Plugging Away at the Watchlist
Longtime readers know when they see this post, we’re just trying to prove that the site has not gone dark. Still no transactions from BA, still no organizational All-Star story from MiLB to make fun of (remember when they named Jaron Long the best RHSP in the system?!)
As the headline says, I’m in the process of writing the player capsules and it’s actually not that much different than a year ago. Aside from the Top 10 guys and the draft picks, there’s something just between nil and none from to which to draw. Can’t say I blame the prospect folks either because, beyond those two categories, the folks at Fangraphs and 2080 might only see a Nats prospect if they’re there to see someone else.
Over the weekend, WaPo had a story on T.J. White that deftly said what even Stevie Wonder could see with its lede:
The Washington Nationals insisted their draft strategy was unchanged – that their focus this past summer was to pick the best available players and build through the middle of the field, as they have for most of a decade. But an organization often drawn to tall, hard-throwing, college pitchers did deviate, accidentally or not.
I can appreciate this because here I can do “I call bullshit.” But Mr. Dougherty has to be a bit more subtle, or is at least expected to, given the Washington Post isn’t the N.Y. Post.
Until next time…
I understand the snark but Dougherty is a young beat reporter who’s trying to find something to write about with everything locked down.
That said, White was impressive in his short stint in Florida, he turned 18 in July, and here’s hoping we get to see him in Fredericksburg this year.
Mark Z believes Cluff will open @ 22ROCH
Does that leave Flores to open 22 in Burg ?
So where does this leave Troy Gingrich
Gone gone gone ?
All along the Watchtower .. play it Jimi …
Baseball Rumors write up says Nats add John Mirabelli former director of amateur scouting as a special assistant to Rizzo.
John must have ties with Watson from Royals days
I’m really high on White. Nearly every rating group had him with at least 60 power, some with 70. I’m a little confused why he fell so far in the draft, though. Perhaps he didn’t play in as many of the showcases, perhaps this whole mentality of “everybody is a shortstop” has totally consumed the high school draftee outlook.
Both White and House were also young for high school draftees, with both just turning 18 in the summer. With White’s July birthday (as Mark noted), 2022 will only count as his “age 18 season.”
Maybe he doesn’t pan out, but I’m glad to take chances on a guy with 60/70 power, in an organization starved for it.
With House and White turning 18 in June and July that makes their impressive starts last summer even more so.
Word coming out that Soto’s younger brother, Elian, is switching from the Mets to likely sign with the Nats. Nats already said to be the team for top-three talent Vaquero as well. Add those guys to an incoming #5 draft pick and the restocking is starting to look better.
Oops, seeing that Elian won’t sign until 2023. Something to look forward to.
History tends to repeat itself
Expos packed in moving vans trucked to DC … Bad Vlad fled to Anaheim …
Sure seems Soto will fly like an Eagle to Flushing NY
The rebuild Core built around House White and any other kid studs brought in ..
Lerner won’t invest in Soto long haul ..
Willie Frazier and Mike Rizzo go back to California Angels days .
Pags fills an assistant to GM seat
Hunter a nice Pacific NW scout with Wash State alum tags
Pags must have a connection to the Nats east coast based scouting director
John Mirabelli joins Nats as a special Asst to Rizzo from Royals
Watson connection no doubt