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Monday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Syracuse Won, 4-2 OFF DAY N/A
Harrisburg Won, 6-5 OFF DAY N/A
Potomac Won, 4-2 ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Hagerstown Lost, 8-2 ALL-STAR BREAK N/A
Auburn Won, 10-8 @ Williamsport,
2:00 p.m.		 F. Peguero (DNP in ’17) vs.
Ju. Escorcia (DNP in ’17)
GCL Nationals Love was such an easy game to play vs. GCL Marlins,
12:00 p.m.		  

Syracuse 4 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2
• Milone 5⅔ IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 9K
• Smith (W, 2-2) 1⅓ IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 1-1 IR-S
• Cordero (SV, 3) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Reynolds 2-4, R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Marmolejos 1-4, R, HR, RBI

The Chiefs got homers from Matt Reynolds and Jose “Orange” Marmolejos as they broke an eight-game losing streak with a 4-2 win over the RailRiders. Tommy Milone pitched into 6th, giving up both Scranwon/Wilkes-Barre runs on five hits and a walk while tying his season high of nine strikeouts. Four relievers combined for three and a 1/3rd innings of scoreless relief, though winning pitcher Chris Smith did allow his only inherited runner to score. Jimmy Cordero worked around a single in the 9th to pick up the save, his third. Roster move: IF Matt Reynolds activated from the 7-Day DL.

Harrisburg 6 Richmond 5
• McGowin (W, 4-1) 6IP, 7H, 4R, 3ER, BB, 9K, HR, HBP; 1-1, R, 2BB
• Fleck 1⅓ IP, 0H, 0R, BB, 3K
• Jones 2-4, 2R, RBI
• Gamache 2-4, 2B, 3B, BB, 3RBI, E(5)

Harrisburg broke open a 2-1 game with a four-run 4th and held on for a 6-5 win to take the series, 2-1. Kyle McGowin won for the fourth time with six innings pitched, four runs allowed onn seven hits, including a HR, and a walk. He struck out nine. At the plate, he reached three times with a single and two walks. Dan Gamache, who lost a five-game hit streak on Saturday, doubled, tripled, walked, and drove in three to lead the Senators offense. Roster move: RHP Logan Darnell reassigned from Syracuse.

Potomac 4 Buies Creek 2
• Sharp (W, 5-3) 6IP, 3H, R, ER, 2BB, 6K, HBP
• Bourque (SV, 3) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K
• Sagdal 2-2, R, 2B, 2BB
• Keller 1-3, R, BB

The P-Nats closed out the first half with a 4-2 win over the Astros. Sterling Sharp racked up another quality start with one run let in on three hits and two walks while striking out six for his fifth “W.” The save went to James Bourque with a 1-2-3 ninth. Ian Sagdal singled, doubled, and walked twice while Alec Keller singled and walked to pace the seven-hit, six-walk offense for Potomac.

Columbia 8 Hagerstown 2
• Romero 4IP, 2H, 2R, 0ER, 2BB, 6K
• Lee (L, 2-1) ⅔ IP, 1H, 3R, 3ER, 5BB, 0K, 0HR
• Corredor 2-4, R, 3B
• Scudder 1-3, 2B, BB, RBI

Andrew Lee retired just two of eight batters in Columbia’s three-run 5th as Hagerstown dropped the series finale, 8-2. Seth Romer made his third start and made it through four innings on 66 pitches, giving up two unearned runs on two hits and two walks while striking out six. Lee suffered his first loss while walking five and giving up a double over 2/3rds of an inning. Aldrem Corredor singled and tripled to lead the Suns’ hit column of just six.

Auburn 10 Batavia 8
• Galindez 4⅔ IP, 7H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 5K, BK
• N. Ramirez (W, 1-0) 2⅓ IP, 2H, R, ER, BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Zwetsch (SV, 1) 1IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Rhinesmith 4-5, 3R, 2-2B, 2RBI
• Blash 3-5, 2R, 2B, HR, 3RBI
• Jo. Sanchez 2-4, 2R, 2B

Telmito Agustin’s two-run double capped off a four-run 8th as the Doubledays outslugged the Muckdogs, 10-8 to take the series, 2-1. Nelson Galindez got the start but was knocked from the box after four and 2/3rds innings and four lets allowed on seven hits and two walks while striking out five. Nector Ramirez was the pitcher of record, having pitched two and 1/3rd innings with one run let in on two hits and a walk, though he did strand two in the 6th. Connor Zwetsch worked around a one-out double in the 9th to earn the save. 18th-Rd. pick Jacob Rhinesmith singled twice and doubled twice in five trips to the plate while Jamori Blash missed the cycle while going 3-for-5; the two combined to drive in five.

GCL Nationals – Opening Day
The G-Nats begin the defense of their 2017 GCL East title today as they host Marlins. Then it’s the Mets, Cardinals, and Astros. Repeat that sequence 13 times, mix up the venues, and that’s a total of 56 games through August 25.

33 Commments

  1. Fourth straight good start for Milone, who is finally starting to look like an MLB option again. (Speaking of which, the Nats need a fill-in starter on Tuesday; more likely someone on the 40-man, though, like J-Rod or Voth.)

    Very good to see Blash stepping up. He’s apparently a chiseled dude and has a brother with MLB experience. Rhinesmith also steps out to mark himself as someone to watch.

    Should be an interesting week on the farm front as the A & A+ AS games should lead to some roster shuffling at A/A+/AA, plus GCL starts (and perhaps will finally show a full roster). Hoping OFs Connell and Senior and recovering pitcher Ryan Williamson can move up quickly from GCL. Wonderfully named Leif Storm is a huge draftee from last year who has yet to debut.

  2. Talking with a Suns fan in 8 th IP @ lightly attended Sunday game about Nick Banks probably near a promotion , I raised the name of Rhinesmith as a possible kid who would motor over from Auburn .
    Jared Johnson considering Lee did not reach his hoped for pitch count did a nice job in his stint. .
    What comp could we give Omar Meregildo ? A beggars hoped for Howie Kendrick ??

    1. Luke now GCL squad might just fill up with excess 2018 June picks plus some of those XST/TBD kids??

      1. Get a load of 6’5 230 pound Nicauraguan RHP Rodney Theophile. Which scout for Nats
        Covers Nicauragua ??
        Looks like the lefty swinging L.E.
        OF bumped to GCL from DSL?
        Nice to see Sosa and Sanfler stateside now

    2. With Esthay at .195, Upshaw at .196, and Corredor a 1B holding a strange glove in LF, I don’t know that there’s anyone in the Hags OF other than Banks who is standing in the way of anyone else. I liked the looks of the trio of college OF draftees from ’18, Canning, Wilson, and Rhinesmith. I would think that with the logjam of OFs at Auburn (eight listed on the roster), the plan is to move some up, over, or out pretty quickly (starting with Agustin back to Potomac, probably with Wiseman up to AA with both Agustin and Banks joining Potomac). They’ve also got two OFs in Connell and Senior at GCL who could be knocking on the Auburn door with good starts.

      1. Oliver Ortiz should see Hags again
        Corredor broke two bats Sunday
        The final Latin RHP for Columbia Sunday receives a Oruiles Michael Gibbons comp

      2. I am sure Anderson Franco’s eyebrows raised up hearing Kelvin G traded
        Chisholm a possible guy to push up behind those Lefty bats below Mendoza / Crash Davis 2018 line. ?

  3. While he has given up 3 HRs and 10 hits through his first 3 outings, Romero has 15Ks in 9.2 IP. Shows that he has swing and miss stuff.

    Got to believe that Agustin’s stay in Auburn is about over. He was raking in Potomac (OPS over 1.000) before his injury.

    Feel much better about the Nats farm system than any time in the last two years. Will be interesting to see what trades Rizzo makes over the next month (Nats need a catcher, bullpen help and possibly another starter; if Murphy can’t return to 2B; they may need a middle infielder) and how those deals change the look of the organization.

    1. It’s that time of the year again to trade away our best pitching prospects for short term pitching rentals so that we can continue this perpetual cycle of never having adequate pitching depth.

      Imagine a world where Felipe Vazquez and Blake Treinen are holding down spots in the bullpen. Reynaldo Lopez and Nick Pivetta in the rotation, and Dane Dunning, Jesus Luzardo, Taylor Hearn, McKenzie Mills, Pedro Avila, and Tyler Watson all waiting in the wings to prove themselves.

      Maybe for a change, we should buy some free agents in the offseason, rather than panicking mid-season and giving away any arm that might have a future for a (bad) quick fix like Papelbon, Melancon, Rzepczynski, Kintzler, Latos, etc.

      1. Pivetta has blossomed in improved phils club. Maybe the cheesesteak
        Sandwiches agree with him. That reminds me of a four hour delay in Philly where Kevin Gross was pitching for Expos

      2. Herrera is not a rental . This may mean Carter Kieboom better get his
        Way over to Harrisburg .
        Potomac outfield changes with one of my favorite guys Blake Perkins
        Over to athletic Royals system . Moore gets a promising one in Morel. Herrera much welcomed .
        Glad we did not trade Blake for Voigt.
        Nick Banks move on up to Potomac !

    2. I don’t think Murphy will anchor 2b again.
      Out of the box question : have we ever seen a summer Visa given to a DSL kid to bump up to GCL much??
      Braian may deserve one.

    3. I’m encouraged by Romero so far. Given his lack of ST and long layoff afterward, I expect him to struggle a bit for the 1st 5 or 6 starts, then to show what he really is.

    5. Pilchard : what multi position IF would be worth Rizzo calling speed dial to inquire ?? Jed Lowry with Jon LuCroy?? Maybe a Ranger IF Andrus makes expendable ?
      Kelvin G is gone. Empty hole in Sens
      Two hole so Kieboom seems like perfect fit.
      Awaiting healthy DJ and Agustin to make Sens even more lethal on City Isle
      Luke , any word on the restricted list for Grant DeBruin on Potomac list?

      2. I’d rather see Rizzo give Beane Robles and pull out the Nats new catcher A’s AA catcher Sean Murphy. Be worth another decent prospect that caught Beane’s eye or at least a catcher like Raudy Read … were it not for Robles injury and Read’s suspension.

  4. Reading the tea leaves on the lower minors…

    I don’t recall the Nationals making in season promotions of position players (there have been pitchers like J Peguero, and the promotions have not necessarily taken off), although I also don’t recall players batting .400 for extended periods, either. Braian is hitting out of his mind!

    The DSL (Diesel) Nats are roaring out of the gate with unheralded 2017 signees, so there’s a great HS draft. The promotions from the DSL to the GCL (Geecel 🙂 Nats include some social promotions like Bencosme (who was once a big ticket signee), F Perez, L. Pena, Sanfler, and 2017 higher performers (Adon, N. Gomez, R Gomez, Segura, Hernandez – who had excelled, J Morales, Aquino), but also surprise graduates who were not socially promoted and so they must have turned a corner (Coello – 19 yo 6’5).

    GCL catching is clearly a casting call for someone to step up, with unassigned 2018 draftees and even late rounder Jack Haney high schooler reportedly in the wings if anyone falters.

    Special attention on this day goes to Yohanse Morel, a signee from 2017 who got promoted despite getting hit in his DSL debut this month, and Theophile, signed less than three weeks ago and only 18 out of Nicaragua. As our discerning Jeff noted, he must have been hidden under some sort of chicken truck and snagged in time for the split season – skipping the DSL! Leandro Emiliani stood out among the 2017 draftees in workouts and was rewarded with starting and batting third on opening day in the GCL. Last year it was five (!) signees from a big spending haul who debuted in the USA. They all started, and they all made it, on a team that finished first. All have moved up a level (3) or two (Garcia and Antuna), and Garcia is now poised to be in Potomac by next year or even by late this year, depending on the room needing to be made. If this year, with less budget it is three (and lower budget three) who debut from the international draft, not bad. But let’s see how often they actually play. There’s a good amount of talent there and at Auburn, and holding other talent at GCL.

    Auburn has started nicely, which is all the better when we consider that the more heralded 2018 draftees have not even landed yet. And the first name to know is Malvin Pena. Every year there is a pitcher who steps up his game who gets unveiled in the short season, and this year, on opening night, it was Pena.

    The dogfight is in the outfield, with holdovers who deserve a chance battling three draftees, also from college programs. The real winners take over when Hagerstown underperformers run out of chances. Waiting in the wings are people like Justin Connell, a surprise repeat at GCL with an 11th round pedigree. Infielders look to have a chance to establish themselves before other competition shows up, and of course, Sanchez, Mendez, and Pineda move up from their inaugural success at GCL. Lots of folks to watch, even as we have a few from 2017 who are catching the eye as well.

    1. Gil steely dan sang : Gathering up the tea leaves have you had enough of mine….
      THe first of maybe two or three trades before 7/31 opens up our minds to what may come next.
      I still believe Beane signed LuCroy as a favor to Rizzo who has him on super high speed dial for July trade .
      Anybody off Oakland Rizzo should include ?
      Harrisburg minus KelvinG: Norfolk , Ward, Kieboom play around the hot corner?
      Sundberg mans Keister’s CF/ leadoff spot? Gil, could we see Meijia / Sagdal bump up with Banks , Garcia, Corredor to W-bridge ( Potomac is truly the bridge to WASH??
      Would this be a push.? The recently signed ND Irish SS making his way to Hags after a push on Garcia ??
      Harper may be out the door so we have to think outside the box big time .
      Glad to see Nats raising the scouting game in DR and NIC, VENZ. ( that place most kids want out for any price offered by Nats. Sad story in Venezuela)
      If Harper exits in off season he takes a lot of swagger out of Nats. Murphy’s health is very disconcerting.
      Kendrick is so missed but the time table upset on Robles equals that .
      Has anybody second guessed brass for letting Dusty go along with Sweet’s hitting philosophy because this Kevin Long lift& launch philosophy seems to have brought down several players games most notably Turner the burner.
      Too much coffee and sugar this am?
      Perhaps.
      Shoot the birds tonight. Go Voth!
      Showcase for Oakland deal ? Lol

  5. and of course, I meant signees, not draftees. And note the Nats do no promote position players within season from DSL to stateside.

      1. Would Garcia move up to Potomac once brass has a thumbs up or down on Meijia, Gil?

  6. Seth Romero continues to rack up Ks. I think he’s probably a bit cursed playing in the Sally League. The umpires down there have extremely tight strike zones from what I can tell. Oddly it looks like all our started were in the zone on Sunday with strikeouts galore. That’s a great thing!

  8. Can’t say that anyone knew Morel would have been expected to be THAT interesting! Room now for Agustin to return and for Banks to climb. Perkins replaceable, as was Gutierrez. Ward back to 3b?

    Obviously someone likes the Nats system more than the pundits do. Now let’s see if that brings back a catcher.

    1. Drayton Moore saw placing one of the family in a good spot. Moore acting like a former Expo soldier- seed the farm with guys who may never reach KC. Why not he thought .

    2. Drayton Moore saw placing one of the family in a good spot. Moore acting like a former Expo soldier- seed the farm with guys who may never reach KC. Why not he thought .

      Gil, far fetched to think about Blash and Rhinesmith reaching Hags this summer?

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