2008 Following the Minor League Teams

[sportsfan882]

What a performance by Martis tonight: 5.2 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 12 K.   

[ronnynat]

What a performance by Martis tonight: 5.2 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 12 K.   

Well that's nice to see. What are his K/9 numbers looking like on the season?

[JMUalumni]

Some of our top pitchers threw tonight.  Alaniz had a poor outing by his standards against Bowie, giving up 3 HRs in 6 innings (6 H, 1 BB, 2 SO).  Martis must have thrown some nasty pitches tonight [5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 SO!].  Colton Willems pitched 5 innings, allowing 7 H, 1 BB, 3 ER and striking out 5.  Down at Potomac Atilano pitched 5 innings allowing only one hit and one walk (1 SO as well), 0 ER!  Overall, not a bad group of outings by our starters on the farm tonight.

[sportsfan882]

Well that's nice to see. What are his K/9 numbers looking like on the season?

In Columbus: 35.2 IP 36 K (9.08 K/9, 3.28 ERA)
In Harrisburg: 74.2 IP 57 K (6.87 K/9, 3.98 ERA)

[sportsfan882]

Some of our top pitchers threw tonight.  Alaniz had a poor outing by his standards against Bowie, giving up 3 HRs in 6 innings (6 H, 1 BB, 2 SO).  Martis must have thrown some nasty pitches tonight [5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 12 SO!].  Colton Willems pitched 5 innings, allowing 7 H, 1 BB, 3 ER and striking out 5.  Down at Potomac Atilano pitched 5 innings allowing only one hit and one walk (1 SO as well), 0 ER!  Overall, not a bad group of outings by our starters on the farm tonight.

Atilano has won 3 straight starts. I'd like to see them make him a reliever permanently and send him up to AA.

[ronnynat]

In Columbus: 35.2 IP 36 K (9.08 K/9, 3.28 ERA)
In Harrisburg: 74.2 IP 57 K (6.87 K/9, 3.98 ERA)

It's always nice to see a player get better when he gets promoted. Do you know how fast he throws and how many pitches he works with?

[PANatsFan]

Atilano has won 3 straight starts. I'd like to see them make him a reliever permanently and send him up to AA.

Why should he be a reliever? Not enough pitches?

[sportsfan882]

It's always nice to see a player get better when he gets promoted. Do you know how fast he throws and how many pitches he works with?

Supposedly he has increased the velocity on his fastball to the 93-94 range.

Here's an article that Ladson wrote on him a few weeks ago:

During his four years as general manager of the Nationals, Jim Bowden has traded reliever Mike Stanton twice for Minor Leaguers. On Sept. 29, 2005, Stanton was dealt to the Red Sox for pitchers Rhys Taylor and Yader Peralta. Neither player turned out to be a prospect for Washington.

Stanton was back with the Nationals the following season, only to be traded to the Giants for right-hander Shairon Martis on July 29, 2006. It turned out that Martis is a keeper for Washington. So much so, that Martis played for the World Team in the XM All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.

Before the game, Martis was relaxed, sitting by his locker. He spoke softly and was willing to talk about any topic involving himself. However, his arm spoke loudest in the game. Martis, 21, entered the contest in the ninth inning, picking up a save as the World Team blanked the U.S. Team, 3-0.

Martis got off to a slow start by giving up a ground-rule double, but he retired three of the next four hitters to close out the game.

Martis received the game ball and it was already in a case. Although he's a starter, Martis knew beforehand that he would close the game if the World Team had the lead.

"I was trying to locate the ball and I got the job done," Martis said. "Since we got to Yankee Stadium, the coaching staff had a meeting. They told me I would close the game. If we were losing, I was going to come in the eighth inning and pitch to two batters."

For the season, Martis is a combined 4-5 with 3.94 ERA for Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Columbus. He has 78 strikeouts in 98 1/3 innings. But what opened a lot of eyes was that Martis added velocity to his fastball. The righty's fastball clocked in at 94 mph this year after registering in the high 80s last season.

It helped that Martis changed his mechanics. He is now using the lower half of his body a lot more and is no longer rushing to throw his pitches.

"We are excited about his development," Bowden said. "This is a guy with three plus pitches. He has a great frame. He goes right at them. He has always been one of our favorites. He is already in Triple-A at age 21. This is a Major League starting pitcher. He is going to pitch in the big leagues and be successful."

Despite the increase in velocity on his fastball, Martis prefers to get ground-ball outs instead of strikeouts.

"Whenever I throw, I try to keep my team in the ballgame," Martis said. "I try to keep the team close. I try to get as many ground balls as I can get."

Martis started making a name for himself in the World Baseball Classic as a Giants prospect. While representing The Netherlands, he pitched a seven-inning no-hitter against Panama. The game was stopped because of the 10-run rule.

Prior to that start, Martis hadn't played an inning in the World Baseball Classic and was surprised to learn from manager Robert Eenhoorn the previous day that he would pitch the final game. Martis vowed The Netherlands would not lose another game, and he was true to his word.

Martis didn't realize he was throwing a no-hitter until infielder Yurendell De Caster, now a Nationals Minor Leaguer, told him in the sixth inning.

"He looked at the score and Yurendell said, 'No way, Martis, you are throwing a no-hitter,'" Martis said. "That was a big thing for me that I did it for my country."

When Martis returns to Columbus, he will be playing with his childhood friend, Roger Bernadina, who played in 10 Major League games with the Nationals before returning to Triple-A. He's had problems with the bat, but Bernadina's cup of coffee in the Majors has motivated Martis to continue to pitch well. Martis may get a call up in September.

"The day Roger got called up, I said, 'I have to be there also,'" Martis said. "When I talked to him, he would say, 'You should be here.' That's why I'm excited to play harder."

[sportsfan882]

Why should he be a reliever? Not enough pitches?

He just seems to only be able to go 5 innings in his starts. He has had a serious arm injury before so it would be less strenuous on him if he just pitched in relief. He pitched as a reliever earlier this season but now he's a starter again. If anything, I wish they would just pick one or the other for him.

[ronnynat]

Bowden thinks every player he gets will be successful at the MLB level.

[sportsfan882]

Mike Daniel continues to just have a horrendous time at the plate. He's 2 for his last 36 (.056) and 8 for his last 66 (.121).

His BA which was up well over .300 earlier in the season is now at .268.

I remember Daniel going through a slump like this in Potomac a year or two ago.

[NFA Brian]

Craig Stammen & Josh Perrault up to Columbus from Harrisburg. Jemel Spearman down from Columbus to Harrisburg.

[JMUalumni]

Craig Stammen & Josh Perrault up to Columbus from Harrisburg. Jemel Spearman down from Columbus to Harrisburg.

About time for calling up Stammen.  He probably belongs at AAA and might be auditioning for a chance in September right now.

[sportsfan882]

Craig Stammen & Josh Perrault up to Columbus from Harrisburg. Jemel Spearman down from Columbus to Harrisburg.

What a story Stammen is. Anyone have any idea how hard he throws and what his pitches are?

[PANatsFan]

Craig Stammen & Josh Perrault up to Columbus from Harrisburg. Jemel Spearman down from Columbus to Harrisburg.

Brian, your minor league roster running totals are awesome.

More nuggets from Brian's blog:

DSL Nats 1 are 38-6! Holy crap!

The Lake Monsters are really breaking out the bats. Their outfield is looking really good, especially Guerrero, and Blake Stouffer seems to have found his swing after a golden sombrero 4K performance earlier this month. Derek Norris, while a really little guy, seems to be a nice hitting catcher. Wonder if they'll move him to another position, as he is built like Biggio and the Lake Monsters have a couple intriguing catchers.

[JMUalumni]

What a story Stammen is. Anyone have any idea how hard he throws and what his pitches are?

Didn't find anything on his speeds, but found this from 2005 on his pitches:

A 12th-round pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2005 draft, Stammen can throw five pitches - fastball, curveball, changeup, slider and a two-seamer. But Nationals farm director Andy Dunn wants him to work on developing command of his fastball.

http://new.savannahnow.com/node/104433

here is a 2008 "player report" on him, it looks like his max velocity is around 89-90 with average movement on all his pitches.
http://www.lordofthetechs.com/reds/players/player_20169.html

[NFA Brian]

JMU - That's the best I 'd be able to provide from work. I have some stuff at home

FYI ... RHP Zack Segovia got promoted from Potomac to Harrisburg, replacing Stammen

[PatsNats28]

So when does Bonifacio report to Columbus?

[NFA Brian]

So when does Bonifacio report to Columbus?

He is listed on their roster as a bench player for tonight's game

[sportsfan882]

Nice outing for Clip tonight in Columbus: 7 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 2 BB 4 K 0 HR. He threw 113 pitches ( ), 72 for strikes.

[sportsfan882]

I wonder why P.J. Dean only pitched the first two innings of the game tonight.. His numbers this year in Vermont are ridiculous.

24 IP 8 H 3 R 1 ER 0 HR 7 BB 15 K (0.38 ERA, 0.63 WHIP)

[JMUalumni]

I wonder why P.J. Dean only pitched the first two innings of the game tonight.. His numbers this year in Vermont are ridiculous.

24 IP 8 H 3 R 1 ER 0 HR 7 BB 15 K (0.38 ERA, 0.63 WHIP)

I think it is because he is just coming back from a small injury.  They probably are just softening him back into the rotation up at Vermont.

[PANatsFan]

I wonder why P.J. Dean only pitched the first two innings of the game tonight.. His numbers this year in Vermont are ridiculous.

24 IP 8 H 3 R 1 ER 0 HR 7 BB 15 K (0.38 ERA, 0.63 WHIP)

The man is a beast. A true beast.

[sportsfan882]

Bernadina is playing great since being sent down. He declined to play for the Netherlands in the Olympics because he wants to make it back to the big leagues this season. He seems determined.

His numbers since the demotion to AAA: 15/32 (.469 AVG), 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 8 Runs, 6 BBs, 7 Ks, 5 SBs, 0 CS.

[ronnynat]

Bernadina is playing great since being sent down. He declined to play for the Netherlands in the Olympics because he wants to make it back to the big leagues this season. He seems determined.

His numbers since the demotion to AAA: 15/32 (.469 AVG), 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 8 Runs, 6 BBs, 7 Ks, 5 SBs, 0 CS.

It's not easy to get demoted after playing poorly and then turn it around. I'd like to see him get another shot.