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| Photo by USA Today |
#Nationals catcher Chris Snyder drawing teams with interest in backup, including #Angels. Likely to be moved; Nats deep at position.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 17, 2013
Snyder signed with the Nats in early February, just a week before pitchers and catchers were set to report for 2013 camp. He flashed power early on with a two-run home run in his first spring at-bat, but has otherwise struggled in his eight games with the team. He holds a .222 average this spring with four total hits, a walk, and four strikeouts.
Snyder is on the outside looking in with the Nationals because the team already has Kurt Suzuki and Wilson Ramos in store. With their big league catching situation set, the club also holds Sandy Leon and Jhonatan Solano as minor league depth. Both young backstops made their major league debuts with the Nationals last season.
The one area many would point to as the team's biggest weakness is left-handed relief pitching, but it is unlikely they will get anything significant in return for Snyder. The 32-year-old hit just .176 in 76 games last season with the Houston Astros.
Phillies Halladay leaves after first inning
Phillies starter Roy Halladay entered his start on Sunday looking to rebound from a dismal, seven-earned run outing giants the Tigers on Tuesday. He instead left after just one inning of work, 25 total pitches, because of what the team described as a 'stomach virus.' This was after Halladay attributed his previous poor start to 'lethargy' according to CSNphilly.com.
Whatever is wrong with Halladay, it has affected his velocity and overall command. CSNphilly's Jim Salisbury says the former Cy Young winner's fastball was stuck in the 85-88 miles per hour range. Halladay has had success in the past with a low-90s fastball, but the recent drop has raised red flags in Philadelphia.
Halladay is trying to come back from a 2012 season that was shortened to 25 starts because of injury. Velocity was an issue last year and helped result in an uncharacteristic 4.49 ERA. Halladay had previously posted four consecutive seasons with a sub-3.00 ERA.
Key to the Phillies' hopes of returning to contention in 2013 are the recoveries of several of their stars from injuries suffered last season. Halladay is included in that list and if he can't return to his pre-2012 form, Philly's comeback will be that much harder.
Nationals expected to make cuts today
Davey Johnson told reporters on Saturday the team plans to make another round of cuts sometime Monday morning as the team moves closer to the regular season. Mark caught up with Davey about that next step and found out what we should expect from the team over the next few weeks.
Nationals expected to make cuts today
Davey Johnson told reporters on Saturday the team plans to make another round of cuts sometime Monday morning as the team moves closer to the regular season. Mark caught up with Davey about that next step and found out what we should expect from the team over the next few weeks.
12 comments:
Obviously the Nats decided at the end of last season that they didn't really need a LH guy in the pen. Otherwise they could have signed Lefty Burnett for a few bucks. The excuse about his bone chips op, was only that--a goofy excuse.
Money wasn't an issue as they went out and got Soriano for a contract that made Burnett's LA deal look like the cost of a bag of popcorn!
At any rate, whomever they can pick up for a 4th string catcher would probably never see the inside of a major league club house.
Boo hoo for the Phillies. Wait, hold the "hoo." Okay, I'm good. :-)
Snyder seems a serviceable backup backstop, but with the Nats' wealth of talent there, I wonder why they didn't give their own guys the reps.
I guess they were worried about the grind, with the WBC extending ST and with Ramos/Leon/Solano coming off injuries.
Zach Walter was sent down. Of course we all know which players will be cut but I have to say that Mike Rizzo's pickup of Micah Owings was no fluke. While he isn't ready to make this team, he has impressed. There isn't much to his swing but this guy can hit and always could hit as a pitcher.
When you consider a NL pitcher gets 2 to 3 ABs once every 5 days and anyone who has seen Owings as a pitcher knows he can hit. The fact that he looks like a bench bat type of guy and needs to hone his defense to truly be viable tells me that this guy could be one of those intriguing September call-ups.
Reporters on Twitter are saying that Zach Walters, Carlos Maldonado, and Erik Davis have been reassigned to minor league camp.
I wonder if Nats will show any interest in Capuano.
1a, that's clever...and funny!
If Roy Halladay drops off even more the Phillies are in deep trouble and keep in mind that they already named Hamels their Opening Day starter.
Unfortunately as I have said, the Braves rotation looks better than expected. Teheran spent the off-season developing a new pitch which is a sinker that cuts on lefties. Minor has also improved his 4th pitch which is only going to make him better adding to Hudson and Maholm and of course Medlen. Also keep in mind they get Beachy back at some point from TJ.
Looks like Walters, Maya, Ryan Perry, Erik Davis, Corey Brown, Chris Marrero, Ross Ohlendorf and Solano all got sent down.
NatsJack in Florida said...
Ghost.....Teheran is the only one that has impressed me so far. Medlen may prove to be as good as he showed last year but I need to see it to believe it.
March 18, 2013 10:52 AM
The real proof of course is facing real MLB quality hitters and we can't be overly impressed by ST stats but I give Teheran, Minor and Delgado credit for coming into Spring Training to compete for their 4th and 5th spots.
I believe the Nats can also be better than they were last year in the rotation. If Haren can be a better #4/#5 than the pitcher he replaced in EJax that will be a net gain.
NEW POST
The noted Philthy team boaster, JRollins, may have to revise his delusions in light of Halladay's declining value.
Obviously, it is sewage, not the NL East Division Championship, that runs through Philthy town!!!!
Who knows, John Lannan may become the ace of their staff.
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