Tuesday, 7:05 p.m. -- RHP Mike Leake (10-7, 3.84) vs. RHP Chien-Ming Wang (1-2, 3.60)TV: MASN Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 183
Wednesday, 7:05 p.m. -- RHP Johnny Cueto (8-5, 1.94) vs. LHP Ross Detwiler (1-2, 3.20)TV: MASN Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 187
Thursday, 7:05 p.m. -- RHP Bronson Arroyo (7-9, 5.31) vs. RHP Jordan Zimmermann (7-10, 3.23)
TV: MASN Radio: 106.7 FM, 1500 AM, XM 187
REDS UPDATE
It's been something of a baffling season in Cincinnati, where the defending NL Central champs figured to be in the thick of the race again but are currently languishing three games below the .500 mark. They've got several players having outstanding years, including reigning NL MVP Joey Votto, outfielder Jay Bruce and right-hander Johnny Cueto, but the overall product has been a disappointment.
The Reds' Pythagorean record, which predicts what their record should be based only on run differential, is 65-56. That makes them one of baseball's biggest underachievers.
Votto (.949 OPS) and Bruce (26 homers, 78 RBI) have carried the lineup, but they aren't getting help from many others. Second baseman Brandon Phillips is having only a so-so year by his standards. Center fielder Drew Stubbs has struck out an astounding 158 times in 527 plate appearances. Third baseman Scott Rolen has been limited to only 65 games due to injury.
The rotation has been up-and-down, as well. Literally. Opening Day starter Edinson Volquez and Travis Wood (who started the season's second game) each were optioned to Class AAA in midseason. Then again, Cueto leads the NL with a 1.94 ERA.
The guy with the best arm on the staff -- and perhaps in all of baseball -- is Aroldis Chapman, who keeps slinging up 103-mph fastballs and wowing crowds everywhere he goes. Trouble is, the Reds paid the Cuban defector $30 million to be a big-league starter. So far, all he does is pitch the eighth inning (albeit in an effective manner).
WHO'S HOT?
WASHINGTON
1B Michael Morse (.386/.426/.636, 3 HR, 10 RBI last 11 G)
3B Ryan Zimmerman (.348/.423/.522 last 12 G)
OF Rick Ankiel (.288/.339/.577, 4 HR, 10 RBI last 12 G)
RHP Chien-Ming Wang (6 IP, 1 H, 0 R last start)
CINCINNATI
OF Jay Bruce (.341/.420/.773, 5 HR, 15 RBI last 13 G)
OF Yonder Alonso (.333/.444/.600 last 10 G)
1B Joey Votto (.311/.446/.556, 2 HR last 13 G)
RHP Johnny Cueto (3-2, 1.91 ERA last 6 starts)
RHP Mike Leake (2-3, 2.53 ERA last 5 starts)
WHO'S COLD?
WASHINGTON
OF Laynce Nix (.148/.233/.185 last 9 G)
2B Danny Espinosa (.204/.264/.308, 0 RBI last 12 G)
C Wilson Ramos (.206/.250/.206 last 9 G)
RHP Livan Hernandez (2-3, 5.04 ERA last 6 starts)
RHP Jordan Zimmermann (1-3, 5.40 ERA last 5 starts)
CINCINNATI
OF Fred Lewis (0 for last 16)
SS Paul Janish (.185/.313/.296 last 10 G)
OF Drew Stubbs (.204/.250/.347 last 13 G)
RHP Bronson Arroyo (0-2, 4.58 ERA last 6 starts)
*Stats updated through Monday's games
40 comments:
Really looking forward to seeing Wang tonight.
I'm a big Nats fan, but cincibnnati is my second favorite team. I'll be there next weekend for the series there.
Mark - I like the, "Who's Hot?/Who's Cold?" section a lot
Mark,
Detwiler starts tomorrow night unless u know something i dont.
"That makes them one of baseball's biggest underachievers." That makes me feel better about my predictions. Because I had Reds winning that division in Spring.
If they are gonna lose, lose as many as you want against Nationals. I don't mind a bit.
Man this has been a LOOOONNG two days. let's play some baseball.
Jimmy said...
Mark, Detwiler starts tomorrow night unless you know something I don't.
No, you're correct. Sorry about that. I was working off the Nats' last published game notes, which were before the rainout Sunday in Philly. Detwiler indeed starts tomorrow, with Zimmermann on Thursday.
This break has bee WAAAAAAY too long. Play ball!
We signed two players to major league contracts last night, any idea who gets DFA'd from the 40 man roster?
Anon: The roster was only at 38 before last night. The Nats cleared 2 spots when they traded Hairston and Marquis.
Today I have read thoughtful explanations of the similarities between Anthony Rendon's swing and that of both Willie Mays (in the comments here)and Hank Aaron (on WP NJ).
They ought to sell Kool-Aid at Nats Park tonight!
GYFNG, and beat Mike Leake like a drum!
Did some checking on Rule 5 from Baseball America. Seems if a player is 18 or younger on June 5th before signing his first pro contract, he must be protected after 4 years or he is eligible to be drafted by another team. Players 19 and older must be protected after 3 seasons. If a team drafts a player, they must keep that player on its ML roster the entire season or they can lose the player for 25,000 dollars, half of the drafting price.
Roberto Clemente was a Rule 5 player
I look for Laynce Nix to have a good series. He was a Red last season and ex-players often come back to haunt their old team.
So NatsJack, you're interpretation of what the Nats are saying is that all the draft picks will be held back to the Instructional League this fall. The P-Nats season ends Sept 5. You don't think they could send Rendon to Fla. for a week and then give him 10 games or so at Potomac?
In regard to whether players can be required by their team to have an MRI (or any other diagnostic procedure), the CBA contains this clause:
(1) Each year upon reporting to spring training, or upon signing
a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract (“UPC”) for that season,
whichever is earlier, each Player must, consistent with Paragraph
6(b)(1) of the UPC, execute the Authorization for the Use and/or
Disclosure of Major League Player Health Information (“Authorization”) attached as Attachment 18 hereto.
So, apparently (me not being a lawyer), after the player has signed, yes, the team CAN required the player to undergo diagnostic testing and the physician who performs those test can be required to inform the team (and its insurance companies) of the diagnosis.
Fan Fact: The Nationals have the best home record of any team in the majors that's not 10 games over .500 or more.
The Nats are slashing .254/.323/.402 at home compared to .228/.298/.357. Home ERA is 3.24, away ERA is 4.19. There have been 9 more games away than home.
Welcome home, boys!
On another topic, Wang and Gorzelanny were placed on waivers and cleared. So Gorzy could be traded-- wonder if something is in the works?
Big Cat... The Instructional League won't start till AFTER the Minor League season ends.
They may send him to Auburn for a couple of games but I doubt it. Usually, they report to Viera which serves as "Fall Training" as opposed to a Spring Training.
Remember, Rendon or any of the other late signees have not been involved in any organized baseball for 2 months or more. Only the early signees got assigned to Auburn or the Florida Gulf Coast League for real low "A" ball and even they will report to Viera for more training.
NatsLady - seems like I have heard something before about putting someone out on waivers to see if anyone is interested and then pulling them back? Seems like a little dangling of bait to see what bites. Not sure how it works in detail, but it seems to me it's kind of like putting out feelers. Interesting, though. I am sure that someone that posts here will have the full-on explanation. Perhaps even the Mark-meister himself!
One thing to consider, if either Rendon or Purke were to play any minor league games this season, they would have to be optioned to said team since both are on the 40-man roster.
In terms of previewing the series, I ran across this Reds site today. The post itself is not groundbreaking, but they use a color coded table to show the stats (conventional and advanced).
http://www.redreporter.com/2011/8/16/2365292/nationals-series-preview
Maybe I'm just a graphics geek, but those tables are amazing, and it's really interesting to see where the dark red and dark green stats pop up.
(Makes me glad I managed to get passed the author's ill-advised slamming of Jageler's 'Curly W' call, one of my favorite things about the summer.
I'm not a lawyer either, but it seems to me that the quoted clause relates to use and/or disclosure of health information rather than to player's submitting to medical testing.
That is, medical records.
That was in re. NatsLady's post as quoted below, btw. Serial posting. Expect it.
In regard to whether players can be required by their team to have an MRI (or any other diagnostic procedure), the CBA contains this clause:
(1) Each year upon reporting to spring training, or upon signing
a Major League Uniform Player’s Contract (“UPC”) for that season,
whichever is earlier, each Player must, consistent with Paragraph
6(b)(1) of the UPC, execute the Authorization for the Use and/or
Disclosure of Major League Player Health Information (“Authorization”) attached as Attachment 18 hereto.
So, apparently (me not being a lawyer), after the player has signed, yes, the team CAN required the player to undergo diagnostic testing and the physician who performs those test can be required to inform the team (and its insurance companies) of the diagnosis.
BinM.... good call on Purkes and Rendon.... A.J. Cole and Robbie Ray each got a couple of innings in Vermont last season before reporting to Viera. "The Kid", on the other hand, didn't.
Hey NatsInsider readers, I just stumbled upon a local DC sports blogger award Mark is nominated for. Go to the below link to vote:
http://washington.blogger.cbslocal.com/most-valuable-blogger/vote/sports/
I've read all of those blogs and don't mean to take anything away from the great work they do, but honestly NatsInsider goes above and beyond. Thanks for all the great work and keep it up Mark!
Now that we are paying out the big money, we gotta support the team. (OK, the Lerners are paying out the money...).
I went to get tickets and Saturday night is virtually sold out (just a few "singles" left). But the Nats are 15/16 in the NL and 23rd in MLB in attendance.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/attendance
So, if you within driving distance-- get out here and drown out those Fillies. Who needs baby horses?
Even with winter ball and an active exhibition season, what will determine if Harper can become a day to day player at age 19? Are Nats better off waiting until say June or July of 2012 to move him up for good, or does Harper play another season in the minors with the expectation that in 2013 he is full time?
I'll be there for at least one game Nats Lady, I'm doing my part
Thanks for the heads up, Not Werth It. I'm not familiar with all of the other blogs, though I've visited some of them on occasion mainly because of links from this one. I tend to visit primarily (baseball) beat writer blogs, and this one is my fave, so I was happy to vote for Mark!
Mark is the bomb!!!!
On another topic, Wang and Gorzelanny were placed on waivers and cleared. So Gorzy could be traded-- wonder if something is in the works?
If they cleared waivers, that means no other team claimed them, which would have allowed the other team to take the player at the waiver price - which is something like $50,000 - unless waivers were revoked. That's an indication that there are no teams out there who would be willing to trade for these players, since a trade would cost them more than a straight waiver claim would.
Putting players on waivers is a good way to gauge trade interest for them, because if another team claims them you know that team is interested. You then revoke the waivers and work out a trade. Revocable waivers can only be done once on a player. If you waive them again and they get claimed, they're gone. This time of year teams will put practically their entire active rosters on waivers. Maybe a Zimmerman or Strasburg won't get waived, but I bet most other Nats have been or will be before the end of this month.
"Even with winter ball and an active exhibition season, what will determine if Harper can become a day to day player at age 19?"
When he is deemed ready.
"You don't think they could send Rendon to Fla. for a week and then give him 10 games or so at Potomac?"
Right after the draft, Rizzo made a statement to the affect that Rendon would not play this season. I assumed that to mean they wanted to give his shoulder some rest. Don't know if the potential shutdown includes AFL or Winter ball.
Putting players on waivers is a way around the trade deadline. Happens ebery year at this time.
As Feel Wood said, all teams place almost all of their players on waivers. This is primarily for the purpose of having them clear waivers, thus giving the team flexibility to make a trade if an opportunity arises.
NatsinBeanTown - thanks for the link! I really didn't understand a lot of the stats but the amount of detail is quite epic. I enjoyed reading their take on our team - made me laugh quite a lot, actually. I wish the team could read it - might tick them off the way the writer was so down on the Nats and so sure they could beat up on us.They have 2 more wins than we do and the same losses and they don't play in the NLEast. Now I really want to beat them!
"ebery?!"
Writing as if I hab a cold.
Or as though beisbol been bery, bery good to you.
Nats Jack, what would be the best-case timeline for seeing Rendon and Purke in DC? I'm trying to understand how good these guys are. How might they compare with Zimmerman when he was drafted?
fpcsteve.... I will have to wait and see how they perform in Fall Ball.
Zimmerman went old school and sgned early after the draft and reported to AA Harrisburg immediately. That's a big jump on these two.
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