Following the Minor League Teams (2011)

[Tyler Durden]

That was nice work on that list. 

I think Norris may drop off top 100 lists.  He hasn't really shown much progress and is basically the same player he was last year - not really what you want from a guy who is supposed to be developing. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

That said, I would love Marrero up here asap and replace Stairs. Then we could maybe even play Morse in LF and 1B switching off with Marerro playing 2-3 games a week. For the record, I don't know if that would be a good strategy or not lol.

I think by the start of August there is likely to be some shuffling.  If a Nix gets traded, then there is the roster slot for Marrero. If he does not, then you might see as early as August, but more likely in September, some sort of
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with Morse shifting back and forth between 1st and left and Marrero and Nix alternating.  If Marrero starts hitting, he could grab more and more time in that split.

[Lintyfresh85]

Nate Karns makes his first start for Auburn tonight.

Hope he does well!

[PC]

Chiefs win with a sac fly by Brian Bixler, ex-Nat.

[sportsfan882]

Good article on Rafael Martin's resurgence this year in Harrisburg. We might see him soon.

Rafael Martin wanted an MRI.

His right arm hurt, and when your job description reads “right-handed pitcher,” that's not good.

It was the early part of spring training this year, his second in affiliated baseball after the Washington Nationals plucked him from the Mexican League in 2010.

After throwing through a lot of pain and maxing his fastball around 82 mph in his first spring effort, Martin wanted something medical to explain it.

“Mentally, it was more desperation,” Martin, a 27-year-old reliever for the Harrisburg Senators, said. “I didn't think it was anything serious, but I was wondering when it was going to start feeling better.”

The Nationals' training staff rejected the MRI and told Martin to pitch through it, calling it “dead arm.” Lots of long toss was added to his daily routine.

By mid-April – a couple of weeks after the minor league season started – Martin was feeling better.

Martin spent the entire 2010 season with the Senators, the Nationals' Class AA affiliate. When healthy this year, he went to Class A Potomac for a short stint before rejoining the Senators in early June.

Through it all, he's been nothing short of fantastic.

Combined with his eight innings with Potomac, Martin is 3-1 with a 0.73 ERA, five saves in five opportunities, and 28 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.

He earned the victory Tuesday night vs. Bowie, striking out all four batters he faced. That included Ronnie Welty on a full-count slider to strand runners on first and third in a tie game in the top of the eighth.

“He has four pitches he uses [fastball, slider, curve and changeup], moves the ball around and will throw any pitch at any time,” manager Tony Beasley said of the San Fernando, Calif., native. “He is not afraid and can pitch out of any situation. I have a lot of confidence in him.”

The end-of-the-line duties are new to Martin, who didn't record a save in 2010 and was used primarily as a setup guy in his three seasons in Mexico.

But, so far, it's fitting him like a mitt.

“I love it,” Martin said. “I love the adrenaline. I love the responsibility, having to shut the door. I love it all. Right now I'm full of confidence. I feel I can throw my slider at any time.”

The Senators are the beneficiaries, as he and young right-hander Pat Lehman are a combined 9-for-9 in save opportunities since June 9.

You probably figure Martin, considered by the Nationals to be an international signing despite his being born in the U.S., is ready for the next step. But the organizational depth could keep him in Harrisburg a little while longer.

“He's pitching well, and [the Nationals] know he's pitching well,” Beasley said. “It's good for the organization to have so many quality pitchers in AAA, but it kind of stunts his movement. If he can execute his pitches here, though, then he can do it there and beyond.”

[Tyler Durden]

Why didn't they just give him an MRI?  I already know the LAC theory...

[blue911]

Why didn't they just give him an MRI?  I already know the LAC theory...

That was my thought.

[sportsfan882]

I thought the same thing. Damn cheap bastards. They were touting him as their big International signing from a few years ago and they wouldn't even give him an MRI?

Good to hear he's pitching well though. He should be in Syracuse.

[Lintyfresh85]

Got to love the Nats. Your arm hurts? You want an MRI? Who's paying for it? Wait, you want US to? Hahaha, pitch through it nag.

[blue911]

Just as important, why didn't they give him a MRI when they signed him? He's a pitcher, wouldn't making passing a MRI one of the conditions of signing?

[Lintyfresh85]

He pitched for a year without pain.

The pain came this spring training.

[hammondsnats]

oh but guys the Lerners aren't cheap.  They never get pissed about people using overnight packaging either. 

LOL @ LANC/Sunshine Squad. 

[Lintyfresh85]

They never get pissed about people using overnight packaging either. 

What's that about?

[hammondsnats]

What's that about?

when rosenthal penned that awesome article detailing how people hated/hate working for the Lerners because they are so damn stubborn when it comes to spending.  they'd nag about people ordering too many office supplies and would be strict about what type of express mail the employees were to use.  it was obvious the on the field spending was low, but this revealed that they are just cheap as a whole. 

and of course LANC denied the whole thing.

[blue911]

He pitched for a year without pain.

The pain came this spring training.

My bad, I wasn't paying attention

[PC]

when rosenthal penned that awesome article detailing how people hated/hate working for the Lerners because they are so damn stubborn when it comes to spending.  they'd nag about people ordering too many office supplies and would be strict about what type of express mail the employees were to use.  it was obvious the on the field spending was low, but this revealed that they are just cheap as a whole. 

I think it was Zuckerman who wrote that.

[hammondsnats]

I think it was Zuckerman who wrote that.

no rosenthal had a piece on foxsports.com about it years ago.  a lot of people on here laughed it off and said it was a complete hack job and wasn't true

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Does an MRI on a pitcher's elbow involve injecting fluid to show the area better?  I think this is done on at least some MRIs, and it leads to down time.  Still, it seems like  a reasonable thing to get an MRI and not worry about the time lost in the spring. 

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Ugh, pitiful by Flores

[hammondsnats]

Ugh, pitiful by Flores

don't worry he'll be back in minors very soon.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

LMFAO

I had no idea I wrote that here, but it is fitting, isn't it?

[hammondsnats]

LMFAO

I had no idea I wrote that here, but it is fitting, isn't it?

so fitting

[KnorrForYourMoney]

Yunesky Maya gave up 6 runs (all earned) in 5 innings at AAA tonight

Can we just cut bait with him, Stares, and Mock at this point?

No, of course not.  What am I thinking?  They are Rizzo's boiz and they will stick around indefinitely.

[sportsfan882]

Yunesky Maya gave up 6 runs (all earned) in 5 innings at AAA tonight

Can we just cut bait with him, Stares, and Mock at this point?

No, of course not.  What am I thinking?  They are Rizzo's boiz and they will stick around indefinitely.

Gotta be one of Rizzo's dumbest signings. Up there with LaRoche

[PC]

Chiefs win, in 8 innings, 7-6 on a single by Corey Brown driving in Tag Hullett.

An extra innings win in 8 innings.