AFL Update: Sept. 19, 2019
Sterling Sharp neutered the Desert Dogs for three no-hit innings, issuing a walk and striking out four, including the side in the 2nd beginning with catcher Tyler Stephenson to pick up the win. Andrew Lee kept the no-no going with two perfect innings, putting down by way of the K.
Nick Raquet lost the no-hitter with a single to the first batter he faced but kept the shutout intace with two more scoreless, working around the hit in the 6th and an error in the 7th to push the combined line with Sharp and Lee to 7IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, and 9K. Raquet and Lee were both credited with holds.
All four Nats position players were in the lineup, led by the 19-y.o. Luis Garcia, who did not disappoint. Garcia went 4-for-5 with a double, scored twice, stole a base, and had two assists at short – includinga 1-6-3 DP started by Sharp to end the 1st inning. Our man on the ground in the Copper State (and photographer for us since 2012) described the one time Garcia didn’t reach as a check-swing flyout to the wall in right-center.
Cole Freeman started along side Garcia at second base but was hitless in five AB’s but had two assists and a putout in the field.
Jakson Reetz started behind the plate and went 2-for-4 with two whiffs and a Victor Robles. Nick Banks manned left field and went 1-for-4 with two balls handled in the outfield (single, lineout).
The Saguaros host the Scorpions tonight in Peoria. Both teams will be playing 2019 “away” as their “home” fields undergo renovations.
What a way to start the AFL! Positive performances all around. The good performers on the Saguaros were almost uniquely Nats prospects.
It’s just a shame that we got all the performances in the first game. It might be a day or two before we see another Nat!
Great to have Lee Magenheim and his photos back for another year!
Indeed
Congrats to Andrew Lee making a similar return to attention in a less dramatic way as Aaron Barrett pulled off.
Safe to say Mr Rizzo has Ties with Frank Bane ??
The Rule 5 question just got a lot more complicated! I was thinking that they might not add Sharp and hope that the injury plus up-and-down stats at AA might scare off teams. I was thinking that they might not add Lee and hope that his 2-TJ past plus not pitching above A+ (except for his brilliant playoff start) would keep him safe. Then yesterday happened . . . (Also, great to see no walks by Lee, his one stumbling block during the season.)
As folks have noted, it’s easier for teams, particularly marginal ones, to stash Rule 5 arms, so I think there’s more risk of losing pitching. The Nats have a lot of pretty decent guys who are eligible: Fuentes, Sharp, Braymer, Lee, Istler, and German come to mind, plus as Sao noted yesterday, Sanchez is eligible for minor-league free agency if not added to the 40-man.
With the hitters, I think it’s more likely they would add Gushue than Reetz, as Reetz hasn’t played above A+. If some team wants to Nieto him, that’s quite a stretch. As has been noted, they’ll probably lose Read one way or another as he’s out of options, as is S. Kieboom (who may pass through DFA and re-sign with the Nats). Folks have been lobbying of years that Ward and/or Orange should be added, but no one has picked them yet.
So . . . which pitchers are you saving (adding to 40-man)? I think you start with Fuentes, despite the suspension, because his numbers plus age can’t be ignored. I’d say no to Sanchez, and no to Braymer who got bombed in Fresno, as many did. I think if they really saw something in Istler, he would have been on a path to the big club this year, so no to him as well. German and Lee are fairly comparable, with German a year younger but with Lee having some starting experience. Between those two, I would probably save Lee, but I wouldn’t be surprised if neither is added. As for Sharp, I think some of the decision on him hinges on how he does in AZ, and all systems are go thus far.
All in all, though, this is a good “problem” to have — several arms that are good enough for other teams to possibly think of them as major-leaguers.
I’d put Sanchez, Sharp, and Fuentes on — Sanchez because of the elite K/BB ratio and good stamina, Sharp because of his insane groundball rate, Fuentes because he was the best starting pitcher on the farm this year and you just hope that the illegal pharmaceutical he was popped for wasn’t a factor in that. Since Fuentes won’t actually take up roster space until May, maybe you take a flier on someone like German as well.
Braymer looked like a great bet to me until he just fell apart as a Grizzly. I get that the PCL is brutal and the ball is juiced, but he had more walks than strikeouts after his midseason promotion. If some team wants to claim him and try to fix his issues in the bigs with no way to send him down unless the Nats do not want him back, well, I wish them luck.
By my calculations, both Ward and Marmolejos will be free agents this winter unless they re-sign with the Nats. I don’t see either getting a major league deal here or anywhere. Wouldn’t be surprised if they stay, wouldn’t be surprised if they try to hook on elsewhere.
As with Ward and Marmo, Gushue would have been promoted this season if the Nats thought he had a future here. He’s not eligible for free agency, but he could be a Rule 5 selection, and I think the Nats would be OK with that. I’m not sure why he hasn’t gotten more attention in this organization — but he is 26 in December and runners stole at will when he was behind the plate this year, so the Nats may be concerned that his ability to catch is already deteriorating, and he isn’t a natural fit anywhere else.
I’m rooting for Lee, but I’m not sold on him yet and don’t see him as much risk to go in the Rule 5 draft unless he absolutely dazzles in the fall showcase. His numbers this year were pretty good, but nothing that special.
Oops, just remembered that I think we determined that S. Kieboom still has one option left for 2020. He and Barrera would seem to be the likely shuttle catchers. I can’t see them having more than four catchers on the 40-man, the two at the MLB level and two in reserve.
Garcia, aka Rendon’s eventual replacement (2021?). TTB has been asking for way too much, and isn’t helping himself by going relatively quiet at the plate just as the team needs him most.
Unlike Harper, I’ll be sorry to see Rendon go, but Zim was almost the exact same age when his long extension kicked in, and had only one fully healthy season in the 6 the Nats paid him big bucks for.
Sao — You might be right about them adding Sanchez. He’s almost a year younger than Lee and has had a full, strong year at AA. It’s just hard to think of him as still reasonably age-appropriate since he’s been a pro since 2012! I’m pretty sure you’re right about Lee: unless he dominates in AZ, he’ll be left exposed.
I forgot that Ward may be eligible for minor-league free agency. That makes it trickier. The Nats have invested a lot in him. At the same time, they bypassed him with Noll pretty quickly. Maybe they add Ward if Rendon walks as insurance at 3B if C. Kieboom struggles? I don’t know. They seem to have Mendoza ticketed as the heir at 1B, sooner or later. Adams has an option year, and I assume they will renegotiate and keep Zim, but not at the $18M his 2020 option would pay. They’ll probably also try to keep Kendrick around after his fabulous year, despite his age. If they don’t add Ward to the 40-man, I would think he would look elsewhere, as he seems pretty blocked here.
Karl — I think Carter Kieboom would be Rendon’s replacement if he walks, with some sort of bridge to Garcia at 2B cobbled out of re-signing one or two from among Kendrick, Cabrerra, and Dozier. I’d be curious to hear what those who have seen Kieboom and Garcia play at AA and A+ think of who would be better defensively at 3B.
Nats look like Cardinal Way club in 2021.
NATS saw enough PCL bodies to make Fresno re- seeding easy.
Hey Lee, welcome back. Sure am glad to have you as a part of our seamhead community. Another great photo!
Garcia is already terrific defensively; if he can start hitting the sky is the limit.
Thank you for the acknowledgement. It’s nice to be back for another season and my pleasure sharing with y’all.
Yes, Ward is a free agent this off season.
I think Ward is coming around. Whether he would be picked up by a major league team that can stache him is another matter. But he feels like a man whose fate with the organization is tied into Rendon. And, perhaps, the team’s willingness to let Adams go, bring back Cabrera as a left handed option and see if he can hit his way onto the roster.
If Yadiel Hernandez is still in the organization, I see him getting a chance to really force his way into the conversation next spring if he can elevate his defense a bit. The Nationals OF is a strength of the team but Yadiel is a man whose time will come — somewhere. That’s quite a bat to let slip through the fingers. Soto at 1B against RH and Yadi in left? Occasional spells of Eaton? Otherwise off the bench?
I really hope they can bring back Kendrick. If they bring back both Keendrick and Cabrera, that’s quite the safety valve if Rendon walks and Kieboom is slotted in at 3B while Garcia ripens.