Nats Unable to Overcome Errors, Lose Again, 3-1
Three errors rendered all three Marlins runs unearned in a 3-1 win over the Nationals.
Tanner Roark retired the side in the 1st and worked around a leadoff Robles HBP with a double play before giving up a two-out double. Back-to-back errors by Anthony Rendon extended the inning and led to two unearned runs.
Roark would suffer the loss and needed 43 pitches to get through the two innings.
Victor Robles and Jose Marmolejos got the start in place of Bryce Harper (ingrown toenail) and Ryan Zimmerman (“soreness”) in right field and first base, respectively. The two combined to go 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
Here’s how the Watchlist players did:
● Kelvin Gutierrez pinch-hit for the starting DH (Wilmer Difo) and walked, singled, and scored the only Nats run.
● Andrew Stevenson subbed for Robles in RF and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout.
● Rafael Bautista followed Michael Taylor in CF and was 1-for-2 with a whiff.
● Osvaldo Abreu took over 2B from Howie Kendrick but was hitless in two AB’s.
● Jefry Rodriguez walked two and struck out one while pitching a scoreless 6th.
Gutierrez’s and Bautista’s singles were the first hit of the spring for both players. Robles and Marmolejos are tied with Moises Alou for the most hits this spring with four (4).
The Nats return to the House of Mouse to take on the Bra ves (split squad). A.J. Cole is scheduled to pitch. The game can be heard on MLB Audio, Atlanta feed.
Moises Sierra has four hits. It would be a great story if it was 51-year-old Moises Alou, although I imagine he can still hit! And heck, he’d probably still be faster than Marmolejos and Adams in the OF.
Moises Sierra hasn’t appeared in the majors since 2014, although he’s hit pretty well in Miami’s system for the last couple of years. I’m not sure why the Nats need another OF at AAA, though, with Robles (could be at AA), Stevenson, Bautista, Raburn, and Yadiel Hernandez all in the picture and with Marmolejos getting OF reps as well.
Speaking of which, have there been any Yadiel Hernandez sightings this spring?
Not yet. Awaiting his call over from b fields to play some road trips with the bus rides
Not sure what Hernandez has to do to earn more attention. He hit well last year at AA, particularly in the second half. He’s already 30. They paid him a $200K bonus, not huge, but not insignificant.
Other than promote Yadiel Hernandez to AAA (which is likely), what else are you looking for the Nats to do with him right now?
He is corner OF with a decent bat, but limited power and almost no speed; hard to think of a comparably skilled MLB player with anything other than a journeyman role. The Nats have far better/younger/more skilled OF prospects, and with roster spots a precious commodity, there would be no point to putting him on the 40 man roster until the have to. If Yadiel tears it up in AAA, maybe he could be a trade piece, but it appears his ceiling is as a reserve OF/PH, which he has yet to earn.
Also, yes, the Nats gave Yadiel a $200K bonus, but barring a catastrophic confluence of OF injuries, there’s is zero chance he plays any big league role, until September (and it’s even very unlikely then); don’t see the rational of giving him an active spring training role right now.
I just thought he would get a camp invite. Not lobbying that he’s a major-leaguer. I do think he has a better MLB-potential bat than Bautista. No, I don’t think Hernandez will end up in the majors this year, but then I didn’t think Sanchez would be anywhere near the majors last year, either. You never know.
Luke, I want to echo Wally and say thanks for these daily writeups again. The off-season was sooo slow it made everything seem longer.
Could someone help me with Kevin Gutierriz, I don’t really have a handle on him at all. Prospect, suspect, just have no idea.
Kelvin G still awaiting long awaited power production or just another
Estarlin Martinez. Baseball reference a good tool.
I haven’t seen him firsthand, but I suspect others here have. Based on reports, My take is good glove, decent speed, and contact but no power. But he isn’t a small guy, which led to my suggestion on Long. Sickels has him #17:
“17) Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B, Grade C+: Age 23, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2012; added to 40-man roster; hit .288/.347/.414 with two homers, 19 walks, 59 strikeouts in 222 at-bats in High-A, missing much of season with ankle injury; superior defensive third baseman with above-average range and dramatically improved reliability over the last year; still learning to tap his power but has more sock than hitting just two homers implies; ETA 2020.”
Gutierrez plays a corner position but has only seven HRs total after five pro seasons and nearly 1,500 plate appearances. When you walk into the stadium, he’s the first player you look up on the scorecard, as he has an MLB physique. He has a strong arm, but unless the power comes, I’m curious to see if they start giving him some time at 2B. Maybe Kevin Long and his launch angles can help unlock the power.
FWIW, the Nats thought enough of Gutierrez to put him on the 40-man over Drew Ward.
It’s doubtful Gutierrez would ever see time at 2B; I’d put more (Monopoly) money on him shifting 1B or LF. Power is a funny thing. We can all think of someone who was built like bodybuilder and had warning-track power, then you can find guys built like a postal clerk (e.g. Dan Johnson today, Aaron, Mays, Musial, Yasztremski back in the day) who can outslug them. Scouts keep saying though that the power will come with Gutierrez; we can only hope.