Marrero Making An Impression
The '06 1st Rounder Is Making Some Noise In Viera
Thanks to NatsNQ, we get a little vicarious visual while the rest of us are peering at the MLB.com GameDay app and our Twitter Feeds to follow the game today, which was a good one until the 9th inning when Atlanta broke open a 3-3 tie with three runs off Drew Storen to go up 6-3, eventually winning 6-4 over the Nationals.
As the headline suggests, what struck me today was the number of tweets mentioning Chris Marrero, who went 2-for-2 with a double to LF and an RBI single to RF, and praising him for more than just his bat. Put down your beverage before you spray your monitor…
Chris Marrero doesn’t look half bad at first base. He’s made a couple nice plays on unassisted grounders.
That’s MASN’s Ben Goessling, who also noted Marrero’s leaner/meaner physique by virtue of seeing a nutritionist this offseason. For the spring, Marrero is a perfect 4-for-4. Sure, it’s early, and it’s just a couple of games, but it’s good news nevertheless.
Other notable prospects…
- Wilson Ramos got the start at catcher and went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
- Danny Espinosa started again at 2B and went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. He also helped turn a 4-6-3 DP.
- Bryce Harper came off the bench and went 0-for-1 with a strikeout. Defensively, he threw out a runner at 2B but also misplayed a ball during the 9th.
- Brian Broderick was the first man out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless innings and striking out two while allowing one hit.
With the loss, the Nats fall to 3-2 for the Grapefruit campaign and travel tomorrow to Tampa to face the New York Yankees.
What happens with Broderick is what I want to know? It seems like a numbers game amongst the pitchers and who knows how a trade would be worked out to the club we got him from. Balester, Kimball, and Storen all struggled today and I’ll be interested to see how the powers that be spin all of that.
Color me suprised on Marrero’s defense this spring. I did notice yesterday that the headshot they have for him on Gameday showed a face minus much of the baby fat; Looks much leaner than he did a year or two ago.
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@Sould: If Broderick keeps close to the pace he’s on now, I can see him making a case to stick as a middle reliever / Spot starter. Let’s see what the numbers look like around St. Patrick’s Day.
I get that there’s a role he might be able to fill. What I don’t see is how there’s any way he can make the team given the options game at present. It would be great if Marquis or somebody else could pitch well enough to justify helping out a team like the Yankees or the Cardinals (unlikely with Marquis given his history) to help them out if they have emergency starter needs in return for a halfway decent prospect or two.
souldrummer25 J
Intrepid Federal Baseball commenter wittcap79 posted 7:30 of Harper at bats from 2/28, 3/1, and 3/2 here
Thanks for the link — as I commented there, you can see just how much Harper is out in front at about the 1:22 mark.
One more thought – Since the Nationals are starting their 2nd pass through the rotation today, would they possibly give Wilkie an inning later in the game? Come on Riggleman, throw the Wilkie fans a bone.
funny would it be if Detweiler puts it all together after Rizzo makes the trade for Gorzy with Burgess.
never take spring camp serious until the 20s of March.
Marrerro seems like a kid destined for Seattle Mariners.