A two-run sixth by the Mets off non-roster invitee Bill Bray broke a 3-3 tie as the Nationals lost the first game of Spring Training, 5-3. The first outing for Nats ace Stephen Strasburg was marred by a Ruben Tejada home run in the last of the first with no outs. Strasburg was also touched …
The wait is over. Sure, it’s a week earlier than last year but it sure doesn’t feel that way.
For most folks, that’s because expectations have never been higher for the parent club. As a minors guy, it means I have some semblance of a routine back again — the end of previews and Top 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or more and the beginning of boxscores.
As mentioned earlier this month, I don’t expect there to be too much drama this year… at least from a minors’ perspective. Perhaps a guy competing for one of the last spots in the ‘pen or at the end of the bench.
The signing of veterans like Will Rhymes, Chris Snyder, and Chris Young seems to suggest that even a significant injury won’t automatically open the door for a minor-leaguer. Sorry to anyone sticking pins in their voodoo dolls in hopes of seeing, say, Anthony Rendon at second base on Opening Day.
In any case, the days without baseball for 2013 are gone. Time for us to peek at the goal for “our guys” for three or four weeks.
As expected, MLB Network and ESPN will be broadcasting some Nats spring training games — though it’s hardly a shock that three of four involve a New York team. I’ve bolded them below for your reference. Note: I’ve only added the live games, there are roughly half-a-dozen tape delayed games, which if you’re inclined, can …
It’s come to my attention that the “improvement” of having a mobile version of this website comes at a cost of making commenting difficult, if not impossible.
Perhaps it’s to my detriment in terms of advertising, but I’m not about to sacrifice community for pageviews.
As the pic suggests, I’ve shut it down. I know some folks liked it, but I’d rather beg for donations than take away the ability of folks to interact. My apologies for any inconvenience.
While the “Big Nats” have been in spring training for more than a week, this week is the early reporting date for the minor-leaguers, a.k.a. accelerated camp. Basically, it’s a chance for the top-tier prospects to get extra time with the coaches and make sure everyone’s going in the right direction. All but a handful …
Some of these names have been mentioned previously over the past few months. I’d like to tell you the latest dispatch from Baseball America on the 2012 international signings gives significant information. Alas, IFAs are much like a politicians — long on promise, short on details. Before I editorialize, let me distill what little there …
The latest transaction post from Baseball America was issued last night, with the Nationals signing six pitchers and Micah Owings — a pitcher trying to convert to playing a position: RHP Jeremy Accardo LHP Will Ohman 1B Michah Owings RHP Mike Crotta LHP Kelvin A. de la Cruz RHP Adrian Green RHP Luis Torres Accardo, …
I hope folks enjoyed this little exercise this week — picking which pitchers will begin where in 2013 — as it finishes today with Low-A Hagerstown. The lowest full-season roster is an estimation as to who did well enough the previous summer in the New York-Penn League to get promoted and who either didn’t do …
Since I’m going in order downward from AAA to Low-A, this is part three. In reality, this is the last roster to be finalized of the four full-season affiliates. Consequently, I’ve learned to keep my expectations in check when it comes to seeing marquee prospects in April. In the past seven seasons, it’s been two …
Usually, what makes the Syracuse staff tough to pick is trying to divine which pitchers will miss the big club but stick on. What makes the Harrisburg staff a challenge is figuring out who’s going to get promoted from Potomac and which of the minor-league FAs will be kept and assigned here. So how did …