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Friday’s News & Notes

Auburn got the sole win on Thursday, keeping its playoff hopes alive.

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Matchup
Syracuse Lost, 3-2 vs. Buffalo, 7:05 p.m. Valdez (5-7, 2.76) vs. Cumpton (2-4, 5.59)
Harrisburg Lost, 15-7 @ Richmond, 7:05 p.m. Vargas (1-1, 4.33) vs. McCasland (4-7, 4.79)
Potomac Lost, 3-0 @ Wilmington, 7:05 p.m. Tetreault (0-1, 6.32) vs. Tillo (3-4, 4.32)
Hagerstown Lost, 5-1 vs. Kannapolis, 7:05 p.m. Alastre (4-7, 5.29) vs. TBD
Auburn Lost, 7-2;
Won, 5-2		 vs. Williamsport, 6:30 p.m. N. Gomez (1-1, 3.38) vs. Brown (0-1, 5.40)

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 2 Syracuse 1
• Fedde 6IP, 6H, R, ER, BB, 3K
• Adams (BS, 1; L, 1-4) ⅔ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, K
• Sierra 2-4, CS
• Falu 0-1, 2BB

Syracuse took another step towards defending its title as the I.L.’s worst by turning a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 loss with two runs in the 9th. The meltdown by Austin Adams, who blew his first save and lost his fourth game, gave Erick Fedde a no-decision. Fedde had tossed six innings of one-run ball on six hits and a walk while striking out three. The Chiefs collected eight hits, led by Moises Sierra’s 2-for-4 night, and two walks (both by Irving Falu) and left on five baserunners.

Erie 15 Harrisburg 7
• Crowe (L, 0-5) 4⅓ IP, 7H, 9R, 5ER, 5BB, 3K, 94-47 PIT-K
• R. Pena 1IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 2K
• Gamache 3-5, 2R, 2B, 2RBI
• Read 2-4, 2R, BB, HR(3), RBI, E(4), 2PB(7)
• H. Jones 2-4, RBI

The Sens’ modest four-game win streak came to a halt with a 15-7 plundering by the Seawolves. WiLLLLL Crowe gave up the first nine runs on seven hits and five walks over four and a 1/3rd innings for his fifth loss in five AA starts. Jordan Mill and Jhon Romero gave up the next six runs before Ronald Pena stopped the beating with a scoreless 8th inning. Dan Gamache led the Harrisburg counterattack with two singles, a double, two runs, and two RBI followed by Raudy Read, who singled, homered, and walked.

Frederick 3 Potomac 0
• Crownover (L, 5-9) 5IP, 4H, 2R, 2ER, BB, 3K, HBP
• Howard 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 1K
• Sundburg 1-3
• Garcia 1-3, E(6)

Turnabout is fair play as Frederick prevented the sweep with a two-hit, 3-0 shutout of Potomac. Any thoughts of a second straight no-hitter were gone with a two-out single in the 2nd as Matt Crownover suffered the loss with the first two runs allowed on four hits and a walk over four innings. The P-Nats were almost perfect gentlemen on offense, though they tried twice to get to second base and were thrown out both times. Jack Sundberg and Luis Garcia accounted for the two singles while Andruw Monasterio drew the only walk.

West Virginia 5 Hagerstown 1
• Lee (L, 4-5) 6IP, 2H, 2R, 1ER, 1BB, 6K, WP
• Pantoja 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Freeman 4-4, R, 2-2B, E(17)
• Esthay 1-4, 2B, E(6)

The Suns and Power combined for six runs, ten hits, and seven errors as the Power took the series finale, 5-1. Andrew Lee turned in another quality start, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk while fanning six, but lost for the fifth time. Cole Freeman scored the lone run and collected four of the six Hagerstown hits. Alas, he also committed one of the four Suns errors, which enabled West Virginia to scored five times on four hits and two walks.

Williamsport 7 Auburn 2 – COMP.
• Irvin 2IP, 2H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• C. Morse (L, 0-2)1⅔ IP, 4H, 6R, 6ER, 3BB, 0K
• Hernandez 5IP, 3H, R, ER, 3BB, 0K
• Marinconz 2-4
• Daily 2-4

The two teams picked things back up and each scored one more run over the next five innings as Williamsport downed Auburn, 7-2. Alfonso Hernandez finished the game with one run let in on three hits and three walks. Both Doubleday runs came in on solo homers – Pablo O’Connor in the 1st, Ricardo Mendez in the 7th.

Auburn 5 Williamsport 1 – GAME TWO
• Reyes 4IP, 1H, 0R, BB, 4K
• Fletcher (W, 1-1) 2IP, 1H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 4K
• W. Perez 1-1, 2B, 2BB, 2RBI
• Perkins 1-3, R, 2B, 2RBI

The Doubledays bounced back in the nightcap for a 5-1 win. All six runs came in the 5th, with Williamsport getting a run off winning pitcher Aaron Fletcher and back-to-back two-run doubles by Wilmer Perez and Nic Perkins breaking the game wide open. Luis Reyes started the game and tossed four scoreless innings, issuing a walk and fanning four. With the de facto doubleheader split, Auburn remains 1½ off the pace set by Mahoning Valley for the Pinckey division crown and a ½ game behind Brooklyn for the NYPL wildcard.

23 Commments

  1. Bringing the AFL conversation into today…

    AFL roster
    Pitchers
    Jordan Mills
    Taylor Guilbeau
    Ben Braymer
    Luis Reyes

    Batters
    Tres Barrera
    Carter Kieboom
    Jake Noll
    Daniel Johnson

    For one, I thought we only got 6 players +1 taxi squad player, so 8 is a surprise.

    Mills and Guilbeau, as I posted about in yesterday’s thread, are puzzling. Mills is 26 and a minor league FA signing. AFL is usually reserved for prospects… which brings me to Guilbeau. He’s been good but unimpressive this season, especially compared to other relievers on Potomac. He’s also 25.

    Braymer is deserving, but I figured he’d reach his innings limit, having thrown 50 innings more this season than last.

    Otherwise no other major surprises (I’m assuming the Nats had to name a catcher, like usual). You can make a case for Wiseman/Davidson/Keller/Sagdal over Noll, but Noll isn’t himself undeserving.

    1. People have to remember that often half the list the Nats send to the AFL are just guys to fill out the roster. With the Nats over the years, that particularly has seemed to be the case with the pitchers.

      Obviously Kieboom is the premier name here. The AFL will be a good barometer for Johnson, who struggled there in 2017 after only half a season at the A+ level.

      Some see Reyes as a “prospect,” which I’ve not quite understood. He had a 4.83 ERA at Potomac last year, somehow got promoted, and was a 5.46 at Harrisburg before getting injured. He’s still relatively young (turns 24 in Sept.). I actually find Braymer more intriguing than Reyes. He’s taken a nice step forward this season, although he has been a bit “old for the level.” The AFL will be a step up in competition for him.

      1. I understand that the Nats often named roster fillers largely because of the recent dearth of half-decent prospects at the A+/AA level in recent years. But this year, there’s no shortage. McKinney, Bourque, Howard, Williams even Bogucki, Condra-Bogan and Jhon Romero are all seemingly more worthy given age/performance than Guilbeau and Mills.

        I’m also not impressed with Reyes, but understand the need for more playing time given his shortened season.

        I also wish Luis Garcia got named. A recently turned 18 year old playing in the AFL would generate a ton of buzz. Garcia would be an entire year and a half younger than last year’s youngest AFL player (Ronald Acuna at age 19).

        1. Garcia’s batting average was pretty high but his OBP extremely low. And the OPS as a result not there yet. But, he is only 18 and he features a lot of raw tools as does Yasel Antuna. I keep wondering what young Juan would have been like at age 18 if he hadn’t suffered the hamate and the other injuries? Everyone believed in his bat back then! What if he had the same kind of rush up through the Nat’s system last season? He was capable of it.

    2. In regards to Mills being 26: turn back in time when the Expos signed a minor league free agent very under the radar. Jeff Fassero

    3. I think Alec Keller (and Austin Davidson) ought to be added to the major league roster … both represent potentially good major league left-handed bats. Davidson seems a better choice for the 40-man than Adrian Sanchez but Sanchez brings the glove. Both are older and its well nigh time to see what they can do? They both, minimally, look like pretty decent potential additions to the major league bench next season. I think both can probably manage to hit better than Michael A. Taylor, Wilmer Difo, Adrian Sanchez, and Andrew Stevenson. But neither come with the fielding prowess of the above.

      Sagdal is really close to Bryce Harper’s age. Yep, I think I’d rather see what Bryce Harper can do on the major league roster for the Nats next season. I understand he’s interested in playing first base albeit they would be better off putting young Juan Jo there? Sagdal like the younger (23 now) Drew Ward do not seem to produce enough XBH for their position and lack of flexibility on the field? But Ward’s .360 OBP in Harrisburg should have opened at least a few eyes? And he is still just 23?

      It does seem odd to have left Rhett Wiseman off the AFL roster. His full up 20 home runs, .376 adjusted wOBA, .366 OBP … but its his 2nd full season in Potomac and he wasn’t promoted now hitting age 24 … maybe Luke has a take on this having watched him closely for 2 seasons now?

      1. My gut tells me that the Nats see what I see: Wiseman has hit his ceiling. His defense has gotten better (it’s now back to mediocre) but while he’s taken more walks in the second half the whiffs have gone up two and the power has dropped a little. Still, there’s no upside whatsoever in sending him to the AFL — it merely increases his chances of getting picked in the Rule 5 draft from none to nil.

        P.S. It’s a little frightening to see the echoes of Billy “But He’s Still Young” Rowell vis a vis Drew “Just 23” Ward.

        1. Futures plus Gio for two everyday guys who played @ Wisconsin formerly known as Appleton ??
          Two everyday players in a Rizzo deal. Rare

        2. Here is some sarcasm for the Gio trade , Luke : imagine. Another catcher / 1b type in K Williams. Imagine. Another Nic Perkins .
          Stole your thunder ??

    4. Curious to see who Rizzo has targeted from the Dodgers and that AFL bound Cub kid !
      Actually folks. I am surprised by Jake Noll who has over achieved his initial expectations from draft bunched with Beckwith and PP.

  2. Two years after Andrew Lee’s second TJ, there’s no doubt that his power is back. He has an 11.5 K/9 and a .166 avg against. Control has been his problem, as he’s surrendered significantly more walks (57) than hits (39).

    Lee was a closer/1B in college, began in the Nats’ system as a reliever, then they switched him to starter the same year they drafted him and have kept him there since his return from injury. His numbers look like those of a late-inning reliever, but the fact that they have kept him as a starter seems to indicate that the organization has confidence that he has the secondary pitches to succeed over longer stretches. We’ll see. He turns 25 in December and has yet to pitch at A+.

    1. I’m surprised both he and Barrett haven’t been promoted more aggressively this season. Lee got his first taste of Hagerstown in 2015… Barrett first played in Auburn in 2011. Yes, they’re recovering from very, very serious injuries, but as far as I understand, the improved quality of the batters faced doesn’t place extra strain on the elbow. Both Barrett and Lee have seemingly shown enough to demonstrate they are healthy again. And after an understandably bumpy start for Lee, his control has improved considerably in his past 10+ games.

      1. Congrats to Barrett placed on Cuse roster.
        Raffie Bautista a winter roster paper work move placed on Cuse roster, Luke ?

  3. Daniel Johnson only tallied one hit yesterday, but he also had two outfield assists AND an insane leaping catch at the wall that might have robbed a three-run shot. As for Raudy Read, his solid day on offense was accompanied by two passed balls and an error on catcher’s interference.

    Aaron Fletcher sure is bringing the Ks, isn’t he? Glad we have at least one ex-Houston southpaw draftee mowing ’em down in the minors.

    1. Thus far, Fletcher has shown better than most of the pitchers the Nats drafted ahead of him this year.

      I said the other day that I think Johnson’s arm combined with a bit of pop give him a higher ceiling than Stevenson. Johnson’s 22-HR year was probably a mirage, and the K bump up to 22.6% this year is concerning, but he strikes me as having the physical tools to be a major leaguer. The question is whether he’ll be a Stevenson-like fringy one, or if he can absolutely maximize everything he does and become something better. I hesitate to put an Eaton comp on him because Eaton has always walked more and struck out less, but I think a maximized Johnson would produce similarly to Eaton. Not saying that’s going to happen, more so that Johnson has the similar gap-power/speed/defense makeup.

      1. I think Johnson’s potential floor is Stevenson, because if Johnson never replicates the same power he displayed last year, he still has much more pop in his bat and a much better arm, and comparable in other areas like hit tool, speed and defense. The difference with Johnson is that he still has quite a bit of projectability that Stevenson doesn’t possess.

        I see Johnson being a bit more like Michael Taylor, but with a better plate approach (fewer Ks/higher AVG) but less power.

        1. I think I’d rather see the Princeton grad, Alec Keller. And then there’s their very interesting Cuban, Yadiel Hernandez. My suspicion is, that when he saw young Juan Soto leap frog him he felt he had lost his chance to help the Nats as a bonafide, talented veteran bat. I think he lost motivation that he had in the beginning of the season. Not sure what the future holds for Yadiel with the Nats as a result?

          Keller’s very high OBP holds a lot of promise as a bench bat … he doesn’t have a lot of pop. But Hernandez did hit a decent number of extra base hits with equivalent OBP’s in HBG and SYR that went down a bit in the 2nd half with an increase in strike outs. 17 home runs and 17 doubles in the upper minors this season isn’t bad for a potential left-handed outfielder and bench bat?

      3. I wouldn’t put an Eaton comp on Johnson. Eaton is a better hitter than Johnson with an advanced approach. Johnson is a better athlete than Eaton with a better arm as well.

        Don’t let Johnson’s home run stats fool you this year he still has that 22 hr pop he showed last year in him. It took him awhile to adjust to AA pitching that’s all. But as he has got more comfy after injury the power has come back 3 hr in a 4 game stretch in AA recently. 6 of his 7 hr this year have come since he came back from injury which has been less than half of his season. Scouts say Johnson raw power tool is above average he just has to learn how to get to it consistently.

        So Johnson has more power then Eaton as well. He’s a more explosive player.

        If Johnson had any hit tool that we could trust he would be a top 100 prospect. But the hit tool is the most important and that separates Eaton as a everyday player vs Johnson who may be a fringe, 4th-5th outfielder.

        I like the Michael A comp on Johnson though. Johnson has less raw power then Mikey and not as superior an athlete or Center Fielder. But if he can strike out less and hit more consistently than Mikey T he could add more value and ability to get to his power.

  4. Jordan Mills is a player with good size and stuff and an “it” factor of a player who is destined to rise. The Nationals getting him was good scouting judgment. He was well thought of last year, but obviously has taken a step forward this year into prospect relevance. That’s why he’s going. What do they have in him.

    As for Johnson, his power last year is more indicative of his capability, not his injury. He is a very grounded person and hard worker who does not sell out, and has a lot of strong fundamentals despite his short stature. If he can stay healthy, his prospect star is on the rise. The AFL enables him to make up for lost developmental time and to be more quickly prepared for the post-Harper conversation if Robles or Eaton are moved.

    Noll is underrated in these parts. The guy hits. He rebounded from a slow start in AA to soon enough be hitting cleanup in AA. And if Kieboom gets traded, he is the everyday option in a post-Murphy world.

    Braymer is the biggest mystery to me, because of innings he is throwing. But he has been one of the bright spots who have leaped forward this year (after struggling in 2017 following a promotion), with some stellar games. It will be nice to see how he measures up against the AA competition. Maybe that’s the point – perhaps the Nats see him as a guy whose feet they need to get wet, before he gets within shouting distance of the bigs.

    A lot of newer names became relevant this year.

    1. Amen, Gil.
      I liked DJ from the get go when I saw him toil for Auburn vs Aberdeen a few years ago

    2. I’d be thinking more along the lines of young Omar Meregildo rather than the older Noll? Seems like he might have some potential but you wonder about his defense? Their defensive ball hawk, Jose Sanchez, all of 18 years old didn’t seem to show a lot with the bat for Auburn in his first full professional season.

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