Spring Training/Strasburg thread

[Jollay]

Strasburg debuts today at 1pm on MASN.

So far the Nats pitching has not looked impressive--to include unfortunately Capps and Bruney. Six pitchers have started and pitched two innings; of those Batista, Olsen, Lannan, and Marquis were hit pretty hard, while Mock and Martin didn't give up a run.

Balester, Martis, Walker, and Guardado have been shelled, while Storen has been flawless in two appearances.

All in all, the staff has an impressive 10.98 ERA. Good lord.

It's still way early yet, but if this continues, you have to wonder if pressure won't build for Strasburg and Storen immediately at the big league level.

Nats are hitting okay--Bruntlett and Morse have looked impressive early as they battle for utility jobs.

[Jollay]

Three ground ball outs to start for Strasburg. He mostly threw fastballs and looked pretty relaxed.

Usual Nats lineup except for Desmond in right, Duncan at first, and Nieves behind the plate.

If you're at work, MASN HD will replay the game at 7pm.

[Jollay]

Second inning started beautifully. Fastballs to Miguel Cabrera, then a couple of breaking balls (one froze him), and then back to the high fastball for the strikeout.

Gave up weak singles to Kelly and Avila, went 3-0 on Brent Dlugach, but then struck him out with two fastballs and froze him for strike three with the breaker.

Looks like his final line is 2 IP, 2 hits allowed, 2Ks, and 0 ER.

[Jollay]

Rizzo now explaining that Desmond has a chance to win the starting shortstop job, and that the Nats envision him as an everyday player. Suggesting AAA might be his destination as a starting shortstop there.

Which is, of course, why he's playing right field today.

Of course I suppose he might beat out Dukes, but then, wouldn't we just want to go with Maxwell or Bernadina then?

Is anything Rizzo and Kasten say worth two cents?

[dlbcommish]

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[Jollay]

Strasburg throws three innings of shut out ball, but the Nats lose 7-2 to St. Louis to fall to 0-10 in the preseason.

With Strasburg, Storen, and Desmond performing well and patience with this team waning whether the games are currently meaningless or not, I don't see how the Nats can't seriously consider having all "develop" further on the major league level.

Give Strasburg an innings cap and bring him to DC in the rotation unless multiple people start pitching well. Cut Guzman loose for peanuts and start Desmond at short.

Storen there may be less of an immediate need but he is better right now than whoever the Nats decide to retain at the bottom of the bullpen, and Capps and Bruney have hardly been overwhelming either (although Bruney threw a 1-2-3 inning today).

[Jollay]

Some more cuts/demotions.

Ron Villone was released, which somewhat surprised me, since I figure the Nats want another lefty reliever to supplement Burnett. I originally handicapped Guardado to take that spot, then Villone when they released Guardado and brought him in. Now I guess the advantage goes to Slaten, although its looking more and more like Batista might stick.

Balester was demoted to AAA; Mathheus and Thompson to AA. Thompson had a good spring and the Nats liked what they saw from him, but he was never really a contender to make the team.

[Jollay]

With the rotation, its looking like Lannan, Marquis, and Olsen are in.

I believe the other two starters will come from either Hernandez, Batista, or Martin; although Mock, Martis, Stammen, and Chico still have fair shots.

With Tyler Walker having a terrible Spring so far, I can see Hernandez and Martin making the team with Batista filling a long relief/spot starter role as well.

[Jollay]

This just in--the Nats may be headed for their first victories of the Spring, with split squads leading the Fish 7-3 in the eighth and the Cards 4-2 in the eighth. On a glorious Spring day in DC, the revelry would be intense if the Nats can indeed run their exhibition mark to 2-11.

Zimmy, Kevin Mench, and Guzman have homered against the Fish. Craig Stammen (very encouraging)and John Lannan each looked good, tossing four innings each and allowing 0 ER.

Desmond and Pudge have two hits a piece to drive in all the runs versus the Cards.

[Jollay]

SWEEP!!!!

[Jollay]

Friday the Nats optioned Strasburg and Storen to AA, but also sent Matt Chico to AAA and Doug Slaten to minor league camp.

The bullpen is really almost set now, with Tyler Walker being the only real true reliever candidate left to make it. But since he's been shelled all Spring, it is logical to assume some leftovers from teh starters' derby will possibly fill out the pen.

Batista is an obvious choice, but the seventh spot in the pen is not.

Of Martis, Mock, Stammen, and Martin, Mock and Stammen would be the likeliest candidates to fill in the bullpen if they don't make the rotation.

[Jollay]

Martis, Pete Orr, and Chris Duncan were sent down.

Not surprising at all. Martis was one of the younger guys battling for a spot who was brought up prematurely (though through necessity) last year, and he was a very outside shot to claim a spot. The Nats like his upside though, still.

Orr is nothing more than a utility guy if that, at best, and Duncan had a horrible camp. Would be nice if he could put it together again in the minors, though, especially with the Nats' gaping hole in right. He has hit righties well in the past.

Depth chart is updated, and with Jesse English's presence as well, whom I forgot to mention because I never thought he had a chance in hell to make the final roster.

But he's one of 36 players remaining, and he is competing to be that second lefty out of the pen the Nats could probably use.

So a guy who has never pitched above AA can apparently make it, but it's the end of the world to "rush" some of the other Nats' youngsters this year.

Got it.

[Jollay]

In other moves, according to Riggleman, Garrett Mock has won a job as a starter, and despite earlier proclamations to the contrary (if he was healthy), Scott Olsen has not.

So I guess Garrett Mock is the Nationals' third starter. Wow.

My recap of Mock in the offseason thread:

After beginning the season in the bullpen, Garrett Mock started 15 games for the Nats last year. The former Diamondback top prospect went 3-8 as a starter with 66 strikeouts and 36 walks allowed in 78.1 IP. He posted a 6.92 ERA as a reliever, but lowered it to a cumulative 5.62 as a starter. Like Martin, Mock is 26, and one of the older young Nats pitchers. Mike Rizzo prefers him as a starter, and he will be in the mix as such next year. Mock's main issue is his control--if he gets that under control he will have a great chance of claiming a spot in the rotation.

Despite mediocre statistics this Spring, Mock did a number of things well, including only walking one batter in 14 innings pitched. His ERA was a respectable 4.50, despite giving up 18 hits. Like I said, if Mock pitches with control he had a great chance of claiming a spot, and he did.

But still, Garrett Mock is the third starter for this team, which is almost chilling.

Olsen goes tonight against the Tigers with a chance to claim a spot. It's down to him, JD Martin, Craig Stammen, and Livan Hernandez for the final two starters now.

[Jollay]

Olsen got crushed against the Tigers: 4 1/3 innings, six ER, 12 hits, two home runs, one walk allowed.

Although he had more velocity, you have to doubt he makes it now.

[Jollay]

If Olsen doesn't make it, the need for a second lefty arm increases out of the bullpen. There would only be Lannan and Burnett in a division with alot of lefty bats.

[Jollay]

JD Martin sent down, leaving Olsen and Mock to battle for the fifth starter spot.

[Jollay]

Stras makes his debut for Harrisburg at AA Altoona today. (4/11)

[Jollay]

Stras gets the win: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K.

Also lined a two-run double.

[Jollay]

Third start: Stras lowers his ERA under 1.00 and goes to 2-0...

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... ix_in_win/

[Jollay]

Strasburg gives up four runs in less than five innings in what may be his final start for Harrisburg before he joins Storen in AAA.

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... ugh_start/

Slips to 3-1 with a 1.64 ERA, 27K in 22 IP with a 0.86 WHIP. Still pretty good...