The Nats fell one game below .500 in Grape Fruit league play, to 6-7 overall. After a 9-0 trouncing of the Cleveland Indians, the Nats fell 4-3 yesterday to Detroit.
Here’s the Nats breakdown by League:
- Against the American League: 2-4
- Against the National League: 4-3-1
Cleveland: In the 9-0 shutout win over Cleveland, Nats starter Jason Bergmann showed he is ready to pick up where he left off prior to his injury in 2007. Last season, prior to his injury, Bergmann was not only a huge success and surprise, but one of the more dominant pitchers in the National League for a stretch of games. Bergmann tossed 4 shutout innings, giving up just 2 hits while whiffing 4 batters. It was a game that had Manny Acta and pitching coach Randy St. Claire all smiles. 5 pitchers in the bullpen complete the shutout.
Offensively, the Nats outhit the Indians 13-3. CF Lastings Milledge remains the hottest Nat at the plate. he was 2 for 4 with a double, triple, 2 runs scored, and a RBI. Christian Guzman was the power plant for the Nats, smashing 2 homers and knocking in 4 runs. OF Austin Kearns and C Jesus Flores each had 2 hits apiece.
In a split squad game, the Nats fell to the Indians 5-2. The Nats manged just 5 hits including a homer by 3B Matt Whitney, vying for a spot at 1B. Whitney’s long shot problem is Dmitri Young and Nick Johnson are already set at 1B. SP Matt Chico took the loss, giving up 3 runs in 3 2/3 innings and giving up 3 walks. Chico was under the gun some last season for giving up too many free bases. Prospect Adam Carr pitched 2/3 of an inning, walking two batter, but yielding no earned runs.
Milledge has been swinging a hot bat the last three games, totaling 6 hits in his last 8 plate appearances with a double, triple, 4 runs scored and 2 RBIs. Austin Kearns is heating up a bit, he has 3 hits in his last 6 at bats. C Jesus Flores is 3 for 7 in his last 2 games.
Cuts Made … The Nats did further roster pairing yesterday. Tyler Clippard, Garrett Mock, and Colin Balestar have all been designated to the minors, ending their outside runs for a spot in the starting rotation. None were seen as having great chances to crack the rotation, but all are seen as big pitching prospects and part of the future for the Nats. The cuts bring the starting rotation back to a more manageable scenario for the rest of Spring.
That presumably leaves seven pitchers — Shawn Hill, John Patterson, Tim Redding, Jason Bergmann, Odalis Perez, Matt Chico and John Lannan — fighting for five spots in the Nationals’ rotation.
The way we see it, Shawn Hill, Jason Bergmann, and John Patterson are locks, leaving Redding, Perez, Chico, and Lannan fighting for two final spots. Then again, just like we said in our pitching preview, Hill once again is experiencing arm problems, which would put the rotation battle to Lannen and Redding battling for number 5.
The other roster reductions were not nearly as significant …
The players reassigned to minor league camp were: Balester; pitchers Rob Bell, Eude Brito, Bobby Brownlie, Adam Carr, Brian Sanches, Jason Stanford and Dennis Tankersley; shortstop Ian Desmond; outfielder Jason Dubois; catcher Javier Herrera; first baseman Luis Jimenez; and infielder Ed Rogers.
And a gimpse at some of the assignments below …
The team also optioned Clippard, Mock and first baseman Josh Whitesall to Class AAA Columbus; outfielders Rogearvin Bernadina and Justin Maxwell to Class AA Harrisburg; and pitcher Ross Detwiler to Class A Potomac. Washington unconditionally released veteran catcher Chad Moeller.
Washington Times has an article today on the hopes of Jesus Flores, widely seen as the catcher of the future for the Nationals, and his hopes in staying on the big league roster this season. But it ain’t gonna happen …
Those same teammates, coaches and front-office officials all agree: Flores will be the Nationals’ starting catcher for years.
Just not this year.
General manager Jim Bowden explained that stance on the first day of spring training.
“He’s our long-term solution, we think,” Bowden said. “To get there, with what we saw last year, we think it would really help him to play every day in Double-A. There are still parts of his game that need time to develop.”
Other Minor Roster News … The Nats signed two former Nationals yesterday to minor league deals. Pinch hitter Tony Bautista and Columbus closer RP Chris Booker will join Columbus (AAA).
Peaking around the Nats blogospehere …
Curly W has a quick post up on the troubling health situation at catcher for the Nats. Not troubling for us. We say, just hand it to Flores!
Nationals Pride has a word on the rotation, given arm problems with Hill. You guys forgot Lannan? Another prospect that wasn’t mentioned, more than likely because we should look for him after 2009 is 2007 draft choice Jordon Zimmerman. Zimmerman put up some excellent numbers in Vermont last season.
Stephanie at Weve Got Heart is surprised at the cut of backup C Chad Moeller? So are we and others, given the health of the catching position.
And of course, check out Bill Yurasko’s page for various media report on the Nats.
Loading ...
FanSided
NFLMocks.com
