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Tuesday’s News & Notes

Team Yesterday Today Pitching Probables
Rochester OFF DAY vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 6:45 p.m. Banda (0-0, 7.80) vs. Spence (4-2, 4.21)
Harrisburg OFF DAY vs. Erie, 12 p.m. Ale. Hernandez (1-1, 3.24) vs. Montero (3-2, 7.86)
Wilmington OFF DAY vs. Jersey Shore, 6:35 p.m. Bennett (0-0, 1.80) or Theophile (0-1, 4.64)
Alvarez (3-1, 2.93) vs. Kipp (1-3, 2.98)
R. Sanchez (1-0, 1.50)
Fredericksburg OFF DAY @ Myrtle Beach, 7:05 p.m. Lord (1-0, 4.81 ERA) vs. RHP Grant Kipp (1-3, 2.98)
FCL Nationals Lost, 2-1 vs. FCL Mets, 12 p.m.
DSL Nationals Lost, 6-0 @ DSL Angels, 11 a.m.

NOTE: Unless specified in Sunday’s game notes, which are not provided by Wilmington, probables are presumed to be last Wednesday’s starters or last Tuesday if he didn’t pitch on Sunday.

Rochester Red Wings, 28-33, 8th place I.L. East, 14½ GB
The Red Wings got within a game of .500 before reverting to the mean and dropping four straight to sink back into 8th place. The pitching is a shade under the league average (5.59 vs. 5.51 R/G) but the offense (4.74) is the second-worst in the I.L. This week the RailRiders come to town for six to begin a 12-game homestand.

Harrisburg Senators, 28-28, T3rd place E.L. Southwest, 2½ GB
Harrisburg got the memo of getting close then falling back after a 2-4 series against New Hampshire. The pitching has fallen back a bit but that’s been offset by slightly better offense, thanks to James Wood. THe 12-game homestand continues this week with six against second-place Erie.

Wilmington Blue Rocks, 26-30, 5th place Sally Lg. North, 6½ GB
The Blue Rocks limp home after a 4-8 roadtrip that probably killed off any chance of making a run at the first-half title. “Losing” James Wood certainly didn’t help. Likewise for Dustin Saenz, though in theory it should be a wash if/when Jake Bennett can pitch on a pro schedule vs. college. It’s too soon to tell about Brady House, but as we saw last summer, sometimes the jump to High-A is difficult – just ask Jeremy De La Rosa. Wilmington closes out the first half with six this week against third-place Jersey Shore, and six next week against fourth-place Aberdeen.

Fredericksburg Nationals, 27-28, 3rd place C.L. North, 7GB
Fredericksburg won its series against Charleston but still fell a half game further behind Down East. A .500 finish now seems within reach and if the starters can take a peek at the 6th inning, it’ll take some of the burden off the improving but often overworked bullpen. This week it’s a visit to the C.L. South-leading Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and next week it’s their second and final series agains the C.L. South’s #2 team, the Columbia Fireflies.

FCL Astros 2 FCL Nationals 1 (6 inn.)
• Agostini (L, 0-1) 2⅔ IP, 3H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 3K, HR
• Zapata 2IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 3K
• M. Romero 2-3
• W. Diaz 1-2, RBI

Rain presumably* shortened this one to six innings as the F-Nats had their three-game winning streak stopped with a 2-1 loss to the F-Astros. Gabriel Agostini took the loss on a two-run HR and three hits total over two and 2/3rds innings. The FCL Nationals’ bats were held to five singles, with Max Romero and Chrithian Vaquero the only two batters to reach base twice.
* It is Florida, after all; could have been poor air quality due to smoke from burning books.

DSL Angels 6 DSL Nationals 0
• Portorreal (L, 0-1) 4⅓ IP, 5H, 3R, 2ER, 1BB, 4K
• R. Cuevas 1⅔ IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 1K, 2-2 IR-S
• Joaquin 2-4, SB, E
• Y. Rivera 1-3

Make that six straight losses for the DSL Nationals after a 6-0 shutout by the DSL Angels on five hits (all singles). 17-y.o. Leuris Portorreal took the loss, charged with three runs on five hits and a walk while striking out four. 17-y.o. Eikel Joaquin led the offensive barrage with two (2) safeties and one stolen base.

19 Commments

  1. the Wings need to get Dusty’s kid back and cut the cord on Reyes and Mazara. I’d then promote Rutherford and hope that Kieboom is not seriously hurt, he came out of the game last week after doubling in the first.

    hopefully Henry is back in AAA by July and Adon can find the plate and miss more bats. I wouldn’t promote Rutledge before September if at all

    I think there is the opportunity for July-September to be a time for development and not just the taxi squad for the big club

    1. Listen to the Doctor ( Doobie Bros )
      Fred MD good call about clipping certain Wings
      Bump up Blake
      Adon missing bats the same goes for Rodney T.
      The farm could use progression from three guys
      House , Cruz and Sammy I .

  2. A hit for Vaquero, but a slow start for him overall, a .211 average after six games.

      1. Yes, Vaquero had an excellent walk rate last year as well. I’m glad he doesn’t feel compelled to chase bad pitches. And in the DSL and FCL, there are probably a lot of bad pitches.

  3. Even Larry Walker struggled big time @ AAA but he worked on the one handed grab off the old red brick OF in ole Bush Stadium Indy which became his trademark outfield signature .
    What a club in 94
    Rizzo build one even better continuing with this draft upcoming

    1. I would not say Walker struggled in AAA at 22 years of age, but the Canadian did excel in the MLB!!!! All time great!!!

  4. Baseball America has a new Top 30
    Without further ado —
    1. James Wood OF
    2. Robert Hassell III OF
    3. Brady House 3B
    4. Elijah Green OF
    5. Cade Cavalli RHP (MLB IL)
    6. Jackson Rutledge RHP
    7. Cristhian Vaquero OF
    8. Jake Bennett LHP
    9. Jarlin Susana RHP
    10. Jeremy De La Rosa OF
    11. Daylen Lile OF
    12. TJ White OF
    13. Cole Henry RHP
    14. Armando Cruz SS
    15. Andry Lara RHP
    16. Jake Irvin RHP (MLB roster)
    17. Trey Lipscomb 3B
    18. Jose Ferrer LHP
    19. Israel Pineda C
    20. Zach Brzykcy RHP (MiLB IL)
    21. Jake Alu IF/OF
    22. Roismar Quintana OF
    23. Drew Millas C
    24. Mitchell Parker LHP
    25. Matt Cronin LHP (MiLB IL)
    26. Dustin Sanez LHP
    27. Jacob Young OF
    28. Darren Baker 2B/OF
    29. Andy Acevedo OF
    30. Edwin Solano SS

    1. Thanks for the heads up.

      A few differences with FanGraphs’:
      Hassell 2 vs 7
      Green 4 vs 11
      Rutledge 6 vs 12
      Bennett 8 vs 13
      de la Rosa 10 vs 29 (lol)
      White 12 vs 23
      Henry 13 vs 5
      Lara 15 vs NR
      Ferrer 18 vs 28
      Quintana 22 vs NR
      Millas 23 vs 6 (lol)
      Baker 28 vs 9 (lol)
      Shuman NR vs 18

      It’s pretty safe to conclude MLB.com love flashy toolsy guys even when there’s little on field results (Green, JDLR, White), whereas FG prefers the guys who succeed in spite of not possessing natural tools (Millas, Baker).

      1. Sorry, that should read *BA* love flashy toolsy guys.

        I had a look at MLB.com’s list and its astoundingly similar to BA’s. I don’t think any one player deviates more than 3 spots on either list.

  5. Love the book-burning note! (I do not, however, love book-burning.)

    Thinking long-term, the Nats are looking at a scenario where they have three rookie pitchers next year in Rutledge, Henry and Cavalli. Obviously they can’t promote Cavalli, so it seems like it would behoove them to promote either Rutledge or Henry pretty soon so they have some experience heading into next year, and promote the other one in September. I’d start with Rutledge just because he’s got more innings pitched this year.

  6. Interesting (and encouraging) that BA is still so high on Hassell. I am too, to a certain extent, but I think House has a higher potential ceiling and is showing capability of reaching it.

  7. I know several of you were questioning why Donovan Casey is getting so many starts.
    Here’s another question for you. What the heck is Sean Doolittle doing sucking up a spot on the Harrisburg roster? He’s 36 years old. He’s made his money. I’ve noticed that he can’t even drag his body out to the bullpen at the start of the game to join his teammates for the National Anthem. I’m at today’s game and he just made his way out in the middle of the second inning. Yes, I know, he probably has some clause in his contract that he doesn’t have to participate in minor league activities but if he’s a part of the team then he needs to be part of the team. Sometimes I don’t understand what the Nats are doing and this is one of those times.

    1. This is spring training for Doolittle. I imagine the Nats hope he is ready for MLB in a couple of weeks, he shows well and they flip him at the deadline for a prospect and that in the meantime, he can mentor the young pitchers in Harrisburg.

  8. Doolittle’s WHIP (0.188) in the MAJORS last year was identical to Donovan Casey’s batting average this season (.192) in the MINORS. I’m all for taking flyers on retreads, especially relievers who can quickly generate some trade value. Plus, we have next to no prospect relievers ready to make an impact in DC this season (all the guys promoted in the past few weeks are all still likely a year away, or late season call ups at best), so Doo isn’t blocking anyone. He’s just taking playing time away from the likes of Garvin Alston. Casey, as has been pointed out, is.

    1. Don’t worry about Jake
      I’m sure another pitcher named Jake will be drafted in amateur draft upcoming
      Whatzzzup with Witt ?

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