Left is George Jr., right is George IV. Not pictured are his other three sons: George III, George V, and George VI.
The Dominican Winter League and the Mexican Winter League started up this past weekend, and so far it’s pretty slim pickings:
- Joan Baez, DWL
- T.J. Rivera, DWL
- Yadiel Hernandez, MWL
For those who may have missed it, the Venezuelan Winter League will not be an option, thanks to MLB’s obsequity to the current administration decision last August, which will deny minor-leaguers the opportunity to play, and in some cases, the chance to earn to earn more money than they did during the regular season.
THE 2019 POTOMAC NATIONALS
The 2019 Potomac Nationals began the season with 15-0 defenestration and ended it with seven straight wins to have their first 40-win half since 2014. However, like the 2009 second-half team, that wasn’t good enough to win the division. Despite having the second-best overall record in the C.L. North, the defending division champions were left out of the playoffs for the second time in three season… but just the third time in the 2010s.
For most of the season, the team was almost a contender… but not quite. The offense was essentially Cole Freeman, Aldrem Corredor, Nick Banks (1st half), and Jakson Reetz (2nd half) but the three or four players that were hitting at any given time were productive enough for the team to finish 3rd in the Carolina League (4.36 R/G vs. 4.06 Lg. Avg.).
Defensively, they were slightly above-average (.976 FA, 5th), except in preventing stolen bases (2nd fewest), passed balls (fewest with just 8), and wild pitches (4th).
What should come as no surprise is that when the pitching got better – thanks to the addition of Tim Cate, Nick Raquet finding his groove, and Andrew Lee emerging as a starter – the team started to win more consistently and more handily as they went 22-12 in their final 34 games. Still, even with that surge, the Woodbridge hurlers were 7th in the ten-team league (4.23 R/G) and dead last in saves.
While I should probably pare this down to a single list of eight, I’ll stick with Top 5’s and disclose that I was season-ticket holder for 2019:
| TOP 5 BATS | TOP 5 ARMS |
| 1. Jakson Reetz, C .277 GPA, 13HR, 55RBI, .990 FA |
1. Tim Cate, LHSP 3.31/3.07/1.23, 8.1 K/9IP, 2.3 BB/9 |
| 2. Cole Freeman, 2B-CF .278 GPA, .394 OBP, 31SB |
2. Carson Teel, LHP 3.12/3.04/1.15, 8.0 K/9, 2.8 BB/9 |
| 3. K.J. Harrison DH-1B, .255 GPA, 11HR, .401 SLG% |
3. Nick Raquet, LHSP 4.07/3.88/1.32, 6-1, 2.49 ERA in last 7GS |
| 4. Aldrem Corredor, 1B-LF .251 GPA, 89RBI, .406 SLG% |
4. Frankie Bartow, RHRP 1.86/3.64/1.07, 5.6 K/9 |
| 5. Nick Banks, OF .258 GPA, 9HR, .443 SLG% |
5. Andrew Lee, RHP 3.45/3.49/1.22, 9.7 K/9 |
No honorable mentions since it was a stretch to name ten, especially when just two (2) of these players (Cate, Bartow) were still 22 or younger at the season’s end. Full team statistics can be found here. Pitching data can be found here.