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365 Days of Baseball Photos
Mike Schmidt slamming a home run. Ozzie Smith making a spectacular play
at shortstop. Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, and Greg Maddux unleashing
unhittable pitches. Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Carl Yastrzemski,
Tony Gwynn, Derek Jeter, and dozens of other baseball stars. And a slew
of managers, umpires, mascots, vendors, and young fans as well.
They’re all here in Baseball: 365 Days,
a colorful, surprising, and even moving panorama of baseball from 1970
until the present day. Drawn from the archives of Major League
Baseball, Baseball’s photographs—many never before
published—trace the arc of star ballplayers’ careers: from minor-league
triumphs to life in the Big Show to retirement and Hall of Fame
election. In lively commentaries, veteran baseball writer Joseph
Wallace offers anecdotes and stats that help bring these wonderful
photos to life.
In less than a month the Nationals will walk to the platform and tell us who they will take with the ninth (9th) pick in the first round of the June First Year Player Draft. When they announce that pick on June 5th, it will resolve countless days and nights of internal discussions about where the organization needs to go. We all hope they will land again a top talent like Ryan Zimmerman, and have another generally successful draft like that of 2007, but those expectations are a big part of the problem, namely the desire and expectation of hungry fans to see results.
Ross Detwiler has diminished the expectations raised by Zimmerman that high picks waltz their way to the show. His slow development curve, even for a college player, is probably more typical than Zimmerman’s. However, as the career track of John Lannan and the recent promotions of Cory Van Allen and Jordan Zimmermann illustrate, college players still have quicker and more certain returns than high schoolers like Colton Willems and Stephen King.
One issue that will take on more prominence over the next few weeks is signability. Signability is determining which players will commit to pro ball and sign for money deemed reasonable by the organization that names them on the 5th. In 2006 the Nationals’ second round pick, Sean Black, opted to attend college at Seton Hall instead of signing. It was a wasted pick and a prominent failure for the organization. In 2007 the Nationals and other organizations let Rick Porcello--one of the two best pitchers in the draft—slip to 27th pick because he was represented by Scott Boras and was thought to be too expensive for anyone except the richer teams to sign. The Tigers inked him for $3.6 million (Detwiler and McGeary got little more than $2 million from Washington).
Many of the organizations that passed on Porcello--including the Nationals--went over the recommended signing bonuses (slot) set forth by MLB, Inc. for other players. This year that system may fly completely out the window. MLB, Inc. will no doubt distribute the figures again, but fewer of Boras’ clients are likely to slip this year. The issue is whether more teams will be willing to commit the big bucks for the highest tier players, like Porcello, or will his 2008 equivalent slip to the back end of the first round for the rich to plunder?
This year the highest rated player is Pedro Alvarez a third baseman who plays for Vanderbilt. He is represented by Boras as are several high school players, most notably highly-regarded high school first baseman Eric Hosmer. Tampa Bay picks first and analysis from Baseball America and others suggest that the Rays will skip Alvarez because they have third baseman Evan Longoria who has just arrived at the major league level. Their biggest needs are at catcher and outfield, and the likely best fit for them will be Buster Posey, Florida State catcher who is fourth-ranked overall.
Today Baseball America posted their latest rankings for the draft. BA does this as well as anyone, though others such as John Sickels and Keith Law at ESPN are worth researching. Nationals Farm Authority is the best local web site to learn more about the process and NFA’s Bryan Oliver devotes a lot of attention and intelligent analysis to this process.
The two players most likely to slip in the order are Alvarez and No. 6 ranked Hosmer both represented by Scott Boras. The players ranked generally in our range include two right-handed power pitchers, Tanner Sheppers from Fresno State and Shooter Hunt from Tulane. University of Georgia shortstop Gordan Beckham who I have profiled several times previously, is now ranked eighth—just beyond our reach. Beckham has risen steadily in the rankings as his home run total against the elite competition in the SEC has increased unabated.
John Sickels assessment is much the same as BA’s. He has Beckham as the third-best college hitter behind Posey and Alvarez, although Justin Smoak from the University of South Carolina is close behind. There is little variation about who the top ten talents are. The biggest question for the Nationals may become who will step up and take Boras’ clients. It is conceivable that Hosmer and Alvarez could both be ignored until big spenders from New York, Boston and Los Angeles weigh in late in the first round. That would hurt the Nationals because it would mean that players like Sheppers, Hunt and Beckham go to the teams just ahead of us, Florida, Cincinnati and the White Sox.
There is only one other concern that will affect our pick. Will the teams above us pick for talent or organizational need like the Rays. Will the Florida Marlins pass on Gordon Beckham because they have Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla or is that irrational given the inability of the Marlins’ to afford their best players long term? Although pitching is always a valuable commodity, do the Nationals go for a big bat to fill that important hole in the organization? Will a big bat like Eric Hosmer fall to the Nationals because he is a Boras client? Will the Nats go over slot to sign him? So many questions and only four weeks of speculation left. Maybe I will just watch tonight’s game instead.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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On Kentucky Derby weekend—unfortunately a sad one—the Nationals were in the winner’s circle three times against the Pirates. The Nationals continued to get excellent pitching from Tim Redding and Odalis Perez, but it was the bullpen, especially Saul Rivera, Ayala and Rauch who were in command for the late inning stretch runs for the four game series. Rivera had two wins during the week, but it was his gritty performance in the seventh inning of the game today, getting two come-backers with men on second and third to keep the lead and make the 5-1 win possible.
On Saturday Cristian Guzman, wearing his Homestead Gray’s uniform, had his best game of the year--six RBI game and a homer. He is off to an even better start than in 2007, hitting the ball hard every time he comes to the plate. He has given the Nationals a powerful presence at the top of the lineup and on Saturday he did proud the old Homestead Grays uniform on his back.
Guzman’s heroics echoed earlier games during the past two weeks, one by Ryan Zimmerman whose home run and double on a 3-for-4 night triggered the offense, and more than a week ago Felipe Lopez’s big night and grand slam produced most of the fireworks. Lopez and Guzman have become two of the most consistent performers on in the Nationals lineup. They are starting to get more help as Austin Kearns and Nick Johnson are driving in big runs and turning their seasons around slowly but steadily.
John Rauch is making it harder to remember Chad Cordero every time he takes the mound in the ninth inning. Last year John Rauch could arguably have been the best pitcher on the team. In the next six weeks he may be able to lay claim to the closer’s role in a way that will make giving it back to Chad Cordero very difficult.
More than any individual player over this Kentucky Derby weekend, it was the team as a whole that was the biggest winner. Whether it was the 8-3 winning record or the warm weather, almost 340,000 fans came out for the eleven-game home stand. There has been much said about the empty seats behind home plate and it is as embarrassing to see them on television, but the larger success story has been overlooked.
There were almost 35,000 fans at the game on Saturday to see no team other than the Nationals. There was no chorus of “Let’s Go Pirates,” in the stands on Saturday, no out- of-town fans oblivious to what was going on with the home team. It is like the produce sections in local stores where they tout what is “Locally Grown.” The three wins against the Pirates were a “locally grown” success story and it looks like the word may be spreading about the home cooking at Nationals Potomac Park.
The Farm Report
On Saturday Night the Washington farm teams reached a season benchmark of some import. Every team in the system was at or above .500 and two affiliates sit atop their leagues. The outstanding individual performer continues to be Luke Montz who had home runs on both Thursday and Friday. The one on Friday was of the three-run variety and gave him 29 RBI to lead the Eastern League. His .385 batting average slipped on Sunday but his seven homers put him in a race with two other players for the triple crown-- something no Nationals player at any level has had in his sights in a very long time. Baseball America may not want to admit that this guy is HOT, but when you look at their Hot Prospect Sheets each week, they do not have many who can keep up with the Montz-ster.
Harrisburg is 19-10 and continues to pace the Eastern League. As with everything in life the rich just keep getting richer. On Saturday Harrisburg got Zechry Zinicola and Cory Van Allen from Potomac—early promotions that are well deserved. Zinicola got the save in the Harrisburg win on Sunday. Roger Bernardina and Mike Daniel as table setters for the Senators are a big part of the story. Bernardina has 13 steals, a batting average of .305 and has found a way to cross the plate 23 times.
The P-Nats are losing ground to the Senators as the best Nationals affiliate. They are 19-10 as well, but will feel the loss of Van Allen and Zinicola. The Potomac’s pitching staff, with an ERA of 2.35, is the A-Ball equivalent of the Montz-ster and together the get The Farm Report’s Hot Chili Dog of the Week. Before his promotion, Cory Van Allen led the Carolina League with an ERA of 0.66. Jordan Zimmermann and Adrian Alaniz are both in the top ten, and Zechry Zinicola was un-scored upon. Chris Marrero had a homer on Sunday and two this past week, but is still hitting only .240. With the loss of their two best pitchers, the P-Nats are going to need Chris Marrero to get hot and Ross Detwiler to find himself.
Jason Bergmann had another very strong outing on Sunday for the Clippers--six scoreless innings and a win. He, Ryan Langerhans and Pete Orr are turning the Columbus Clippers (16-15) around. Chris Schroder has also been excellent out of the bullpen and he had his second save of the season on Saturday night. The four are auditioning for the major leagues and Schroder may be the first option for the overworked Nationals’ bullpen.
Bill Rhinehart, who hits third for the Hagerstown Suns’ (15-15), is leading the Sally League in RBI with 26, has a batting average of .343, and is starting to show more power with four homers. Aaron Seuss had a grand slam and six RBI on Friday night for the Suns who now have 2007 fifth round draft pick Brad Meyers joining their rotation. Meyers started the first game of the Saturday night twin-bill that was a continuation of a rain shortened contest. He was ineffective in his first action of the year, but Hagerstown won both games.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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Wednesday night was the only businessman’s special of the 2008 season and there were almost 30,000 fans in attendance. Metro was not overwhelmed, the fans came and went without breaking anything and more importantly, the Nationals beat the Braves 3-2 in twelve innings. It was a win in many ways and Stan Kasten was there again circulating among the fans before, after and during the game. Stan, more of those next year please.
Felipe Lopez demonstrated one of the reasons that Wayne Krivsky lost his job last week as he made good on his second chance to deliver the game winning hit. Lopez came up in the 10th inning with the bases loaded and hit into a double play to end the frame, then in much the same situation two innings later stroked a walk-off single. The bullpen and Shawn Hill provided valuable insights on the question about why good pitching beats good hitting every time: they just do especially when team scores more runs.
The last time Atlanta came to town it was Opening Night--Ryan Zimmerman night. Tuesday was Zimmerman’s best night since then as the Z-man went three-for-four with a long homer about ten rows up from where the shot went on Opening Night. Zimmerman’s two-run double later in the game clinched the win and he was part of the first back-to-back homers by Nationals hitters this year--Nick Johnson and Zimmerman. There were a few pretty nice 95 mph fastballs thrown by Tim Redding and John Rauch. Saul Rivera picked up the win and the bullpen deserved it. They have looked so much better this week when stacked up next to the Braves.
The Wednesday night game was the Nationals third win against the Braves in three tries at the new park. On the home stand we are now 5-2 with four games against the Pirates coming up. The Pirates made a mockery of the Mets 13-1 earlier in the day. When the home stand started the temperatures were still in the thirties, our record stood at 6 – 15 and average attendance was dismal. We should take the month of April out and shoot it. Bring on that merry month of May.
The Farm Report Four Teams 58-43 .578 Pct.
Tuesday night was a clean sweep as every Nationals’ team from top to bottom won their games. Potomac swept a double-header from Winston-Salem, 1-0 and 3-2 with excellent pitching, particularly from Cory Van Allen. The P-Nats were no-hit in the second game, but six walks and an error accounted for three runs. Tonight the P-Nats won again behind another gem from Jordan Zimmermann posting another 1-0 win against the Warthogs. Zimmermann stretched out to seven innings of three hit ball with nine Ks. The Potomac National record stands at 17 – 7 as the month ends.
Zechry Zinicola got the save for the P-Nats in two of the last three games. In 2006—his first in the Nationals organization—Zechry Zinicola blew through the Nationals farm system and was named the team’s minor league pitcher of the year. The next season at Harrisburg he could do nothing right, finishing with a 5.46 ERA. 2008 being an even numbered year Zinicola is off to another impressive start at Potomac. He has allowed only three hits over 12.1 innings and is slotting himself into the closer role and preparing for another fast ascent.
Jay Bergmann, Marco Estrada, and Colton Willems also pitched very well on Tuesday night to set up the five-win night. Cory Van Allen pitched seven scoreless innings for his third straight scoreless effort for the P-Nats. He gave up only a single hit and has been almost perfect in both of his last two outings. The 23-year old is 3-0 with a 0.66 ERA.
Willems gave up only three hits and a single run in a fine six-inning outing in Hagerstown where Sally League Player of the Week, Michael Burgess was two-for-four. My personal favorite, the Harrisburg Senators won behind a three-run homer by Luis Jimenez. Ryan Langerhans and Pete Orr continue to play well for the Clippers, but it was Bergmann looking as if he might be turning his season in a positive direction who picked up his first win for Columbus.
Roger Bernardina was 3-for-4 in Harrisburg with two steals to give him 12 for the month of April. The Senators won 6-2 to end the month with a win as well. Like Potomac they sit atop their division and sport a 16-9 record.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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Pitching in front of small college crowds at Siena could never have prepared John Lannan for Nationals Stadium on a Sunday afternoon, but he must have majored in wriggling off the hook because he was slippery as an eel yesterday. Lannan fails to cover first base in the fifth inning to load the bases with only one out. No problem, ground ball double play to end the inning. Wily Mo Pena misplays a liner right at him into a double and again there are two men on, one out. Just a day at the office for Lannan as he escaped from every miscue including his own.
Those poor Cubbie fans were left empty handed at the end of every inning. It could make you sad, but the Nationals had plenty to cheer as Lannan tossed another seven scoreless innings. Then a much better looking Luis Ayala and John Rauch finished off the Cubs to nail down the shutout, the second recorded by Nationals pitchers in a week.
The home stand has given Washington so many small success stories that need mentioning, but the attendance has to be one of the most important. It was so crowded on Saturday night at the ball park that lines snaked out of the men’s room near the center field gate. The warmer temperatures have brought fans pouring out to see the new baseball wonder in the Nation’s Capital.
Average attendance is up over 30,000 fans per game and now ranks 16th in the majors. As a contrast the Orioles are getting only 23,000 per game and rank 24th. Crowds will not be as large for many games when the Cubs or the teams from up the coast are not in attendance. The Nationals still have a chance to close in on their 2005 level of 2.7 million. The money that the Cubs fans are paying for premium games will help the Nationals buy the big bat that is missing from the offense in the off-season, so come on down Phillies fans, we need you more than you can know.
One group that is still not in attendance is the offense. Failing to score against Carlos Zambrano is one thing, but seven runs against the Cubs over the series is disappointing. Zimmerman looks worse than at any time in 2007 and the three strikeouts Sunday did nothing to change that. An article in the Post quotes Bill James analysts saying he is swinging at way too many balls off the plate. He was showing more patience in the last few games, but the only consistent bat in the lineup is still Cristian Guzman.
The bottom line: we have won two series in a row against good competition. There are six games left on the home stand. There are two more games with Atlanta when we will luckily avoid Tim Hudson and John Smoltz. The merry month of May brings us the Pirates whose starting rotation should help the Nationals’ hitters find themselves. Join the crowds at the ballpark and I will see you there.
The Farm Report: Four Teams 49 – 42
While the big club was winning the minor league system lost three games on Sunday including Columbus’ 13 – 4 pummeling in which Colin Balester gave up five runs in the first three innings. Luke Montz finally cooled off in Harrisburg, but he, Mike Daniel, and Roger Bernardina are still putting up impressive numbers. Daniel had his first homer on Sunday in a 4-2 loss.
On Saturday Michael Burgess hit two homers to give him the lead in the Sally League with eight. He is on a pace to hit forty home runs and strike out 150 times for the season. Paul Lo Duca will be showing the P-Nats (14-7) how to play the game on a rehab assignment this week. Potomac won behind Adrian Alaniz on Saturday 3-2, but Potomac dropped the rubber match to Frederick on Sunday 6-2. Elijah Dukes is also on assignment in Woodbridge, but has yet to get a hit and has been caught stealing.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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I love the way Wil Nieves goes out during a rough stretch and pounds the glove with his fist before he throws the ball back to the pitcher. He nods his head a little as if to say, “come on, we can get this guy.” Sure catchers all do stuff like that starting in little league, but when it works, it is still poetry. Wil Nieves has a catcher’s attitude. He likes to bluff the throw behind the runner at first base and rag on the opposition hitters when they get in the box. Nieves’ walk-off homer made him into our newest hero and when the 32-year old journeyman catcher is back in Columbus at some point this season, he will still have that walk-off to remember and tell his kids about.
It was good to have that same excitement back from opening night. There have been a lot of rough times between then and now. Sixteen losses is a lot of rough stretch. It is exactly the same as in 2007. On April 28th of last year we were 8-16 after losing to the Mets. The Nationals in 2007 proceeded to lose eight in a row to start the month of May. But it happened on a long road trip out west. We do not have that schedule this season.
Last year we did not get better until Dimitri Young started carrying the offense and Ryan Zimmerman recovered from a slow start. This year we have many more places to look for an offensive rebirth, and I agree with Tom Boswell that it will happen, this team will hit better than they are showing over the course of the season.
With the starting pitching looking as good as it has, we are less likely to hit that prolonged drought - we will get better. Boz said that Hill and Cordero are the keys and I would go with Cordero as the linchpin. The bullpen is the concern and Cordero makes it work. Whether it is getting him away from the mashed potatoes or putting him back on a conditioning program, he needs to get his form back.
The biggest bonus that night may have been shutting up the Cub fans. It made the end of the evening sweeter by far.
The Monzter Mash
“They did the Mash, they did the Montz-ster Mash,” They have a Montz-ster loose in Harrisburg and it is time to bring in the children and dogs. Luke Montz hit two home runs on Friday night for the Senators as they “clubbed” the Akron Aeros 14-7. Montz probably held on the two extra points. He had six RBI and kept his batting average above .400. Whatever happens this year with Montz, he will always have April, and they ought to start playing that song when he comes to bat.
Michael Burgess hit his sixth homer last night in Hagerstown as the Suns won 9-5 behind Bill Rhinehart’s double, triple, and two RBI. Potomac and Columbus both lost behind poor pitching. Jordan Zimmermann had his first bad outing as the P-Nats lost at Frederick to Jake Arrieta 5-2. The Clippers coughed up the lead in the eighth inning when Chris Booker and Arnie Munoz gave up four runs to hand Toledo an 8-6 win.
2008 June Draft target Gordon Beckham kept his average at .433 with a 3-for-3 evening in Athens, Georgia Friday night as the Bulldogs beat the Gators. Beckham’s homer total remains at 19 for the season in 164 atbats. Beckham reports that he has had to adjust to the unwillingness of some pitchers to give him anything to hit. He has 33 walks. He’s a Montz-ster.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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And then there was Felipe Lopez. There is no need to say more about him. He has been his own best advocate all this season long, accepting an opportunity to play left field and never complaining, just doing it well. In the last few games he has taken advantage of the slump by Ronnie Belliard and filled in like gangbusters. His grand slam did not clear the fence by much but sooner or later, when life finally hands you a break, you just have to keep pushing. Felipe Lopez pushed until something broke his way and last night he hit the jackpot, as did the Nationals.
We have won two of three now with the Cubs coming in for the weekend. In both wins the Nationals young players played a big part. John Lannan was just a fanatic on Tuesday. He is only the tip of the iceberg, just one of the young Nationals players that have begun to emerge this season. Last night it was Mike O’Connor coming in to keep it close giving the Nationals a chance to go ahead. He pitched so much better than Ray King. Put Ray King in to pitch the sixth inning and the score could have so easily have been 10-5 the other way.
Wily Mo Pena looked like he might be finding himself. Then there is Lastings Milledge who has looked uneven, but clearly a very talented young man. They are the future of this team. It makes you wonder about Jesus Flores playing in Columbus, Ohio and whether Paul Lo Duca is just another Ray King waiting for the Nationals to finally tire of all that veteran leadership he has shown.
The bullpen is hurting and it is not just Ray King. Whether it is the overuse from last year or something else completely, they need help. Saul Rivera, John Rauch, and Ayala all look ragged and then there is Chad Cordero. He lines up as just another question mark in a long line of them going back to Patterson. The most consistent pitcher out of the bullpen so far this year has been Jesus Colome and after 2007 he may yet emerge as the best option we have. He and Hanrahan are the only pitchers in our bullpen who can light up the radar guns, the only guys who don’t have to tiptoe around the edges of the strike zone, although neither is consistent in finding it.
Last year at a P-Nats game in Woodbridge I sat next to Mike O’Connor’s father who said he did not think his son would ever pitch in a Nationals uniform again. Mike O’Connor was coming back from surgery and had completed a nice start in Harrisburg, but there were a lot of bad ones too, so it took a lot of faith on his part to get back. He had that faith in himself and I know both of the O’Connor’s are pleased with Mike’s first win of the 2008 season. Let’s hope we are seeing the first of a lot of wins for everyone.
The Farm Report Four Teams 44-36 .550 winning pct.
Hagerstown’s (9-12) Michael Burgess hit his 5th homerun last night in an extra inning win. He had three strikeouts as well. Bill Rhinehart went 3-for-6 with 3 RBI. Colton Willens was completely shown up on Wednesday by the Blue Jay’s Drew Naylor in a 4-1 loss. Potomac (13-5) provides the counter-weight to the Suns as they continue their very hot start. Cory Van Allen won his third game on Tuesday, a 2-0 shutout. The lefty Van Allen allowed only a single hit over five innings and continues to match team mate Jordan Zimmermann win for impressive win. Potomac’s two top-rated prospects Chris Marrero and Ross Detwiler are struggling as badly as anyone with the Nationals in Washington. Detwiler’s outing on Wednesday was worse than the one before. Several at Nationals Farm Authority speculated that he has changed his motion from the smooth delivery that earned him accolades from Baseball America and others as the closest college pitcher to the majors in the 2007 draft.
Harrisburg (13-7) and Luke Montz are a nice story. Both continued their torrid pace Thursday as the Senators out-slugged Akron 13-6. Both Montz and Andrew Lafave had four RBI in the contest and Montz pushed his average back up above .400. Roger Bernadina was 2-for-5 with two steals to reach 10 steals in the first month of the season.
The Columbus Clippers will miss Mike O’Connor although they may get Ray King as a consolation prize. The Clippers lost 7-3 last night behind Jason Bergmann who gave up five runs in five innings. He struck out six, but does not look like he has the stuff to be a starter. Tyler Clippard lost the night before.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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Tune the dish just right and distant signs of life could be found this weekend. In Florida there was Tim Redding pounding the lower part of the strike zone on Friday night against the Florida Marlins although it appeared he might continue the trend started by John Lannan against the Mets: excellent pitching with little or no offensive support. Lannan had eleven strikeouts in six innings and Redding had ten, but Redding had the misfortune to get a fast ball up in Josh Willingham’s eyes and it looked as if the opposition had found a way to put just enough on the board to win again--and again—and again.
On Friday night Nick Johnson vaporized the déjà vu scene. Instead of another bases loaded opportunity lost, his bases clearing double with two out in the seventh inning Friday night gave the Nationals a desperately needed win. On Saturday night when Austin Kearns singled in two runs in the top of the ninth to tie the score, it looked as if the clutch hitting might become habit forming. Wily Mo Pena stood in with a chance to turn it all around, to establish a clear trend, but Pena has looked over-matched and he continued to flail at any thing thrown his way, leaving Kearns on second and the bullpen to lose the game in the tenth. I think that is when the signal started to fade.
On Sunday afternoon with another well pitched game hanging in the balance, the Nationals went on the fritz completely and the signal from Florida was gone. With each passing game April, 2008 looks more and more like April, 2007. The starting pitching is more consistent than last year. Redding, Lannan, and Perez may not get the nod for the All-Star game start, but they are capable of winning games with run support. Shawn Hill’s outing on Saturday night has to be encouraging after concern that he was headed to the same pasture John Patterson was put out in. I fear some in the bullpen may yet find their way to those same sedate green fields. Speaking of green fields, a word now from down on the farm:
The Farm Report: Four Teams, Combined Record: 36-28 .563
On Friday night Jordan Zimmermann threw five spotless innings for the streaking Potomac Nationals, getting his second win to go with a save in three appearances. He gave up only three hits and struck out six. Zimmermann is one of the few Nationals farm hands who was jumped a level by the Nationals to start 2008. He was part of the highly touted Vermont Lake Monsters starting rotation last year and is putting up the best numbers of any pitcher in the Nationals system. The Blue Rocks’ announcers described Zimmermann as having a certain swagger to him. They were clearly impressed with his “fluid mechanics and good movement on his pitches.” He has a chance to be this year’s John Lannan, streaking through the Nationals system to the big club by September.
Potomac’s 10-game win streak was snapped Thursday, but Friday and Saturday they started a new one and stand atop the league with a 12-3 record. Like Zimmermann, Cory Van Allen has won two wins and an ERA of 1.17 with eleven strikeouts against five walks in 15 innings. The offense has been spread around with Dee Brown and Matt Rogelstad hitting over .300. Chris Marrero has been slow getting untracked although he has two homers.
Columbus got off to a horrible start but is riding the arms of Mike O’Connor and Colin Balester back to respectability. They have brought their record to 8-10. O’Connor has been impressive in four starts with 20 K’s, 4 BBs, and an ERA of 1.96 over 23 innings.
The Harrisburg Senators are almost as good as the P-Nats with a record of 10-5. They don’t have the pitching, but the Pennsylvania capital’s lineup holds more promise for Washington than anything except the winner of Tuesday’s primary. The only thing hotter from Louisiana than Luke Montz, the catcher from the bayou, is Paul Proudhomme as Montz is hitting .429 with three homers and 13 RBI. The idea that Washington has no catching prospects may need to be re-evaluated if he continues at this pace. The Senators are burning up the base paths as Roger Bernadina and Justin Maxwell are just off the league lead with seven steals apiece. Maxwell’s .425 OBP and his 14 RBI demonstrate that a healthy Justin Maxwell belongs in the majors in 2009.
The Hagerstown Suns have a lineup packed with high draft choices and much touted prospects, many of whom are scuffling. Early rounders Jake Smolinski, Stephen Englund, and Michael Burgess are barely hitting their weight, but each is still in his teens and the season is early. Number three draft choice from 2007, Stephen Souza, is back from injury with two homers, three steals, and a .294 batting average.
So far the 2008 Farm Report is all about the pitching: Jordan Zimmermann and Colin Balester are the hottest right-handers and along with Mike O’Connor they give Nationals something everybody wants—starting pitching. The White Sox are playing good baseball and need a second baseman. The 2008 season may get interesting yet.
Ted Leavengood is a Columnist for NatsFanatics.com. If you have any comments, suggestions for future columns, or questions, he can be reached
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