Thursday’s News & Notes

38 Commments

1. So who had Frankie Bartow in the pool as first 2018 draftee to make Hagerstown?

   Kieboom has eleven hits thus far in eight AA games.

   Baez had previously posted back-to-back good starts, but a few more games like this and they really have to think of moving him and his “big arm” to the ‘pen, right?

   1. Him and Reyes are on that fence post wobbling in both directions
      I watched Andrew Lee massively struggle with his control on Fathers
      Day vs Savannah Mets hands . Group , which phase fits Lee right now. ? Control , release point , pitch grips , arm angle release … too much McDonalds off 40?? Lol

      1. I think Andrew Lee will get a little extra slack since he’s coming back from missing almost two years with his second TJ. On the flip side, he’s already 24.5 and struggling to master low A, so time is against him. (As I’ve mentioned at other times, Lee was a power-hitting two-way player at Tennessee. In a power-starved organization, would he be given an Ankiel-like second chance?)

         1. KW I do give Lee the benefit of the doubt but I wonder if anyone hears what the pitching coach is seeing on Lee. My last attended
            Game I treated like watching a B field game in spring training
            Give Baez a couple more starts or flip him with T Gilabeau as the B pitcher after Gilabeau exhausts

   2. How about first bat to Hagerstown ?
      I will bet a $7 beer @ memorial Stafium. ( hypothetical on beer)
      Pablo Cruise O’Conner more than Rhinesmith

2. Nats signed round 4 draftee, Jake Irvin, for $550k (slot was $414k). That’s the biggest deviation yet for the Nats.

   They also signed 7th round choice, Chandler Day, to slot ($188k).

   They still have not signed picks from rounds 1, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19 and 23.

   6th rounder, Karp, signed for $39k underslot, while picks 2, 3, 5 and 7 signed for slot value. It’s likely that Cropley (8th rounder) and Driskill (9th round) signed for underslot since they are both college seniors, but the pick value is $300k combined ($157k and $144k), so there’s some possible savings there, but not much.

   It’ll be interesting to see how the Denaburg negotiations go. Apparently there’s rumors Denaburg could be a tough sign, and prefer to play for Florida next year. I’m sure the Nats are willing to go overslot, but they don’t have very much room to go overslot by more than a few hundred thousand.

   1. Nats very likely counting on some slot savings from Shaddy (10th round) for full offer to Denaburg. Shaddy had two hits in the CWS last night but also overran a foul ball that would have ended the game and given ARK the championship. Anyway, presumably Shaddy can/will sign this weekend, so the Nats will know how much they have to offer Denaburg.

      (If for some reason they don’t manage to sign Denaburg, it’s a massive screw-up by the organization, particularly since they passed on some college arms like Kowar and Lynch to take him.)

      1. Just posted below about the same thing.

         But this got me thinking… what if Denaburg refuses to sign. Can the Nats swoop in and offer Cole Wilcox (also a HS RHP from Georgia) first round slot value ($2.47m) despite being a 37th round pick?

         Then, having not signed their 1st round pick, the Nats get that pick again in 2019 in compensation, in addition to their regular first round pick, which therefore increases their draft allotment, and allows them to draft better talent next year, while not sacrificing talent this year?

         Or do you only get the pick allotment if you actually sign the player? For example, the Nats forfeit their $2.47m draft pool allotment (and therefore only get about $3m instead of $5.5m in total) if they do not sign Denaburg?

         1. Great point Wil but Wilcox going to big NCAA program yet again some kids have bypassed UCLA
            Vandy and others to chase the ultimate dream : locker room spreads in the minors. Lol

            1. Wilcox is going to Florida, which used Jackson Kowar for 121 pitches in a CWS game this week. College coaches don’t give a rip about your future, no matter what they tell you.

            2. Oops, got that wrong — Wilcox is committed to Georgia, Denaburg to Florida. But my point remains.

         2. You only get the slot if you sign the player, so that wouldn’t work. Its a good thought, though

      2. How much ribbing will Shaddy get from his Nats mates about that short pop fly. Like in a Mel Brooks comedy : I’ve got got it … don’t got it3

   2. Not quite similar to the draft class where Nats signed Fedde @ the expense of the lefty now in SF Giant rotation and the slugging first basemen from Nevada Reno?
      What would Rizzo have to flip for Danny Valencia ??

3. Safe to say we won’t see the full Moho from the 2018 draftee arms such as Karp, Irwin, Fletcher and others until a year from now when they reach full season affiliation assignments

   1. I like those three particular arms you mention and would not be surprised to see one or more of them in Hags before the end of the year. (I’m also curious whether Fletcher, who is a stout fellow, is on good terms with former U of H teammate Romero!)

      1. KW you brought that up earlier this month
         Somebody may need to remind Seth to punch with right arm as Crash Davis mentored to Nuke LaRoosh in bull Durham lol

4. Did a bit more digging on the others that have not signed:

   10: Carson Shaddy is busy overunning popups to cost Arkansas the CWS title right now. Arkansas play OSU in the series decider. Shaddy has played well though, batting .335 in the CWS.

   12: Graham Lawson has announced he’s returning to South Carolina next year

   15: Evan Lee, also on Arkansas, but hasn’t featured for them. Should hear more from him in a few days.

   17: Ridge Chapman also has announced he’s returning to South Carolina next year (there’s a strange tweet from both Chapman and Lawson saying “It was a blessing being selected by the @Nationals in this years draft. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, I am proud to say I will be returning to @GamecockBasebll for my senior year! #gococks ” Not sure what the “unfortunate circumstances” that they’re referring to…

   19: Zach Linginfelter is expected to return to Tennessee, but has not publicly stated his decision yet

   23: Cole Hamilton, a community college grad. There’s no word about his status, but he’s still young enough (19) to choose to not sign.

   There’s also a string of HSers drafted from round 33 to 40, but none of them are expected to sign. Cole Wilcox, our 37th round pick, was thought by many to be our 1st round pick. Maybe the Nats come in with a last minute offer to him of a few million if Denaburg plays hardball?

   1. Wilcox is better than Denaburg. It’s be a great scenario to get him, but the rub there is that if they don’t sign Denaburg, they lose the 1st round slot money, so they wouldn’t have it to give to Wilcox.

      1. You read my mind.

         Thanks.

         1. Rizzo has relationship still with Borros despite Mr Lerner the rider not having daily reins on Nats

      2. Denaburg will sign. He may wait until the deadline, but he is not leaving $2.5 million on the table with the hope that 3 years from now he gets a bigger bonus.

         1. Another point : some blue chip kid could get lost in a bonanza
            Gator recruiting class. Think about Dunning working out of the pen with Clippard glasses

   2. I thought part of the scout’s job is to gauge the signability of the players they recommend so that the team has a fairly good idea of what a player is expecting before they draft him.

      Now, it’s entirely possible the players mislead the scouts. But it certainly doesn’t seem like the team got the best intel on the two Gamecocks and Linginfelter. To lose one of your players picked in the teens happens from time to time. But to lose three seems like the correct homework wasn’t done.

      And that’s unusual for this organization.

      1. Agree. It was particularly curious to lose both South Carolina players, both citing similar reasons — and this from the same program where the Nats have recently drafted and signed Crowe and Schrock. Andrew Lee was from U of Tenn. The Nats have relationships with these programs.

   3. Someone should tell Shaddy that it’s on the bases where the Nats make their boneheaded plays. Kid will have to get with the program.

5. Congrats to Jacob Wilson on AAA all star nod. Unless HE gets a call up before then ..

   1. DSL Nats breaking out the Nats vs Yanx. Another daily double for B Fernandez. 14 error for D Hernandez.
      Growing pains like in Hags with two bonus babies on infield. When is Franco clearing the DL?

      1. He is 17 and played all of 14 games this season, but I am all aboard the Geraldi Diaz hype-train.

         A left-handed hitting catcher with some pop and thrown out 10 of 15 would-be base stealers.

         He’s also played 1B a couple of times this year. I like a little versatility in my catchers!

         Let’s get this kid a visa and bring him to the GCL.

         1. After going 3-for-5, Diaz is hitting .362 with a homer, a triple and 12 doubles. He’s also walked (10) more times than he’s struckout (7).

            Choo-choo!!! #HypeTrain

         2. Indeed. Then there is Sosa who plays 2b, 1b and C.
            Great point from the DSL. I still think there are kids down there working out, eating like horses ,
            Learning English and awAiting their spot on Sandy Martinez roster

6. Time to say goodbye to the prospect Juan Soto. He really was rising up top 100s everywhere. No. 3 overall on most recent lists and maybe could have raised higher. Actually had become Nationals top prospect over Robles. But he officially is no longer a prospect. He’s a rookie now and a big leaguer. I never thought we would be saying that this year. I figured he’d shoot up list and be considered a truly elite prospect top 5, top 2. But I never thought he would be a contributing big leaguer this quick regardless of production, considering all the time he missed last year. Only 19, sky is the limit kid.

   1. And how will the outfield mix be if Rizzo / Boras can agree on a short term deal to give Lerner another run for the roses with retooled 2019 squad. Bullpens evolve and can be retooled .
      Nats had to send Johnny D down south to sign young kids to mix with mixed result stateside kids
      Right ?
      Wow big stretch vs tough teams especially the physical arms on Phillies. Eflan is a nice find.
      Next season Gio should be gone and Rizzo should lure in Patrick Corbin
      Since Tejada doesn’t have any loony lefties to shoot up the pipe yet.
      Tejada and Williamson should be a key teacher/ student relation to follow

      1. Harper back on short term pact

7. South Carolina players allegedly failed physicals. I’ll let the discerning figure that out.

   1. Wow. That’s surprising.

   2. Ty
      Give the Phillies credit they have built a team as young as their town
      Didn’t Texas let go Herrera a few years ago. I knew “Nails” Nola on his draft day a few years ago would be a thorn in the Nats side a few times over 5 year span
      I like the new look on Roark who seems much cooler without the Old Testement beard.
      Gil, another loogie for the pen @ deadline ? Wilson the former Pirate?
      Word on Hellickson now ???
      Fedde getting broken in like new car leather interior with mound assignments in Bronx and Philly. He should be fine by September
      Word on Joe Ross?? Ross brother reunion if Hellickson continues to be lame while brass just doesn’t give Voth green light to D.C.???

      1. Spell check let young type instead of tough
         Wow this Phillies series is huge
         Where are you , Zimm11 and Grizzly Adams ??
         Marmelos near consideration for ML time or trade bait ??

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