Monday’s News & Notes
| Team | Yesterday | Today | Pitching Probables |
| Rochester | Lost, 4-0 (6 inn.) | END OF SEASON | N/A |
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 4 Rochester 0 (6 inn.)
• Tetreault (L, 0-1) 6IP, 6H, 4R, 4ER, 2BB, 5K, HR
• Dunlap 2-3
• Flores 1-2, BB
The rains came and ended this one mercifully early, as Scranton/Wilkes-Barre completed the five-game sweep with a 4-0 shutout of Rochester. Starting and losing pitcher Jackson Tetreault went the distance, allowing all four RailRiders runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five. Alex Dunlap singled twice while Jecksson Flores and Rafael Bautista singled once to comprise the Red Wings hit column. It was the tenth time Rochester had been shut out.
Roster moves: RHP Joan Adon recalled to Washington.
SSDL: ADON PITCHES WELL IN LOSS
While it may have been because he was the most rested arm available, or because Patrick Corbin had an ouchie on his throwing hand, but Joan Adon got the call yesterday and pitched admirably: two runs on six hits (one HR) and three walks over five and a 1/3rd innings. He struck out nine. How much of that was aided by Boston advance scouts having little to go on (though his lone AAA start was against a Red Sox affiliate) or because Adon was expertly guided by Alex Avila may be subject to debate, but expectations for 2022 have been duly raised.
NATS AFFILIATES SHUT OUT OF PLAYOFFS
While that may seem like a “dog bites man” headline or “rock star dates supermodel” story in People, this is the first time since 2015 that the Nats did not have an affiliate make the playoffs and only the second time since the site began in 2010 (excluding 2020, natch). In fact, the late surge by the DSL Nationals prevented a repeat of 2005, which, believe it or not, is the last time the system had a losing record at every level.
NEXT UP: THE ARIZONA FALL LEAGUE
Still no word on the list of Washington’s injured pitchers and Rule 5 candidates to fill out the roster of the Surprise Saguaros. Games begin October 13 and end November 20 – pretty close to the timing that was the norm prior to 2019, when it was moved up to mid-September.
I had forgotten Tetreault in my previous guess of who we might name to the AFL. I’m going to amend my guess of Steven Fuentes, who’s been historically bad since returning from injury, and add Tetreault (who’s R5 eligible) and only logged 85 IP this season, while looking pretty good!
Fuentes, on the other hand, would probably benefit from a clean break from baseball activities this winter, and come back pretending like 2021 never happened. Though maybe we all should pretend as if 2021 never happened. Even in those bleak years like 2005/2010/2015, there was a lot more silver linings, with guys like Strasburg, Turner and Giolito to look forward to. Ok, maybe 2005 was pretty bleak, but the return of baseball was plenty enough silver lining to overlook the abject state. Don’t have that excuse anymore.
Also, thanks again Luke for the daily updates! It would’ve been easy to give up this season, but I’m glad you’re a sucker for punishment (like the rest of us) and persevered.
Based on Adon’s performance yesterday, I wonder if the Nats will send him to the AFL.
Adon could benefit from AFL time. Despite the crazy-rapid promotion and excellent big-league debut, this is a guy who spent the majority of 2021 getting smacked around to the tune of a 4.97 ERA at A+. He gave up 8.0 hits per nine there and 9.6 at AA. He wasn’t exactly fooling people.
And yes, thanks very much to Luke for his daily faithfulness to these reports. It’s been somewhat of a slog this season for all the Nats’ minor-league teams, with perhaps the lowest talent ebb for the whole time they have been the Nationals. The trades and the draft have inject some new hope/vitality, though, and there will be two high draft picks in 2022 — #5 and probably around #40 or so. They got Zim at #4 and Rendon at #6, so some combination of those two at #5 would work quite nicely!
Where did the second draft pick come from ?
An end of the season thanks, Luke, your site is must see for me everyday. Has there ever been a year more anticipated than this one, after a year+ of dreaming of actual games.
Joan Adon outdueling Chris Sale was not what I expected yesterday. If the Nats had even a half competant manager he would have had a win.
Why Davey Martinez thought Erick Fedde was seriously going to be able to do the job is beyond me. The guy is beyond inept. (Fedde, I mean, although…)
Thank you Luke! It should be an interesting off season.
Thanks, all. I’ll settle for an average of season, something closer to 2019-20 or 2018-19, though I know things will never be the same. More on this later. Now we’re in the mode where we don’t want to ruin a possible post…