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Thursday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester Won, 3-1 @ Indianapolis, 7:05 p.m. Adon (0-1, 7.07) vs. Burrows (1-3, 4.31)
Harrisburg Won, 9-5 vs. Erie, 6:30 p.m. TBD vs. Olson
Wilmington Lost, 8-3 @ Aberdeen, 7:05 p.m. Knowles (6-1, 2.78) vs. TBD
Fredericksburg Won, 7-1 vs. Down East, 7:05 p.m. Caceres (5-7, 5.42) vs. Teodo (3-4, 3.13)

Rochester 3 Indianapolis 1
• Verrett (W, 7-7) 7IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 0BB, 6K
• Weems (SV, 15) 1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• Stevenson 2-4, R, 2SB
• Fox 2-4, 2R, 2B, RBI, 3SB

Behind seven strong innings from Logan Verrett, Rochester rallied for two in the 8th and held on for a 3-1 win over Indianapolis. Verrett allowed the lone Indians run on five hits and no walks as he evened his won-loss record at 7-7. Connor Sadzeck worked around a hit in the 8th for his sixth hold while Jordan Weems walked one and struck out the side in the 9th for his 15th save. The Red Wings were limited to four hits but drew five walks and ran wild, stealing seven bases without being caught. Andrew Stevenson had two of those swipes and singled twice while Lucius Fox singled, doubled, scored twice, and stole three bases to lead the Rochester offense.

Harrisburg 9 Erie 5
• Cate (W, 4-7) 6IP, 5H, 4R, 4ER, 3BB, 7K, HR
• Peguero 2IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 1K
• A. Young 2-3, 2R, HR, BB, 4RBI
• Hassell 2-5, R, 2B, RBI, E, OF assists @ 2B, HP
• Dunn 2-5

After watching the Senators cough up three in the top of the 4th, the spectators on City Isle may have been wondering if the teams switched uniforms as Harrisburg answered Erie with seven runs in the bottom of the 4th to turn a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead. The Sens ‘pen held the lead for a 9-5 win and stopped a five-game losing streak. Andrew Young drove in four and reached base three times while Robert Hassell singled, doubled, and threw out runners at second and home plate to power the Harrisburg offense (and defense).

Aberdeen 8 Wilmington 3
• Saenz (L, 2-5) 2IP, 6H, 7R, 7ER, 2BB, 3K, 2HR
• Sinclair 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 5K
• V. Peña 2-4, 2-2B, 3RBI
• Connell 2-5, 2B

Aberdeen went to town on Dustin Saenz and Wilmington as they dropped a five-spot in the 1st and two-spot in the 2nd en route to an 8-3 win. Saenz lost for the fifth time in seven starts as he gave up seven runs on six hits, five of which came on the two homers. He walked two and struck out three. Garvin Alston, Zach Burdi, and Jack Sinclair each turned in two frames and combined for nine K’s over six innings, five by Sinclair. Viandel Peña doubled twice and drove in all three Blue Rocks runs to lead the Wilmington hit column.
Roster moves: SS Jordy Barley placed on the 7-Day I.L.; C Jarrett Gonzalez activated from the 7-Day I.L.

Fredericksburg 7 Down East 1
• Susana 3⅓ IP, 6H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 3K, HR, 68-44 PIT-K
• B. Peña (W, 6-2) 1⅔ IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 2-0 IR-S
• Powell (H, 1) 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K
• Wood 2-2, 2BB, 2-2B, SF, RBI
• White 3-4, 2R, RBI, SB
• Arruda 3-5, R, 2B, 3B, 5RBI

All eyes were on Jarlin “Oh” Susana as the 18-y.o. flamethrower lived up to the hype in terms of velocity, hitting 103 m.p.h. several times. Alas, like the mythical Nuke LaLoosh it wasn’t always over the plate and when it was, it was straighter than a western with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Sam Elliott*. Hence the six hits over three and a 1/3rd innings and 68 pitches needed to get 10 outs. Susana gave up one run on a homer, walked one, and struck out three. The win went to Bryan Peña, who stranded two while getting out of the 4th and pitched a scoreless 5th.

In the bottom of the middle frame, the FredNats broke out for three on a two-run triple by J.T. Arruda and a James Wood sac fly. Arruda struck again with a three-run double to cap a four-run 8th. The 24-y.o. finished a HR shy of the cycle and five RBI total. Wood doubled twice and walked twice while T.J. White singled three times and scored twice to highlight the 13-hit parade.
* Sorry. You listen to Joey Zanaboni long enough, this’ll happen 😉

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Cavalli to Make MLB Debut Tomorrow Night

By now this is old news, but for the purposes of posterity… yesterday the Nationals announced top pitching prospect Cade Cavalli will be called up on Friday to pitch against Cincinatti’s AAAA team the Reds. The 24-y.o. was the top pick in the 2020 Draft and will effectively take the place of Josiah Gray, who is expected to be shut down soon.

As noted the WaPo story, the move will enable Cavalli to get some MLB experience while preserving his rookie status, as he’s unlikely to pitch either 50 innings or be on the roster 45 days. The latest CBA has introduced incentives to promote top prospects sooner, including compensatory draft picks and international free agent considerations.

Circling to back to this site’s raison d’être, expect some ripple moves at AA and AAA—and maybe even High-A—to cover for Cavalli’s promotion.

21 Commments

  1. Robert Hassell announces his arrival at AA. Good to see.

    Jarlin Susana gets to see another level and now we see how he adjusts. Let’s not forget Holden Powell having another shutdown outing.

    T.J. White and James Wood showing ‘The Kids Are Alright’.

    1. Interesting how Logan Verrett with one more AAA start will push over 100 IP .
      Considering the Nats “ week away @ the Spa & meditative salon “ , I would guess that Verrett might have logged more starts not if for all the chorus line plug ins and
      Cappachino / light on the foam auditions .. Verrett 2022 logbook May look more like 120 to 130 IP??

  2. Viandel Pena keeps hitting. He’s now batting .293/.370/.463 in 12 games.

    He was one of a few players promoted not based on merit (Antuna, Emiliani, arguably even Hassell’s ), but unlike them, he’s seized the day, and upped his game up a level. Hope he can keep it up.

    Meanwhile, TJ White is continuing to prove himself as the absolutely streakiest player in – possibly – the history of baseball. What’s most impressive is his knack for switching between boom and bust based on calendar month.
    April: .302/.388/.535
    May: .071/.133/.095
    June: .337/.412/.628
    July: .190/.338/.276
    August: .283/.350/.396

    Maybe they can shut him down before his inevitable miserably September?

    1. I am sure that many opposing managers will whisper to their coaching staffs as Peña goes up the ladder : Peña is a pain ! ( with his tools set ).

  3. Hassell in the House!!
    Luke love the snarkle
    Cincy AAAAAAA team
    Saenz either needs to learn a new pitch or flip to long relief?

  4. Regarding the SP carousel that Cavalli will create, no one in Harrisburg’s rotation has really made a strong case for themselves to deserve a promotion. Cate and Irvin have the pedigree (2nd and 4th rounders), but have struggled this season. Alex Troop is probably the most deserving. He’s had a few unsightly outings (i.e. 7 ER in 0.2 IP earlier this month), but 5 of his 12 starts have been Quality Starts, and another 3 could’ve qualified, but he was hooked early as he was building up stamina switching back to a starting role). Also, at 26, it’s sort of now-or-never.

    In Wilmington, Mitchell Parker is the obvious deserving candidate for promotion. We’ve talked in detail about his control issues, and maybe he’s reading, because over his past 10 starts he’s “only” walked 21 in 43.2 IP (versus 36 BB in 46 IP over his first 11 starts). Honorable mention goes to Lucas Knowles, who after finally being stretched out as a starter, has been fantastic. But he’s almost certainly running up against his innings ceiling having thrown 77 IP this year, and only 36 IP last year and 22 IP in 2019.

    1. Oh, and then both Rutledge and Denaburg are due for a promotion from Fburg. But not sure how their workloads will factor in. Denaburg’s 35 IP is already almost twice what he’s thrown in his previous four years combined (20 IP total). While Rutledge is at 86 IP, after throwing 36 IP last year and 37 (+ however many in JUCO) IP in 2019.

  5. Why are the Nationals being so conservative with promotions. A few years ago the Nats were one of the most aggressive in promotions. Soto to big leagues after starting in low-A at 19. Michael A from AA to big leagues. Same with Giolito. But they seem to have taken a step back maybe due to failed developmental attempts.

    2. In the “old” days, you didn’t want to promote someone til they went twice thru the schedule – i.e wait til teams saw them twice. With this weird 6 game series, is that a factor any more? Nevertheless, let’s not be too hasty with promotions. Leaving a guy at a level at least gives him the feeling of success and accomplishment. And using Soto as a example is bad – he hit .373 at Hagerstown, .371 at Potomac, then “only” .323 at Harrisburg. Is anyone in our system doing that?

  6. Also James Wood looks like a potential superstar and he might be the biggest get of the trade honestly.

    The price the Padres paid for Soto was very steep. Jarlin Susana touched 103 last night. He is sitting 101-102. Slider at 95! I know it is not all about velocity but sheesh. If he harnesses, stays healthy and really develops a breaker then sky is the limit. Even if he doesn’t fully, imagine that as a high octane reliever

    1. Beezy H : in my morning meditative mood with all the birds singing in the backyard
      The name JR Richard flashed in my brain in relation to Oh J Susana

  9. With Fred in the playoffs why not keep both first rounders around for extra work .
    Densburg a possible AFL taxi squad guy to get winter work or is he speaking Spanglish in a winter league ?

    1. Bummer no SS leagues to follow in the am anymore .
      When does the Complex turn into post season instrux program ?

      1. I think now or soon. Drafted players have played baseball for less than 3 weeks. Got to believe select players are continuing to train at the Complex until at least mid-October, except for those going to AFL. The Astros are there and several teams are close; so, would expect there to be games against other organizations during the next couple of months. Weird how short the FCL season is. You would think it would at least run through Labor Day.

    2. agree with this for JR, I also think he has benefited from being with Hanrahan. a late season/sss bump could stall the momentum without providing any real benefit

  10. Shakespeare really meant : Romero Romero where art thou , Romero .
    And Tommy makes four ?!!!

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