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Photo by Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER Chris Duncan, who hit .156 this spring, was re-assigned to minor-league camp. |
Duncan had the best shot of making the club when camp opened, hoping to rediscover the form that made him a semi-regular for the World Series champion Cardinals in 2006. But the first baseman/outfielder never found his hitting stroke, and despite work with coach Rick Eckstein to make changes, wasn't able to transfer that into results in game situations. He hit .156 (5-for-32) with seven RBI in 12 spring games.
Martis, who made the Opening Day rotation last year as the Nationals' No. 4 starter, hasn't been the same since getting sent to Class AAA last summer. He allowed eight runs and 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings this spring. Manager Jim Riggleman did say, though, he believes the right-hander could help the big-league club this season, either as a starter or reliever.
Orr, who has appeared in the majors for the Nationals each of the last two seasons, hit .200 (4-for-20) this spring. Riggleman believes the veteran infielder was putting too much pressure on himself to try to make the roster and couldn't relax and simply play up to his capabilities.
Today's moves leave 36 players in camp.
5 comments:
MarkMeister: As spring training winows down, maybe you could offer some judgement on how the 2010 camp was organized. I've read some comments from our NatsCitizens that more instruction and dedicated effort was evidenced than previous years.
Just to follow up on Doc's comment, I too have heard similar reports and would love to hear from Mark as to his thoughts on the subject.
... kudos for you, Mark, for offering both your explanation and your clarification re the Times reporter fiasco.
... now on to today. Do you hear anything cogent from the Nats brass about the status and possible near future of the reliever from the Mexican league, by the name of Rafael Martin?
Go Nats!!
Mark: Are they doing any extra fielding drills with our future SS ID? Seems that's all it would take, for someone as gifted as Desmond. It would be a shame to add on to his 6 years in the minors, for something as simple as this. I mean this issue with focusing and concentrating on the easy stuff is not a real big deal. I recall that Zim had to adjust to some similar concerns.
A shame Chris Duncan couldn't put it together. Mike Morse clearly is the better of the 2 candidates if in fact he was in direct competition with Chris Duncan for 1st base, OF, and all around utility.
I am still thinking Bernadina has put in a solid Spring Training and in my mind has beaten out Maxwell although everything I read keeps mentioning Maxwell as tops on the list and barely no mention of Bernadina.
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