Yesterday, the Nationals finally announced the 2012 lineup for their affiliates’ coaching staffs: SYRACUSE Manager – Tony Beasley (promoted from Harrisburg) Pitching Coach – Greg Booker (returning) Hitting Coach – Troy Gingrich (promoted from Harrisburg) HARRISBURG Manager – Matt LeCroy (promoted from Potomac) Pitching Coach – Paul Menhart (promoted from Potomac) Hitting Coach – Eric …
Yesterday, John Sickels released his preliminary prospect list — a precursor to the release of his Top 20 list, which should come this week. Since last year he released his preliminary list prior to the selection of our 2012 Watchlist, I’ll list the omissions instead of the overlap: Paul Applebee Joel Barrientos Corey Brown Paul …
It’s mostly quiet on the minor-league front, but since our last post there have a been a few signings: UT Andres Blanco (Texas) RHP Jeff Fulchino (Houston/San Diego) 2B Manny Mayorson (Toronto) OF Jason Michaels (Houston) 1B/3B Tim Pahuta (re-signed) RHP Luis Chirinos (McAllen, NAL) RHP Marcel Prado (Margarita, VWL) IF-OF Chad Tracy (Japan, ’11; …
As predicted yesterday, multiple sources are reporting the Nationals have made a couple of minor-league free agents: RHP Waldis Joaquin and IF Jarrett Hoffpauir.
Naturally, you’re as shocked as I am that both are formerly of N.L. West organizations — Joaquin from the San Francisco Giants, Hoffpauir from the San Diego Padres.
Joaquin is a hard-throwing righthander (95-98 m.p.h.) from the Dominican Republic that was a B- prospect for John Sickels in 2010, but has struggled in his three September callups (5.40 ERA, 1.800 WHIP) despite having modest numbers at AAA the past three seasons (3.63, 1.580), though his K rate drop from ’10 to ’11 (8.6 to 4.9) is definite red flag. He turns 25 on Christmas day.
Hoffpauir was originally drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2004, rising to AAA by 2007, where he has languished ever since despite a career .287/.365/.445 line at that level for St. Louis, Toronto, and San Diego. The catch, you may ask? The 28-year-old doesn’t, as he’s been described by FutureRedbirds.net as a “glove o’ lead.”
Our semi weekly look at the Nationals players in the Winter Leagues, with all statistics as of 12:59 a.m. on December 14, 2011. DWL HITTERS DWL PITCHERS VWL HITTERS VWL PITCHERS MWL PITCHERS PRWL PITCHERS PRWL HITTER The past few days have reminded me of what it was like to be a small-town sports reporter …
It’s been a little more than three weeks since we last checked in, so here’s a recap of the transactions of note since then. Basically, one acquisition and a few departures:
If last year is any guide, we should a see a few more of these next week.
Here it is, kids. Now that the Rule 5 draft is over, this can be finalized. I was expecting not to add any names; drafting 16th in a crop that nearly every prospect guru said was thin, that seemed obvious. I was hoping not to drop any names, but the Yankees and Cardinals seem to …
Just 12 players were taken in the major-league phase of the Rule 5 draft, but two of them were Nationals — RHP Brad Meyers and OF Erik Komatsu. The Nationals passed with the 16th pick. Meyers was the expected choice, but Komatsu was the wildcard and was actually taken ahead of Meyers by the Cardinals …
Picking up where we left off yesterday (sorry, but this time of year, whenever I can break up a post idea to keep the site fresh, I’m gonna do it), Baseball America has listed its potential targets for the Rule 5 draft. I’m passing along the 21 non-Nationals named, grouping them by type… Blaine Hardy, …
As we’ve discussed previously, the Rule 5 draft is no longer what it once was, thanks to the rule changes that have effectively turned it into an exercise of roster-filling. Sadly, that’s a reference the minor-league phase, for which the information is sorely lacking. As I summed up last year (dates adjusted, of course): There …