Saturday, January 31, 2009

The season is too far away

I for one can't wait for the season to get started and to watch this team grow on the field, as a result we're getting some baseball in early and heading south for spring training. Papa Yoder got the tickets yesterday, and The Nats Blog will be reporting live from Vierra Beach, Florida at the Washington Nationals spring training complex. 

Manny needs to start being Manny, play some baseball

According to ESPN.com, Albert Pujols is encouraging the St. Louis Cardinals to sign future Hall of Fame slugger Manny Ramirez. While there has been no other sign of communication between Ramirez and the Cardinals front office, the prospect of adding arguably the scariest hitter last season into the line up with arguably the scariest hitter ever is certainly raising some eye brows.

The article says that Pujols speaks to Manny a few times a week on the phone, and the two of them cannot figure out why Ramirez can’t get a deal anywhere.

The answer to that conundrum is simple, unfortunately Manny is too busy being Manny to figure it out. It’s your agent buddy. The truth is that Scott Boras (Ramirez’s agent) refuses to come to terms with a slowing economy as he continues to try and push the market bigger and bigger. So while younger stars like C.C Sabathia and Mark Teixeira can still get mega-deals, teams (who aren’t wearing pinstripes) are being sensible about signing a 36-year-old outfielder with baggage.

His talent, and even his work ethic are unquestionable. His desire to play into his 40’s, be a leader in the clubhouse, and whether or not he knows where he is the majority of the time is. But with that uncertainty there is one unquestionable truth:

If Manny Ramirez dumped Scott Boras, lowered his asking price to 2 years for 40 million dollars, he would be on a team tomorrow.

It’s amazing what green (money, not the herb) colored glasses will do to ball players. It seems so simple for us fans and executives, yet it’s so hard for the players to understand. Yes Scott Boras will demand more money, but no, teams won’t want to deal with him. The players must think we can’t understand what it’s like to turn down all that money to play baseball. Maybe that is why it took Warren Buffet in the summer of 2008 to convince A-Rod to drop Boras, the only person Mr. A-rrogant would listen to is the richest man in the world.

Manny needs to pull back his deadlocks and see the light. It’s February and he has no team. No one has budged to bite the bullet and sign him to a contract the think is unfair, in fact the Dodgers retracted their first offer. The Mets are showing no interest, the Yankees are spent, and the Red Sox are off limits. The Cardinals are an intriguing option but do they really have that kind of money? It’s time for Manny to suck it up, take 40 million dollars, and go play some baseball. It’s what he was born to do.

Manny in Washington?

At first glance that question may seem ludicrous, especially in bold. Why would the Nationals sign an old outfielder who has no leadership ability to a big deal?

Well…because we can. If you loyal readers remember I was adamantly against the Mark Teixeira deal. Not because I didn’t like his talent, or because I didn’t think we needed a 20 million dollar a deal player on the roster, but because I didn’t like the length of the contract. Don’t pay for fan excitement now if it will hurt the team when they’re ready to compete.

Ramirez however is different. He will likely only play three or four more years, and will be out of town by the time the team is competitive. In the mean time he will provide excitement with his bat, his fielding (not necessarily positively, but it will be exciting!) and his antics. This would not be a move for our future, but one to hold us until we get there.

It will also give Nats fans a little bit of history and a little something to be proud about when Ramirez gets inducted on his first ballot into the Hall of Fame. Not to mention he will be closing in on 600 homers in the not so distant future, what better a place than Nationals Park?

So Mr. Bowden, go ahead and let Manny distract us while you prepare the future. Let Manny come into our clubhouse and show young players how you really prepare for a season and game. Show Ryan Zimmerman what it’s like to see a fastball when he hits in front of one of the best hitters of all time. And let Manny remind Nationals fans what a feared hitter looks like wearing a curly w.

“I’m sick of following my dreams. I’m just going to ask them where they’re going and hook up with them later.”-Mitch Hedberg

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Jordan Zimmerman-Prospect # 1


It must have been hard for Jordan Zimmerman to have any optimism after his senior season at University of Wisconsin at Steven's-Point. He had just been plain unlucky. The kind of bad luck you'd only expect for a guy like Zach Grienke.

The first round talent prospect took a line drive off his jaw while pitching batting practice in the offseason which made it hard for him to prepare for the year. That, combined with awful Wisconsin weather (if you've been there you'd understand) all combined to attribute to his slow start his senior year. Oh yeah, and he missed time after getting his wisdom teeth pulled.

This string of unluckiness resulted in him falling to the second round where the Nationals picked him up with the 67th overall pick.

Today bad luck is nowhere to be found anywhere near Jordan Zimmerman. Since starting professional ball he has been nothing but good, very good. In his debut in Vermont he shined going 5-2 in 11 starts with 71 strikeouts in only 53 innings. He posted an ERA of 2.38 and only allowed 18 walks. The next year Zimmerman started the season in high A ball Potomac and once again dazzled. In 5 appearances he posted a 1.65 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 27.1 innings. After a quick promotion he continued to produce in Harrisburg. In 20 starts he posted a 3.21 ERA with 103 strikeouts in 106 innings pitched.

Zimmerman has progressed extremely well through the system in the last two years. This progression and his performance in 2008 has launched him atop the Nationals prospect lists across the board. This progression has surprised and impressed scouts as many figured he would need more time than most college pitchers coming form poor college competition at UWSP. 
Despite his performance and quick rise up the charts there are still doubts about his talent. Scouts point out that while he has been able to get hitters out in the minors none of his stuff is considered dominant. 'All of his pitches are good but he lacks that one knockout offering to project as an upper tier-talent,' says Baseball Prospectus.

While the naysayers will...well naysay... the only people JZimm will have to answer to are the batters he faces. He will be given the opportunity to compete for a starting job in the spring, and if he doesn't earn it the Nationals will be keeping the rotation spot warm for him until he is ready. He will have the opportunity to prove he has what it takes...and I know Nats fans are waiting to see what he will do. 

Monday, January 26, 2009

Ross Detwiler-Prospect # 2


On September 7th, 2007, Ross Detwiler found himself in a very good place. Only a few months after being drafted 6th overall by the Washington Nationals he was on the mound in Atlanta pitching an inning of relief against the Braves. He retired the side.

Yet one year later Detwiler couldn't pitch himself out of Single-A Potomac. 'Why am I still here?' he must have asked himself. Perhaps that was the reason why...

The 6 foot 5, 22 year old left-hander hadn't always been at the top of his class. He went undrafted in high school and signed with Missouri State, not exactly the most prestigious of baseball schools in the land. It was here however where Detwiler said he learned how to pitch. His large frame after maturation translated into a mid 90's fastball and a very effective power curve. 

Detwiler began to stand out in the Missouri Valley Conference and earned himself a spot on Falmouth in the famous Cape Cod Summer League. In four starts there he compiled a 1.74 ERA while striking out 14 with only three walks against the nations best amateur competition. in 2007 as a Junior he shined for Missouri State shutting down opposing hitters to a .198 batting average and posting an ERA of 2.22. 

The transition into professional ball appeared seamless for the potential filled starter. He posted a 3.54 ERA on his way to his call up with 55 strikeouts in 66 innings. Despite extending his season longer than it had ever gone before, Detwiler continued to retire better and better hitters.

Then how come he couldn't get out of Potomac in what should have been a routine stop en route to joining the Nationals rotation half way through 2008? The truth is neither coaches nor Detwiler himself knew what was going on. All anybody knew was that in a complete season for the PNATS he had compiled a 4.22 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, and a lower than expected strikeout rate.

The only problem that the coaches of the PNATS could single out was the lack of a developed third pitch. Detwiler came into the system with a change-up that he threw in college but he had struggled to throw it consistently for a strike against higher level hitters. This had caused hitters to key in on his fastball as the change posed no real threat. As Detwilers change up improved through the summer, his numbers got a little better.

Yet with Detwilers on the mound struggles he is still considered by many as not only one of the Nats top 10 prospects but a potential future ace if he puts it together. Prospectus said that when he is on he looks absolutely dominant and has more potential than Jordan Zimmerman, but BP also warned that at times in 2008 he looked completely lost. 

So for the Nationals 2009 will likley be a major make or break year for Detwiler's path to the majors. At only 22 years old he does have time to figure it out, but the Nationals rotation is completely depleted and the team needs starters. If the kid can put it together he could be atop the Nats rotation in two or three years, if not it wont be pretty.

'No offseason' for Nationals Lannan

The Earth Times reported today that John Lannan is in the midst of an extreme offseason workout regiment with professional athletic trainer Dean Maddalone. The owner of 'Professional Athletic Performance' will be presenting Lannan and their success in the 2009 National Strength and Conditioning Sports Specific Training Conference in Nashville Tennessee. 
"From the first day of our 12 week program we noticed an intensity usually reserved for guys who are trying to make a team or add years to their career," says Dean on Lannan's work ethic. 

"The last thing I want to think about in later innings is fatigue and the trainers at Performance have taught me how to prepare. I have never felt this good in my life," said Lannan.
John Lannan is slated to be the teams ace this year after an excellent rookie season in 2008. While many in the Nationals circuit believe Lannan has what it takes to be a true Major League ace, few scouts from other organizations see him more than a  number 3 starter on a division one team. Hopefully for Lannan, and the Nationals, this hard work ethic will just be used to shut the doubters up, and Lannan will be dominant yet again on the mound in 2009.

Poll Results are in:


Friday, January 23, 2009

Baseball Prospectus releases their Nationals top 11 prospects list


BP, the baseball bible, released today their top 11 prospects for the Washington Nationals. While this list is similar to Baseball America's, the order is certainly different and it gives a good altering opinion of the teams talent. 

The main difference between Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America is that Baseball America ranks their players based on scouts opinions and Baseball Prospectus takes a more mathematical/statistical approach to evaluating talent. Personally I lay my faith in the people at BP more. Year after year they have successfully broken down baseball into an almost predictable science (they are also very funny). 

Some people may call them geeks, but I call them geniuses. The list is on a subscription website, so I wont quote everything they say but I will give you an idea of their feelings about all the players. So without further delay, here is BP's top 11 prospects:

1. Jordan Zimmerman- Prospectus lists Zimmerman as a 4 star prospect (out of 5). They say that 'he does nearly everything well,' and ' has a strong durable frame.' BP projects Zimmerman at best to be a number 3 starter and at worst to be a 4. They agree that he's a pretty safe bet to be a Major League starter but they aren't impressed with any of his stuff. 'All of his pitches are good, but he lacks that one knock out offering to project as upper-tier talent.' BP thinks his path to the Majors is relatively clear because 'Washingtons big league rotations elicits little more than giggles.'

Fun Fact: Zimmerman was selected with the compensation pick the Nationals recieved from the Cubs for the signing of Alfonso Soriano. 

2. Michael Burgess-BP is pretty high on Burgess. They say that while he is nowhere near the pure hitter that fellow Hillsboro High alumni  Gary Sheffield is, he does project to have the same power and outfield arm. '..his bat speed is off the charts and his wrists are almost supernaturally strong.' They also say he has a plus-plus arm with incredible accuracy. At best BP thinks he could be a right fielder who hits 30+ homers yearly, but they also warn he could end up striking out too much to make his power valuable to any team. 

3. Ross Detwiler-BP is very high on Detwiler's talent and say that he in fact has a higher ceiling than Zimmerman and could be a staff ace if he puts it together. They say that, 'When he's on, (he) has the ability to dominate.' However even BP cant look past his miserable performance last season. 'Detwiler was absolutely lost at times during 2008 while constantly struggling with his mechanics....if you caught him on the wrong day, you'd never believe he was a first-round talent.'

Fun Fact: Shares the same hometown as rock'n roll legend Chuck Berry.

4. Derek Norris: BP is very high on Norris's tools, saying he has all-star potential behind the plate. 'He has the kind of plate discipline you cannot teach; the game almost seems to slow down for him when he's at the plate, and he never swings at a bad pitch.' They say that his frame will project to solid power and he already has an arm to shut down the run game. The only downside BP sees on Norris is that his long stroke does not project to a high batting average. They think that if he can shorten it he will be a star catcher, but even if not he should be a big league one. 

5.Jack McGeary- BP is high on McGeary's polish and stuff but low on his lack of commitment to the game. Even though he doesn't have overpowering stuff, they think he has a good 'knack for getting hitters out.' The main problem is McGeary's commitment to Stanford vs. his commitment to the Nationals. The kid is both a stud on the mound and in the classroom, but he's only getting half the experience he should be because of it. 'Two more seasons of half-year availability will slow his development, leaving him well behind the curve.'

Fun fact: McGeary has carried up to 20 units per quarter at Stanford with a 3.5 GPA.

6. Chris Marrero- Their main knock on Marrero is his basic waste of his 2008 season. Marrero gained weight which took him from 'being a below-average runner to a full-fledged base clogger, while also slowing his speed.' BP agrees that he still has the hitting skills and plate patience to be a big league hitter if he just gets it together in 2009. They project him to be ' your classic big-league first basemen' in a perfect world.

7. Destin Hood-BP thinks that drafting Hood was the Nationals attempt to fill the void of high-ceiling athletes in the organization. 'His power is above average, and he's a plus-plus runner with silky smooth action both at the plate as well as in the field.' They say scouts love his make up and say you hardly ever see a 'max effort, max tools combination.' Unfortunately they see Hood as a major project who has a very long way to go before he can be considered MLB ready. Right now he's a great athlete learning to play baseball. 

8. J.P Ramirez- BP basically said the same thing that The Nats Blog reported earlier this week. Ramirez is an incredible line drive hitter but has few other secondary skills. 'Ramirez can flat-out hit...He has no weakness, regardless of pitch type or location, and is extremely confident in his abilities.' While at the plate he's likely to be a high batting average hitter with not a lot of projectable power do to his size. BP thinks at best he can be a starting outfielder with a high batting average and at worst he'll be a bench player who stays on a roster due to his ability to pick up a hit here and there.

9. Esmailyn Gonzalez-BP is lower on Esmailyn than I am. They say that while he has good plate patience and makes solid contact his lack of lower half strength will limit his power potential. They also think that he isn't much of a shortstop and at the next level is likely to move over to second at the next level. They think that at best he can be a replacement level shortstop with a better bat than glove or a pretty solid all around second baseman. 

10. Roger Bernadina-BP sees Bernandina as a toolsy outfielder who is a late bloomer. 'His raw tools have impressed scouts for the past seven years now. He's a plus-plus runner and a threat to steal every time he reaches base, as well as an outstanding center fielder with a plus arm.' They think that while he finally put it together now he isn't likely to become a star he could be a starter for a second-division team.  

11. Adrian Nieto-BP thinks Nieto is a great talent but right now not much more. They think his hitting and catching potential are high but he really doesn't have much development as of yet. They believe in a perfect world he could be a very good Major League catcher but he has a lot of development to do first. 

Nats exchange arbitration figures with 4 players

Ryan Zimmerman 


Nationals offer: $2.75 million   Zimmerman asks for: $3.9 million

Scott Olsen


Nationals offer: $2.55 million     Olsen asks for: $3.5 million

Josh Willingham

Nationals offer: $2.5 million     Willingham asked for: $3.6 million

Shawn Hill


Nationals offer: $500,000       Hill asks for: 775,000

Chris Marrero-Prospect # 3


There are those kids who you look at and just say, 'Thats a ball player.' There are those kids who you look at and say, 'Wow that kid can really flash the glove.' Then there are those who don't let you say anything, their bats say it for you, and they say, 'I can flat out RAKE.'

Chris Marrero is the latter. The 6 foot 3, 220 pound former third basemen/outfielder is now the future first basemen of the Washington Nationals. But it doesn't matter that he keeps switching gloves because all that matters is his tremendous bat. 

Going into his senior season at Monsignor Pace High in Miami, Florida, Marrero was considered hands down the best high school hitter in his class. He was so impressive that Nationals head of player development Bob Boone would later tell reporters that when he went down to see Marrero play he thought, "We have no chance." The young third basemen had a rough senior year however with a nagging hamstring injury which hurt his mechanics. He 'struggled' to the tune of batting .373 with 13 home runs, 35 RBI's, and a state championship.

The rough patch allowed Marrero to slip to the 15th slot where the Nationals picked him and gave him a $1.625 million bonus as well as a new position. The Nats had drafted Ryan Zimmerman at third base the year before which meant Marrero was now to be an outfielder. 

After the draft he was quickly sent to the Gulf Coast League to participate in Rookie Ball. At the age of 17 Marrero excelled batting .309 with an OBP of .374. The next summer Marrero would continue his success at the plate splitting time between Hagerstown and Potomac hitting .275 with 23 home runs and 88 RBI. With his success in 2007 he was named the Nationals number one prospect by Baseball America and the number 27 prospect overall. 

Marrero was poised for a breakout year in 2008 which could have found him as a mid to late season  call up for the club if all went well. But things didn't go well for Marrero. After a slow start it seemed like he just could not get out of Dodge, well get out of Potomac. Through 70 games with the PNATS, Marrero only hit .250 with 11 home runs and a poor OBP of .325. His disappointing season came to an abrupt end in June when he broke his fibula taking him out for the rest of the season.

While it's not clear what caused the poor 2008 performance for Marrero some credit it to his position change from outfield to first, other attribute it to his significant weight gain. 

"I was heavy. I didn't get fat, I just got really really strong. I came into 2008 at, like, 235 or something with 11 percent body fat. But I lost a little bit of my agility," Marrero told the Washington Post. 

Marrero says he's fully recovered from his injury and is ready to continue his development. The young first baseman remains the most talented hitter in the Nationals system and still has the potential to be a star slugger at the major league level. Depending on his performance in camp he will either start the season in high-A Potomac or double-A Harrisburg. The rest is up to Marrero, if he hits, which he should, he could find his way into a possible starting spot at first base in 2010. 

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Don Sutton to leave the Nats?


The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today that current Washington Nationals broadcaster Don Sutton may leave the ball club and return to Atlanta to preform the Braves radio broadcast.

Don Sutton is still currently under contract with the Nationals but the Braves are trying to arrange a deal to get him to leave the Nations capital. Sutton would join Jim Powell in the radio booth in an attempt to replace broadcasting legends Pete Van Wieren and Skip Caray.

Sutton, a Hall-of-fame pitcher and 300 game winner, spent 17 years in the broadcast booth for Atlanta before joining the Nationals broadcast team. 

While it is surprising that Sutton would leave midway through a contract, it's not surprising that he would want to get out of Washington. The Nationals television audience was shockingly bad last season, so bad that team officials and Major League Baseball questioned if they were even accurate. While its a blow to the confidence of fans (does ANYONE want to be in Washington?) it may be a good thing for the future of the team. 

Ever since the team came to Washington we've been trying to forge an identity. It's understandable, so much about appreciating baseball is built into it's tradition. But everyone should know by now if we want a genuine Washington Nationals culture we cant barrow bits and pieces from others. We can't take legendary broadcasters from other teams, or expect people to go to an incredibly expensive flawless stadium. We as fans want to feel like we are PART of the team, PART of it's history, and PART of its tradition.

Perhaps if we get some fresh young talent in the booth we will be able to associate the growth of our team with the growth of their careers. We will be able to come to appreciate them more and more as we come to appreciate our own ball club. 

What would watching Wizards games be without Steve Buckhantz after all?

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Nationals drop prices on 14,000 tickets


USA Today reported that the Washington Nationals intend to lower ticket prices for the 2009 season:
"WASHINGTON (AP) — The Washington Nationals lowered individual-sale ticket prices on 14,000 seats for 2009 on Wednesday after ranking near the bottom of the National League in attendance during their new ballpark's debut season.
The team didn't raise prices on any of the 41,888 seats in Nationals Park.

Prices were not changed for the stadium's most expensive seats, including those right behind home plate that cost $300 or more and often were empty when providing a backdrop for TV cameras.

The Nationals, whose record of 59-102 was the worst in baseball, averaged about 29,000 fans per home game in 2008, when they moved from RFK Stadium to their nearly $700 million new home. That put the team 13th in attendance in the 16-team NL, and 19th in the 30-team major leagues.

Individual-sale ticket prices were cut by $10 or more in more than 4,500 seats, including 3,000 in the ballpark's lower bowl."
Thank god. I was honestly starting to get worried. The ticket prices were high in general, much less for a team that didn't field a product anyone wanted to see. I couldn't see the team matching even the poor attendance they had last year with the current economic recession if prices stayed the same. People are going to be cutting back on luxuries, and a $25 upper deck outfield ticket is certainly a luxury. 

Aside from not having an established fan base, I feel most Nats fans just had trouble adjusting to Nationals Park. RFK was great in many ways. It was incredibly accessible, incredibly cheap, and had its own charm. Let's not forget that RFK was home to many championship teams of both the Redskins and D.C United. 

I think the lowered ticket prices will help the team build the fan base it truly needs. The team wont win this year, but if people can associate Nats Park with a good time, and not a whole in their wallet, they may be more likely to go back. 

Now just to fix the problem behind the plate....

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Washington Finally Lands a Big Name Free Agent:


It had been a rough winter for Jim Bowden and the Nats. They had gotten so close to achieving the notoriety and the fan support that comes with the landing of a big time free agent name. But the closer the young ball club got, the greater the pain the city felt when they were spurned time after time for a bigger more established baseball town.

But today New York and Chicago can be damned, Washington D.C is where the celebration is at. This morning on the steps of the U.S Capital Barack Obama will be signing a four year deal which could keep him in Washington for as many as the next eight. 

Fans have been spotted celebrating in the streets of Washington today. For a team that has been depressed due to almost a decade of losing seasons, this signing promises a new hope and a new start for many. The impact wont be immediate, it will take hard work and time to develop, but many Nats fans believe that this is the first major step on getting this team back on track. 

Talk About A Press Conference

When Mark Teixiera decided to take less money to go to New York many Washingtonians were hurt and felt slighted. The day he signed with a team that hadn't even been publicly in the talks it was a humiliating slap in the face to all of those who hoped the Nationals may achieve some sense of national relevance. The only thing worse was when the Yankees held their press conference to announce their great acquisition. 

It was Steinbrenner's chance to pop the new Yankee Stadium's cherry. With bells and whistles, in typical pinstripe fashion, the team wowed the national audience by unveiling their new first basemen in front of flashing lights and a multi-hundred million dollar stadium. It was truly an event to be remembered. The handsome young slugger took his place in Yankee history and made jokes about his decision to screw over the Nats. 

Well Mr. Steinbrenner, HOW DO YOU LIKE DEM APPLES?

On a serious note:

While you may agree this is either a great day or a sad day for our nation, partisan politics aside, this is a great day for our fair city. They are reporting that there are over two million people on our mall today, with as many as 3-4 million in the city. To put that in perspective, the Washington Nationals TOTAL ATTENDANCE last year was 2,300,000. 

So regardless of politics, as Nationals fans, and lovers of our city, lets take this day to celebrate our town coming alive with people, festivities, and patriotism. 

Go Nationals, and Go USA.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Michael Burgess-Prospect Number 4


Coming from Hillsborough High in Florida, Michael Burgess knows he hasn’t accomplished anything yet. A look at the list of notable alumni from the school that shares the same name of its town will tell you why.

He has shared the same mound as flamethrowers Dwight Gooden and Baltimore Orioles closer Chris Ray. He has roamed the same outfield as sluggers Garry Sheffield, Carl Everett, and yes, Elijah Dukes. All of these names leave Michael Burgess as currently just a blip on the radar of immense baseball talent to come from the Hillsborough Terriers.


Fortunately for Burgess it’s no new thing to join elite company. The young super athlete rarely has been the first to do anything in his legendary baseball community. Instead the outfielder is always evoking the names of past greats that have achieved greatness before him.


In the 5A Florida State Championship finals Burgess pummeled a 470-foot home run to centerfield that cleared a 60 foot centerfield wall, a shot to make Mickey Mantle blush.  The colossal shot thrilled fans but shocked none. The Sarasota crowd had seen it before; Bo Jackson, Frank Thomas, and Ken Griffey Jr. had all done it during their tenure.


That summer Burgess was in the midst of leading his summer ball club, the Cincinnati Redskins, to a 56-5 record. He was playing for the legendary Joe Hayden who had tutored the likes of Barry Larkin, Griffey Jr., Mark Mulder, and Corey Patterson. During one batting practice Burgess delivered a shot to right center that landed on the roof of the sporting complex close to 500 feet away.


Hayden would later tell reporters that he had only seen one other player do that before, Ken Griffey Jr. But Griffey did it three times.


“Plenty of players come out of the area, but how many are going to make it that’s the question. I think about it before I get on the field, and I try to play my heart out to be the next player out of Tampa, Florida to make it to the major league,” Burgess told Sports Illustrated’s Lucas O’Neill.

Hopefully for the Nationals it is the background of Burgess that will push him to achieve greatness. A background like Burgess’s forces humility, it forces drive, and most importantly it forces a talented young man to understand that god given talent just isn’t enough.


The six foot one, 225 pound outfielder was on the fast track to be the number one overall pick out of high school. He opened the eyes of scouts his sophomore year when he batted .505 with 10 homers and 20 stolen bases. He got them to salivate when he batted .511 with 12 homers and 24 stolen bases his junior year. Numbers like that made ball clubs even forget about his 95 MPH fastball and his 0.67 ERA in 20 innings that same year.


He has a build that reminds you of Bo Jackson, and an athletic skill-set that’s not too far off either. In high school Burgess ran a 6.8 60 yard dash and could squat over 600 pounds.


Then his senior year something happened. Burgess had been rated as the nations number one high school prospect, and had won the Jackie Robinson Award for the nations best high school player, yet his senior year he couldn’t muster more than a .338 batting average with only two homers in 25 games.


Burgess had become high school baseballs version of Barry Bonds. It wasn’t anything that he was doing wrong that caused the drop off in his stats, it was the opponents refusal to pitch to him. Pitches in the strike zone became like an endangered species for the  young slugger, who saw seventeen intentional walks before his eight game of his senior year.


Burgess’s draft stock plummeted with the lack of numbers and the inability to reach expectations. Many felt that because he would likely slip out of the top 10 picks in the draft, he would attend Arizona State where he had committed to play that fall. This feeling caused Burgess to drop even further in the draft, all the way to the Washington Nationals third pick, and the 49th overall.


The outfielder has had solid success in his first two years in professional baseball. In his first year he combined to bat .318 between the Gulf Coast League Nats and the Vermont Lake Monsters. He Slugged 13 home runs and drove in 42 while reaching base at about .400. Starting in Hagerstown his second season he continued to show improved power but showed way less discipline, batting .249 with 18 home runs and 136 strikeouts.


It looks for Burgess that while he can hit the ball a mile he needs to shorten his stroke and make sure he’s making contact. The bottom line is a player needs to be able to bat over .250 in A ball if he wants to make it to the show, regardless of potential and power. Burgess claims he wants to be, ‘the first player to bat .500,’ so lets hope he put a lot of time in the offseason to improve his plate approach and discipline.


Outside of the batters box Burgess continues to impress. He has good hands for an outfielder and his rocket arm from the mound transfers to an all-star level gun from the corner spots. He has solid speed but not a lot of base stealing potential. He will likely start the season in Potomac and if he can continue to progress in the batters box, the 20 year old may only be a year or two from sniffing Nats Park.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Jack McGeary-Prospect number 5

            Rounding off the Nationals impressive 2007 draft, Jack McGeary is another potential first round talent that the team snagged in later rounds due to signability concerns.  But while McGeary fits into the Nats 2007 brand of late round steals, nothing about the young lefties road to the majors will be normal.

            The six foot three, two hundred pound starter excelled at Roxbury Latin high school in Massachusetts, both in and out of the classroom. Often described as an absolute perfectionist, its not surprising that the young man would be able to set up an agreement to have his cake and eat it too.

            You see, McGeary had earned himself admission to Stanford University, one of the best colleges in the country. He earned it not only on the baseball field, but in the classroom as well. Many clubs saw McGeary as a lock to go to sunny California in the fall, which is why he fell so far in the draft. The Nationals leadership knew what a great talent McGeary was however, and gave him an offer he couldn’t refuse.           

            The deal reached by the two parties, minutes before the deadline gave McGeary first round money (1.8  million dollars) and a 200,000 dollar scholarship to attend Stanford. The unique deal not only gave a sixth round pick first round money (much to the dismay of other clubs in the league), it allowed the young lefthander to study four years at Stanford while working out daily and pitching for the club’s minor league affiliates in the summer.

            Today McGeary spends his time in his dorm room like many other 19-year-old Stanford students. But instead of going out to the frat party Friday night or sleeping in Saturday morning, he is waking up at 6 A.M to drive to Santa Cruz University to workout on their facilities. Stanford won’t let him use their varsity complex anymore, not after the stud recruit decommited from Stanford, but still decided to attend the university. On some weekends he will spend 12 hours on a plane just so he can get 8 hours of instruction at Vieira Beach, Florida from Nationals minor league scouts. So far the young man has been impressive in his ability to handle both the classroom, and the professional baseball life.

            It is however, yet to be seen whether this deal will hurt his development. Almost all young players play year round, on a team. There is a lot to be said for pitching in actual games, playing alongside teammates, and having a coach push you harder than you can push yourself. McGeary wont have that experience, at least not during the school year anyways. I don’t know if workouts alone will be enough to develop the young player, in fact, no one does. It’s a true experiment to say the least, but as Jacks mom said, “If anyone can do it, he can.”

            The lefty combines an outstanding curveball with excellent control, and a fastball that shows natural movement. That fastball only reaches about 89-90 right now, but has the potential to be improved as he matures. His large frame (6-3, 200 LBS) suggests that he has the body to be a big league starter and his personal coaches all say he understands the mindset needed to be successful on the mound. Baseball America named him as having the best curveball and the best control in the organization.

            So far his performance has been mixed. At the age of 19 he only has 14 professional starts. He’s been hit around a little bit, although not hard. In 66.1 IP he has allowed 70 hits, but only two home runs. He has only let up 21 walks and has struck out 73. Overall he is 2-3 with a 4.48 ERA.

            Despite the amounts of hits and runs he is letting up, his high K/BB ratio shows promise. He knows how to get hitters out when he gets deep in the count, he probably just needs to improve his fastball to get ahead early. McGeary could be a major league starter someday, but I believe with his stunted development with his arrangement, it wont be until he is about 26 or 27.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

The Man Who Loved To Play vs. The Man Who Loves The Game



It makes sense.

 

The greatest leadoff hitter of all-time; who loved the game, the attention, and most of all himself, would be inducted into the hall of fame the first year he was eligible. Just one more thing that makes Rickey Henderson stand out as exceptional in spite of himself.

 

The same year the much-maligned outfielder, Jim Rice, who never seemed to enjoy the game or the media, would be inducted into the hall of fame on his very last chance. Just one more thing that makes Jim Rice stand out as disappointingly mediocre despite his abilities.

 

Neither player was particularly adored or held in high respects by the media or the fans. Yet the two outfielders could not be any more different in their style of play, relationship with the press, and career accomplishments.

 

I remember one spring morning when I was about 11; my father and me went to Port St. Lucy to watch the Mets practice before their game. Back then the complex was essentially a free for all with only small fences serving as the boundary between fan and player.  I leaned up against the fence to watch as Bobby Valentine gave a speech to the infielders about the art of bunt defense while my dad wandered off to sit cross legged in the outfield while chatting up Mookie Wilson about 1986.

 

The infield meeting ended and the players scattered to various parts of the complex. I got some autographs, shook some hands, and felt for a moment that I was part of the team. I decided to walk along the fence that stretched up the left field line to find my father.

 

Halfway up the line a voice called out to me, “What’s up little dude?” I looked to my right and five feet away from me on the other side of the fence stood a 40-year-old man in a Mets uniform.

 

“You’re Rickey Henderson!” I yelled out, shocked that any ball player would speak with me, much less get MY attention.

 

“Rickey knows that,” he replied.

 

 We chatted a bit while walking up the left field line. He asked me what position I played and where I was from. It was an amazing experience for an 11 year old baseball fan but in retrospect it is even more impressive to me now.

 

No one was forcing, pressuring, or even asking this lock future Hall of Famer to make this kids day. No one saw him talking to me, he got no credit for it from the media or the ball club. Truth be told Rickey Henderson didn’t care what anyone thought about him, much less a lost looking pudgy kid.

 

Later that day we went from the Mets training complex to go watch the Red Sox play. We got to the park early, I placed myself in the front row, next to the dugout, prime reality for autographs. Some players walked by and said hello, some signed memorabilia. Manager Jimmy Williams even hung around a bit to chat with the fans.

 

Batting practice came around and getting autographs got harder. Players are professional and they know when it’s their job to play, and when it’s an opportunity to interact with fans. After much petitioning the fans were able to convince Brian Daubach to mosey over and sign some autographs between his turns at bat.

 

 I was next in line to hand him my ball to sign, when a bellowing voice cried out from the dugout. “Get the hell out of here Brian!”

 

An older figure emerged wearing baseball pants and a coaching windbreaker. I held out my ball for him to sign, but a slightly older autograph seeker grabbed my arm and pulled it back. The older man shook his head at me and turned around, muttering something to himself.

 

“You don’t ask Jim Rice for autographs,” the boy who grabbed my arm turned and said to me in a Boston accent. “I’ve seen him take away and even destroy things that people have tried to get him to sign, he’s no good.”

 

That was the difference between Jim and Rickey. Like Rickey, Jim didn’t care what the effect of his actions would be on the media or the fan base. But the difference was Jim didn’t want anything to do with me, the fans, or anything except the game itself.

 

It was this attitude that kept him from making the Hall of Fame earlier. The same attitude that caused conflicts with the media, the fans, and caused an 11 year old boy to be afraid of big league coaches.

 

Rickey on the other hand had no ill intent; he was just a little off. He loved baseball and was damn good at it. It was just his people skills that he had trouble with. However when you look back on his 24 year career you realize; his longevity, his willingness to play anywhere, and his dedication to excellence, is all proof to his true love for the game.

 

In the end Ricky Henderson did it the right way and Jim Rice did it the wrong way, and that’s why there were inducted the way they were.

 

Here is hoping that in 20 years a 60 year old uniformed man will call over the fence to a lost looking pudgy baseball fan asking, “What’s up little dude?”

Monday, January 12, 2009

Derek Norris- Prospect # 6

Derek Norris is another potential first round draft pick that the Nationals were able to snag in a later round. The six foot, 200 pound, catcher from Goddard Kansas dominated the Jayhawk state his junior year of high school. The right handed power hitter scorched opponents batting .500 with 11 doubles, 3 home runs and 36 RBI's, earning all-state, all-league, all-metro, and honorable mention All-American in 2006. 


Like many potential, but not lock first round draft talents, Goddard committed to play to a school (Wichita State University) the fall of his senior year as a safety net in case he didn't get the kind of professional opportunity he hoped for. This seemed like a brilliant move for Norris after an arrant throw struck him in the head while he was standing in the dugout, causing him to start the season slowly. 

Norris was able to rebound however, earning all state honors again as well as making Louisville's All American team. Norris was also named player of the year for the state of Kansas. Because of his slow start however, and his 'inbetweener' status as a third basemen/catcher, Norris slipped to the fourth round of the 2007 draft where the Nationals picked him up and signed him with a $210,000 signing bonus. 

He started playing for the Gulf Coast League Nats right away and got quality playing time at the age of 18. In 37 games he had 123 at bats and played almost exclusively at catcher. Norris disappointed by only batting .203 and slugging only .382. The young backstop however did show exceptional plate discipline for an 18 year old, getting on base at .344. This, along with his potential for power, earned him a promotion to the Vermont Lake Monsters in 2008.

Here Norris excelled. In 70 games he batted .278/.444/.463, while hitting 10 homers and driving in 38 runs. The improvement caught the attention of Baseball America who named him the fourth best prospect in the New York Pen League. He was also named to the NYPL all-star team and was named the Lake Monsters player of the year.

Norris's scouting report from The Baseball Cube

Norris's most impressive attribute is his plate patience. For such a young player (19), reaching base 44% of the time is truly impressive. His power stroke returned as well meaning that if Norris can ever get his contact rate up he could be a very dangerous hitter at every level. His ability behind the plate also improved dramatically as he threw out 49% of attempted base stealers. 

Norris has major league ability. The Nationals however seem to be strongest right now at the catching position with Jesus Flores only 24 years of age and fellow top 10 prospect Adrien Nieto competing at the same spot. Norris could be converted to a first basemen and be forced to compete with Morrero for the future at that position, or he could possibly be made into a corner outfielder. 

These are questions however that don't need to be answered for at least a few years, as he is a solid 2-3 years away from the majors. He should start out the season next year at Harrisburg and depending on his development he could be brought up to Triple A by seasons end. 

Nat Fact: Norris was named Baseball America's prospect of the day on July 29th when he reached base 8 out of 9 at bats in an 18-inning marathon against lowell. 

Friday, January 9, 2009

Destin Hood-Prospect # 7


With their second pick in the 2008 draft, the Washington Nationals selected Destin Hood. 


Hood is a tremendous athlete who prior to the draft had committed to play both football (3 star wide receiver recruit) and baseball at Alabama. His tremendous natural power and athleticism reminds you of a Mike Cameron or a Torri Hunter, but his raw skills make you realize that he will have to work hard to achieve Major League readiness.

Hood played shortstop for his high school, but he will likely be converted to an outfielder by the Nats. He has poor hands and his height and speed really convert perfectly to the outfield. The only thing he will need to do is improve his arm. His power in batting practice is incredible but it has yet to translate to in game success. This isn’t uncommon for pure athletes. Once he better understands the game and how to approach pitch counts, he will start turning on, and driving balls out of the park.

Here’s hood talking about his future after being taken 55th overall in the 2008 draft:

Destin Hood on draft




Hood playing football in high school:





Thursday, January 8, 2009

Adrian Nieto-Prospect # 8

Video Posted from Adrian's Gallery on Takkle.com

Adrian Nieto's future has never been certain. At the age of 4 his parents had to decide whether or not to take their young son from the shores of the communist nation of Cuba to a new life in the United States. Thirteen hours into the trip the Nieto's found themselves in a 60 year old raft overloaded with 20 people. The group was lost in the ocean, dehydrated and starving. They had to decide whether or not to give up on their quest for freedom. Minutes before turning back to Cuba and what may have been an equally certain death, the group was rescued by the U.S Coast Guard, and taken to Guantanamo Bay.


Held captive in the very same center that today holds the worlds most dangerous terrorists, the Nieto's had no idea what the future had in store for them, or their 4 year old son Adrian. The Nieto's were lucky, they were allowed to go to the states and live with their existing family in southern Florida. 


The family made a home for itself. Adrian grew up and attended American Heritage high school alongside future top 10 pick Eric Hosmer. Nietomade his name on the national scene when he hit .381 with four homers and 27 RBI as a sophomore, earning AFLAC All-American honors. 

His junior year would however leave his future once again in uncertainty. He injured his elbow and knee and could not compile a full season. Scouts began to worry, teammates began to outshine him, and his draft stock began to fall. Before his injury he had committed to Southern Florida, but after he inexplicably decomimitted, confusing and concerning scouts. Nieto put time into his rehab and was able to bounce back his senior year by batting .373 with 21 extra base hits, leading his team to a state championship.

Uncommitted to any school, Nieto turned his attention to the draft. Rumor had it that Nieto was late first, early second round talent. However a much different, much worse rumor was also swirling around. It was assumed by many clubs that Nieto and the Baltimore Orioles had some sort of under the table deal that would stop him from signing with any club except the birds. This caused the promising young catcher to plummet in the draft, until the Washington Nationals took him in the 5th round. Nieto signed with the club no problem and looks forward to being a part of the teams future. 


"I'm really looking forward to being on the Major League team, hopefully soon, and making them a winner and a contender every year -- bringing them that first championship for all the fans up there because like I said they are really supportive and they deserve that. I really want to be part of that first championship team up there."

"You're never going to forget your first Spring Training. I'm really looking forward to it, to becoming a better baseball player and to make progress, getting closer toward my ultimate dream of becoming a Major Leaguer. (I) just need to get better, every year get a little bit better and try to be one of the best at my position."

Nieto also appears to be a good kid with a good head on his shoulders. He spoke about his baseball influences:

"My favorite baseball player is Pudge Rodriguez. But the guy I really look up to is Derek Jeter, because he's such a big role model, not only on the field but off the field. And he's never really had any problems off the field with controversy or anything like that. He just does everything right. I look up to him because of that. And I want to be like that too. I want to be team captain one day. He's got his own charity too and that's something I would like to have. That's sort of the guy I look up to. My favorite player is Pudge, but I really want to be more of a person or role model like Derek Jeter."

While Nieto's optimism is refreshing, he is still a good ways away from the majors. He is sound defensively behind the plate, and even with the arm injury his
 arm is still very strong. His true potential is still yet to be seen, however, as he has not had much experience against professional competition. Playing in 8 games with the Gulf Coast Nationals he went 5/23 with 3 doubles and no homers.
Scouting Report from Minorleaguebaseball.com
As Nieto put it, he "got a good taste of professional competition." He will likely start the season in Hagerstown if things go well in spring training. There is no rush to bring him up as Jesus Flores currently has the Nats catching spot on lockdown. 

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

J.P Ramirez-Prospect # 9

Video Posted from JP's Gallery on Takkle.com

Jonathan Paul Ramirez was taken by the Washington Nationals in the 16th round of the 2008 MLB draft. Already committed to Tulane University, many believed that drafting Ramirez was a waste, and signing him was unlikely for any club. However in late August when the Nats failed to sign first round pick Aaron Crow, they immediately turned to Ramirez offering him a one million dollar contract with the left-over money. 

JP Ramirez, 18, was a standout at Canyon High School in New Braunfels Texas. Playing both outfield and first base, Ramirez lead his team his senior year batting .530 with 26 extra base hits. In his time at Canyon, Ramirez earned all-state honors three times and drew comparisons to fellow Canyon Alumni, Lance Berkman. 

Outside of his high school performance there isn't a lot known about Ramirez. He signed with the Nationals just in time to get only 11 AB's in the Gulf Coast League. He excelled in the small sample size, going 4/11 with 8 RBI's and 4 walks. 

Scouts describe Ramirez as, "A pure hitter with a quiet, quick and precise left handed stroke. Has shown ability to hit consistently, and has had little trouble handling quality stuff. All signs point to continued offensive production. He Also runs very well, and has shown arm strength."

At 5 foot 10 and only 185 pounds, Ramirez doesn't have very much size. He projects to be a slap hitting center fielder without incredible stolen base speed. It's rather odd for a 16th round pick to be placed on the list of top 10 prospects for a team before he has more than 15 at bats at any professional level. This could either be an indictment on the Nationals farm system, or Baseball America's true belief that Ramirez is a diamond in the rough. While BA didn't place Ramirez in the Nats 2012 line up, they did say he was the programs best hitter for average.

Esmailyn Gonzalez-Prospect # 10

Some say one of the biggest failures for Washington since the team’s creation has been their inability to land the big free agent. Those people are forgetting about Esmailyn Gonzalez.


In 2006 Gonzalez signed with Washington out of his hometown of Pizarrete, in the Dominican Republic, at the age of 16. The Nats beat out many other Major League suitors and inked this talented phenom shortstop to a minor league deal with a $1.4 million signing bonus.


Gonzalez may very well be the brightest hope for what many consider a weak Washington Nationals farm system. He possesses everything you want in a young prospect; he hits for power, average, he can field, throw and has speed, a true five tool player. The most impressive aspects of this young switch hitter however, are his ability to produce, his head, and his age.


At only the age of 18 Gonzalez finished his second season for the Gulf Coast Nationals in 2008. In 51 games he improved his batting average by 100 points from the year before, finishing the season batting .343, winning the Gulf Coast League batting title. More impressively, Gonzalez continued to show excellent plate patience for the second straight year, improving his on base percentage from .382 to .431.


Gonzalez’s Numbers


His Ability to get on base is an excellent sign for his future. Few young players have the ability to accurately select pitches and understand the importance of getting on base. Young players like Gonzalez are often more eager to go out and flash their skills by swinging at every pitch that comes over the plate. While this often works in Rookie and A ball, many young players find these tactics end up killing them when they get to the Big Show. Gonzalez’s plate patience shows great maturity and is a promising sign for his ability to further develop, and quickly.


Jose Reyes vs. Gonzalez


Scouts report that for a young player, Gonzalez hits a way better percentage of line drives than pop-ups. This is clearly evident in his ability to bat .343 last season. Many ‘toolsy’ players receive much attention adoration before they actually put their tools to work. Gonzalez however clearly haw already been able to put it together at the plate, at least for average. This makes him that much more of a promising prospect; his potential is turning into skill already.


Before he is anointed, ‘the savior,’ just yet, lets remember the kid is just 18. Gonzalez has yet to play even a game in A ball and still has a lot to work on. He has only hit two home runs in 82  minor league games, but scouts say his swing and body type should translate to power. His slugging percentage improved from a measly .311 in 2007 to a solid .475 in 2008. His ability to drive the ball for power will need to progress in order for him to move through the ranks.


Most notably, Gonzalez needs to work on his glove. While scouts said that he had very solid hands and smooth mechanics at shortstop, it has yet to translate to on the field success. So far he has already combined for 25 errors in only 79 games at shortstop. This should be a red flag but nothing too alarming. Shortstop after all is the games toughest position and other shortstops have had similar trouble early on. If he can’t figure it out he can always pull a BJ Upton and fill in that centerfield hole in Washington.


Esmailyn Gonzalez may very well be the Nationals top prospect. With another year of success under his belt it’s likely that he will be number one on this list, and within another two years he may be a mid season call up to Nats Park. He projects to be a Derek Jeter type player, who will hit for high average and get on base. The Nationals will continue to be careful with this kid, as he will start the season in A ball Hagerstown next season.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

J-Zimmerman tops off the top 10

While the list wasn’t supposed to come out until tomorrow, apparently the Washington Times got their hands on an early copy.

 

Nationals Top 10 Prospects:

1. Jordan Zimmerman

2.Ross Detwiler

3. Chris Marrero

4. Michael Burgess

5. Jack Mcgreary

6. Derek Norris

7. Destin Hood

8. Adrian Nieto

9. J.P Ramirez

10. Esmailyn Gonzalez

1.

      Over the next 10 days I will talk about each one of these prospects and analyzing their future and their place on this list. 

Monday, January 5, 2009

Cubs land Bradley

According to ESPN.COM the Chicago Cubs and Milton Bradley have agreed to terms on a three year deal worth $30 million. The deal will have the slugging outfielder roaming the Ivy Walls at Wrigley alongside Alfonso Soriano, Reed Johnson and Kosuke Fukodome. 

The move certainly gives the Cubs some extra pop in their line up. They now boast a heart of the order with Bradley, Derek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano. This certainly re-establishes the Cubs as a favorite in the NL Central if not the National League overall. 

The three year $30 million deal is a great buy. This would have been a good contract for the Nationals, but Bradley most likely wanted to go to a contender. Can he survive in Chicago? He certainly had his troubles in LA...

Top targets remaining for the Nationals:
Adam Dunn
Orlando Hudson