 |
| USA Today Sports Images |
PHILADELPHIA — What had been planned for more than two weeks became official this afternoon: Danny Espinosa was optioned to Class AAA Syracuse, leaving the Nationals' former starting second baseman a full-time minor-leaguer until he proves his bat is big-league-worthy again.
Espinosa had already joined the Syracuse roster last week, but technically he was on a rehab assignment while recovering from a right wrist injury. Today, the Nationals deemed the 26-year-old healthy and activated him off the 15-day disabled list, then immediately optioned him to Class AAA so he can continue to work on his swing in the minors.
"We're trying to tear down his approach and his swing and make some adjustments, and see if we can get back the Danny Espinosa that we saw such good progress in when he first got to the big leagues," general manager Mike Rizzo said.
Read more
57 comments:
He could have "rehabbed" for a bit longer, right? Not that it really matters, but anyone know why the move was made today?
Today 3 k and 1 walk
Probably because of this:
"Espinosa is now 2-for-21 with an RBI, three walks and 14 strikeouts.
Get back to it Danny.
Hopefully like Lannan last year he is just sulking and playing piss poor, only to realize that this is reality and he needs to work hard to get back to DC.
We need the Danny of 2 years ago, the one who jacked two off Cliff Lee in the same game; certainly would have helped last night.
Danny needs to ",Eat Face"
Finally back in DC... Great to be home... Now I can actually watch the games instead of 'watching with C and D and MLB game day..
Anywho, this is good news for Danny... I'm glad he is embracing this... He has some things to work on and I hope he gets it...
Sec 222:
I believe there is a limit to how long you can rehab in the minors though I don't know if it is measured in time or games. My understanding was it is measured in games played but others on here would probably know better than me.
On a side note I hope he puts the work in and is able to get back to the majors. He is talented but that swing and approach has to go.
Missed all the commentary today but I saw the twitter quote from Jason Werth and died laugh....
Eat face... Lol... Next time I'm in my HR meeting and someone pisses me off, imma quote that....
Mrs B. "Eat Face" welcome back
"Hopefully like Lannan last year he is just sulking and playing piss poor, only to realize that this is reality and he needs to work hard to get back to DC."
Unfortunately (in the context of the formulation "hopefully he's sulking") he sounds completely at ease with his new situation:
"I think this will be the biggest blessing in disguise of my life," Espinosa said Tuesday.
"I believe there is a limit to how long you can rehab in the minors though I don't know if it is measured in time or games. "
I believe it's 20 days.
Wait... Did Rizzo say he wasnt happy with Eck?
Thanks MnF.... Ready to see the Nats go on their quest of 17 -10 this month.... #winningbaseball
"I think this will be the biggest blessing in disguise of my life," Espinosa said Tuesday.
Well, that's pretty awesome!! I hope so, too!
crosscheck -- Yes, there is limit -- 20 days for position players, 30 days for pitchers. Espi was placed on the DL retroactive to June 3. That's not even 20 days ago, much less 20 days after he started his rehab assignment. I just wonder if the quick option to AAA it has to do with his service time or some other business of baseball thing.
He won't smell the big leagues 'til September call up's, unless Desi or Rendon get hurt. Doesn't matter what he hits...
No more losses in June
I think Espinosa is on a slippery slope as far as his standing in the baseball community. If he keeps failing at this rate in the minors he will soon be branded as an ex prospect who never reached his full potential.
Should have taken a deep breath, shut it down for the year, get the shoulder fixed and come back next spring healthy trying to rebuild his swing and approach in games which don't count.
He can still do that
He had 3 when I first posted.
Given how badly their season is going, how thrilled do you suppose the Syracuse fans are to have a No. 2 hitter who is now batting .095 and is striking out 66.7% of the time?
Danny, seriously, this is getting beyond embarrassing. I doubt you could do much better at this point even if you moved up the road from Syracuse to Auburn. Please, get that shoulder fixed.
JD your correct, just ask Ian Steward.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7993/news;_ylt=Ao2N4B7_s6higQk77EOFbryFCLcF
Werth ought to follow his own advice. I watched the Nats play in Denver last week, and Werth was the most lackadaisical player on the bases and in the field.
Perhaps the Nats are hoping Espinosa can re-establish his value at Syracuse before the trading deadline. I'd like to see the team make a play somehow by July 31 for Jacoby Ellsbury, a real leadoff hitter, a good CF, and a FA after this year, and end the experiment with Denard Span. If Espinosa would sweeten that deal, all the better.
oddities of the day:
- Alfredo Aceves had an 8.66 ERA when he got sent down in April -- since he's been back up, he's allowed 3 runs in 18 innings and beaten the Rays twice.
- Cardinals were down 4-1 in the bottom of hte ninth. The had already scored one, and had two runners on with one out -- then lost the game when a pinch-runner was called out trying to break up a double play on a slide out of the basepath (anyone got a url for the video on that?)
- The Pirates became the first team since the 2011 Braves to strike out at least 17 times in a nine-inning game and win. They handed the Reds' Matt Latos (who got 9K's) his first loss.
- Miami, sporting a miserable 22-48 record, worst in the majors, would have to lose *18 straight games* at this point, to be on track to break the Mets 1962 record in futility.
Mark Zuckerman @ZuckermanCSN
Actually, Espinosa is now 2-for-21 with 14 K after a Golden Sombrero this afternoon at Syracuse
Danny fix shoulder. No brainer at this point
"Should have taken a deep breath, shut it down for the year, get the shoulder fixed and come back next spring healthy"
Are you a doctor now or a mindreader? According to Rizzo after the last MRI on the shoulder he said the shoulder is fine.
AA might have been the place to send Espy back to.
JD - I think you're right. Someone with Danny's track record would normally get a second chance somewhere down the line, unless they free fall so badly that they appear to be permanently damaged good.
Here is another bad thing for Danny--had he played the whole year in the bigs--or even half a year after spending the first half on the DL after shoulder surgery, he would have been arbitration eligible and due a big raise this offseason. If he spends the rest of the tear in the minors, he'll remain near the MLB minimum salary--assuming he makes a big league roster next year.
Doctor
Eye doctor so I always feel not seeing ball's location is a vision problem
karlkolchak said...
JD - I think you're right. Someone with Danny's track record would normally get a second chance somewhere down the line, unless they free fall so badly that they appear to be permanently damaged good.
Here is another bad thing for Danny--had he played the whole year in the bigs--or even half a year after spending the first half on the DL after shoulder surgery, he would have been arbitration eligible and due a big raise this offseason. If he spends the rest of the tear in the minors, he'll remain near the MLB minimum salary--assuming he makes a big league roster next year.
Mute point, as it might have just lead to a non-tenter anyway.
From now on, the charge is "EAT FACE"!!!!
Never heard it before, JWerth was quoted saying it. Lot better than "EAT %@it", I guess???
The Shark is in left tonigh. A game late.
I have been a critic of Danny- but please, please read the article by WaPo Rick Maese( link in previous thread) about his newfound attitude and direction. The light bulb has gone on. He gets it now. I wish him well as he tries to save his career. He is definitely not sulking anymore. And as for Eck? I thought I heard a bit of fed up to here with the videos and stats approach to life at the dish in some Davey comments. Are we ready to try something new?
In my predictions on my 4 games I am watching just had first hit by pitch. Dodger almost hit Yank in the coconut.
Nats 128
'Are you a doctor now or a mindreader? According to Rizzo after the last MRI on the shoulder he said the shoulder is fine.'
Neither but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.
baseballswami - words is words. It's production that matters. Even if his attitude has changed (I'm not ready to believe it yet), his shoulder is still broken.
Your qualified JD
MrsB you need to get a Slingbox or Vulkano so you can watch the games when you are on the road. Those devices let you watch your own TV on your computer or phone. Because, let's face it, you are on the road 1/2 the time. It's worth it.
They should have sent him to Auburn in the Rookie League.
"his newfound attitude and direction. The light bulb has gone on. He gets it now."
You buy those lines as he gets it now. Its just words. His agent told him what to say. He needs to get everyone thinking hes a changed person and player.
Nuh uh, not buying it.
JD, that is the right answer. Read what Karl just wrote. Words.
Nats 128
The part about the broken shoulder?
Eric, yeah poor sentence formulation aside, seems you got what I meant.
Great to hear that he is embracing the change and not sulking, as his stats seem to indicate.
It's amazing to me that he is just now getting back to what was working for him almost 3 years ago. Why wasn't it sooner? I can't help but think Davy's hitting philosophy messed him all up, but who knows, just my guess.
Dave,
He is still striking out just about every time at bat at AAA. It's hard to imagine that he has completely forgotten how to hit. With all his detractors, he was still a productive major league 2nd baseman last year.
Does it not make sense that his problems are at leaat partially physical?
Either physical or as I suggested visual.
All I'm saying is that if there is anything physically wrong with him he should get it fixed now,
I can't get over the venom with which some of the posters discuss Danny. I mean if you are a Nats fan wouldn't it be better if Danny recovers his value than not? even if in a trade?
maybe send him to Potomac and see if he's still striking out. If so, it may be physical. If he's doing better rise him back thru the ranks each time he masters the pitching at that level. if his ego can handle it, it could be a way to build his confidence by achieving success at each stop.
Funny, no one seemed to be complaining about Lombo playing outfield last year, when he probably played more OF than IF. Someone needs to tell Kilgore et al that Lombo's not a career infielder playing OF, he's a utility player. That's what utility players do.
glad to see he's tearing up AAA. Just remember, he wasn't that great last season, especially down the stretch. He's a big reason we suck this year. He hid his injury to protect his job at the expense of the team. Good riddance.
Wow, striking out 2 out of 3 time at AAA level. And then looking at Rendon's stats. Huge difference between the two. D'Gourds, you are exactly correct. Everything Espinosa did was for his own selfish benefit and it all hurt the team. But as we are all noticing, the team isn't any better. Even without Espi, but is nice that he is gone.
Mrs. B.....Danny can "get it" all he wants. His problem is he can't "do it".
I have to laugh at Bob Carpenter. He's broadcasting, and following the Brave's score like we are in a pennant race and really care about their score! He must be playing fantasy baseball. Carpenter ought to go to AAA with Espi.
I think I said this before, but it is worth repeating.
In my opinion Espinosa's biggest crime was not his poor hitting, but lying about the reason for the poor hitting. And he did it twice, once last year about the shoulder - during the playoffs! We could have had Lombo in during that time. And then again this year about the wrist - how long was it between the wrist injury and him telling the team about it?
Without the truth Rizzo, et, al, just thinks he is slumping and will break out of the slump any day - but if they knew about the injury at the time the injury occurs, then they would know the reason for the slump.
I mentioned this during one of Phil Wood's after the game radio call in shows. Phil's response was that it was because Espi is tough and will not give in to injury. Well I agree that is good attitude for Espi to have, but it is not being a team player and caring about the teams results.
It is because of this that I believe we Never will see Espi in a Nationals uniform again. No matter how good he does in the minors.
Has anyone ever asked him what he plans to do about his shoulder? If he decided not to get surgery last offseason, does that mean he will never get surgery? Why would one off season be better than the others?
Maybe he doesn't need surgery ever. But it seems weird for a professional baseball player to just accept that he is going to have a torn rotator cuff for the remainder of his career. Particularly a switch hitter.
Post a Comment