2008 Following the Minor League Teams

[ncg1983]

at least our farm teams are looking good.  too bad our big boys are awful.

[sportsfan882]

Anybody got the feeling that we may see Boone here before long?

He's no good but I'm sure he can outhit Harris and Macowiak.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I have a feeling we could see Maxwell replace someone during the 2008 season.  That .263/.453/.500 line is really great.

[sportsfan882]

I have a feeling we could see Maxwell replace someone during the 2008 season.  That .263/.453/.500 line is really great.

Definitely. I'm interested in Mike Daniel too.  He doesn't hit for a ton of power but he can hit for average and steal bases (.289 AVG/.372 OBP).  I read somewhere last year that some in the Nationals' organization think he is the best pure hitter in our farm system. 

[spidernat]

I'm willing to be a little more patient for the sake of our youngsters' development.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Daniel and Maxwell shouldn't have that much longer to go, though.  Both are 23, in AA, and raking at the moment, so we aren't too far from the next logical step of advancement.

[houston-nat]

Maxwell's only 23?

.... wow.

[blue911]

Maxwell's only 23?

.... wow.

24 but who's counting.

[tomterp]

24 but who's counting.

Still less than half my age.

[sportsfan882]

Potomac just won their 10th straight game, 4-3 over Lynchburg.   

VanAllen kicked ass: 6 IP 4 H 1 R 0 ER 2 BB 4 SO (Win)

The crazy thing about this winning streak is that when you look at the Potomac roster it's not all that great, specifically the lineup. Other than Marrerro the rest of the lineup is a bunch of over-aged Career Minor leaguers. The pitching on the other hand is the definite strength of the team. They are completely stacked with young, stud prospects in both the Pen and in the rotation.

[sportsfan882]

btw, Flores just cranked his first of many homers for Columbus today.  Balester is pitching and Jesus is behind the plate 

[daveb32]

Why did Balester only go 4IP? He hadn't given up any runs.

[sportsfan882]

Why did Balester only go 4IP? He hadn't given up any runs.

Not sure what happened. Here is the play by play of that inning:

Durham Bottom 5th

    * Fernando Perez walks.
    * Coaching visit to mound.
    * With Reid Brignac batting, Fernando Perez steals (4) 2nd base.
    * With Reid Brignac batting, throwing error by Collin Balester on the pickoff attempt, Fernando Perez to 3rd.
    * Reid Brignac walks.
    * Pitcher Change: Jason Stanford replaces Collin Balester.
    * Coaching visit to mound.
    * Jon Weber called out on strikes.
    * Chris Richard hit by pitch. Reid Brignac to 2nd.
    * Joel Guzman strikes out swinging.
    * John Rodriguez grounds into a force out, pitcher Jason Stanford to catcher Jesus Flores. Fernando Perez out at home.

[sportsfan882]

Wow, Flores had a double, HR, and 5 RBIs!

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Sounds like an injury. For freak's sakes, can ANYONE (pitchers, mostly) in our organization stay healthy?

[sportsfan882]

Sounds like an injury. For freak's sakes, can ANYONE (pitchers, mostly) in our organization stay healthy?

Apparently not... Man this sucks. Balester has a 1.88 ERA and was getting ever close to being called up I have a feeling.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Wow, Flores had a double, HR, and 5 RBIs!

David Wright?

[daveb32]

So it's for sure an injury to Balester?

[sportsfan882]

So it's for sure an injury to Balester?

No. Here is the Clippers' recap of the game:

The Clippers won their third game in a row, defeating the Bulls, in Durham, Wednesday afternoon. 

The Clippers opened the scoring in the second inning on Jesus Flores home run to left field.

Columbus added three more in the sixth inning.  Pete Orr reached on fielding error by Reid Brignac.  Jason Dubois doubled to left field, sending Orr to third base.   Flores doubled to left-center field to score Orr and Dubois.  Tony Batista singled to left field to drive in the third run of the inning.

The Clippers tallied three more runs in the seventh frame.  Ed Rogers opened the inning with a single up the middle.  Tommy Murphy walked.  Orr tripled to right field scoring Rogers and  Murphy.  Orr scored on Ryan Langerhans' sacrifice fly.

The Bulls scored two in the eighth.

Jason Stanford picked up his first win of the season in relief of Collin Balester.

The team will return to The Coop on April 19th.

They mention nothing about Balester getting hurt. Maybe his pitch count was high or something.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Hmm, that's a relief!  Weird that he'd get pulled in the 4th, but I guess that errant pick-off throw was an indication of his stamina being drained.

[daveb32]

He threw 86 pitches, 52 for strikes in a little over 4 innings so that could have been the reason. I really hope he's not injured.

[spidernat]

We cannot afford injuries spilling over into the farm system.

[Senators2005]

Potomac's hot with 10 in a row now...coming home tommorow against Wilmington.   

Cory Van Allen now 2-0 with a 1.17 ERA: he pitched 6 innings with only one unearned run and 4 Ks.  What's weird is despite the continued victories by the PNATs, Marrero's bat remains cold as he went 0-3 and 0-4 last night.

[ronnynat]

Potomac's hot with 10 in a row now...coming home tommorow against Wilmington.   

I might have to go to that game. Who's pitching?

[Senators2005]

I might have to go to that game. Who's pitching?

I'm planning on being there - I think Detwiler will be on the mound, if it is it will be my first chance to see him start.