Friday’s News & Notes
Team | Yesterday | Today | Probable Pitchers |
Syracuse | Lost, 5-1 | vs. Buffalo, 7:05 p.m. |
J. Turner (2-5, 5.19) vs. Rowley (3-5, 2.79) |
Harrisburg | Lost, 6-5 | @ Altoona, 6:00 p.m. |
Dragmire (4-1, 2.93) vs. Keller (1-2, 3.77) |
Potomac | Lost, 5-1 | @ Frederick, 7:00 p.m. |
Baez (4-8, 3.86) vs. B. Gonzalez (5-7, 5.05) |
Hagerstown | Won, 9-6 | vs. Lexington, 7:05 p.m. |
Ramirez (1-2, 5.19) vs. N. Watson (1-10, 6.75) |
Auburn | Lost, 3-1 | vs. West Virginia, 7:05 p.m. |
Guillen (0-1, 4.50) vs. G. Wallace (2-2, 2.25) |
GCL Nationals | Won, 7-5 | @ GCL Marlins, 12:00 p.m. |
Lehigh Valley 5 Syracuse 1
• Valdez 1⅓ 0IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Bautista 1-4, R
• Stevenson 1-4, RBI
• Skole 0-4, 2K
• Severino 0-3, BB
Syracuse tied it at 1-1 then opened up a donut shop on the bottom of the scoreboard in a 5-1 loss to Lehigh Valley.
Akron 6 Harrisburg 5
• G. Ross (L, 5-4) 7+ IP, 6H, 4R, 3ER, BB, 9K
• Robinson (BS, 4) 2IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 2K, 3-3 IR-S
• Joseph 1-3, R
• Hernandez 1-3, R, HR, BB, RBI, SB
• Ward 1-4, 2B, RBI
The Senators returned the favor from Wednesday night as they coughed up five in the 8th in a 6-5 loss to the RubberDucks. Greg Ross was pushed three batters too far as he left with the bases loaded and nobody out and a 2-1 lead. Andrew Robinson blew his fourth save as he emptied the bases then let in two of his own runs on three hits and a walk. Yadiel Hernandez homered, walked, and stole a base as Harrisburg made the most of its six hits and four walks. Victor Robles returned the to the lineup and went 1-for-5 with a run scored and a stolen base.
Lynchburg 5 Potomac 1
• Sharp 5IP, 6H, R, ER, 2BB, 7K, HR, WP
• Orlan (L, 2-1) 2IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 2K
• Reetz 1-3, BB, SB
• Sundberg 1-4, RBI
Lynchburg completed the sweep of Potomac with a 5-1 and eliminated them from the playoffs. Sterling Sharp held the Hillcats to one run (albeit on a home run) and six hits total over five innings. He walked two and struck out seven in the no-decision. R.C. Orlan was pegged with the loss as he gave up deciding run in the 7th. Jakson Reetz was the sole P-Nats batter to reach base twice with a walk (one of two) and a single (one of five hits).
Hagerstown 9 Delmarva 6
• B. Hill 3⅔ IP, 7H, 5R, 4ER, 0BB, 4K
• Bogucki (W, 4-2) 3⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 5K, 1-0 IR-S
• Barrera 3-4, 2R, 2B, 3B, HR, 5RBI
• Perkins 3-4, 3R, HR, 2RBI
• Banks 3-4, 2B, 2RBI
The Suns staved off elimination with a 9-6 win over Delmarva. Brigham Hill was sent packing after three and 2/3rds innings, charged with the first five Shorebirds runs on seven hits and no walks. He struck out four. A.J. Bogucki picked up the win with three and a 1/3rd scoreless innings pitched, with two hits allowed, no walks, and five K’s. Tres Barrera drove in five while finishing a single shy of the cycle while Blake Perkins and Nick Banks both went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
West Virginia 3 Auburn 1
• Crowe 3IP, 1H, R, ER, 0BB, 4K, HR
• Rishwain 3IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 3K
• McKinney (L, 1-2) 3IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 3BB, 3K
• Upshaw 2-4, R, 2B
• Jo. Ramirez 2-4
• Pryor 2-4, SB, CS
Auburn outhit West Virginia 9-6 but the Black Bears outscored the Doubledays, 3-1 to take the series opener. Wil Crowe gave up a homer over three innings while walking none and striking out four in a no-decision. Michael Rishwain followed with three scoreless before Jeremy McKinney was clawed for two runs on five hits over the final three innings to take the loss. Armond Upshaw, Joshual Ramirez, and Jonathan Pryor each went 2-for-4 to lead the Auburn offense.
GCL Nationals 7 GCL Mets 5
• M. Pena 4IP, 7H, 5R, 5ER, 2BB, 8K, 2HR
• Adler (W, 3-0) 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• R. Mendez 2-4, R, 2-2B, BB, RBI
• Soto 2-3, RBI
• L. Garcia 2-4, R, RBI
The G-Nats scored four times in the 8th to erase a 5-3 deficit and secure the GCL East Division title with a 7-5 win over the G-Mets. Malvin Pena recovered from a five-run 1st to pitch three more scoreless innings. He gave up seven hits (two homers), walked two, and struck out eight. Sean Adler picked up the win as he got the last four outs in order. Ricardo Mendez doubled twice, scored once, walked once, and drove in a run to lead the G-Nats’ attack.
Nice late-season surges from Barrera and Banks, who have 15 and 16 hits respectively over their last 10 games. (And yes, I know that I shouldn’t mention a Longhorn and an Aggie in the same sentence!)
Bogucki has a 1.78 ERA over his last 10 appearances, and no runs in his last five (covering 13 IP), getting his season number down to 3.11. I hope he gets another look as a starter next year at Potomac.
Wil Crowe has now pitched in eight games as a pro and has been solid in all but one of him. With his age already a factor (turning 23 next week), I wonder whether the Nats will be tempted to start him at Potomac next season. Romero is a year and a half younger, so there’s not as much rush to move him up.
the club’s history would mean Hagerstown at best for Crowe and Romero. not that they would hesitate to promote after seeing success.
And between Crowe in one slot on staff and Romero as the closer Nats stuff? Gilabeau , Sharp, Jefry-Rod, Baez and Reyes?
That leaves Silvestre, Borne, joining Crownover in Burg with dragmire , Ross and two guys fresh from AFL and a possible new pitch learned – McGowin and Williams. Despite Williams not having a solid put away pitch. He did walk 18 in 86 IP between two levels .
Interesting to see how Troop, Y. Ramirez and Raquet fare in early 18 for Suns.
KW. Imagine if Baylor Bear Nathan Esthay joins Texas school alums on Potomac next season along with Texas Longhorn Kyle Johnston
Ricardo Mendez age 17 leading off for GCL Nats
I could not help last night watching trea the burner Turner raise my eye brows think about Tim Raines admission T2 is his favorite player to watch. Again maybe Rock could work with Armond Upshaw.
Raines, when on with Bob and FP earlier this week, said he really felt Turner compared favorably to himself.
Had Turner not broken his wrist, he might have stole 1oo bases this year–he was ahead of Rickey Henderson’s record pace of 130 during the month of June. Maybe next year.
while the Latin American recruiting justifiably took a lot of heat for a few years, I think most all would agree they have their stuff together now.
Y Ramirez on bump for Suns tonight. Baez for POTNATS inFred.
Guesses for Saturday ?? I can’t spend my dollars to see Austen Williams pitch again. Borne still on 7 day DL?? Silvestre?
One could argue that the Nats’ Latin success rate over the last few years has been at least as good as their draft success rate, if not better. There are some real apples-to-oranges factors that would make a direct comparison difficult, though. And the drafts of 2012-14 are looking pretty bad, with recent ones seemingly better.
Notice Felix Tavares sat on Auburn roster all season ??
2012 to 2014 breakdown:
2012: The Nats went all-in on Lucas Giolito spending over-slot ($2.9 million). He was the #1 pitching prospect in baseball, and they were able to flip him for Adam Eaton, who will be at least a 4 year productive player for the Nats at a bargain price. The only other players in that draft that they spent more than $100K on are Tony Renda ($500K), who has played in MLB for the Reds, and who the Nats flipped for a MLB pitcher (David Carpenter) and Spencer Kieboom, who may still make MLB. Not that a bad draft
2013: Nats paid more than $175K for 4 players:
Nick Pivetta – who they flipped for Jon Papelbon. Despite being a clubhouse disaster, at the time, the Nats acquired a serviceable MLB asset who did close for a year.
Austin Voth – Until this year, looked like a solid asset. Career with the Nats probably about to sunset, but looked like he was headed for an MLB call-up heading into the season.
Drew Ward – HS position player. Taken a long time to develop. Time is running out, but still could become an MLB player.
Jake Johansen – Bust. That said, the Nats first pick in the 2013 draft was #68. Admittedly not a great draft, but with no pick in either round 1 or round 2, it was a longshot to acquire productive MLB talent in that draft, and the Nats didn’t expend a lot of resources. Not a great draft, but the Nats had little to work with.
2014:
Like 2012, the Nats went all-in on Eric Fedde for $2.5 million. He has reached MLB, and is considered a top prospect in the game. While the jury is still out, a pretty strong pick. The Nats also paid over-slot for McKenzie Mills, who blew up this year, and the Nats then flipped him for Howie Kendrick, who may turn out to be a key piece on a special team.
After Fedde, paid $800K to Jackson Reetz, which looks like a bad investment at this point; $233K on Austen Williams, which despite the AZFL assignment looks like a waste, and $400 K on Robbie Dickey, which also appears to be a mistake. Even so, the Nats picked 18th, and ended up with an elite pitching prospect and Howie Kendrick. Not too bad.
They have it together with finding Dollar General bargains along the way. $100K or even less in many cases
Acevedo 3 IP followed by Nick Lee one frame. DeLos Santos hung with loss. Kelvin G 1 double. Edwin Ventura. 3 hits.
Big key. 3 errors
Acevedo 3 IP followed by Nick Lee one frame. DeLos Santos hung with loss. Kelvin G 1 double. Edwin Ventura. 3 hits.
Big key. 3 errors
Looks like DeRosier for Suns on Saturday and AW for POTNATS on Saturday
Pedro Avila has been replaced with the promise on auburn roster and GCL.
Do the Nats have a domestic violence policy , Luke, in the afterwash of Derrick Norris narrative ?
Some more BP scouting reports up. This time Raudy Read:
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_bat.php?reportid=491
A pretty accurate report by all accounts. Questionable defense combined with good power. All in all a pretty positive report.
They also did one for former Nats farmhand Pedro Avila: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_pit.php?reportid=540
It too is rather positive.
Nats call-up Raudy Reed (Severino not eligible to be recalled until Sunday; Nats want 3 catchers; not clear if he will stay with the team when/if Severino is recalled).
Gushue called up to foresee 2018 April with him in lineup middle
Too bad auburn doesn’t have two weeks left in season instead of 3 games for the bats warming up
Especially Nick Choruby with his on base pct. that’s where post season camp comes in.
Thank you.