in Kieboom, a SS likely to transition to 3B. They had Ward, approximately the same age, about ready for AA, and good-looking prospects Gutierrez and Franco following in trace. In fact, I think one of the MLB.com guys said when Neuse was drafted that they had heard that the Nats might try to convert him to catcher. And bbout the same time they drafted him, they went out and spent a pretty penny on Antuna and Garcia.

      Anyway, the Nats are well stocked on the left side of the infield, and perhaps Neuse is going to an organization where he can advance more quickly. Good luck to him. Plus as we say with anyone traded to the A’s, if he turns out to be good, we can always get him back!

    2. Count me as 100% all in favor of this trade, especially because the two guys the Nats obtained are both under control for at least another season and it isn’t like they’ve got anybody coming up who will be ready to pitch in relief next year. Unlike Rivero, for Treinen it’s a classic change of scenery deal. He may revert to being effective again, but the Nats couldn’t afford to wait for that to happen.

      Now they just need to acquire another starting pitcher. I actually would not be adverse to them trading Robles for a good return. Even assuming he can stay healthy with all the times he gets beaned, this year he doesn’t look like as much of a lock to be an elite player as he did last year.

      1. Robles was way too much to trade for a reliever, but I’d be on board with him leaving in exchange for a stud, controlled starter like Stroman or Fulmer. (I’d also include him in my dream trade for Bumgarner, but that ain’t happenin’.) If the Nats started a Stroman or Fulmer conversation with Robles and Fedde, teams would have to listen. Not holding my breath on it, though.

        1. I don’t see the compelling need for a 5th starter. Certainly, not a big enough need to deal Robles (or Fedde or Soto).

          With their present roster, the Nats will win the division should they not make another move. Even if they acquired Stroman or Fulmer, the Nats aren’t catching the Dodgers. So, the Nats will be the NL #2 seed, with or without another trade.

          Further, while I like both Stroman and Fulmer either one would be the Nats’ #3 at best and likely #4 starter in the playoffs (and it’s entirely possible that by the end of the year, Stroman and Fulmer would be behind Roark, not get a playoff start at all). Really don’t see the point of giving up a top prospect for any player that may not contribute in the playoffs.

          I can see picking up a 5th starter for a lesser prospect to eat up innings in August and September, but don’t think there is a starting pitcher available on the trade market that would be an obvious upgrade over the Nats current top 4.

          1. Go big or go home. If the Nats don’t win the title this year or next, they may not have a chance again for years.

          2. All for going for it, but I don’t see the missing piece is a 5th starter. The Nats starting pitching has been about the best in baseball this year. Even with the additions of Doolittle and Madson, the Nats likely still need a closer or at least another solid bullpen arm.

            Also, don’t agree that the Nats window is closing. As long as they have Scherzer and Strasburg on top of the rotation and on top of their games, the Nats will be contenders. Also, think the Nats have a good chance of retaining Boras’ clients Harper and Rendon when each become a FA. Trea Tuner will be a star, Adam Eaton is under team control for 3 more years, and Michael Taylor looks like he may be a legit piece to a winning team. Robles may by up with the Nats by the end of next year. The Nats have some nice pieces either locked up for awhile or controllable for awhile.

            Plus, no else in the division looks particularly close to threatening the Nats. The Braves have made progress, but it has been built on players older than the Nats core (Freeman, Phillips, Markakis, Kemp, Dickey, Jim Johnson). The Braves really have no young emerging stars.

          3. “Windows” are curious beasts. I thought the Cub pitching was miraculously good last year, but there was no way to predict the descent into mediocrity this year, or them mortgaging the farm yet again to get a high-profile starter. The Giants had locked up a number of their players, only to see everything go south this year all at once, as it did for the Phillies a few years ago.

            With Max, Stras, Roark, Rendon (in his last Nat year unless he re-signs), Eaton, and Turner still here in ’19, the Nats won’t fall of the edge of the Earth. They will probably still be the NL East favorites, with the rest of the division in such multi-year disarray. (The Braves do have a good collection of prospects.) Rizzo has tried to make a number of moves with an eye on keeping the “window” open, with the Max and Stras contracts and the Turner/Ross and Eaton deals. It will also take that long for the Robles of the world to start arriving.

            At the same time, there’s no denying what Karl is saying: the peak of chances is here and now, ’17 and ’18. You’ve got to keep some (prospect) assets for the future, but at some point, you’ve got to push more chips in and go for it. On top of that, Ted Lerner will turn 92 in October. None of us are getting any younger, but particularly so for him.

            I’m not sure what they still need. Get Madsen and Doolittle in the mix before figuring out whether you really need a closer. I’d like for Fedde to get a look before they decide whether they need a starter, but it looks like EJax is getting the first look. A lot also depends on whether Roark can be righted, although he looked good over the weekend.

  2. Have the Nats updated the status of Carter Kieboom? He last played on May 12. That almost 10 weeks ago. Realize that it’s smart to play it safe with a hamstring, but missing 2 months+ from a muscle pull is unusual.

    1. I don’t know who to be more worried about: Kieboom or Soto.

      Soto came back, hit miserably in a few GCL rehab appearances (1 for 13), and went right back on the DL.

      This is amounting to a wasted year for our two most promising prospects.

    2. Pilchard I so agree with your comment about window not closing .
      18 year olds who experience A minus are not wasting time
      The crystal ball may show how fast Crowe climbs the ladder .
      Interesting how Eaton injury has opened PT for Goodwin , Difo ( Turner wrist DL) and Taylor earlier .
      And the Nats were up 8-9 games with a syrupy bullpen before the anticipated Billy Beane July gift .
      All is good

  3. Victor Robles pulled. No HBP. Hard to believe they would not send him for Sale, but would send him for a reliever.

    1. Robles pulled for a baserunning mistake, apparently, per Ken Rosenthal on twitter…..

        1. Luke has seem him a lot more than I have, but my impression is that he does things like this nearly every game . . . which is likely part of the reason he isn’t in AA yet. He’s very aggressive, to the point of recklessness, every time he’s on the bases.

          1. Yes, maybe not every game but far more often than a cursory glance at the stats would indicate – remember not all pickoffs are scored as a caught stealing, for example. He is fast, but I’ve seen faster, but I can only think of one guy who was more reckless (Marcos Agramonte) and that inarguably one of the reasons he was in the independent leagues.

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