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| Photo by the Associated Press |
Romero signed a minor league deal with Washington in late March after impressing at the World Baseball Classic and joined the club in spring training. He had previously been a part of the organization in 2011 for about two weeks before leaving to sign with the Yankees.
In 13 appearances with Syracuse this season, Romero posted a 2.84 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 12 2/3 innings. After holding a 0.82 ERA in April through his first ten outings, Romero was sidelined for most of May with shoulder stiffness. Before his June 1 opt-out date came around, he had not pitched since May 8.
If it weren’t for the injury Romero may have been given a shot with the big league club in late May. Reliever Ryan Mattheus was sent to the disabled list with a broken pitching hand and the Nats needed help in their bullpen. With Romero out, the Nats called up lefty Fernando Abad. Since his promotion, Abad has established himself with zero earned runs and just one walk in six appearances this season.
With Abad performing well, at least so far, the Nats will likely see if he can continue as a reliable option. This leaves Romero out of the mix and probably contributed to his decision to opt out.
The Nats have also called up two other relief pitchers from Syracuse this season in Erik Davis and Xavier Cedeno.
Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com first reported the news and said Romero is close to a deal with the Cleveland Indians.
98 comments:
No loss.
When Werth comes off DL do you think Henry or Duke will be DFAd
Ouch. Abad's resume does not suggest that he's a reliable option. But, we'll see. Tough luck for the Nats with JC not being ready to be called up, but a contending club in Cleveland is willing to take the risk that he'll be good to go. I wonder why the Nats did not sweeten the deal to keep him.
" Abad's resume does not suggest that he's a reliable option."
His history is kind of odd. He had a good season in 2010, posted a 2.84 ERA. In 2011, he had an ERA in the 7s and 2012 a 5 ERA. I'm not sure if it was how the Astros used him or what. He seems to have pretty good stuff from what I've seen. He's also still very young--only 24 years old.
Whoops, 27. So not extremely young, but still fairly young.
Stephania Bell of ESPN had this to say about Harper:
Last week, I said not to expect Harper's left knee (originally injured crashing into the outfield wall in Dodger Stadium on May 13) to land him on the DL if he could help it. It couldn't be helped. In fact, Harper acknowledged to reporters that he aggravated his knee with a headfirst slide May 25 and it turns out the persistent swelling and soreness was too much to overcome. On Sunday, Harper described his knee as "still swollen and crappy" yet said he hopes to start running and hitting at some point this week. The bottom line is he won't be given the green light to run if he is still experiencing swelling to the point where he continues to walk with a limp, as he reportedly was Thursday night.
There's no magic antidote for the swelling associated with bursitis; rest is perhaps the key ingredient for getting it under control. The bigger concern would be preventing this from turning into a chronic issue over the remainder of the season. Harper's move to the DL reflects the Nationals' desire to curb the problem now and he's not likely to resurface until his progress moves him out of range of the easy threat of a setback. After all, teammate and fellow outfielder Jayson Werth followed a similar pattern of being placed on the DL following a string of consecutive missed games. At the time, Werth expected to return when eligible but was held back when his hamstring continued to nag at him with certain explosive activities. Now it looks as if Werth will rejoin the team Tuesday, so at least the Nationals anticipate getting a player back as they lose Harper, but it's worth noting his absence will have exceeded a month. If Harper's progress remains slow, expect his timetable to be extended because the Nationals know he isn't wired to play at anything less than 110 percent effort, regardless of how his body actually feels.
Younger than Romero, though.
Just guessing, but isn't Romero 34 or 35 in American years?
Quick check with BBRef.
Romero is going to be 37 American years on June 4th.
Some kind of event tonight at Penn Social with Davey and Rizzo, hosted by 106.7, with fans. Will the fans fawn and suck up or will they push for info and answers? Will it get testy? Bet they wish they had not agreed to it. I know they will try to keep it light, but....
You beat me NatsJack!
Let us know your observations on DannyR.
Also, what do you expect of CGarcis for the rest of the season?
NatsJack- our very own scout!!
No game tonight- can't lose, no stress. But there is a nice Nats Classic on!!! I can live in the past for a night.
Yaisel Puig is a top prospect. Anthony Rendon wouldn't ride the bench, neither would Puig. Kobernus isn't like those guys.
I agree with your point that we should play Kobernus more, but the situations are different.
David agreed. I'm jumping in my car in 30 minutes to see Puig. Still that's a lot of pressure to leadoff on a debut.
Speaking of Kobernus, I believe he was the 1st pick of the 2nd round by the Nats in 2010. A lot of talent chosen after Kobernus.
Manassas Nats' Fan
Out of those two, Duke get DFA. If not, then Espi to DL or Kobernus DFA
Bob, Kobernus doesn't need to be a DFA, he can be sent back to AAA with an option.
Kobernus DFA? Why would you do that? He just got called up. Send him back to play every day.
I seem to owe Ghost a drink.
NatsJack-- I was hoping someone would have the inside info!! So the Nats Classic that is on was from about a year ago when things were going really well. Nostalgia. I have made a personal vow not to type the name of our 2b for the rest of the night. Even I am tired of my own opinions on the subject. So I am settled in with the game- at least I know it has a happy ending.
And it is Stras against the Phils- Harper's first home start. Natitude. Ah-- the good old days.
Doesn't Johnny Holliday call that game, Swami? That's enough reason for me to avoid it.
Good catch, David-- it just adds to the hilarity. By the way- Lombo at third. Stras had just won pitcher of the month.
How are you watching NatsJack?
NatsJack on the last 2 posts, music to my ears.
Corey Brown-- hmmmmm. Outfielder who can hit---hmmmmm. Ideas, ideas. Any word from Penn Social yet???
Last year on May 4th we had won 7 of our first 8 series. So maybe we win 7 of our next 8 coming up???
Lombo at third, Tracy at first. Really.
Rosenbaum solves the problem for a callup with options as Chris Young (injured) and Ohlendorf would have to be DFA'd and Ryan Perry got converted back to a reliever.
Any other scenarios other than using Duke (ha) or Stammen?
Corey Brown better save those HRs for Nats Park when he replaces Chad Tracy.
Soon, my friends, soon.
So on the Nats classic-- Lombo at third, Tracy at first, Ankiel in the outfield and Flores catching. And we won. And we came from behind. I loved 2012.
Has Corey Brown always hit like this???
Sounds like Rosenbaum wont be making his debut any time soon.
"NatsJack in Florida said...
And another inning saving 5-4-3 DP with another nifty yurn by Rendon."
I thought the Peric guy said he couldn't play 2nd base.
Sounds like Rendon just has naturally good instincts for the infield.
I am flipping between braves vs buck (J Uton 2 k) . Good guys 1-0 and nats classic.
Hoping they fire Ek in the classic game.
"Uhh...he misjudged a simple pop up behind first,on an infield fly rule, then threw wildly to second. Not very pretty."
Who is he?
Okay... So I'm glad to see I'm not the only nerd... Errrr fan watching a Nats Classic game.... I hate days we don't play...
David-- Rendon watch..
Apparently many other people are watching some sort of basketball games? Playoff games, perhaps? I wouldn't know anything at all about that.
swami,
NCAA baseball tournament, don't you mean?
We all hate off days sigh. Go Pirates
Oh , yes, Eugene-- that's exactly what I meant.
Chad Tracy just makes me sick... I hope to see Marerro soon or even Corey Brown.... I've always like that guy...
Jack, I hope you'll be kind enough to share summary thoughts at the end of the game. I enjoy your insights, but sorta glossed over the AAA play-by-play. Busy man, and all that! :-)
I'm really sitting here watching this game and fussing like I don't know how it ends.... Smh...
If Davey would play Corey Brown he would be a solid choice to try in the outfield while Harp is out in a configuration of Werth, Span and Brown.
But then some of us are watching the NCAA softball World Series. Go you Lady Vols!
But wait- I just watched Chad Tracy hit a home run! Oh, no- that was 13 months ago :(. So I also am realizing that I have been wishing for some Werth to help the team, but I really just miss watching him play. And Mrs. B-- I have been doing the same thing. It's not like they can go back and change the ending on us. They can't, right?
Tom Gorzo.... Sigh....
But we got bum HRod... With his 100mph pitch yet is totally ineffective....
Tracy is like 1 for ____ (insert plate appearances). Just worthless... We totally should have kept DeRosa....
Ugh...
So we have the Syracuse game, the NCAA's and the Nats classic going. That should distract us for a while from the rude chopper people vs the bucs.
Mrs B- DeRo has four home runs so far this season.
This is what the team had no expectations... They just played... Not to go there but how soon do we (some folks) that prior to last year, we had 7 losing seasons.... Last year was great becuz they definitely outplayed themselves... DJ got the most of them....
So it's kinda not surprising that things are kinda evening out right now... I'm not saying that we are doomed or anything but things don't just miraculously change within 1,2 seasons....
So Ankiel just hit a ball to the wall and Jhonny Holiday pulled a Carpenter- that ball is go...... Off the wall! Yes, Ankiel.
However, the fan and homer in me still thinks we go on a 17-10 in June and get the ball rolling ...
Ahhh Jesus... Loved that guy...
With the RBI!!!
And Gorzelanny gives up a lead off hit. Ah- now that seems familiar.
A Gorzo K.... *sigh*
Mrs. B-- you see that " pick off play""?
Yeah that was on Gorzo but Tracy is still worthless....
Yes, but he did hit a home run. I would love it if he did that again sometime soon.
Plays like that are wonderful... He was out...
.... Tracy hit 1 Hr... What else?
Rendon was 0/4 today apparently.
Every time I see Gorzelanny, I think of cheese...
You can tell this game is in 2012 because the Nats actually caught a couple of breaks and that never happens in 2013.
And because the Nats did their best scoring from the seventh inning on!
Doesn't this game remid you of so many games this season... We are parallel to last year it's kinda funny.... We didnt score many runs but the pitching was superb... This year, we haven't scored many runs and our pitching started out kinda lame and has gotten way better....
Also, our inability to come back... I'm scared that we peak in June/July like we did last year and kinda fizz out by Septemeber/October...
Not to mention the lengthy disabled list.
Rice -- having to play for fourth time in four days -- opted to start their closer. Who promptly gave up two runs. Of course, Rice had gotten three in the top of the inning on a Little League-home run off an Oregon pitcher going on two days rest. Three-man rotations will do that to you.
Awesome, awesome hit Flores....
Mike Morse is at -15 Defensive Runs ... in just 368 innings. Worst since BIS began tracking in 2003: Matt Kemp, -37 in 2010. Morse is on pace for -45 or worse.
And HRod walks the lead off hitter. Some things never change.
In a tie game - in the ninth. And the runner immediately steals second.
I know NatsJack left for his man cave- but did I hear that Corey Brown hit a second home run?
Great pitch....
Anthony Rendon had a tough night. Made a bad fielding error on a routine popup and went 0-5 at the plate.
Corey Brown went 4-5 with a homer.
But it sounds like Corey Brown and Chris Marrero had big nights at the the plate. NatsJack--when you get back-- exciting game?
Yes, Corey Brown 4-5 with 2 HRs, double and single.
Brown actually had 2 homers.
Game isn't over yet.It's in the 11th inning. Syracuse is on top 6-5.
Corey's 2nd HR actually tied the game and pushed it into extra innings.
Marrero with the go ahead? Obviously not playing in Syracuse.
PNats won-- gooooo baby Nats!!
I seriously just watched this game with baited breath.... Ready for Ramos to return too....
Injuries suck....
I am dubious about this hurry-up Rendon 2B plan. I bet Davey's for it and wearing down Rizzo, who had a careful development schedule laid out for his prize prospect. (And this was before I heard he had a rough night, which can happen to anyone.)
When Rendon came up before it was made very clear he was on a tourist visa. Now what? Unless you send Danny for season-ending surgery, how long does Rendon stay here? It's murky.
Brown makes amazing Defensive plays, plus he has speed, and a strong arm. He's hit 6 HR's in the last 10 games.
NL, if Rendon comes up, he's here to stay and he will play everyday. No doubt about it. Espinosa will go on the DL and Rendon will be the everyday 2B.
NL, if Rendon comes up, he's here to stay and he will play everyday. No doubt about it.
Why would that be? Because Rendon is too sensitive to be sent down again? That's silly. Rendon will stay as long as his hitting and fielding justify it. Maybe he starts out playing 2B against lefties, and Lombo plays against righties. There are lots of options, and all three 2Bs have options. Espi could even come back if he figures things out in AAA, or if Desi is injured and he's needed to play SS for a few weeks. No decision is irreversible. But at least the light at the end of the tunnel, when the human rally killer is out of the lineup, is visible.
Brown hit lots of homers last season, and the year before too. He's a great AAA player. It's by no means clear, and is perhaps even doubtful, that he'll be a big help here. But he certainly can't be worse than Tracy or Moore, whichever he replaces.
I definitely think it's time to make some moves. Getting Jason back is a good thing, but Davey was joking about him carrying the team on his shoulders. That's not his role, nor is he capable of doing it.
Braves win, Phillies win.Not good.
Section 222, Brown apparently has just been back 2 wks after being out 5 wks with an oblique injury. What bothers me is that Brown has proven he can play all 3 OF positions, and play them well. He has great speed, and power, and has never been given the chance to spend anytime getting to see what he can do at the ML level. Bernie, Espi, Tracy, and Moore are all hitting below .200. Lombo's bat is finally getting warm, but he's not an outfielder. Heck he couldn't do worse.
it's time to give Brown his shot.
There would probably be a lot more players opting out of the Nationals, if they were able.
Ha! I was just about to post something along those lines when yours popped up, NJ. :-)
I think it was Joe Maddon, the weird wuss, who said that players would stay away from DC in droves.
He was wrong.
YAWN!
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