ENFIELD, MA — The Washington Nationals announced the signing today of Dana Prescott on his 18th birthday for a reported $1 million after a private workout for General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President of Scouting Doug Harris. “It’s unusual for us to spend this much money on an amateur,” Rizzo said, “And, as you …
Less than a week to go before the full-season affiliate rosters are announced, but more than a week to go for “our” Opening Day. On Monday, the Nats optioned SS Trea Turner and RHP Rafael Martin to Syracuse while picking up the contract of RHP Matt Belisle. This effectively reduces the battle for the Opening …
While I’m sure many of you heard by now that Lucas Giolito was reassigned to minor-league camp – along with Erik Davis, Burke Badenhop, and Michael Brady – our resident keeper of The Big Board, Springfield Fan, alerted me to a set of releases that happened last week (H/T as always): RHP Justin Amlung (Hagerstown) …
Looking over previous years’ version of this particular post, it would appear that Washington has finally reached that long hoped-for point where it not only develops both pitchers and hitters, but position players at nearly every position. I have to use “nearly” because I’m still not thrilled with the depth at every position. Let’s just …
The John Sickels 2016 annual arrived late Friday night in my inbox, which may not be as much fun as getting a thick envelope in the snail mail, but it’s more efficient. As I always have, I’ll discuss the book in two posts — one for hitters, one for the pitchers. The pendulum has swung …
I’ve been putting this post off in the hopes that something more obvious would occur, but the combination of the rainout, another small set of cuts, and that we’re down to just two watchlist players in the MLB camp (Giolito and Turner), is enough to make the call.
Whether that it’s the first day of spring is ironic or coincidental is beside the point; it’s time to revert to offseason mode and wait for the minors to start up.
The Sickels book came in the (e)mail yesterday, so I’ve updated the “Report Not Yet Written” entries on the 2016 Watchlist and will use it as the peg for some posts this week.
I was a little bit disappointed in what Sickels had to say for the players I was holding out on, but that may very well be a factor of hoping he’d have something different to say. (Still not getting how Kieboom is pronounced, BTW).
Anyway, enjoy your Sunday… and thanks for stopping by.
Lucas Giolito got the start yesterday against the regulars of the defending N.L. Champs and did not disappoint: two scoreless innings, two baserunners, and a whiff of David Wright as the Nats beat the Mets 12-7 for their fourth straight win. Despite the lack of accomplished starters in camp, it does appear that the 21-y.o.’s …
After blowing leads of 2-1 and 6-4, Chris Heisey’s three-run HR secured a 9-7 walkoff win for the Nats’ third straight win.
It was the fourth longball overall as Ryan Zimmerman, Jayson Werth, and Wilson Ramos also went deep.
Stephen Strasburg made the start and was dinged for two runs on five hits and two walks over four innings. Jonathan Papelbon got the win as he induced three Braves reserves to fly out in the top of the 9th.
The appearances for “our guys” are dwindling, with just two watchlist players seeing time yesterday. Trea Turner started at SS and went 0-for-2 with a whiff while batting ninth. Pedro Severino replaced Ramos at catcher and grounded out in his only at-bat in the 8th.
Tonight, the Nats travel to Port St. Lucie to visit the Mets. The game will be broadcast on MLB.tv with the away feed.
The Nats’ four-run 3rd was enough to double up the Marlins, 4-2 and extend Washington’s unbeaten streak to six games.
Blake Treinen got the start in place of Bronson Arroyo, whose career is likely over with the diagnosis of a labrum tear. Treinen tossed two scoreless innings with two baserunners allowed (one hit, one walk) while striking out four.
Michael Taylor was responsible for three of the four runs with an Earl Weaver special off former Oriole Bruce Chen while his competition for the starting CF job drove in the other with an RBI single.
Pedro Severino was the sole watchlist player to play in the game, replacing Jhonatan Solano behind the place but going hitless in two trips to the plate.
The Nats return to Viera today to host the Barves. The game will not broadcast on TV or radio, thanks to the second-largest gambling event of the year most likely due to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
After Lucas Giolito was lit up for a pair of runs in his second inning of relief in the 8th, the Nats took him off the hook for the loss with a three-run rally in the 9th for a 6-4 win over the Astros. The comeback gave Michael Brady the win. The architect converted IF …