Needing to clear a roster spot for Chien-Ming Wang to make his first big-league appearance in more than two years, the Nationals optioned outfielder Roger Bernadina to Class AAA Syracuse shortly before tonight's game.The option wasn't made official until minutes before gametime, on the off chance the Nationals made another move before then (a trade or an injury to someone else) but manager Davey Johnson informed Bernadina of the plan earlier in the day.
"A brief stint down there playing every day is not going to be a setback so much," Johnson said. "And it's really not a demotion. It's out of necessity, to keep other players here in this organization without having to make massive change."
Bernadina's demotion leaves the Nationals with a 13-man pitching staff, including six starters, for the moment. It also leaves them with only Rick Ankiel and Jerry Hairston as available center fielders.
That arrangement, though, was deemed necessary by team officials who feel the need to carry an extra pitcher for the moment.
"I'm more concerned about the welfare of the pitching staff and the bullpen than I am about matching up our offense against the opposing pitcher," Johnson said. "I still have a left-handed bat that can play center (Ankiel) and a right-handed bat that can play center (Hairston). So we're not as short there as we are in the bullpen. The bullpen has been overtaxed."
Bernadina was hitting .247 with five homers, 20 RBI, a .312 on-base percentage and 16 stolen bases in 71 games this season. He was hitless over his last 17 at-bats, but Johnson still spoke positively about him and suggested he'll be back in Washington soon.
This move could, however, precipitate a forthcoming acquisition of a center fielder before Sunday's trade deadline. The Nationals have held discussions with the Twins about Denard Span, the Rays about B.J. Upton and the Astros about Michael Bourn, according to club sources.
45 comments:
Who is leadoff now? Jerry Hairston or BJ Upton? Bernadina is mired in a mini-slump but come on, this team has no lead-off.
Whaaaa? Must be pre-trade!
Well, I had that one totally wrong - I am also guessing in a pinch, Werth can move over to CF as well.
Kinda like that Detwiler gets to stay up, just wish Davey would pitch him more then every 4th or 5th day.
Really hoping for a good start for Wang, it would be exciting to see him work his way back right before our eyes.
The guy had too much heart for this team. Cut him. We need more half-@$$-ed efforts like we got from our "veterans" yesterday. Sigh.
Berenadina has options and the overall effect on the Nats offense is negligible.
But I still detect the gnashing of teeth commencing.
Here we were debating the lack of speed on the team and Rizzo did, say what?
Ankiel over Bernadina? I liked the ideas of putting Henry Rodriguez on the DL.
Wow, I was just checking Bernie's stats against RHP to see why he was not in the line-up. Guess that answers that.
@sjm308 said...
Well, I had that one totally wrong - I am also guessing in a pinch, Werth can move over to CF as well.
Kinda like that Detwiler gets to stay up, just wish Davey would pitch him more then every 4th or 5th day.
Really hoping for a good start for Wang, it would be exciting to see him work his way back right before our eyes.
July 29, 2011 4:01 PM
Like have Detwiler pitch where Henry Rodriguez was pitching? Oh Henry.......
Wow! Totally did not see this coming. I realize he's not ideal in CF, but I'd rather have Bernie than Ankiel for sure. Maybe Bernie's a supplemental trade piece?
As much as I like Bernadina, I think his slump was getting to the point where he needed this. I believe he was 0 - 18 and the reality is, we don't have that many players on the roster with options. I see Bernadina as a 4th outfielder at best and he can play both corners as well so he is still of value but while he does have speed, that doesn't help if you are 0 - 18.
Before you panic, it could be for a day or two. They had to move someone who had options, and HRod doesn't. He'll be back up when Marquis goes to Detroit (or wherever). In this heat, you have to keep all the pitchers.
Season Ticket Holder, Losing Faith said...
"The guy had too much heart for this team."
That's even worse than I expected. If he really does have an enlarged heart he should consider retiring. It could end up killing him.
"Before you panic, it could be for a day or two."
Nope. A player who is optioned down can't be recalled for at least 10 days (I think, but I know for sure it's something close to that). The exception is if the player needs to come back as an injury replacement for someone else.
Huh?? Bernadina gets sent down? I did not see that one coming.
I can only guess that they have a trade coming that moves Marquis and that gets a lead-off type OF on the roster. How Desmond remains MLB roster-worthy when they need roster space amazes me.
dfh21
Rizzo of course is still trying to find a centerfielder of the future which could be traded for shortly. Also, Rizzo has to determine what he has with Wang which could be answered tonight.
I think Rizzo made a good move to send down Bernadina to keep his pitchers on 'stand-by'. Ankiel and Hairston can handle CF.
The more curious question is how bad HRodriguez and Burnett are and the inconsistency with Coffey. None of these moves take care of the bullpen issues except Gorzo is in the mix somewhere unless they decide to rearrange the 'pen or if the 'pen gets re-arranged by a trade.
Anon at 4:15 -- OK, I stand corrected (but puzzled, because there was a deal we did a while back where a guy got optioned but it was a "phony"). Anyway, still probably the right move.
This looks to be something major at a time we NEED a shake-up. Can we trade Davey Johnson?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8288
Bernadina was 0-17 and 4 for his last 28 with a .250 OBP as he picked up a few walks.
He got into a real bad habit of trying to take outside pitches out of the park like a power hitter. I can recall 4 that he hit to the warning track going back to the Dodger's series.
The good news when he comes back, he comes back hot. I am sure when the trade deadline passes, Rizzo will have something figured out.
Today's dilemna is analyzing Chien-Ming Wang. If he is good, the team won't need an 8 man bullpen and it should be time to bring up Lombardozzi or Marrero.
Ankiel is batting leadoff tonight. That makes no sense.
No way we go with out machine Ankiel at leadoff for too long IMO. This does smell like a trade precursor to me.
Steve M.
Don't you think it's highly unfair to judge CMW regardless what he does tonight? I think from now until the end of the year is more reasonable.
"He got into a real bad habit of trying to take outside pitches out of the park like a power hitter. I can recall 4 that he hit to the warning track going back to the Dodger's series."
This is a recurring bad habit of his (and Desmond).
Steve M.
I think that Bernadina is what he is. If you look at his overall numbers this year they are pretty much the same as last year. He is a nice 4th outfielder with good speed, a little pop and so so defense. The need for an everyday CF/leadoff will have to come from somewhere else.
The last guy who got optioned as a technicality for a" few days" was Balester - he is still there. This organization is beginning to look very sleazy indeed. And the regression continues...
"Don't you think it's highly unfair to judge CMW regardless what he does tonight? I think from now until the end of the year is more reasonable."
Ye of little faith. A few points of data are always good for identifying a trend. A single point is even better.
Prediction: Wang 3.1 innings, 8 hits, 3 walks, 5 earned runs. Fasstball maxing out at 87.
Anyone else sense a train wreck coming our way tonight?
Anon @ 4:40,
And Desmond is what he is too and that's a utility infielder with some speed, tremendous range and a mediocre hitter. And therein lie our lineup weaknesses :CF,SS and LF.
Anon @ 4:45,
It's hard to be optimistic today.
I will be there tonight. Whatever happens, it is worth giving him a shot. Who knows, it might work out. Doesn't much matter what he does in his first game in two years as long as he is still standing when they take him out. It should be interesting.
I haven't read any comments yet -- just saw this and headed down to the stadium. I'm unhappy for Roger, who really works hard and is producing at near the same level as Upton is for Tampa. Does this mean a trade is coming? How do you send him down instead of an extra pitcher? Or put someone on the DL (and there have to be genuine candidates for it, even as they play through stuff. Gorzo and Sean both seem to be pitching with something odd going on. Rizzo does us no good to bring in a CF now, at the cost he's going to have to pay, and for no better production than we already had with the Shark. Sad. He should have been given the season to play. He deserves better than this.
The team is terrible. Who cares anymore. At least we almost made it to August and were still relative. It's over now though. Everyone go to redbox tonight and rent a movie. Gonatsgo This team has gone sleazy. Thanks Rizzo
Marquis for Rasmus?
I think someone must have put 'Tim the Enchanter' under the confundus spell...
Well, anon 5:07, I still care. The team has been playing poorly, but I still see so much light in our future that I'm ordering darker shades. I had hope eternal during the spring, when we war e10 games under .500 with Riggs, and when we were .500 at the break. We've got pretty got pretty good players that are in a team wide slump, but we'll pull out, go on a winning streak, and finish near to .500, if not above.
As to Wang, I agree that tonight, though important, is not the end all with the whole Chein Ming Wang risk.
Tim K. on ESPN (Fri. 5:40 Eastern time) says the Rays are asking for Desmond or Ramos in exchange for Upton and that the Nats are balking. Interesting. I wouldn't give them Ramos but Desmond? Hmmm...
Joe Seamhead - There are definitely some good players on this team.I truly hope that things can be pulled together.Just keep in mind that when people say they don't care and the season is over, etc. - they really care too much and are angry and frustrated. Keep blowing some sunshine our way - maybe it will get through.
Well at least the anons are not the trolling types.....but care sure why would a complain like this if I did not care :)
Stupid Nationals
Steve M. But Espinosa is on the same slump & Desi & look how long they kept the "slumping" Stairs.. why Sharkadina?
I really don't understand all the love for Bernadina. He has never proven that he's an everyday player even though he was given many chances.
pos anon said...
Tim K. on ESPN (Fri. 5:40 Eastern time) says the Rays are asking for Desmond or Ramos in exchange for Upton and that the Nats are balking. Interesting. I wouldn't give them Ramos but Desmond? Hmmm...
July 29, 2011 5:53 PM
____________________________
JUST SAY NO TO DRUGS cause the Rays GM must be on them. Maybe Desmond for Upton + a top Ray's prospect!
This is F****** stupid. Why the hell do we need to long men in the pen. Det should be n Syracuse, as we dont need a starter reliver. Bernadina is a good 4th OF, and now with a short bench, this team is weaker. Rizzo must be smoking the good stuff
Exposremains said...
I really don't understand all the love for Bernadina. He has never proven that he's an everyday player even though he was given many chances.
July 29, 2011 6:40 PM
_______________________________
You are right, he is not an every day player and neither is any of the other outfielders unfortunately.
Outside of Zim, Morse and Espi, I don't see any players that deserve to play every day.
Conga line on Bugs Bunny? FP's killing me!
We shoulda just put Henry rodriguez on the "DL"
Its true Werth can play CF and that was considered a possibility for this season. Maybe it would help his hitting woes? Who knows? Might be worth stacking Werth with Nix and new acquisition Gomes in the corners to get some offense?
Post a Comment