Friday’s News & Notes

28 Commments

1. Rosenthal also hit the backstop on a pitch to the 1st batter. The 2nd HBP drove in the only run.

   Mapes was aided by 3 double plays to work out of jams.

2. Very promising work from all three lefties at Hagerstown. Great for Ryan Williamson that he’s FINALLY able to pitch regularly, three years after being drafted.

   I’m not even going to say it, just post the numbers: .367/.457/.696, with 14 HRs and a 14.9% walk rate. (Yadiel)

   1. That 1.153 OPS is the 3rd best in the minors (all levels) right now.

      His .367 AVG is 5th best.

      His .457 OBP is 3rd best.

      His .696 SLG is 6th best.

      Just sayin…

   2. Hey , Luke , DSL 19 kicks off campaign Saturday the 1 st. Same squad on roster still listed. ….

3. Given that he is corner OF (and a poor one), Yaddy needs to play for an AL team; there is no doubt that he can rake. The Indians, Tigers, Orioles and Jays are all offensively challenged. Would think that an AL team would offer at least a little value for him. He’s blocked in DC, and now with Parra on the roster, don’t see a scenario where Hernandez gets an MLB look with the Nats.

   1. Juan Soto is a poor defensive corner outfielder who can rake, and he seems to be perfectly fine playing on an NL team. Yadiel would be just fine as a LF, but if they’re that concerned, give him some reps at first.

      For some strange reason we signed Gerardo Parra to fill a Yadiel-shaped hole on this team.

      1. Understand, but Yadiel is not going to take at bats or PT from Soto or Eaton. Didn’t like the Parra signing either, but he was a gold glove winning OF, and the Nats got him for the minimum (also Rizzo has a thing for players that he scouted when he worked for the D’Backs). So, with that group on the big league team, there is no room for Yadiel and there is not going to be room.

         There is nothing else Yaddy can do to show that he is offensively ready to play on the MLB level, but barring injuries (plural), don’t see a scenario where the Nats give him an MLB shot.

         1. Why not take ABs from Eaton? The guy was supposed to be an elite defensive right fielder, but has only been average (when healthy) since arriving. His glove was supposed to carry most his value with a slightly better than average bat not negating any value. Now we’re just getting an average glove and average bat, which turns out to be not very useful.

            If Hernandez comes up and can translate his hitting to the majors, there’s no reason to continue giving ABs to Eaton.

            But another solution is to just shift Soto (or Hernandez) to 1B. It would require quite a bit of guile from Dave Martinez, something I’m not convinced he has, to basically platoon/shift the whole team besides Rendon and Turner, but we’d be remiss to not use one of our few advantages: offensive depth.

            1. Yadiel is about the same height as Eaton. Not ideal for a first baseman, who routinely has to stretch to haul in high or off-target throws while keeping his toe on the bag.

               The Nats should call him up and see what he can do off the bench. Maybe he pushes Eaton. You never know.

            2. Eaton is a corner OF who lacks power, lost his speed due to injury and is now a mediocre defensive OF. With that said, there is no sign that the Nats are close to considering limiting his time as he leads the team in games and plate appearances.

               There are only two scenarios where Eaton doesn’t continue to play everyday: a) injury; b) the Nats struggles continue to the point where they start selling off players. Until and unless either happens, there is zero chance that the Nats’ brain-trust considers the possibility of bringing up Yadiel to take at bats from Eaton (or Soto or Matt Adams at 1b).

               The Nats may move Soto to first base at some point, but it’s not happening this season, and the Nats haven’t even experimented with Yadiel at 1B in Fresno; so, we aren’t close to the point where the Nats would give him time there at the MLB level. Also, Matt Adams (and Parra) take all of the left handed 1B at bats at the big league level.

               Look, it’s fun seeing the numbers that Yaddy is putting up, but he is not getting meaningful ABs with the Nats this season unless there are mass injuries or a mass sell-off.

         2. Free Yadiel!

            1. Should be interesting in three years when the Nats return to a normal affiliate flow where AAA stock is big club short call ready and AA is graduates of A plus .
               Well June 1st. Here we are. Some good promotions in Fletcher , Meregildo ( twice ) , Canning , Orange ( since AA is the short call from Rizzo) , many of the minor league arms signed especially Bonnell, Connell,
               I retract my anticipation of Fernandez and Arias being @ GCL since DSL debuts today with them as team anchors .

4. I have no idea in general what the Nats think about/are doing with Hernandez. There was no reason for him not to be in the MLB camp in the spring as an NRI, but that fact that he wasn’t really signaled that he’s just not on their radar, for whatever reason.

   Really, the Parra signing is more of an indictment of what (little) they think of Stevenson, rather than Hernandez. Stevenson is the LH OF already on the 40-man.

   I can’t see them playing Hernandez over Eaton. I do think there’s a chance they trade Eaton if they have a fire sale. But what it would take to get Hernandez into MLB consideration, I have no idea. More than likely, he’ll end up in the Oakland outfield . . .

5. Right now, Rizzo only wants guys with MLB experience so I don’t think players like Hernandez and Jacob Wilson have any chance of getting called up.

   Also, Rosenthal almost gave up a game tying grand slam yesterday as the ball was torched, but hooked foul.

   1. IIRC, a pitcher’s rehab stint cannot extend past 30 days. Rosenthal’s first appearance at H’burg was May 11. So, unless Rosenthal, voluntarily agrees to stay in AA, the Nats have to either bring him up to the MLB level or DFA him in the next 11 days. Rosenthal is not close to ready to play at the MLB level, but Rizzo and Co. seem like they will extend Rosenthal’s time as long as possible before admitting a $7 million mistake. Curious to see how this plays out. Here how the start of TR’s 8th inning played out:

      – HBP
      – Single
      – Single
      – HBP (run)

      That’s bad little league stuff.

      1. Truly ugly at this point.

6. Sao — I see you’re getting beaten up at NatsTalk for jumping up and down to say no-no-no to drafting another high school pitcher in the first round. I’ve 100% got your back on this one. I didn’t like taking a high school arm last year (one STILL in the witness protection program), and after spend the last two 1st rounders on guys who won’t see the majors for a long time (if ever), they can’t afford to spend another top pick on another lottery ticket.

   With Robles having “graduated” and C. Kieboom about to, this organization is woefully lacking in potential position players of MLB caliber. There are a number of good college hitters who project mid-to-late 1st round: Jung (probably gone by #17), Wilson, Davidson, Hoese, Misner, and Busch. That’s my wish list, in whatever order you choose. Considering the lack of OF depth, I’m somewhat intrigued by Misner, but I’d concentrate more on an “advanced hit tool” over position at this point.

   1. I dunno, are there any potential 1st overall picks who are recovering from having flesh eating bacteria and who were suspended for giving their college coach a swirlie? Cause I’d bet that’s who Rizzo hopes will fall into his lap. 🙂

   2. Rizzo loves catchers and that Baylor Bear has a Spencer

      1. Let’s see what Chris Vann brings to the Suns

7. I agree the Nationals need to select a position player in first round this year. Plus I heard the top international pitcher according to MLB Pipeline on the market is expected to sign with the Nats. So we should be attacking position players. The last position player the Nats took in first round was Carter Kieboom in 2016, and he has thus far turned out pretty well.

   1. Who is this mystery international top pitcher of intrigue ??
      This is a rebuild post Harper. Not a retool

      1. Fascinating if this Latin signing would be a lefty pitcher ….

8. The curious case of Yadiel Hernandez. If he even comes a tiny bit close to his minor league numbers he is a better hitter than Adam Eaton. He could be a jolt and should be stealing ABs from Eaton. Defensively you will take a hit with Hernandez and Soto in the corners. But the bat could be good enough to suppress defensive whiffs. He need to be called up at least as a bench bat.

9. The Nats made a conscious decision to neglect position players in the last two drafts:

   – 2018: only 3 position players picked in the first 12 rounds (Gage Canning 5th, Tyler Cropley 8th, Carson Shaddy – retired (10th))
   – 2017: only 1 position player picked in the first 10 rounds (Cole Freeman 4th).

   So, the Nats have failed to take a position player higher than #133 overall in the draft over the last two years. Not surprisingly, the farm system lacks any U.S. draft eligible impact position player talent outside of Carter Kieboom (1st pick in 2016) — the next highest rated U.S. born position player in the organization is Gage Canning — yawn.

   Hated the strategy of essentially ignoring 60%+ of the team’s roster needs over last two years. Also, while its early, it doesn’t look like the Nats landed any transcendent pitching talent with their “all-in” on pitchers strategy.

   Really hope for the 2019 draft that the Nats go back to “the best player available” philosophy as their “pitching rules” strategy flopped as the most of the elite organizational talent is now from international scouting.

10. Jeff — if Langeliers, the Baylor catcher, is still on the board at #17, I’m sure the Nats will be tempted. Can he hit anywhere near his college numbers in the pros? Or does he disappear into the sinkhole that seems to swallow every Nat catching prospect?

    (Incidentally, Spencer Kieboom is currently hitting .156 at AA and is very much a DFA candidate.)

    1. Rizzo scoops up catchers like kids scoop up McDees promo toys

11. According to Byron Kerr, Nats transitioning a couple of position players in their system to pitchers: RHP Elvis Alvarado transfers from RF and begins 2019 with GCL Nats; has recorded 100 mph fastball, is further along. Just starting move is Juan Pascal from SS to RHP, shown promise with strong arm.

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